The first day of Levitate Music Festival 2024 kicked off with a remarkable blend of incredible music, art, and community spirit, setting the stage for an unforgettable weekend. Held at the Marshfield Fairgrounds, this year's festival continued its tradition of celebrating music, culture, and creativity in a picturesque setting. With an impressive lineup and a plethora of activities, the opening day was a resounding success, leaving festival-goers eagerly anticipating the rest of the event.
Attendees were lined up at the front gates by the time the clock struck noon, an hour before the first performance began, a half an hour before gates even opened, a testament to the anticipation seeping through the scenic landscape and beyond. Lawn and beach chairs hitched to backs, flower crowns decorating hairlines, and wide smiles that stretched for miles greeted me as I approached will call. There was a certain ambiance that engulfed me as I stepped up to the Fairgrounds, holding me tight and welcoming me warmly into the world of Levitate. Festivals are always a special experience, but something about the aura at Levitate Music Festival is simply indescribable. The event has attracted such an affable and carefree community, without even realizing it, your worries are left at the gates, floating into the blue skies, allowing you to appreciate every moment of Levitate without any inhibitions.
The town of Marshfield has a population just shy of 5,000 occupants, a small town only 30 or so minutes outside of the main city of Boston. Settled on the South Shore of Massachusetts, where Cape Cod Bay meets Massachusetts Bay, Marshfield is a popular summer beach destination, boasting a 5-mile-long public seashore that houses nine serene beaches. Tourists and vacationers nearly double the town's population from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend, with Levitate Music Festival being the area's most awaited event of the summer for the last 11 years of its establishment. Despite, personally, only living three and a half hours outside of Massachusetts, I hardly ever travel into the area and had never heard of Marshfield prior. Levitate Music Festival gave me an excuse to venture into the unexplored territory and I will undoubtedly be returning every year moving forward, except next time with friends and family, as this experience was truly spectacular and hands-down one I need to share with other people.
Levitate Music Festival stimulates the economy of Marshfield like no other event in the area, immediately establishing it's unwavering commitment to supporting the local community. For those like myself, traveling into the area for the event, there aren't many corporate hotels, such as Hilton or Marriott, in Marshfield, however, the town's close proximity to the capital of Massachusetts makes a vacation to Levitate Music Festival easily accessible. If you'd rather indulge in the breathtaking scenery of the beach village for the entire, three-day weekend, family-owned bed and breakfasts are at large as well as comfortable, chic, and conveniently located Airbnb's. Since my trip was somewhat spontaneous and I was uncertain of what to expect from Marshfield, I opted to stay in Boston, but, ultimately, this was my biggest regret of the weekend. And this was not because Boston was far out of the way, rather because Marshfield is such a serene village and there were countless quaint stay accommodations I could've opted for that not only would've supported the local community further, but, also would've allowed me to explore the village in all its glory. If you're looking to attend Levitate Music Festival next year, I highly urge you to opt for a stay accommodation in Marshfield and make a tranquil vacation out of this unforgettable experience.
While ride-sharing is always the suggested option for attending music festivals, especially to alleviate traffic when leaving the event, Levitate offered more than enough parking for the masses in attendance, ranging from affordable prices of $20-30, with all proceeds from $20 parking benefitting the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield. The event offered various parking lots, one off-site, with a shuttle service transporting attendees throughout the entire day beginning at 11:30 AM, and multiple on-site options as well as ADA parking accommodations directly across the street from the entry gates. In addition to Levitate's supervisions, neighboring homes surrounding the Fairgrounds offered parking on their lawns and in their driveways, some even selling food such as hot dogs and hamburgers fresh off their barbeque, which a surplus of attendees took advantage of considering all nearby food establishments were packed, with over an hour wait to even just order food.
One of the greatest advantages of Levitate Music Festival is their re-entry policy, which allows you to exit and enter the venue as many times as you please throughout the day as long as you still have your wristband. I believe this aspect of the festival is what makes the event appeal to those who require ADA accommodations as well as those with children, which is something that my caught my attention almost immediately. I saw numerous people in wheelchairs, with crutches and casts, as well as children ranging from infants to toddlers to pre-teens. Levitate Music Festival is undoubtedly all-inclusive, no matter your age, representation, or physical state, there is something for every demographic to enjoy.
The music began on Friday at Soul Stage around 1:00 PM with one of the two 2024 Levitate Foundation 'Get On Stage' Winners, Blue Light Bandits. 'Get On Stage' has been an ongoing promotion Levitate Music Festival teams up with their non-profit organization, Levitate Foundation, to boast annually. It is an initiative I have not seen any other large-scale, corporate festival pursue and deserves considerable accolades for its support of local musicians. Teaming up with their foundation, established in 2003, 'Get On Stage' offers an opportunity for emerging, unsigned New England acts to get on stage and open for national stars, the only criteria is you have to be an independent artist from the local area. Consideration to be a winner for 'Get On Stage' typically opens in late June through a submission form posted on social media platforms, so while the festival is in early July, fans don't know the full official lineup until the day of the event, when the winner steps out on stage. Not only does this encourage attendees to come early in the day to thoroughly enjoy Levitate Music Festival at its full capacity, it also offers a massive platform for rising stars to breakout into the scene all while incorporating a fun surprise factor for ticketholders to look forward to.
On this note, Levitate Music Festival puts tremendous effort into offering artists of all creativities a platform to showcase their artistry, from jewelers to painters to hairdressers, Levitate seeks to support every art form. This dedicated pursuit stems from Levitate Foundation's backstory, "As surfers, creators, and outdoorsmen we've seen first hand what happens when people pursue their passions. Confidence builds, a feeling of connection to ourselves, those around us and nature grows... the list goes on." A dollar of every ticket purchased to Levitate Music Festival is donated to Levitate Foundation's persistent efforts to support artists and, in 2024, Levitate Foundation was able to expand to offer two new grant programs; 'Passion Projects' and 'Varsity Arts,' supporting those who are pursuing and sharing their passions in the arts, music, or outdoors!
With so many fantastic artists piled on Levitate's 2024 lineup, it came with much relief that majority of the sets did not overlap, or at least only overlapped by a few minutes, allowing attendees the opportunity to watch, and hear, every single artist perform. I think I speak for practically everyone in attendance at the festival on Friday, July 5, when I say I was most excited to see Dirty Heads' performance, and they surely did not disappoint in the slightest.
Performing a 22 song setlist, Dirty Heads opened with the fan-favorite "Cloudlifter," immediately setting the tone for a night of feel-good, care-free vibes and non-stop dancing. The amount of kids singing the words to each and every song with out flaw confessed to the prowess Dirty Heads possess in the industry. Even after almost 20 years of being band, Dirty Heads is still relevant and loved by many of all ages, they are simply a timeless band. Dirty Heads crafted a setlist that flawlessly showcased their diverse musical influences. Songs like "Lay Me Down" and "Vacation" highlighted the band's reggae roots, with catchy melodies and laid-back rhythms that had the crowd swaying and singing along. The seamless transitions between songs kept the energy high, and the band's tight performance demonstrated their years of experience and dedication.
One of the standout aspects of Dirty Heads' performance was their genuine interaction with the crowd. Frontmen Jared Watson and Dustin "Duddy B" Bushnell frequently engaged with the audience, encouraging sing-alongs and call-and-response moments that made everyone feel like part of the show. Their honest enthusiasm and connection with the fans created an intimate atmosphere in a venue filled with tens of thousands of people; There was simply no better band to warm up the main stage for the headlining performance.
And thus, the first day of Levitate Music Festival began to wrap up as Mt. Joy stepped out for the final performance of the night on Stoke Stage. Mt. Joy opened their set with "Sheep," immediately drawing the audience into their world with its haunting melody and introspective lyrics. The band's lead vocalist, Matt Quinn, showcased his distinctive voice, rich with emotion and nuance, setting the tone for a headlining set of musical storytelling. The audience, many of whom were longtime fans, sang along from the first note, creating a communal atmosphere that felt both visceral yet expansive. I was lucky enough to witness Mt. Joy play numerous festivals last year as an opening act, so watching them headline Levitate felt full-circle for me. The band has grown tremendously, not just in popularity, but, musically too. Their sound has only become more cohesive and their presence more alluring. Throughout the performance, Mt. Joy demonstrated exceptional musicianship. Guitarist Sam Cooper's intricate guitar riffs and solos were a highlight, weaving seamlessly with the rhythm section's solid foundation. The band's ability to transition effortlessly between songs like the upbeat "Sheep" to the tender "Silver Lining" showcased their versatility and depth. Each song was a journey, taking the audience through a range of emotions and soundscapes that ultimately left us all speechless at their talent.
A particularly memorable moment came with the performance of "Julia," a fan-favorite that had the entire crowd dancing and singing along. The song's infectious energy and catchy chorus made it a perfect festival anthem. Another highlight was the surprise inclusion of the Fleetwood Mac track, "Dreams," which received an enthusiastic reception as voices yet again collided together in unison with not a single person standing still unless in utter awe.
Continuing to enhance the communal aspect of Levitate Music Festival, Mt. Joy's performance was penetrating with appreciation for the crowd. Between songs, Quinn shared stories and insights into the band's songwriting process, creating a deeper bond with the audience. The band's authenticity and warmth were palpable, making the large festival stage feel more like a cozy living room concert. This connection was most evident during "Astrovan," where the audience's voice swelled in unison, creating a beautiful moment of unity and shared experience.
The first day of Levitate Music Festival 2024 was a triumphant exposition to a brilliant weekend of music, art, and community. With a diverse lineup of talented artists, engaging activities, and a strong emphasis on sustainability and local support, the festival has once again proven why it is a beloved event in the New England music scene. As the night drew to a close, there was a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation for what the rest of the weekend would bring. As we exited to our cars at the end of the night, strangers had become friends, friends had become family, and families left with even better memories to reminisce on for the rest of their lives.
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