For 2024, the Sound on Sound Festival has rebranded as Soundside Music Festival. The lineup is pretty stacked, but unfortunately I won’t be making it this year. But I figured I’d preview some of the artists I have seen before. I was very happy to see that several of the more main acts each day will have an American Sign Language Interpreted set – if you remember last year I had some issues with figuring out how accessible they would be (although there still seems to be no accessible markings on this years map) I am happy that they are stepping up for those who may be hard of hearing and need the interpreter. (I also find them really fun to watch!)
Saturday September 28
Rijah
Madi Diaz
Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Thee Sacred Souls
Grace Potter
Boyz II Men
Fleet Foxes
Goo Goo Dolls
Noah Kahan
Sunday September 29
Darren Kiely
Hurray for the Riff Raff
The War and Treaty
Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors
Gregory Alan Isakov
Norah Jones
Teddy Swims
Bleachers
Foo Fighters
On Night 1, I have only seen Boyz II Men (6x) and Goo Goo Dolls (1x). Boyz II Men are always a lot of fun and put on a great show and have some great harmonies! For some reason I thought I’ve seen Goo Goo Dolls more than just once, but while they aren’t my favorite they put on a good show. Lisa Loeb, Grace Potter and Noah Kahan are all artists I’d have enjoyed checking out, Noah is a New England guy and his show at the Amp in Bridgeport last year seemed like a good time – most of the videos I saw the crowd was singing even louder than he was and were really into it. Since he’s headlining, I’d expect a lot of those fans to try and come out again.
Night 2 features one act I have seen before – friend of the blog – Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. They just released Strangers No More Volume 2 quite recently and while I haven’t had a chance to take it all in yet, if it’s anything like Volume 1, I’m going to love it. For Sunday’s set I’d have liked to see Norah Jones, Teddy Swims and Foo Fighters. Bleachers were a last minute addition when Queens of the Stone Age needed to back out, and while I haven’t seen them specifically, I have seen Jack Antonoff in one of his previous bands, Steel Train, when they opened for Hanson back in ’09. A lot of people are complaining that they aren’t a good replacement, but I think many will be happy with the addition.
For those of you who may be fans of some of the other acts I am not familiar with – what can you tell me about Rijah, Madi Diaz, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Thee Sacred Souls, Fleet Foxes, Darren Kiely, Hurray for the Riff Raff, The War and Treaty, and Gregory Alan Isakov? Any songs of theirs I may know and not realize it? Who should be on my radar?
Anyone going to the festival – who are you most excited to see?