Let’s Go Music Festival returned to Crownsville, MD, for another rockin’ year. Although it’s not the biggest location, it consistently brings out amazing local talent as well as big-name acts. After a successful 2024, Let’s Go was reduced from a three-day to a two-day festival, but the quality remained as strong as ever, with headliners including Young The Giant, Third Eye Blind, Milky Chance, and more! The two stages, in close proximity to each other, allow for nonstop music with just a short walk or head-turn from the main stage to the side stage throughout the performances.
A lot of festivals I, and many others, attend involve long travels to get to the grounds. But as a smaller event, many attendees were local to the DMV, Baltimore, or Philadelphia area. In my case, it was a short half-hour ride from Northern Maryland. Despite the gloomy forecast earlier in the week, it remained bright and beautifully sunny for the opening of the day. We truly started native to Maryland with the School of Rock students kicking off the fest. They performed on both days and, of course, played a large variety of songs. As a huge Paramore fan, my favorite was their cover of “This Is Why.” While they may not have as much experience as the acts we would see later in the day, the pure joy of their performance made each and every song on the setlist worthwhile. Parents made their way to the event as well, equally excited to see the kids in action. It’s a very exciting opportunity that you don’t often see at most music festivals.
The first mainstage set was by The Backfires, who are coming off the release of their debut album This Is Not An Exit. Let’s Go was their first-ever festival and quite the warm-up for their upcoming performance at Gov Ball just days later. The indie rock band brought a brief but high-energy set to the stage. As someone who hadn’t heard of them prior to the fest, they did a solid job of getting the crowd engaged and moving. I think it’s a most impressive skill, considering this was early on a Friday, and they were bringing energy to a smaller crowd that was just getting themselves together for the day. Many were wandering in from their jobs earlier in the day. For most, it left a mark that made you want to check them out on Spotify days after the set. Hopefully, this is the start of a big journey for the rising group.
While the festival had big names like Young The Giant, Milky Chance, and The Maine headlining day one, it was actually a midday act that caught my eye as a personal fan favorite. If you haven’t heard of Colony House, get with the program because they are absolutely amazing. It’s been 10 years since they first hit it big with the hit single “Silhouettes,” but this is not the only track that has been a hit for them. Their 2023 album The Cannonballers was extremely well received both among fans and reviewers alike. They bring positive energy to the stage and get the crowd rockin’ from the moment the music starts. One of my personal favorite touches by the band is having their drummer sit downstage during sets. Yes, that means you can actually see the drummer during each and every song. We were also treated to one of the first live performances of the band’s new song “Telephone Pole,” which will be a part of an album to be released later this year.
The Maine took over the main stage moments later with a truly nostalgic set. Entering in electrifying fashion in black tuxedos, fans really started to gather in for the night. Their setlist blended the old with the new, from “Into Your Arms” to the surprise (sort of) appearance with Charlotte Sands for their song “Loved You A Little.” Charlotte, who was on the lineup for the following day, made it out early to light up the crowd with the band. John O’Callaghan made sure everyone was pumped in between songs and shared a few personal stories to connect with each track that would get us to where The Maine is now. Say what you will about the band’s set, but one thing is for sure—nobody has funnier merch. I caught a few tees or hats that read “The Maine is an anagram for I Hate Men,” and that had me dying of laughter each and every time.
Closing out day one was a back-to-back performance by Milky Chance and Young The Giant. I had seen them on their co-headline tour back in 2023, but this performance was way better on both sides. It’s not that either band was bad at the previous show, but they both seemed to bring so much more energy to this set. Milky Chance had been fantastic the first time around, but this time we got a lot more movement, and a lot more dancing. It was amazing to see from a band that has constantly made everyone want to get their feet moving. Of course, they are best known for the worldwide hit “Stolen Dance,” but the crowd reacted best to “Living In A Haze,” where they and the band had a strong sway into the beat drop that had the majority jumping for the rest of the night.
After Milky Chance wrapped, the crowd’s anticipation grew as we inched closer to Young The Giant. Recently celebrating the 10th anniversary of their hit album Mind Over Matter, we once again got a hit of nostalgia. With tracks like “Mind Over Matter,” “Cough Syrup,” and “Superposition,” this was by far the most vocal the attendees were all day. Singing along to their favorite songs from the band under a divine sound from the group backing lead singer Sameer Gadhia, it was a beautiful performance until night’s end. Many headed home happy as we prepared for day two.
I arrived on day two with equal excitement, knowing the headliners but also being excited for a personal favorite, Winona Fighter. Once again, despite a potential forecast of rain, it was sunny and quite hot pretty much the entire day. Ready to fight the heat and have a great time, the line began forming about an hour before the gates opened. School of Rock once again led off the day, equally as impressive as the day before, but it was John Harvie on the mainstage that was my first surprise of the day. Another artist I had not known before coming to the festival, I was excited to see what he had to offer. He was passionate about everything he was doing, and it was clear during his performance. Rising up in recent years as an independent artist, he won over much of the crowd with his upbeat energy in songs like “Bleach (On The Rocks).” Those who came out early were also greeted with an introduction to the band and a special appearance from his friend and fellow artist Charlotte Sands for a performance of their heartfelt “Beauty In The Bad Things.” It brought a power that would be the baseline for the rest of the sets today.
It wouldn’t be long until we saw a reappearance of Charlotte Sands on the mainstage. Taking on a midday time slot, many I spoke to were very excited for the set. Opening with “Can We Start Over?” Charlotte made it clear she was ready to go crazy on stage. Of course, with a few water breaks in between, as the heat and humidity had really started to pick up by mid-afternoon. Having just released a brand new single, “Hush,” fans were among the first to hear it live, along with an unreleased track, “Neck Deep,” which is sure to be a hit whenever we do get to hear the studio version later this year. Charlotte also took a few moments during her set to speak on the current state of the world with an emphatic “Happy Pride!” at the end of her speech. Her music and performances are absolutely a safe space for anyone who needs to get away. She closed out the set with her breakout song “Dress,” where she would eventually hop off stage and give out a few hugs to people in the crowd. One of which was an audience member I had spoken to earlier, and I know they had to have been thrilled.
It was time for a favorite as I made my way over to Winona Fighter, and let me tell you, they do not disappoint. I first heard this group at Bonnaroo in 2023, then had a second opportunity to see them at Ocean’s Calling in 2024. My description to friends has always been “if Scott Pilgrim’s band, the Sex Bob-Omb, were an actual band.” They are just the most kick-ass group you will ever see live. I really don’t know a better way to say it. Lead vocalist Coco Kinnon does not stop jumping around the entire performance, showing off some powerful vocals from “IM IN THE MARKET TO PLEASE NO ONE” to “HAMMS IN A GLASS.” While not all the songs are titled in all caps, it feels appropriate with the energy they bring to the stage. This was a must-see set in my opinion, and I hope that for anyone who missed it, they find a chance to see them on tour sometime later in the year. It may have been my third time seeing them, but it will not be the last—I can almost be sure of that.
That passionate spirit seemed to transfer throughout the day. While I loved day one, I’m not sure it really compares to what the crowd and the acts brought for day two. That was most apparent during Hot Mulligan’s set, who took over the main stage as the penultimate performance. Of all the sets, this was the one that made me the most aware of my surroundings while in the pit. We had enjoyed a lot of rock throughout the weekend, but this was the first set that included moshing and crowd surfing. With that said, a big shout-out to security, who did a great job catching those who chose to crowd-surf all the way to the barricade. The band reciprocated the post-emo energy asked of them. The addictiveness of their sound during songs such as “BCKYRD” and “And a Big Load” left you wanting more by the end of the show. If you are in need of more, it’s no worry, as the band is releasing a new album this coming August. Just keep your head on a swivel for flying bodies while you listen.
Closing out the festival was a long-time success—Third Eye Blind. I had a discussion with a few people in the crowd; one told me this would be his 26th time seeing the band live. While they have been in the scene for a while, I still thought this was impressive and really shows the longevity between fans and artists. Opening with “Thanks a Lot” and “Dust Storm,” the band took us on a journey through the many albums of their musical journey. The set had polish, from the band’s performance to the incredible lighting throughout the night. I, myself, think this is where I admit I’m a basic fan. Of course, I was most excited to hear “Semi-Charmed Life” toward the end of the night. It’s a truly iconic track that I’ve probably heard a million times throughout my life, so it was very exciting to see it live. After an encore of “Like A Lullaby” and “How’s It Going to Be,” everyone in attendance was able to leave knowing they left everything they had at the festival that day.
Overall, Let’s Go Music Fest provides a unique experience with big names and local acts in a more intimate setting. With a combination of smaller local talent, quickly rising stars, and a few already solid music figures, it is an absolutely amazing experience through and through. The two stages, with alternating set times, allow for an endless weekend of music. Let’s Go Music Fest’s alt/punk/rock niche is a festival that knows what it wants to be and provides an unforgettable experience for those who make their way to a small fairground in Crownsville, MD. If you think you fit this niche, I would definitely recommend making your way out—it’s a must-see experience for an amazing value compared to other fests with similar lineups. In fact, they already have tickets for the 2026 year available if you are feeling ambitious, and tickets are only $64 for the weekend pass, so feel free to check that out at the link. It was my second year here, and I can’t wait to see where they take it from here.
GALLERY: LET’S GO MUSIC FESTIVAL IN CROWNSVILLE, MARYLAND (JUNE 6-7, 2025)
