Soundside Music Festival – Seaside Park – Bridport, CT
Ralph Beauchamp
Feature photo Anna Downs
this sandside music festival Chapter Three takes place the weekend of September 28-29 at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut. it is officially Sound on Sound Music Festival But the name changed as original promoters Founders Entertainment joined forces with Live Nation’s music festival arm C3 Presents. The two days were filled with great music and fun times, with performances by artists such as Noah Kahan, Jack White, Greta Van Fleet and Bleachers A bold setting. Other bands including Norah Jones, Teddy Swims, Boyz II Men and Thee Sacred Souls also brought the heat.
Let me start by saying that AMP has covered all three editions of this festival and no matter how hard the promoters try to make it easy, there always seems to be one obstacle or another that creeps up. The music was spectacular that first year, but the festival was mishandled and there were many incongruities. The queue for food was extremely long and chaotic. Things were much better the next day, but the crowds were smaller.
last year’s sound on sound The night before the game started, a heavy rainstorm hampered play, leaving the field muddy and wet. The promoters did a great job trying to create a pleasant environment, but it was still difficult to operate. I made sure my kids brought extra clothes and shoes because I imagined soaking wet pants and stained shoes. They’re not going to just get into my car. Again, this is not the promoter’s fault. They actually handled the difficulties very gracefully and I’m sure most everyone had a great time. Nature just gave them the middle finger.
Now, let’s get into this year. soundside The lineup is impressive. Saturday’s headliner, Noah Kahan, has a killer mouth. “Goo Goo Doll,” “Fleet Foxes” and “Boyz II Men” are an interesting fusion of genres. Additionally, Grace Porter, Thee Sacred Souls, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Lisa Loeb make Saturday a must-see. Add in newcomers Madi Diaz and Rijah (who we have the pleasure of interviewing for a future feature), and you have the recipe for a musical feast.
Photo Ralph Beauchamp
Sunday is more interesting. Queens of the Stone Age were scheduled to compete but had to cancel due to medical reasons. Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers is an alternative to QOTSA, and although in a different genre, it’s definitely a wash. Now it’s time to get crazy. Headliners, Foo Fighter, pulled out at the last minute, leaving a huge hole. A lot (and I mean a lot) of people bring tickets just to see the Spitfires. The band did not give a specific reason for their sudden departure, but many rumors have surfaced.
In its place are two co-headliners. Jack White and Greta Van Fleet are also in the mix. To me, that’s not bad, but a lot of ticket holders were pissed off. Again, this was all beyond his control. soundside They adapted as best they could. You can’t make this up. There was a bunch of quality talent on Sunday too. Artists I really want to experience. Gregory Allen Isakov, Norah Jones, Teddy Swaims and the aforementioned Bleachers all deserve respect. Rounding out the list are Drew Holcomb and Neighbors, War and Treaties, Holi Alley and Darren Keeley.
One last note about the weather. Sunny weather is expected in the days leading up to the event, with temperatures in the upper 70s. Perfect but abandoned by nature soundside Another curve ball. On Saturday, it started to drizzle, and it rained non-stop all day long. It was also very windy, and since Seaside Park is right off Long Island Sound, it was very cold. So far, this is not what I was expecting and prepared for. At night, I felt uncomfortable.
Due to the number of artists involved, I will only give a brief introduction to each scene.
Saturday starts with Rijah and Madi Diaz. Both shows delivered great performances and a lively atmosphere. The crowd seemed to like their sound. Lisa Loeb captured the audience’s attention and her hit single “Stay (I Miss You)” was an absolute fan favorite. Guitarist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram brought the crowd back to the Mississippi Delta with songs filled with blues magic. Holy Spirit, one of the artists I’m really looking forward to seeing, is Slayer. Led by Josh Lane, the band’s performance is uplifting and full of organic soul and R&B flavors. Ryan is a consummate showman and is easily captivated soundside customer.
Grace Potter was a close second and for me she was the hit of the night. Her powerful music is filled with feel-good rock inflections, and her voice is both fiery and melodic. In addition, she has a lot of energy. Her aggressive vocals were stunning and the crowd really came alive. Songs like “Medicine” and “Good Time” totally resonate. Porter concluded with an energetic performance of “Paris (Ooh La La),” from her 2010 album of the same name with her band The Nocturnals. Potter simply killed him.
The surprise of the night was Boyz II Men. They really energized the crowd with their huge R&B songs. Nearly everyone sang along to most of their tracks and even threw in a few odd tunes. Boyz II Men performed cheeky and fun covers of songs by Lenny Kravitz (“Are You Gonna Go My Way”) and The Guess Who (“American Woman”). They’re also fun and engaging. Next up were Fleet Foxes, whose folk-tinged indie rock style had people hooked. soundside Congregation. Their music weaves layers of additional textures that appeal to everyone.
Rounding out Saturday were the Goo Goo Dolls and Noah Kahan. Goo Goo Dolls got a warm welcome, but it was Noah who really shined soundside Sky. Everyone hung on to every word of every song. He controls the audience with his emotional expressions and relatable lyrics. Kahn was the perfect ending to a wonderful evening of music.
Photo Ralph Beauchamp
to Sunday. As I said before, I went home in a bad mood due to the weather. If the cards weren’t stacked, I wouldn’t have gone at all. I had to be smart and miss the four openers on purpose. I need sleep and I use this time to recuperate. I came in at the beginning of Gregory Alan Isakov’s show. His music is beautiful. He released a series of exotic and incandescent music. Everyone ate it up. Noah Jones is my favorite. I’ve seen her perform several times with her eclectic band Puss N Boots. She stunned the audience with her majestic singing voice and deft piano playing.
So what can I say about Teddy Swim? I was completely blown away. Man is a force. His voice is passionate and his music is thought-provoking. He gave it his all. soundside Total awe. His music and personality thoroughly saturated Seaside Park. Swims’ arrangements are bold and funky. His aura is cinematic in nature. Swimming just dominated the scene. He even stopped his act when he saw someone in distress and apologized for not seeing it sooner. Swimming is awesome.
Okay, next up is the bleachers. Jack Antonoff and crew are great. His raucous style of Jersey-flavored rock is reminiscent of Springsteen and Southside Johnny. The orchestra was tight and the two saxophonists (Evan Smith and Zem Audu) nearly stole the show. Antonov was delighted. His energetic stage presence adds color to his rough-hewn vocals and inspired songs. The crowd goes crazy and you feel the electricity in the air. Bleachers’ hits “I Wanna Get Better,” “Rollercoaster” and “Modern Girl” were sung at the event. The stands are almost incendiary.
Greta Van Fleet and Jack White rounded out the night. I’m not a big Greta fan, but I find them exciting. The band knows how to attract a show. The Kiska brothers (Joshua, Jack, Sam) are having fun on stage. They constantly attack all areas of Dias. Lead singer Joshua has a beautiful voice and his classic rock style brings back memories of Plant. Plus, they’re wonderfully photographed. Jack White is a musical genius and this performance confirmed that fact. His guitar is powerful and his vocals are intense. He’s a raging beast and the perfect way to say good night to him soundside.
The editor stands aside.
On Thursday, when I went to pick up my ID, I stumbled upon a great Italian restaurant called Ralph N. Rich. It is located across the highway from the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, a 5-minute walk away. I found the food to be great and the service to be great. Additionally, their pricing is quite reasonable. It truly is a hidden gem and neighborhood hotspot. The place is packed and the locals know the delicious food here. when they overheard us attending soundside Needing parking space, they allowed us to park in their parking lot.
Now, who does this. We didn’t need it because we parked on the street, but I was shocked by their generosity. If you’re going to see a show at AMP next year, be sure to come early and enjoy their old-school charm. The address is 815 Main Street, Bridgeport. Their phone number is 203-366-3597.
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