OCEAN’S CALLING MUSIC FESTIVAL
Ocean’s Calling Music Festival, Ocean City Boardwalk, Ocean City, MD 9/26/25 -9/28/25.
The third rendition of Oceans Calling Festival rewarded fans with three days of music, memories and (mostly) sun on the sandy beaches of Ocean City, MD.
Friday kicked off with rising star Izzy Escobar making her first ever festival appearance, absolutely captivating the afternoon audience. Escobar is on an unprecedented upward trajectory, with a debut EP coming in October. Other memorable Friday performances were from Fountains of Wayne, Nelly and the Black Crows with Green Day rounding out the evening.
It wouldn’t be a weekend at Oceans Calling without some weather rolling in and Saturday proved to be one of the wettest days in the festival’s history, but it didn’t dampen spirits at all.
DJ Jazzy Jeff had crowds on their feet and stomping in puddles to one pop fav after another and it set the tone for the rest of the day. En Vogue proved they still have their R&B chops with a memorable set in the rain and Noah Kahan rose to the occasion for dedicated fans who crowded the barricade for him all day in abysmal weather.
As the Sun came up on Sunday, puddles dried and skies cleared for the best weather of the weekend and artist and fan alike were ready. Ziggy Marley played a very memorable set in the afternoon sun and Weezer and Train both kept fans on their feet, priming them for Fallout Boy to close out the weekend.
The O.A.R. and Friends sets held each day hold a special place in the hearts of fans as the Maryland natives bring special surprise guests on stage for collabs. Seeing American Pie star Jason Biggs assist on a cover of “Enter Sandman” checked a box I didn’t even know I had and Andrew McMahon covering “Get What You Give” might have been a high point of my weekend.
After three years, Oceans Calling is cultivating a formula of quality lineups, amazing fan experiences and consistently improved infrastructure and it’s hard not to foresee a bright future for the burgeoning festival.
Shot and Written by Mike Greco
