Ocean City, Md. – The highly anticipated Oceans Calling Festival began its first day on a rainy Friday, with gates opening at noon, just as the weather turned sour. Despite the overcast skies and occasional downpours, the energy remained high as approximately 50,000 attendees filed in, eager for the day’s performances.
The festival, which spans three days, draws a large crowd with a lineup featuring both up-and-coming artists and established acts. Friday’s lineup did not disappoint, with several acts taking the stage early in the afternoon as the rain continued to fall.
Early Afternoon Performances Set the Tone
Kicking things off at 12:30 p.m. was the band Stolen Gin, setting the stage for a day filled with diverse musical offerings. Shortly after, at 1:00 p.m., singer-songwriter Vincent Lima took the stage. Despite the rain, Lima delivered a strong performance that showcased his lyrical depth and indie-pop sound. His setlist included introspective tracks like “The Man by the Coast,” “Terrify,” and “Orpheus / Eurydice,” before closing with “The Fire,” leaving the crowd buzzing despite the gloomy weather.
At 1:45 p.m., alternative rock band Winona Fighter followed Lima’s act. Known for their energetic performances, they delivered a dynamic set with songs such as “Wlbrn St Tvrn,” “Subaru,” and “Johnny’s Dead.” A standout cover of Blur’s “Song 2” energized the audience despite the rain-soaked grounds.
Jessica Moore, 28, from Philadelphia, reflected on the day, saying, “The rain was a bit of a downer at first, but honestly, once the music started, I didn’t even care anymore. Phillip Phillips’ set was incredible, and dancing in the rain just made it that much more memorable!”
Phillip Phillips Brings His Hits to the Stage
As the afternoon progressed, the crowd began to gather in larger numbers for Phillip Phillips, the singer-songwriter best known for his hit “Home” and his win on American Idol. Phillips took the stage at 2:30 p.m., starting with “Get Up Get Down,” followed by a string of hits such as “Raging Fire” and “Gone, Gone, Gone.” Fans were treated to a medley of “Home” with Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” which was a crowd favorite. He even surprised the audience with a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
Mark Stevens, 34, from Baltimore, said, “I came ready with my rain jacket and boots, so the weather didn’t bother me much. It’s all part of the festival experience! Winona Fighter and their Blur cover totally made my day.”
Afternoon Performances Bring the Energy
At 3:15 p.m., fans had to make a tough decision between two acts: Larkin Poe, a Southern rock and blues band, and 1990s alt-rock stars Tonic. Both acts delivered stellar performances, with Larkin Poe bringing their signature gritty guitar riffs and harmonies, and Tonic revisiting their classic hits like “If You Could Only See.”
The Darkness hit the stage at 4:15 p.m., bringing their flamboyant and theatrical brand of rock to the festival. Their glam-rock style energized the crowd as the rain began to subside.
O.A.R. took the stage later in the day with an eclectic setlist that spanned their career, including fan favorites like “Love and Memories,” “Shattered (Turn the Car Around),” and “That Was a Crazy Game of Poker.” Brady Watt joined them for a special rendition of “Anyway” with a tag of The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm.” The performance lifted spirits as attendees enjoyed the improved weather.
David Franklin, 40, a local from Ocean City, shared his excitement: “I’m local, so I knew the weather could be unpredictable, but it’s all good. Larkin Poe and Tonic at the same time was a tough choice, but I’m glad I caught Tonic—they brought me back to the ’90s!”
Culinary Delights: Chef Marc Murphy’s Food Demo
Festivalgoers also enjoyed a break from the music with a food demonstration by celebrity chef Marc Murphy, known for his appearances on Chopped. Murphy was joined by Jason Biggs of American Pie fame and Emerson Hart, lead singer of Tonic, for a lively session in which they prepared Spaghetti alla Carbonara. Fans watched as the trio cooked and entertained, providing a fun and flavorful interlude to the day’s events.
Emily Carter, 25, from Washington, D.C., shared her thoughts: “It was such a fun break from the music! Watching Chef Marc Murphy cook with Jason Biggs and Emerson Hart was a total treat. And the spaghetti they made looked delicious!”
Evening Performances Take the Stage
As the evening continued, performances ramped up with big-name acts. 311 delivered an electric set with classics like “Beautiful Disaster,” “Amber,” and their cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong.” The crowd sang along with every word, enjoying the perfect blend of rock, reggae, and alternative sounds.
Sublime with Rome followed with a crowd-pleasing set that included iconic tracks like “Santeria,” “What I Got,” and covers of Toots & The Maytals’ “54-46 That’s My Number” and Bob Marley’s “Jailhouse.” Their blend of ska-punk and reggae kept the energy high as the evening progressed.
The alternative rock group Sugar Ray also took the stage earlier in the day, with Mark McGrath leading the band through hits like “Answer the Phone,” “When It’s Over,” and “Fly.” The band even threw in a medley of nostalgic pop covers like “How Bizarre,” “Steal My Sunshine,” and Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.”
As Blink-182 prepared to close the night, weather delays and a local curfew cut their set from one hour to just 30 minutes. Despite the shortened performance, Blink-182 still delivered crowd favorites like “Feeling This,” “The Rock Show,” “I Miss You,” and the closing song, “Dammit,” which was chosen by the crowd over “All the Small Things.”
Crowd Perseveres Despite Weather
Although rain and overcast conditions persisted, festivalgoers remained resilient. Many came prepared with ponchos and rainboats, determined to enjoy the performances despite the weather.
Sarah Kim, 22, from New York City, expressed her enthusiasm: “This is my first time at Oceans Calling, and even with the rain, the atmosphere is electric. There’s something special about hearing live music in a downpour—Phillip Phillips covering ‘Thriller’ was such a surprise!”
As the first day of the Oceans Calling Festival came to a close, the festival showed that neither rain nor clouds could dampen the spirits of its attendees or the energy of the performances. Saturday promises another day of great music, culinary delights, and memories to be made.
Blink was scheduled for 1.5 hours and got the go ahead to play longer but decided no due to the rain that we all stood in waiting for them to keep playing. Also they delivered a performance of tension. You could tell they didn’t want to be around each other by comments made on stage towards each other. They were the biggest let down of the entire festival.
Jack is a wicked photographer!!