Well, we finally got all of the sand out of our shoes from Oceans Calling 2024. It was an unforgettable weekend filled with music, memories, and a hint of nostalgia. Nestled into the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, the festival brought together a dream lineup of 90s and 2000s rock and alternative artists and a crowd of about 55,000. 

Despite some weather-related hiccups on Friday, the rest of the weekend flowed smoothly, with stunning performances that had fans singing along to every word. Whether you came for the legendary headliners or to stick your toes in the sand, this year’s festival proved why Oceans Calling is quickly becoming a must-attend event after just two years.

 Friday: A Soggy Start with Electrifying Performances

Hailing from the UK, The Darkness helped kick off the day with high spirits, despite the impending rain. Lead singer Justin Hawkins charmed the crowd with his British wit. He joked about how pleased he was to see the ocean and feel the humid air, even noting the effect it had on his hair. He called Ocean City a wonderful place and playfully suggested he could live here. The band had the crowd singing along to their hit ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love,’ a highlight of their set. 

Next up for me, after a quick bite to eat, was Sugar Ray at the Carousel Stage. Mark McGrath wasted no time getting the crowd pumped. They opened with ‘Words to Me’, and before their second song, McGrath joked, “We’re gonna do something stupid right now, ‘cause no one’s ever called Sugar Ray smart. Mediocre is a word I hear a lot.” Then launched into one of their biggest hits, ‘Every Morning’, much to the crowd’s delight. The audience sang so loudly that McGrath joked they couldn’t hear themselves through their monitors on stage.

 By the time 311 hit the stage, the rain had picked up. They opened with ‘Beautiful Disaster,’ and the crowd was instantly headbanging with their rain-soaked hair. Nick Hexum was rocking his red Gibson Flying V, while S.A. Martinez bopped around the stage, dedicating their last song, ‘Down’, to all their old-school 311 fans.

The rain let up a bit for Cage the Elephant's set, though it returned toward the end. Frontman Matt Shultz, despite a leg injury, entertained the crowd, rolling on stage on a scooter, poking fun at his cool ride. His playful attitude kept the energy high, and the band delivered a fantastic, fiery performance.

Not everything went smoothly for Blink-182, however. They were scheduled to start at 9:30 PM but faced delays due to heavy rain. Unfortunately, there was a lack of communication from the festival regarding the situation, which left some fans frustrated. Blink finally took the stage around 10:30 PM for a few rainy songs, which didn’t sit well with many festivalgoers.

Saturday: Sun and Stellar Performances 

The day started off relaxing, soaking up the sun on the deck of the VRBO in West Ocean City, sipping on some mimosas and eating breakfast. The rain cleared up, allowing for a sun-soaked Saturday. 

Our rental house was just a 10-minute Uber ride, which was usually around $15 to get over to the festival and around $40-50 to get back. A tip to those going to Oceans Calling 2025 - staying in West Ocean City also allows you to get a bit more reasonable nightly rate than staying within walking distance. 

Although the festival always has an amazing act at Oceans Calling, there wasn’t anyone, in particular, we wanted to see at the beginning of the day, so we started the day off exploring the boardwalk a bit. The smell of Thrashers Boardwalk fries and the cries of seagulls trying to get in on the goodness were all along the boardwalk.   One of the best aspects of Oceans Calling is that the iconic Ocean City Boardwalk is part of the festival itself. As you enjoy the music, you can take a break to explore all the boardwalk has to offer. The rides at Jolly Roger are free to enjoy, except for the thrilling Slingshot, which costs about $80 for two people—but the memories are worth it. For those feeling brave, the Haunted House is a must-visit for a good scare.  That is the magic of Oceans Calling; it has the best of both worlds - it is both a music festival and a classic seaside boardwalk rolled up into one incredible experience.

 The boardwalk also boasts a variety of shops and restaurants, but don't forget to hit the arcades! Trying your luck at winning arcade prizes can be a blast, especially when you walk away with a giant stuffed animal that’s larger than your actual plans for the weekend. It’s all part of the fun, making it the perfect blend of festival excitement and classic boardwalk charm.

After a bit of skeeball and boardwalk fries, it was time to hit the music. Grouplove had us ‘Tongue Tied’ with their fantastic performance, drawing a huge crowd to the Carousel Stage. They had the crowd belting out their songs the entire set. Eventually jumping into a cover of Blur's ‘Song 2,’ with fans joining in with enthusiastic "WOOHOs." They closed out their set with ‘Malachi’, from their latest album, I Want It All Right Now, leaving everyone buzzing.

Following Grouplove, Rebelution brought their reggae-infused vibes, creating a laid-back atmosphere perfect for a beach festival. Their blend of soulful melodies and upbeat rhythms had the crowd swaying and dancing in the sand.

The Beach Boys kicked off their set with a heartwarming video montage synced to ‘Wouldn't It Be Nice’, setting a nostalgic tone. Mike Love emerged waving and smiling, instantly lifting the crowd's spirits with ‘Do It Again.’  Later in their set, they delighted the audience with ‘Surfin' USA’, and what better place to enjoy that classic than with your toes in the sand and waves crashing alongside you? 

The All-American Rejects took the stage at the same time as The Beach Boys, and as legendary as the Beach Boys are, we  believe The All-American Rejects could have electrified the entire boardwalk had they performed on the main stage, soaking it in with 50,000 fans. The crowd The All-American Rejects drew to the Carousel Stage was absolutely incredible—seemingly, the entire festival gathered to sing along with every lyric. 

Following the All-American Rejects, The Offspring brought their punk energy, firing up the audience with some of their biggest hits. I was instantly brought back to driving around like a maniac in Crazy Taxi when they played ‘All I Want,’ gotta collect those good fares! The Offspring took home the cake for best stage design of the weekend with their towering skeleton.

Finally, The Killers closed out the night with an electrifying performance, reminding everyone why they remain a staple in the rock scene. Their set was filled with anthemic songs that had the crowd singing along long into the night. 

Sunday: A Grand Finale

 We kicked off our Sunday in a similar fashion to Saturday. Instead of cooking, we took a trip for breakfast at Brass Balls Saloon on the boardwalk, just a quick walk from the festival. The lineup for the 3rd day was pretty full, making for tough decisions on who’s set to catch. Blues Traveler: Performing their iconic album ‘Four’, was the first set of the day we caught. They took the crowd on a nostalgic journey with John Popper's outstanding harmonica skills.

Up next was Barenaked Ladies, talk about high energy! They brought their classic hits and charming banter, captivating the audience. At one point it felt like a backstreet boys concert with them up there dancing in sync to a mashup of... ‘Pink Pony Club’>’I Had Some Help’>’Fast Car’>’HOT TO GO!’>’Please Please Please’>’Dancing Queen’>’Sometimes When We Touch’>’So Long, Farewell’. 

 Next on our list was Mt. Joy, a band we’ve been waiting to see for quite some time. We didn’t photograph this one so we could enjoy it to the fullest in the crowd - sometimes even a music journalist has to soak in the joy of a band and put the camera down. Matt Quinn’s soft, raspy vocals were even better to hear live than I expected. Jackie Miclau absolutely tore up the keys for their rendition of Fat Boy Slim’s ‘Praise You’ which they blended flawlessly into their song ‘Julia.’

Dave Matthews Band closed out the festival in typical DMB fashion. They delivered an unforgettable set that left attendees buzzing with excitement. Many people took to social media groups saying it was the best set they’ve seen him perform in years, and I can vouch for that. I knew it was going to be a memorable set when they kicked it off with ‘Ants Marching’. They also played the first DMB song I learned on the guitar, ‘Satellite’. Dave Matthews closed out the set by narrating what just “happened” by telling us we missed them walk off stage, and come back for an encore of ‘Crush’ but not before wishing us “the very best of the rest of your week, the rest of your month, and the rest of your life and everything”. 

As we packed up and finally shook the last grains of sand from our shoes, we couldn’t help but reflect on the magic of Oceans Calling 2024. The festival perfectly blended the nostalgia of classic hits with the salty air and sunny boardwalk vibes that Ocean City has to offer. From electrifying performances to boardwalk fun, this year’s event captured everything a festival should be: memories made, songs that linger long after the encore, and the anticipation for what next year will bring. Oceans Calling is quickly establishing itself as a can't-miss weekend—see you in 2025!  

Each year, Oceans Calling seems to sell out in just a few days - if not hours.  Be sure to sign up for their mailing list and keep your eyes on their ticket page.  Not only is FOMO real, but it is also well-deserved!