LEVITATE MUSIC FESTIVAL – DAY ONE – STICK FIGURE / RIPE
By Mia Palazzo
Day one one of the Levitate Music Festival with Stick Figure, Ripe, The Elovaters and Protoje topping the bill.
Living in Connecticut, I was surprised I had never heard of the Levitate Music and Arts Festival. I first learned about it while working at a similar event in Virginia Beach, where several attendees mentioned how much they loved the Massachusetts festival. It was close to home and had an incredible lineup, so it only made sense to attend. When I was approved to photograph the show, I was ecstatic.
The morning of the festival started off a little rough. I arrived late and unfortunately missed the first few acts. I want to give a big shoutout to Hush Club, Mihali, and Samantha McKaige, though, because I heard nothing but positive feedback about their performances.
The first band I caught was Fai Laci, an alternative/indie group from Boston. Their performance had great energy and created a fun atmosphere that set the tone for the rest of the day. Next up was Maya Manuela, a singer-songwriter with a captivating presence and warm stage energy. Her performance stood out, and I added her music to my playlist as soon as her set ended.
Dogs in a Pile followed, bringing a unique energy to the stage. While they didn’t speak much between songs, their live performance was anything but quiet. Their intricate riffs and expressive facial movements kept the crowd locked in and gave their set a quirky but memorable feel.
Next was Ripe, a band I had seen before and knew would deliver a high-energy show. Despite recently being in a golf cart accident that left several members injured, including the vocalist with a concussion, they didn’t hold back at all. In fact, their performance might have been the most energetic one of the entire day. They played a mix of fan favorites and crowd-pleasing covers like “Higher” by Creed and “Lola” by The Kinks, getting everyone singing and dancing along.
Another standout from the songwriter stage was Hans Williams, a local alternative singer/songwriter His voice had a natural, earthy quality that made his set feel intimate and reflective. Listening to him perform felt like walking through the woods with just a guitar and sunlight filtering through the trees.
Protoje was up next, bringing a reggae sound that added something special to the day’s lineup. With his band, backup singers, and smooth, rolling melodies, he had the entire crowd swaying and fully immersed in the performance.
The Elovaters followed with a strong set on the main stage. Autumn Drive kept things going on the songwriter stage, and then Stick Figure closed out the night with a powerful, crowd-pleasing performance.
They played fan favorites like “Edge of the Ocean,” “Smokin’ Love” featuring Protoje, and ended with “World on Fire” and “Fire on the Horizon.” A wholesome highlight of the night was celebrating the birthday of Cocoa, their tour dog. Fans threw stuffed toys on stage, which Cocoa, a mix of Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever, happily retrieved and played with throughout the set.
Exploring Levitate beyond the music was an experience in itself. Local artists painted wooden sculptures throughout the venue, and a dedicated kids’ zone kept younger attendees entertained. Dozens of vendor tents offered handmade goods and crafts, along with a wide variety of food options for all tastes. Day one of Levitate was the perfect introduction to the weekend.
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