Words & Photos by Anthony Abu-Hanna
Soundside Music Festival, now in its third year (albeit under a different name), opened with massive lines of fans eagerly awaiting entry to what promised to be a fantastic day.
As guests trickled in during the early afternoon, Jersey City’s Rijah took to the main stage, filling the festival grounds with her soulful, melodic voice. She and her band delivered a funky, upbeat performance, setting the tone for the day. Madi Diaz followed with her indie-folk stylings, serenading the growing crowd.
Next up was Lisa Loeb, best known for her hit Stay (I Missed You), who quickly took the stage. She delivered a nostalgic set featuring hits like Do You Sleep?, Waiting for Wednesday, and I Do.
Then came blues guitar virtuoso Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, who wowed the crowd with jaw-dropping guitar artistry and melodic vocals. However, one noticeable thing happened during Kingfish’s set—it began to rain.
The rain didn’t stop Thee Sacred Souls’ Josh Lane and his bandmates from throwing a party on stage. Combining pop, R&B, and reggae, Thee Sacred Souls delivered a dynamic and powerful set. Lane’s antics—climbing over speakers and jumping into the crowd—kept everyone energized, as if the rain wouldn’t stop anything.
Among festival-goers, a running joke started circulating: “This festival is cursed,” a nod to the weather. For three years running, Soundside has been hit with inclement weather in Bridgeport. As the afternoon wore on, the winds picked up and the rain showed no sign of stopping—even though radar suggested it would only last an hour.
Vermont’s own Grace Potter took the stage to thunderous applause, dramatically ripping off the rain covers from her equipment. She improvised a melody, singing about how good everyone looked in ponchos. Her infectious energy and charisma filled the venue as she bounced around the stage, belting out fan favorites like Medicine, Good Time, Stars, and Paris (Ooh La La).
Next, Grammy Award-winning Boyz II Men commanded the stage in pristine white outfits. Their harmonious vocals dominated the afternoon as they delivered hit after hit, including Motownphilly, On Bended Knee, I’ll Make Love to You, and One More Dance. The highlight of their performance was a wild cover medley, intertwining songs from Sam Cooke, Lenny Kravitz, The Guess Who, Bruno Mars, The Beatles, Prince, G.C. Cameron, and Journey, which sent the audience into a frenzy.
Following Boyz II Men’s electrifying set, Fleet Foxes provided a quiet reprieve with their signature folk sound, performing fan favorites like White Winter Hymnal and Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a serene moment in contrast to the high-energy acts before them.
Continuing the ‘90s nostalgia, the Goo Goo Dolls stormed the stage as the wind howled and the rain came down sideways. They dug deep into their catalog, but the standouts were unmistakably Slide, Name, Black Balloon, and, of course, Iris.
The festival reached its climax when Noah Kahan, the artist everyone was waiting for, took the stage. With over 40,000 fans, Soundside erupted into a massive sing-along, especially with his opener Dial Drunk.
“I’m Noah Kahan, and I owe your state an apology,” he joked, referring to his previous comments about Connecticut not being part of New England. “I see the weather. This is New England.”
Noah’s stage presence is magnetic, and his self-deprecating humor contrasts with the melancholy of his music. Live, songs like New Perspective, Everywhere, Everything, and You’re Gonna Go Far became anthems, with nearly the entire crowd singing every word. He closed with his biggest hit, Stick Season, the perfect way to wrap up a rainy, yet unforgettable, night as fans braced for the onset of fall.
As we all prepared to leave, soaked and windswept, the words of Elsa came to mind: “The cold never bothered me anyway.”
Check out coverage from Day 2…
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TheWaster.com | Bridgeport
10.1.24
