Recap of 2025 Oceans Calling Music Festival
The third annual Oceans Calling Music Festival lit up the Ocean City Boardwalk from September 26–28, 2025, drawing nearly 55,000 fans each day to the beach for three unforgettable days of music and memories in Ocean City, Maryland.
The energy was electric — artists giving it their all, surprise guests popping up for wild collaborations, and unexpected cover songs that had the crowd singing in unison. We braved rain, humidity, and gusty winds the first two days, only to be rewarded with a picture-perfect Sunday. That final evening, with O.A.R. & Friends and Weezer playing against a brilliant sunset, was pure magic. Watch below for the pre-festival highlights.
@alissaarfordauthorWoo hoo!! Oceans Calling is tomorrow!! Preview of the set up and merch! #oceanscalling #ocmd
♬ Sugar, We’re Goin Down – Fall Out Boy
I look forward to this weekend all year long, and now, a week later, I’m still replaying every moment — and the playlist. My mind’s already racing with questions: Who will be on next year’s lineup? What dates will it fall on? Will the weather cooperate? And when do tickets go on sale?
In past years, I’ve covered the logistics of the festival — parking, stages, tips, and survival guides — in detail. This year, I’m focusing on what’s new and what made 2025 special. If you missed my earlier posts, check out my recaps: Oceans Calling 2024, Oceans Calling 2023.
THE VIBEThe vibe this year felt a little different than in years past — it seemed like we were all trying to escape the exhausting reality of everyday life and the constant barrage of bad news. Many artists said it outright, and many implied it: the world is a crazy place right now. Music is something that can bring us all together!
The organizers optimized the event layout, and it really worked — as was tested at Boardwalk Rock earlier this year. Having some of the festival tents along the Boardwalk helped everything flow so much better. The Carousel Stage was converted into a full-sized raised stage with no tent covering it, which made it so much more convenient to see (and hear) the acts all the way to the beach. You could easily sit on the sand and turn toward Rockville or Carousel and enjoy music from both stages as they switched off. The only downside was that during the rain on Saturday, there was nowhere to take cover.
The reconfiguration of bathroom, food, and vendor placement also worked very well. There was so much open space that you didn’t feel like you were going to be trampled in a mob scene going between stages or to the restroom. The Carousel Stage may have even had a slight advantage over Rockville for line of sight for more people.
The actual port-o-potty stalls may have seemed smaller! I ended up making a longer walk to the bathrooms over by Rockville VIP, and they were less crowded — but still, way better than what I’ve seen at other large events.
One upgrade I loved was the increased use of walkways over the sand. Getting to Sea Bright from Rockville was a piece of cake along the walkway under the fishing pier. Another favorite upgrade: the sound system. The sound from far back at each stage was noticeably better — maybe even better than in the front? Kudos to the sound team!
The lines for food around dinner time were super long, as always. We tried to eat at off-times, and that helped some. The bar stands were never crowded. It was all expensive, of course. For the most part, we grabbed food from the Boardwalk vendors and sat on a beach blanket to eat it (Tony Luke’s, Bull on the Beach, Polock Johnny’s, Dough Roller, Dumser’s, Dolle’s, Kohr’s).
Personally, I felt like this was the best festival yet! Keep reading for details…
@alissaarfordauthorSome highlights from Oceans Calling! Still so exhausted but it was so worth it. Looking forward to year 4! Lots of crowd shots. Hope you see yourself!
♬ Island Time – Bumpin Uglies
THE LINEUPAfter attending the first two Oceans Calling festivals, it seemed like we were destined to keep up the streak! When the lineup was announced, I zeroed in on Lenny Kravitz — I knew I wanted to see him live. We’d already seen all three of the headliners in the past (Green Day, Noah Kahan, Fall Out Boy), but seeing your favorite performers at a festival is an experience like no other.
Kip and I are both in our early 50s, and my son and his girlfriend are in their early 20s. We all have eclectic music tastes and different priorities for which acts to see.
Before the festival, we printed out the schedule for each day (copies for everyone) and marked our top priorities. We planned when we’d eat, ride rides, take breaks on the blanket, skip some acts to get close for favorites, and who we’d meet up with during the day — knowing full well that nothing ever goes exactly as planned (enter: rain, most of Saturday!).
We weren’t just showing up for the headliners. We were off work for three days and ready to enter the gates right when they opened at noon each day. Side note: we averaged more than 20,000 steps per day (including the 2.5-mile walk to and from our condo).
FRIDAY / DAY 1Leading up to the festival, we were obsessed with checking the OCMD weather. Every forecast showed a chance of rain with temps in the 70s. On Friday, it turned out to be overcast and very humid — I was glad I wore shorts and a T-shirt. We all carried small clear bags/backpacks with ponchos and raincoats but didn’t need them. This year, we skipped the Rock and Recycle program (collecting aluminum cans for a free T-shirt). Watch Day 1 Recap Below.
@dapplescrappleOceans Calling 2025 Day 1 Recap! #oceanscallingfestival #oceanscalling2025 #oceanscalling #greenday #hopeyouhadthetimeofyourlife
♬ Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day
Our first “must-see” was Spin Doctors at the Rockville Stage. We prioritized getting up close for that, and after Bel’s fantastic opening performance, we kept our spot at the front rail and waited. (Kip left to see Ballyhoo! and Letters to Cleo — his assignment was to record parts of the sets I missed!) Two of my favorite college songs are Two Princes and Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong. It was so cool to see them live up close — what a blast from the past! And man oh man, lead singer Chris Barron’s yoga is on point… or maybe Half Moon pose? Watch below for Spin Doctor’s Two Princes.
@alissaarfordauthorI have always loved Two Princes by Spin Doctors! I just randomly sing it all the time and when I saw they were coming to Oceans Calling I knew I would be at the rail for this act! It was soooooo good! Loved it.
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTokMy son recorded this video while I sang and danced and lived my best life!!
From there, it turned into a full-on sprint to catch as many acts as possible: The 502s, Fountains of Wayne (Stacy’s Mom — my favorite), Live, The Fray, and O.A.R.
@alissaarfordauthorFountains of Wayne playing Stacy’s Mom at Oceans Calling Music Festival, Sept 2025! #oceanscalling
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
At this point, I was flying solo, determined to get up close for Nelly and Lenny Kravitz — and both absolutely delivered. Nelly was so much fun! Everyone was singing, dancing, and having a ball. I didn’t want to leave… which meant I missed The Fray. Ugh. I firmly believe that deciding between two overlapping favorite acts at a festival is one of life’s hardest choices. See Below.
@alissaarfordauthorNelly at #OceansCalling – not great videography but good vibes!
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok#nelly
I also missed The Black Crowes and Cake because I was determined to be close for Lenny Kravitz. I ended up just a few rows from the stage, and all I can say is wow. I made friends with the people around me, and we were all singing, dancing, and loving life. I could feel the heat from the fire bursts on stage! When he stepped off the stage and came out into the crowd, suddenly he was only a few feet away. In that moment, all I could think was how lucky I was to be there, surrounded by that energy. What a performance. Watch Below.
@alissaarfordauthorLiving my best life up close with @Lenny Kravitz at @Oceans Calling
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok[image error] #oceanscalling #ocmd
Given how close I was for Lenny, I knew getting super close for Green Day would be impossible. I met up with my crew at our predetermined spot, and we made our way up the far right side near the VIP viewing tent at Sea Bright. Many people leave early to beat traffic — but that’s not my jam. Why miss the best song?
@alissaarfordauthorGREEN DAY at @Oceans Calling
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok#oceanscalling #ocmd
The Green Day set was spectacular — who doesn’t know all their songs by heart? Nothing gets the energy up like tens of thousands of people singing along together. When the “Bad Day” blimp flew out, everyone was absolutely delighted. The night ended with fireworks and pure joy.
@alissaarfordauthorSATURDAY / DAY 2Green Day at Oceans Calling!
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok#oceanscalling #ocmd #greenday
Day 2 was packed with memorable moments! It started raining before the gates even opened, and we knew we were going to get soaked. We wore raincoats and ponchos all day, and honestly, it barely helped. There were wind gusts, and by the end of the day we were completely drenched — but at least it wasn’t as bad as last year during Blink-182 (no torrential downpour or flooding like 2024). Watch Below.
@alissaarfordauthorSame intersection in #OCMD showing the 2024 rain situation vs 2025 at @Oceans Calling – Last year was a torrential downpour! #oceanscalling #ocmd
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
We started with Rachel Ana Dobken rocking out at the Sea Bright Stage, then headed to Rockville for Maryland’s own Bumpin Uglies, who I’ve really grown to love over the past year. Island Time is one of my most-played songs!
Fortunately, Wheatus was up next on the Carousel Stage — an easy transition to their classic Teenage Dirtbag in the pouring rain. Actor Jason Biggs, the long-time emcee of Oceans Calling, made the coolest cameo of the weekend when he walked out to hand singer Brendan Brown the iconic bucket hat from the Teenage Dirtbag music video. For fans who remember the 2000 film Loser (where Biggs starred and the song appeared), it was a perfect full-circle tribute. Watch below for this memorable moment!
@dapplescrappleWheatus with Jason Biggs at Oceans Calling Music Festival in the Rain! #wheatus #jasonbiggs #oceanscalling @wheatusofficial @OceansCallingMD
♬ original sound – DappleScrapple
Next up: Natasha Bedingfield. At this point, it was raining hard. We got close to the Rockville Stage, and I was thrilled. Natasha leaned into the weather and brought pure joy — her performance of Unwritten was a highlight of the entire festival. When she sang, “Feel the rain on your skin,” it was pandemonium — 55,000 people screaming the lyrics to the heavens! I’ll never hear that song again without feeling the emotions of that moment. Watch Below.
@alissaarfordauthorNatasha Bedingfield Unwritten at Oceans Calling Music Festival today!! So amazing! @OceansCallingMD #oceanscalling
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
Afterward, we grabbed food and caught Franz Ferdinand, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Collective Soul, before my next must-see: En Vogue. Once again, expectations exceeded! These sparkling legends sang, danced, and nailed their choreography — it felt like 1992 all over again. Everyone around me was singing and dancing in the rain. Watch below for En Vogue’s Whatta Man and Collective Soul’s December.
@alissaarfordauthorEn Vogue, Whatta Man at Oceans Calling Music Festival, Sept 2025!
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
@alissaarfordauthorDecember by Collective Soul at Oceans Calling 2025! #oceanscalling
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
If you know Oceans Calling, you know not to miss the O.A.R. & Friends set — you never know who the surprise guests will be! Usually, they bring out other festival acts, but sometimes there’s an unexpected guest. This year, they did two & Friends sets — one Saturday, one Sunday. My crew was up front at the Rockville stage, and I had to weave through the crowd after En Vogue to meet them. Watch Below.
@alissaarfordauthorOAR & Friends with Andrew McMahon of Jack’s Mannequin!
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
@alissaarfordauthorOAR & Friends set on Saturday at @Oceans Calling
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok#oceanscalling
Next up was Good Charlotte at Sea Bright, and we stopped briefly to see Jack’s Mannequin at Carousel on the way. It was raining hard, and I was kind of miserable at this point. My crew left me lying on my wet beach blanket in the dark, cold rain while they went to see Vampire Weekend. I’d seen them before — that was my rationalization for taking a break. (Also, for the record, I broke my toe the weekend before… so by this point, I was in serious pain but powering through!)
@alissaarfordauthorIn Too Deep by Good Charlotte at Oceans Calling 2025! Fun in the rain!! #oceanscalling
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
The headliner, Noah Kahan, was so good! We’d seen him at the first Oceans Calling, but this time he’s a superstar. We got surprisingly close to the stage — and it was still pouring. The best part: he stepped off the main stage to a smaller one behind the production tent, right near us. Such a cool, intimate moment. Watch below to see when Noah Kahan walked out to the small stage.
@alissaarfordauthorNoah Kahan at Oceans Calling Music Festival, Sept 2025, in the rain!
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
The wet and windy walk home was rough. Our shoes were soaked and caked with sand, but thankfully, we had dry backups for Sunday.
SUNDAY / DAY 3Day 3 was absolutely gorgeous. We were exhausted, but the beautiful weather and incredible music gave us new energy. We kicked off the day with a ride on the Ferris wheel, listening to Eric Hutchinson from above — I love his voice, and he’s hilarious on social media (highly recommend following him!).
We always make time for the chef sessions, and Robert Irvine is a must-see! He’s been at Oceans Calling alongside Jason Biggs each year, and their stage banter never disappoints. This year also featured local chefs Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, plus Antonia Lofaso. My key takeaway from Chef Lofaso: never put oil in the water when you’re boiling pasta. Yes, Chef!
Our first must-see was Marcy Playground at Sea Bright — their hit Sex and Candy sounded as good as ever. I stayed (well, sat on the sand) near that stage for 4 Non Blondes, while Kip went to see Burning Spear and Blind Melon (I was bummed to miss Marcus Garvey and No Rain). One of my all-time favorite songs is What’s Up? (What’s Going On?). Linda Perry, the band’s lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist, was incredible — her voice is somehow even better 30 years later! Being up close for that was a key memory. My son recorded the song so I could dance and sing like crazy. Watch What’s Up below!
@alissaarfordauthorWhat’s Going On / What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes was one of my top festival moments!
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
After that performance, I was on cloud nine! Next up was Ziggy Marley — we relaxed on our beach blanket in the sun, eating lunch during his fun, feel-good set. Then came Michelle Branch and DEVO. I was shocked by the number of DEVO fans in full costume, red hats and all — it was such a fun, high-energy crowd! Watch DEVO below.
@alissaarfordauthorDEVO at Oceans Calling Music Festival! #oceanscalling #devo #ocmd
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
Next, O.A.R. & Friends: Part Two. We made our way to the front at Rockville, hoping for a big guest — and we got one! The surprise was John Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls. There was talk that John owed O.A.R. frontman Marc Roberge $500, and this was his “payment.” The sun was setting behind the stage, and the crowd went wild singing along to Iris and Slide. Watch John Rzeznik below.
@alissaarfordauthorWow! What an amazing special guest! @Oceans Calling @O.A.R. John Rzeznik! #oceanscalling #ocmd
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
And then… it somehow got even better. Weezer took the Sea Bright Stage next. We caught a glimpse of Vance Joy at Carousel as we passed through. We’ve seen Weezer up close before, so this time we enjoyed the show from farther back — sometimes the view (and sound) really is better from there. The sunset was stunning, and we took so many gorgeous photos. Watch Weezer below.
@alissaarfordauthorWeezer!!!
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
My son and his girlfriend sprinted back to Rockville to get close for Train, while I made the controversial decision to use the restroom instead. It’s now a running joke in the family, but I stand by my choice! I still heard most of their set, and I’d already seen Pat Monahan up close during the O.A.R. & Friends performance — so that counts, right? (Okay, maybe not. Yes, I have FOMO.) Watch Train below.
@alissaarfordauthorTRAIN at #OceansCalling
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
Because we stayed farther back for Train, Kip and I were able to move up close for Fall Out Boy, the final headliner. We’ve seen them before, but I’ll say it again — seeing a band at a festival is a completely different experience. Having Fall Out Boy close the festival was epic. The production quality was off the charts — lights, fire, everything. I could feel the heat from the pyrotechnics. It was a spectacle for the eyes and ears. Bravo! Watch Fall Out Boy below.
@alissaarfordauthor#1 TIP FOR MUSIC FESTIVALS: SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONSFall Out Boy was the best!
♬ original sound – Alissa Arford | Author BookTok
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: my number one tip is to set realistic expectations and be prepared for uncertainty. You know it will be crowded. The weather will be unpredictable. You’ll be uncomfortable and tired. It won’t be perfect — but it will be perfectly imperfect. Those imperfections are what make it memorable. Listening to the bands you love is always worth it.
The PerformersFriday, Sept 26, 2025Green Day · Lenny Kravitz · The Black Crowes · Nelly · O.A.R. · CAKE · +LIVE+ · The Fray · Fountains of Wayne · The 502s · Spin Doctors · Letters to Cleo · Ballyhoo! · BEL · Izzy Escobar.
Saturday, Sept 27, 2025Noah Kahan · Vampire Weekend · Good Charlotte · Modest Mouse · Jack’s Mannequin · Collective Soul · En Vogue · Franz Ferdinand · Natasha Bedingfield · DJ Jazzy Jeff · Mat Kearney · Wheatus · Bumpin Uglies · Rachel Ana Dobken.
Sunday, Sept 28, 2025Fall Out Boy · Weezer · Train · DEVO · Vance Joy · Ziggy Marley · 4 Non Blondes · Michelle Branch · Blind Melon · Burning Spear · Marcy Playground · O.A.R. · Eric Hutchinson.
Beyond the Music
Chef demos: Robert Irvine, Michael Voltaggio, Brian Voltaggio, Antonia Lofaso — hosted by Jason Biggs.
