As the sun dipped low over the Atlantic on September 26, the Ocean City Boardwalk pulsed with anticipation, transforming into a sprawling canvas of sound and salt air for the third annual Oceans Calling Festival. Over 162,000 attendees flooded the shores of this Maryland gem, drawn by a lineup that bridged ’90s nostalgia and modern anthems across three stages: Sea Bright, Rockville, and Carousel. The air hummed with the salty tang of funnel cakes and the distant crash of waves, while vendors hawked crab-themed merch amid throngs of tie-dye shirts and cowboy boots.
Friday’s kickoff erupted with Green Day closing the Sea Bright Stage, their pyrotechnics lighting up the dusk as “Basket Case” echoed off the Ferris wheel’s silhouette. Nearby, Lenny Kravitz’s funk-rock grooves on the Rockville Stage had crowds swaying, sweat-glistened faces lit by string lights. On the Carousel, Cake’s deadpan wit drew laughs between sips of boardwalk brews, their “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” a cheeky nod to the festival’s beachy vibe.
Saturday brought drama from the skies—torrential rain lashed the crowds, turning ponchos into fashion statements and mud into a slippery dance floor. Yet spirits soared; Natasha Bedingfield powered through the downpour on Rockville, her “Unwritten” anthems belted out in defiance, fans linking arms in a soggy sing-along. Noah Kahan’s folk-tinged set on Sea Bright later that evening felt like a confessional under the storm’s clearing, his voice cutting through the patter like a lighthouse beam. Vampire Weekend’s indie flair on Rockville added a cerebral twist, their polyrhythms syncing with the rhythm of raindrops on umbrellas.
By Sunday, blue skies returned, ushering in a triumphant close. Fall Out Boy’s explosive finale on Sea Bright sent fireworks arcing over the surf, while Weezer’s geek-rock charm on the same stage evoked pure, unadulterated joy—rivers of beer foam and cheers rising in unison. Amid it all, O.A.R.’s collaborative jams wove through the days like threads in a tapestry, reminding everyone why this boardwalk ritual endures: music as the ultimate tide, pulling us back year after year.