Photos by Jeff Hurd – Celebrated rock band Mayday Parade marks their 20th anniversary this year with the release of Sweet, the first installment in an ambitious three-part album series. The project showcases the band’s continued evolution and marks a new era of creative independence, released through their own label, Many Hats Endeavors.
Formed in 2005 in Tallahassee, Florida, Mayday Parade rose to prominence with their emotionally charged debut EP Tales Told by Dead Friends, followed by their breakthrough 2007 album A Lesson in Romantics, featuring the platinum-certified hit single “Jamie All Over.”
Over the course of two decades, Mayday Parade has amassed a global fanbase and a rich discography that includes critically acclaimed albums such as Anywhere But Here (2009), Monsters in the Closet (2013), Black Lines (2015), Sunnyland (2018), and What It Means to Fall Apart (2021).
2025’s Sweet features standout singles “Pretty Good to Feel Something,” “By the Way,” and “Towards You,” continuing the band’s legacy of deeply personal and emotionally resonant songwriting. With this release, Mayday Parade embraces full artistic control, producing and distributing their music independently for the first time in their career.
“After 20 years, we’re proud to still be creating music that connects with our fans—and now we’re doing it entirely on our own terms,” says frontman Derek Sanders.
Mayday Parade has performed at major festivals including Vans Warped Tour and Slam Dunk, charted multiple albums on the Billboard 200, and remains one of the most enduring acts in the pop-punk and emo revival scenes.
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