Contributing writers: Kristyn Clarke and Nicholas Gonzalez
The Ocean’s Calling Festival 2024, held from September 27 to 29 in Ocean City, Maryland, was an energetic and vibrant celebration that wrapped up the beach season in the best way possible. This three-day festival took place at the Ocean City Inlet, utilizing three stages spread across the boardwalk area, creating a perfect blend of music, ocean views, and fun.
Myself, and my co-editor Nicholas Gonzalez spent the weekend camped out between all of the stages, even as the severe weather bands from Hurricane Helene slammed through the Ocean City Inlet on Friday night, delaying the much-anticipated Friday night headlining set from Blink 182.
While the weather was certainly not as cooperative as we would have wished for this amazing festival, we feel that organizers did the very best they could be sure that all attendees and performers has a very safe and memorable experience. We applaud Ocean’s Calling for pulling everything doing and making sure that the show went on as flawlessly as possible, despite the less then favorable weather conditions with over 30 artists performing on the bill.
Blink 182 managed to close the night on a high note with the song “Dammit,” and the fans went absolutely wild. We have to admit that catching both Blink 182, Cage The Elephant and Sublime’s performances during hurricane-like weather was certainly an experience like no other and one we will not soon forget. While it may have felt miserable, it was certainly memorable.
The following days saw performances from bands like The Offspring and The Killers, who kept crowds energized with all of their hits “Come Out And Play”, “Gotta Get Away” and “Self-Esteem” and “Mr. Brightside,” “Somebody Told Me” and “When You Were Young” respectively. The Beach Boys played a full over 20 song set and it was a fantastic experience to see them perform in this particular festival environment. We thoroughly enjoyed sets from Phillip Phillips, The All-American Rejects, OAR, 311, Blues Traveler, The Revivalists and so, so many others!
Sunday featured an epic two-hour set by Dave Matthews Band, which was the festival’s longest and most highly anticipated performance. Throughout the weekend, the audience was treated to a mix of classic rock, pop-punk, and alternative acts like Counting Crows, Mt. Joy, and Barenaked Ladies, making the event a hit for fans of multiple genres.
Aside from the music, the culinary aspect added another unique element to Ocean’s Calling. Renowned chefs such as Marc Murray, Amanda Freitag, and Robert Irvine hosted live cooking demonstrations at the Carousel stage, blending the festival’s vibrant music scene with foodie culture.
Despite inclement weather, particularly on Friday, the festival maintained its upbeat vibe. Fans explored not just the music but also the amusement park rides from Jolly Roger, located within the festival grounds and sampled some amazing food and beverage choices from the local Ocean Boardwalk eateries that remained opened within the festival grounds. We can never say no to some Thrasher’s beach fries!
Ocean’s Calling 2024 truly offered something for everyone, with its mix of live music, cooking demonstrations, and Ocean City’s famous boardwalk atmosphere creating an unforgettable experience.
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