During a beautiful Maine summer weekend, the Back Cove Music and Arts Festival kicked off its inaugural year at Portland’s Payson Park.
Day 1 of the two-day festival began with 11 different performances across two stages, aptly named The Baxter Stage, in honor of the Baxter family legacy in Portland, and The Longfellow Stage, named after American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It was great to see local band and crowd favorite Weakened Friends perform and I also thoroughly enjoyed CimaFunk’s lively and fun performance! However, one of the highlights of Day 1 for me was discovering the CroweBoys, a two-man folk group of brothers Ocie and Wes Crowe from New Orleans. Their song “Let Me Feel Alone” became an immediate addition to my music library, and their voices and stage presence were phenomenal. Another highlight wasThe Roots, filling in for André 3000, who unexpectedly backed out. Day 1 concluded with Saturday headliner, Lord Huron. The rock band’s set design was exquisite, with a multi-layered stage, an empty and eerie phone booth, and beautiful graphics depicting different scenes in the background. Lord Huron’s incredible voice and the scenic backdrop of Back Cove basin made for a beautiful end to the first day.
Day 2 was just as great, opening up with local band Oshima Brothers and then Eliza McLamb. I particularly enjoyed seeing Chance Peña’s and Margo Price’s performances on The Longfellow Stage, where they both commanded the crowd with their soulful country tunes. But the final two performances of the night were the big draw of crowds, Lucy Dacus and then Jack White. Although Lucy wasn’t scheduled to perform until 7:30 p.m., fans claimed their spots early. I met two girls at the barricade who had been camped out since 1 p.m.! Their dedication paid off—Lucy delivered a stunning set and, in line with her new tradition, brought three couples on stage to get married during her song “Best Guess.”Then it was time for Jack White, and he lit up the stage! He came out with an insane guitar solo, and the crowd was loving him! He had electric energy from start to finish, a fitting close to an unforgettable festival weekend.
One unique aspect of the weekend—for me and many festivalgoers—was the absence of overlapping sets. Performances alternated between the two stages, allowing each artist to play their full set without competing for attention. This setup let the audience and performers truly soak in every moment, while giving crews time to prepare the next stage, minimizing gaps between acts. I wasn’t sure how this approach would play out, but I ended up really enjoying it. The two stages were only about a four-minute walk apart, and while some attendees posted up at one stage all day, many moved between both and got to see every artist without having to make tough choices. Even more impressive: nearly all sets started on time, with no noticeable technical or sound issues, remarkable for a first-year festival of this scale.
Back Cove’s inaugural year delivered a weekend that was nothing short of a blast. With family-friendly crafts and activities, free admission for kids, a mouthwatering lineup of food trucks, and perfect Portland weather, the festival felt like a major success. Despite some growing pains with parking logistics, Back Cove earned its place as a new mainstay in the Maine music scene.
