The 2025 edition of Levitate Music & Arts Festival took place on the sunny weekend of July 12 and 13. The popular Marshfield, MA festival underwent some notable changes since last year, with an altered physical layout and a reduction from three days to two for the first time since 2018. The lineup featured flavors of rock, jam, funk, reggae, folk, and pop for an overall familiar musical experience compared to previous iterations of Levitate. This year’s leaner version of the festival retained its triple stage format but with the noticeable change: the smallest stage that is typically sequestered in a corner of the festival grounds was relocated to a much more visible location directly opposing the large main stage.
Day one was a strong opening to the annual festival, headlined and arguably anchored by local reggae sensation Stick Figure, hailing from neighboring Duxbury. Also of note: Marshfield’s own popular reggae offering, The Elovaters, performed the first of two sets of the weekend on Saturday. No Levitate lineup is complete without at least one or both of those local mainstays, and they consistently draw large crowds. This year was no different, and tickets for Saturday sold out. Attendees from Marshfield and the adjacent towns in Plymouth County were everywhere, wearing Stick Figure merchandise and greeting neighbors and family. Familiar names on the lineup were not limited to locals however, with frequent flyers Ripe and Mihali both appearing on day one of the festival. Ripe’s sixth appearance at Levitate was not to be taken for granted though, as the band still bore the fresh scars from a golf-cart accident precisely two weeks and twelve hours prior to their set. It wasn’t a stretch to say that the crowd had few if any complaints about a lineup full of the usual suspects, given the sheer size of the day one crowd.
Clever festivalgoers knew the best performances could be found on the smallest stage, which featured up-and-comers Samantha McKaige, Maya Manuela, Hans Williams, and Autumn Drive. Their sets were short but sweet samplings of what they had to offer, and the prominent new stage setup provided each artist with an opportunity to catch new listeners who might have otherwise missed them. The new stage had another benefit that was unfortunately corrected by night two: after the New Bedford based rockers Autumn Drive closed out the last set of the night for that stage, festival-goers took the opportunity to commandeer it as an elevated viewing platform with a view of the main stage. With a huge crowd for Stick Figure’s headlining set amassed up by the stage, more casual viewers comfortably lounged as they watched from a distance. Which section of the crowd truly represented the spirit of Levitate: the ride-or-die fanatics of the hometown heroes jammed up front or the spaced out, shirtless dad-bods in back? There may be no wrong answer.
Check out all of Greg’s photos from day one below.
Day two continued to bring the heat, both physically and musically. Fans in flowing skirts, tie dye shirts, and crocheted tank tops wandered the grounds, excited to see their favorite artists. Braided crowns from Peace Love & Halos were the must-have vendor accessory, with their endless options of colors and textures matching everyone’s outfits.
Josiah and The Bonnevilles conquered the Stoke Stage in the early afternoon, delivering raw and aching vocals that built an ironclad connection with fans. Songs like “Six Dollar Check” chronicled his journey of leaving a major label and continuing to pursue music, displaying a vulnerability and admirable persistence. His mesmerizing guitar strumming and harmonica playing proved that an acoustic sound can still capture audience attention. Fans of all ages were emphatically singing along to each song, all the way from a toddler on their mom’s shoulders, to a woman in her 70s at the barricade. Soon after, standout act Linka Moja visited the Style stage. They cleverly kickstarted their set with a cover of the beloved song “Black Sheep” by Metric, grabbing attention from the crowd that transferred over to their equally hard-hitting originals.
Tracks like “Psycho” displayed their sharp lyricism and lead singer Emma Routhier’s grungy vocals. Routhier bounced around the stage, smiling ear to ear as she whipped her wolf cut around in the wind. They sprinkled in covers of “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People and “Kiwi” by Harry Styles into their set, effortlessly blending their sound with alternative, pop, rock, and high-energy genres. After escaping backstage, Routhier posed for portraits with Allston Pudding, letting the details of her outfit shine: bright candy apple red shorts and statement necklaces.
Fans wandered from stage to stage between sets, visiting a live art installation of giant wooden fish sculptures that painters were working on throughout the day. Mixed media formats like metallic recycled materials, fluffy spray paint, and traditional painting elements were strewn across the ground as artists went to work creating unique pieces that memorialized the weekend. Smaller fish were available for passersby to help paint, cementing those fans as a part of the festival’s history forever.
Singer-songwriter Lily Fitts strutted onto The Levitate Foundation Songwriter Stage in denim and red and brown cowboy boots as the evening moved in. Fitts is a Massachusetts native hailing from Topsfield, but that doesn’t stop her from infusing an irresistible country twang into her music. Some fans at the front of the stage squealed and asked their mom to take a photo of them in front of her. She grinned and thanked everyone for coming before diving into emotional tracks that feel like she took a peak in your diary. Viral Hit “Brown Eyed Baby” displayed her raspy vocals as she strummed on the guitar and swayed to the music. Fans were left craving more Fitts, a hunger that can be satisfied on her first headline tour, which is stopping at The Sinclair on November 14.
The crowd sought shelter under colorful canopies, grabbing some delectable bites to eat before parking at the picnic tables. Loaded fries with vegan chili and pulled pork, giant slices of pizza, authentic street tacos, and yummy stir fry satisfied all flavor cravings. The Broccoli Bar, a stall featuring staff in broccoli costumes and a killer playlist, lulled fans to their truck all day.
Still Woozy delivered limitless energy during the final performance on the Style Stage of the weekend. His feet were barely on the ground as he scaled the stage throughout the duration of his set, displaying his stamina. Floral decorations, bubbles, and larger cartoonish flower sculptures transported the crowd into Still Woozy’s psychedelic world. Day two was headlined by the dynamic, genre fluid, Boston indie band Dispatch. They rounded out the final set of the weekend with an unabashed performance that highlighted messages of civil rights, social inclusivity, and self-reflection.
Check out all of Samantha and Greg’s photos from day two below.
