Hozier at Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT.
The Sound on Sound Music Festival in Bridgeport may finally be finding its groove.
The festival’s second year featured big-name acts like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Connecticut native John Mayer. Concertgoers said they were pleased with changes the festival made after an inaugural year plagued with parking problems, long lines and bad sound.
“Last year, it actually felt a little bit unsafe,” said Lissy Robie, a concert attendee.
Robie recalled portable toilets with no toilet paper and handwashing stations that ran out of soap.
“There wasn't adequate walkways for people and light. The acoustics were really terrible,” Robie said. “But this year is like a complete 180.”
Festival organizers said they worked this year to expand the festival grounds, making it easier for people to find seating and lay out chairs to socialize, eat, and rest. VIP areas were also reduced and the festival only featured one performance stage.
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Cautious Clay at Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT. (Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public)
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
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Lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anthony Kiedis at Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT.
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
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Fans dancing to the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT.
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Cautious Clay at Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT.
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
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Hozier at Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT. (Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public)
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
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Samantha Martino from Long Island, NY and Carolyn Martinez-Class hold up their signs and cheer with anticipation as Hozier enters the stage at Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT. Samantha and Carolyn had been waiting several hours since the festvial started and were the first two at the barricade. (Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public)
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
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Hozier at Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT (Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public)
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
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Alanis Morissette at Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT (Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public)
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
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Alanis Morissette at Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT (Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public)
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
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Close up of Ben Harper, Vocalist and guitarist from Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals at Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT (Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public)
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
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A father holds his son up in the air at Sound on Sound as he enjoys the festival with his family. (Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public)
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
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Veronica Atocha plays foosball with Katie Palace at the new Sports Hall at Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT. (Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public)
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
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Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT (Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public)
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
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Sound on Sound Music Festival added a new ferris wheel to the festival in Bridgeport, CT where all proceeds are donated to local charities. (Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public)
Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public
Many concertgoers welcomed the changes, but the weather did not make the festival’s comeback easy.
Heavy rains the day before the concert delayed its opening on Saturday by three hours. Organizers laid out walkways to help attendees avoid the mud, sectioned off wet spots to preserve the land, and communicated with people to dress appropriately for the weather.
But all that bad weather didn’t stop the great music.
Ayannah Brown
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Connecticut Public
The crowd day two at Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT (Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public)
Alanis Morissette, Hozier and Mayer all played. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont even made an appearance to commend the festival, as well as Mayer, who was born in Bridgeport.
“I don’t know what it is about great music festivals and a little bit of rain, but they come together,” Lamont said. “We love Connecticut, we love John Mayer. One of the greatest guitarists, greatest artists, one of the greatest performers from right here in Bridgeport.”
Mayer, whose father worked as an educator in Bridgeport’s public schools, was celebrated by the state with a letter of commemoration from the state and city.
“With the stage so high, I can see the photographers here are struggling to take their photos,” Mayer said. “So I’m going to play this solo again and come closer to the edge of the stage, because I know my father would love to see this in the Connecticut Post tomorrow.”
Ayannah Brown
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Connecticut Public
John Mayer at Sound on Sound Music Festival, Bridgeport, CT, performing a hometown set.
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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.
If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.
Now all of that is at risk.
Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.
Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.
Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.
Thousands of protesters gathered at the Capitol in Hartford, and in communities across the state, to speak out against the Trump administration and acts of political violence.
Connecticut students took the lead in organizing the trip to D.C. to share their stories and meet with U.S. senators who are actively considering and making some changes to President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
Connecticut officials and its federal counterparts have been working for months on a $220 million block grant for small and midsize farming states. Over the past couple of weeks, negotiations hit a new juncture, prompting some disagreements over the rollout of disaster aid passed by Congress in December.
Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.
