Festivals
High Water Festival 2025 – Day 1 Recap & Photos
Riverfront Park, North Charleston – April 26, 2025
Set against the tranquil backdrop of Riverfront Park in North Charleston, South Carolina, the 8th Annual High Water Festival, presented by AC Entertainment and C3CO, was a radiant celebration of music and community. Held on April 26th and 27th, the festival once again transformed springtime in Charleston into an unforgettable weekend.
High Water Festival continued its mission of giving back. A portion of its proceeds each year is donated to support the Green Heart Project, reinforcing its commitment to giving back to the local community.
High Water Festival 2025 kicked off its first day under clear skies and with a slightly different energy this year. With Shovels & Rope stepping away from curating duties, and Live Nation now running the show, it’s safe to say a few things felt more corporate, more polished. But the real star of High Water has always been the music, and on that front, Day One delivered.
EVAN HONER
Evan Honer opened the day with the type of set that sneaks up on you. Just a guy with a guitar and a low-key charm, but the crowd kept inching closer as the songs unfolded. His voice carries a kind of weary honesty, and it worked perfectly in the early afternoon. He’s not flashy, but he doesn’t need to be. For anyone still finishing their coffee, Honer offered a gentle but solid wake-up call.
MEDIUM BUILD
Medium Build might have looked like your friend’s older cousin who smokes and owns a Subaru, but his set was raw, honest, and cut deep. He had the Stono crowd silent one moment and shouting lyrics the next, especially “White Male Privilege.” His lyrics that landed like a gut punch and his performance that felt like therapy. A standout moment early in the day.
JOY OLADOKUN
Joy Oladokun brought a whole lot of heart to the Edisto stage. Her mix of folk, soul, and sharp storytelling struck a chord with the crowd, who were already halfway in before she sang a note. Oladokun’s stage banter is warm and a funny, like talking to a friend. Many songs drew loud cheers, but the quieter moments were the ones that lingered. She made a big space feel small in the best way.
AMOS LEE
Amos Lee eased into the early evening with a set that felt like a warm breeze. His smooth and soulful voice carried over the park like a well-worn record. The crowd didn’t shout much, but they leaned in and swayed along to “Sweet Pea.” He’s got that calm stage presence that sneaks up on you with no big moments, but consistently good ones. With High Water Festival leaning heavy on indie and roots rock, Lee’s soulful blend added a nice dose of grown-up charm.
JULIEN BAKER & TORRES
The pairing of Julien Baker and TORRES was magnetic. Their set moved between Baker’s stripped-back storytelling and TORRES’ heavier genre-bending sound. When they harmonized, it was like watching two sides of the same coin click into place. “Off the Wagon” opened the set with a little twang and a lot of attitude. “Tuesday” brought things down in the best way. “Sugar in the Tank” reminded everyone just how powerful a simple chorus can be when it’s coming from two people who mean every word.
MT. JOY
Mt. Joy has festival sets down to a science without sounding tired. They wasted no time getting the crowd moving with “Coyote” and leaned into the ful energy of their sound. Guitarist Sam Cooper was clearly having a blast, and Jackie Miclau on keys added layers that took “Dirty Love” and “Silver Lining” into full singalong territory. Joy Oladokun even joined them on stage for “Astrovan.” The band’s 13-song set somehow flew by, and frontman Matt Quinn apologized for having to cut it short. They are a band that feels like they could play all night.
THE BACKSEAT LOVERS
The Backseat Lovers got one of the biggest receptions of the day, and not just from the sad indie kids. Fans screamed every word to “Growing/Dying.” The band energy is anxious and infectious at the same time, and frontman Joshua Harmon walks the line between laid-back and totally wired. “Maple Syrup” gave the set some breathing room, but by then the crowd was already locked in.
LORD HURON
Headliner Lord Huron brought the drama. Their set was theatrical without being cheesy, and dreamy without losing its grip. “Meet Me in the Woods” opened with Ben Schneider swaying his hips and channeling something close to a haunted lounge singer. They even played unreleased track “Bag of Bones” that hinted at a darker direction. They closed with a four-song encore, including a soaring “Wait by the River.” Lord Huron built a little universe for this set and it was the perfect ending for Day One.
Day One set a high bar. The staging was clean, the crowds were manageable, and the sound held up (minus a few minor issues). The music did most of the talking.
Head to our Facebook page for the full Day One gallery!
All Photo Credit: Lane Bickett
Festivals
All Things Go Toronto Reveals 2026 Lineup with Kesha and Lorde as Headliners
Today, All Things Go Festival announced the lineup for its Toronto 2026 edition, taking place on June 6th and 7th at the iconic downtown waterfront venue RBC Amphitheatre. The festival is renowned for centering female, LGBTQ+, gender-expansive, and marginalized artists to great success. As Billboard just said,”The Toronto edition of All Things Go is about to get hotter.”
The lineup for Saturday, June 6th is led by genre-defying phenomenon, award-winning artist Kesha and Toronto rock band The Beaches, winners of the 2024 Juno Award for Group of the Year, along with Rachel Chinouriri, who played last year’s All Things Go in NY and DC, as well as Holly Humberstone, Sofia Camera and Bella Kay.
The lineup for Sunday, June 7th features some of today’s most beloved and innovative artists, led by trailblazer and returning ATG headliner Lorde and GRAMMY winners Wet Leg, along with Del Water Gap, Jade Lemac, Momma, and Flower Face.
All Things Go has once again partnered with Live Nation Women, aligned in a shared mission to champion women and expand opportunities for artists and fans. Last year’s festival featured iconic sets from Reneé Rapp, Kacey Musgraves, Role Model, Charlotte Cardin, and many more…
All Things Go 2026 editions in the DC and New York will return this year, with more information to come soon.
ATG/LIVE NATION PRESALE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5th @ 10 AM ET
GENERAL ONSALE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6th @ 10 AM ET
Sign up for more information here.
Find more information on the festival website or on their social channels:
Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok
Festivals
Vans Warped Tour Kicks Off 2026 Line-up Announcements with 30-ish Days of Warped
Vans Warped Tour, one of the most iconic, successful, and longest-running music festivals in history returns in 2026 with a bold new era. Expanding its footprint and cultural impact after last year’s three sold-out U.S dates, Vans Warped Tour will deliver five two-day U.S. festivals returning to Washington, D.C., Long Beach, CA, and Orlando, FL, alongside the launch of two all-new international editions in Montreal, Canada and Mexico City, Mexico, marking a powerful global expansion.
In partnership with Insomniac, the world-class experience creators behind some of the largest music festivals on the planet, Vans Warped Tour is reimagined for today, honoring its legacy while evolving the format, energy, and community for a new generation of fans.
Each two-day festival will feature over 100 artists spanning rock, pop punk, alternative, emo, hip-hop, ska and beyond, alongside appearances from world-class skateboarders and elite action-sports athletes. This latest iteration builds on Vans Warped Tour’s legacy while embracing a broader, more global future for one of music and skate culture’s most enduring live platforms.
In anticipation of this year’s dates, Vans Warped Tour has launched the first look at the artists performing this year. With multiple artists being announced daily over the next 30-ish days exclusively on Vans Warped Tour social platforms, this furthers their mission of artist discovery and fan-first ideology. Upon launching the 30-ish days of Warped in 2025, these reveals resulted in over 3.8 billion impressions. Additionally, as noted from artists’ last year, the 30-ish days of Warped resulted in over a million monthly engagements, increased virality, and advanced career growth. When the full line-up is revealed in mid-March, artists will be listed alphabetically, a tradition that keeps the focus on the collective experience rather than headliners.
Vans Warped Tourwill feature a series of intimate pop-up events in every market, designed to celebrate and engage each local community as part of the 30ish days of Warped. These city-specific moments will bring the experience directly to fans through surprise guest performances, with the added potential for the announcement of performers. Each pop-up is intended to create a sense of connection and spontaneity, making every stop a memorable and locally rooted experience.
Vans WarpedTour remains true to their reputation as one of the best to attend to discover emerging acts, to meet like-minded friends, and explore meaningful nonprofits and companies who are making a positive impact on the world that surrounds them. As part of their Charity Circle last year, over 134,000 pounds of canned food items were collected, fans and guest donations surpassed $100,000, with $200,000 alone donated to nonprofit organizations.
Originally conceived by founder Kevin Lyman in 1995 as an eclectic alternative rock festival, with a focus on punk rock, over the years the tour grew to include a multitude of genres, including metal, hip hop, reggae, pop and more. The Vans Warped Tour gained notoriety as the largest traveling music festival in the United States, and the longest-running touring music festival in North America.
Ahead of this year’s dates, Lyman shares “Warped has always been about a sense of discovery, learning about brands, non-profits and bands. By releasing the line-up the way we do is the best way we have been able to figure out how to do this. Each band gets their moment to introduce or reacquaint themselves to you, and for those who get Warped they get this. Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you in the pit!”
Over its 30-year history,Vans Warped Tour built a singular legacy as the definitive summer festival for rock and alternative music fans, shaping generations of artists and audiences alike. Founded in 1995, Vans Warped Tour was never just a concert series; it was a proving ground, cultural crossroads, and community-driven platform where established acts shared stages with emerging talent, often at pivotal moments in their careers.
Throughout the years, Vans Warped Tour helped introduce and elevate artists who would go on to define modern music, with past performers including Blink-182, No Doubt, Sublime, Beck,Katy Perry, NOFX, Limp Bizkit, Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, Eminem, Yellowcard, Bad Religion, and countless others.
What set Vans Warped Tour apart was its accessibility and ethos. Affordable tickets, all-day festivals, genre-fluid lineups, and an environment where fans could discover new artists, connect directly with performers, and experience music alongside skate culture, activism, and community engagement. That spirit of openness and discovery became central to Vans Warped Tour’s identity, cementing its place as one of the most influential live music platforms in modern music history. Vans Warped Tour weekend tickets are currently available for purchase at https://www.vanswarpedtour.com/tickets, starting at $237.00 (taxes and fees included) for Montreal.
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