Once again, I would like to start this review by thanking the entire festival staff for keeping the event running smoothly. It takes a special kind of team to ensure that an event this large can go off without a hitch, and there were no issues that hampered the experience either day.

After an unforgettable first day that proved Warped Tour’s return was more than just a celebration of the past, fans returned to the RFK Fields for another full day of music, community, and controlled chaos. The thousands of fans who packed into Washington, D.C. on Saturday left with sore legs and countless memories from a day spent running between six stages. Despite the exhaustion that comes with spending over 11 hours walking, there was little hesitation when it came time to return for Day Two.

The morning commute into the festival looked much different than a normal Sunday in the Nation’s Capital. The Metro was once again filled with fans wearing band shirts from the previous day and preparing for another marathon of music. Just 10 hours earlier, the same trains carried exhausted fans home after a successful opening day, with stories being exchanged about favorite sets and debates over what the Day Two line-up would be. Now, they were filled with a new wave of attendees ready to experience everything Warped Tour had to offer.

Day Two brought a new challenge for festivalgoers as storm clouds began looming over the city. After a perfect opening day of weather, the possibility of rain threatened to put a damper on another weekend of music. However, much like the fans themselves, the festival continued moving forward. The light from thousands of fans could not be dimmed. The atmosphere around the grounds remained electric as thousands gathered once again for a day filled with circle pits, crowd surfers, and performances across the festival’s six stages.

One of the most unique traditions of Warped Tour returned once again as fans rushed toward the inflatable set time list as soon as the gates opened. With no official set times revealed beforehand, the first mission of the day was figuring out which stages to run between, which bands could not be missed, and which painful scheduling conflicts would inevitably force difficult decisions. It is a small tradition, but one that captures the spontaneity and community that has always made Warped Tour unlike any other festival.

The first notes of the day came when The Dollyrots kicked off the Eagle stage with their pop-punk sound. The longtime trio brought a veteran presence, with over 25 years of experience, to the early part of the day, reminding fans why they have remained a staple of the scene for over two decades. Over on the Off the Wall stage, Midfield got the day moving with their own brand of alternative rock, giving early festivalgoers another reason to make the trip between stages as the music began. Although, this part of the day saw many fans waiting at the Vans stage for Oxymorrons.

It is rare that a band playing this early can be a contender for the best set of the day, but the New York Rap Rock band certainly gave everyone a run for their money. Fronted by the Bellevue brothers, Oxymorrons are newer to the scene than a lot of the mainstage bands, but their energy was so infectious that you could have guessed that they have been around for decades. The brothers crisscrossed the stage, jumped down to the crowd, and sent the Warped Tour fans into a frenzy. I had never heard of the band before their set but instantly added their music to my library as soon as they stepped off stage. Although another band ended up taking my best set of the day crown, Oxymorrons was an honorable mention and have big things coming to them.

From First to Last brought a wave of longtime scene fans to the Ghost stage to start the early afternoon. The band played a set that highlighted why they remain such an important name in post-hardcore, with songs that have continued to resonate with listeners nearly two decades after their release. Even through multiple hiatuses and member changes, the band is back for good and will continue to rock stages across the country.

Across the grounds, Jutes took over the Off the Wall stage with a modern blend of alternative rock and hip-hop influences. The Canadian artist, and husband of acclaimed musician and Camp Rock star Demi Lovato, has built a growing following through emotionally charged songwriting. Meanwhile, the Vans stage was home to one of the most intense sets of the afternoon as Sunami unleashed a hardcore demolition derby. The Bay Area band wasted little time turning the area in front of the stage into a sea of movement, with fans flying into the pit from every direction. Their raw and unapologetic approach stood in stark contrast to many of the other acts playing at the same time. The two performances represented very different corners of the music world and showed once again how much variety Warped Tour can pack into a single afternoon.

American Hi-Fi brought a familiar sound to the Off the Wall stage, giving fans a chance to hear one of the bands that helped define early 2000s alternative rock. Across the festival grounds, Breathe Carolina took over the Beatbox stage with a completely different approach. The band, who cut their teeth on numerous Punk Goes Pop records, blends electronic elements with their rock background, creating a high-energy set that had fans dancing and singing along. They were a clear favorite of the mid-afternoon session.

The Academy Is… took over the 2pm block of the day, delivering an amazing set at the Vans stage. The Chicago rockers, fresh off a recent tour and their first new album in over 18 years, returned to the Warped Tour stage for the first time in a long time. After taking a nearly 11 year break from music, save for a short 2015 reunion, the band has been back in full force since 2022 and has no signs of slowing down.

Doug Robb and Hoobastank gave a clear reason to head to the Ghost stage as the late afternoon began. For over 30 years, Hoobastank has played around the world, on your tv screens, and in your headphones. The blistering eight song set, featuring both old and new, was one of the best sets of the day. The band exudes a veteran stage presence, and every fan knows what they get when they see Hoobastank play. Warped Tour was no different.

The festival grounds got real busy as three amazing bands all played around the same time. Hot Mulligan, 3OH!3, and Machine Head took to the Vans, Off the Wall, and Ghost stages, respectively. Fans were forced to make some long walks to the various stages as three completely different sounds took over the festival. Hot Mulligan brought their emotional pop-punk to a packed Vans stage, with fans screaming for 30 straight minutes, while right next door 3OH!3 turned the Off the Wall stage into a party with their infectious electronic pop rock sound and a set full of songs that defined the late 2000s. Meanwhile, Machine Head delivered one of the heaviest performances of the weekend, melting faces at the Ghost stage. I think I speak for all Warped Tour attendees when saying that the diversity of talent is the best thing about the festival.

The legendary New Found Glory took the spotlight as they stepped onto the Vans stage. As thousands of fans rushed into the pit, it was obvious that NFG was who everyone had come to see on Day Two. After releasing their newest album in February of this year, the band played the Warped Tour set in honor of guitarist Chad Gilbert who is currently battling an aggressive bout with cancer. Their set was full of emotion as elder emos brushed off the crowdsurf rust to take to the skies, and hopefully not end up on their backs in the middle of the pit. The band just finished up their recent Up Up Down Down tour and will continue with a run of festival dates to end the year.

Away from the stages, Warped Tour continued to offer the unique experiences that have always separated it from a traditional music festival. The skating and bike demonstrations brought fans away from the music for a moment, with riders showing off impressive tricks and reminding everyone of the skating culture that has always been connected to Warped Tour. The area around the ramps stayed packed throughout the day, giving fans another place to gather and experience a different part of what makes the festival special.

Although marred by sound issues, the energy was ever apparent when All That Remains appeared on the Ghost stage. Various guitar issues unfortunately dragged down what should have been the best set on the Ghost stage. Phil Labonte’s voice had no issues though as he screamed and sang through a two-decade long catalog that has defined modern metalcore. These guys have been one of my favorites for a long time and seeing them take to the Warped Tour stage again after so long was very special.

I did not get a chance to see The Story So Far set as it conflicted with ATR, but from what I heard, the band leveled the Off the Wall stage. Conflicts were the name of the game on Day Two, with many fan favorites competing for attention. That was exactly the case with Coheed and Cambria and The Devil Wears Prada. Both bands brought completely different styles to the festival, forcing fans to choose between Coheed’s progressive rock storytelling and TDWP’s aggressive metalcore. If you were quick enough, you were able to catch a couple of TDWP songs before sprinting across the grounds for the beginning of Coheed. Both sets were amazing though. But it was another example of the difficult choices that came with a line-up as stacked as Warped Tour’s Day Two.

The best set of the night took place on the Beatbox stage at the 8pm hour. California metalcore legends and Warped Tour veterans Of Mice & Men dominated the stage after some initial technical difficulties. Fans initially thought the set was stopped during the first song due to weather concerns as heavy storm clouds could be seen in the distance, but some quick cable fixes brought the energy back to the stage and to the crowd tenfold. Aaron Pauly restarted his headbanging as the band busted out “Another Miracle,” the title track off their newest album. They proceeded to take a trip back to my favorite album, Restoring Force, with “Feels Like Forever” and “Would You Still Be There” being played back-to-back. There was not a foot steady on the ground as every single person jumped along to the beat. Pauly’s voice sounded great, as did the respective instruments of the other OM&M members Alan Ashby, Phil Manansala, and Tino Arteaga. The heaviest moment of the set and one of the loudest breakdowns of the weekend occurred as O.G. Loko rang out. The set ended with fans screaming for more as the legendary “Second and Sebring” was played. As I said, this was clearly the best set of the day and could have been the best set of the weekend depending on who you ask.

As the festival began to reach its end, a trio of pop-punk legends took over. Yellowcard, Jimmy Eat World, and Story of the Year all headlined their respective stages. Each band has created songs that have defined the music taste of generations. “Ocean Avenue,” “The Middle,” and “Until the Day I Die” have been key pieces of every pop-punk playlist to ever exist. Their sets brought some of the loudest voices of the weekend, as fans screamed along to every word with each band’s respective singers, Ryan Key, Jim Adkins, and Dan Marsala.

The Massachusetts metalcore heavyweights, Killswitch Engage, delivered the headlining performance to end the festival at the Beatbox stage. Last summer, the band was a part of the massive Summer of Loud tour, this summer, they topped the bill on their own tour, including a slew of headlining festival appearances. Their set was chock-full of hits, with everything ranging from “The End of Heartache” to “This Fire.” A couple of songs were unfortunately stopped early or interrupted by some injuries in the crowd though, but that did not stop the fun. Killswitch’s set put the final touches on an amazing festival.

As Killswitch exited the stage, thousands headed for the gates with one of the best musical memories they will ever experience fresh in their heads. Warped Tour DC was one of the most well-run festivals I have ever been to, and the adrenaline still has not worn off. Pre-sales for next year’s DC dates have gone on sale and I am sure that many will be taking advantage of the opportunity to return.

The festival continues its run across North America with dates still to come in Long Beach, Mexico City, Montreal, and Orlando. If you are a true Warped Tour fan, I expect that your plane tickets and earplugs are already packed. If not, there is still time to secure tickets to next month’s Cali dates.

Check out our favorite photos of Day One below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

OF MICE & MEN

ALL THAT REMAINS

BIKING + SKATING

NEW FOUND GLORY

HOOBASTANK

JUTES

FROM FIRST TO LAST

OXYMORRONS

FOXLAKE

All Photo Credit: Ryan Renger