Rain and Sunshine - Sound on Sound Music Festival Closes out Summer in Bridgeport CT
There was no better send off to summer than this year’s Sound On Sound Music Festival. After Friday’s historic and destructive rains in the region, the festival brought the warmth with a joyful celebration of music to a cold rain-soaked Bridgeport Connecticut.
Music fans braved the weather to enjoy a killer weekend of music as the festival returned to Seaside park for its second iteration. Fans were treated to an upgraded festival experience from last year as organizers expanded the festival grounds and booked even bigger acts from the inaugural event in 2022.
In an unfortunate result of the rains Saturday's kick off was delayed and a handful of acts were unable to perform as crews worked tirelessly to mitigate the standing water throughout the festival grounds to ensure a safe concert experience. As soon as gates opened Saturday afternoon the fans eagerly began exploring the massive festival grounds that had received huge upgrades and additions from the prior year to enhance fan the fan experience. There was much for attendees to experience as they explored the 50+ food vendors, silent disco, ferris wheel and the beer & wine gardens.
Music kicked off with Bridgeport’s own Deep Banana Blackout bringing high energy funk to start the weekend’s dance party. Saturday’s line up continued with performances by Joy Oladokun, Lord Huron, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and The Trey Anastasio Band. The night closed out by rock legends Red Hot Chili peppers. The timeless group felt even more massive as they commanded the crowd with their infectious music and high energy performance from atop the massive stage.
The sun was shining high on Sunday and the crowd throughout the festival felt more energized throughout the grounds, as the park dried out in the sun’s warmth. Saturday’s line up included performances from nostalgia inducing artists like the Gin Blossoms and Alanis Morissette. Juxtaposed with performances with some of the biggest buzzed about artists in the scene right now, the likes of Margo Price, Mt. Joy, and Hozier.
Hozier was expectedly one of the most anticipated performers at the weekend with the massive fan reception of recent album ‘Unreal Unearth’. His performance was truly one of the most memorable of the weekend as he shared his emotionally charged songs with the thousands of fans.
No better artist could have closed out the festival than Bridgeport’s own, John Mayer. Performing only a few miles from the hospital he was born at and the schools he attended. Although Mayer was perched high on the massive stage in front of over 50,000 fans, his performance felt unexpectedly intimate. As if he was performing for his family and friends, alone with his guitar and a mic.
Despite Sound On Sound only being 2 years old, it feels as if the festival is already a staple in the region. The hard work of the organizers and staff to upgrade and improve the festival from the year prior is a huge testament to what the festival is and what I can become. As the memorable weekend came to an end it is clear that Sound On Sound will continue to be a much-loved celebration of music in Bridgeport for a long time to come.
