Photos + Review by David Molnar – The Levitate Music & Arts Festival returned to the Marshfield Fairgrounds on July 18, 2026, opening its two-day celebration of music, art and community with a sold-out crowd and an unforgettable lineup despite a persistent drizzle. The biggest draw of Day 1 was seven-time Grammy Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, whose appearance capped the first-ever all-female lineup on the festival’s main Stoke Stage. The historic lineup showcased artists ranging from emerging regional artist, Bebe Stockwell to Morissette, a global icon. The day began with Massachusetts native Stockwell’s main stage performance then sister duo Larkin Poe took over, followed by the energetic Sammy Rae & The Friends, with Morissette closing the evening.
Elsewhere around the fairgrounds, the Style Stage featured a laid-back summer soundtrack with the Jimmy Buffett tribute band, Jammy Buffet opening the day. Reggae-rock favorites The Movement followed, then jam band Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and finally reggae legend Ziggy Marley. Festival goers also enjoyed local favorites from food trucks including Burrito World, Ticas’s Tacos, The Broccoli Bar and Binge BBQ, while vendors such as Sunny Life offered handcrafted hemp hats and Just Rosy displayed handmade jewelry.
One of the day’s most memorable early performances came from Grammy-winning Nashville rock sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell of Larkin Poe. Before taking the stage, Megan shared a true rock-and-roll parenting moment, explaining that Rebecca had just rushed backstage to put her 11-month-old son Jesse down for a nap moments before showtime. With that accomplished, the duo launched into their song “Mockingbird” just as a light drizzle began falling over the festival grounds. The rain would continue for much of the afternoon, but New England concertgoers are hardy souls, shrugging off the wet weather with rain jackets, ponchos and smiles.
Another standout local success story unfolded on the Soul Stage where Boston retro rock-pop band Copilot, winners of the Levitate Foundation’s Songwriters of the Year contest, earned their place on the festival bill. Lead singer Maggie Hall, whose due date was the very next day, delivered an astonishing vocal performance, drawing loud applause as she powered through a spirited rendition of the Faces classic “Stay With Me.”
Saturday’s biggest highlight belonged to Sammy Rae & The Friends, led by the charismatic and athletic Samantha Bowers. The group’s vibrant blend of rock, folk, funk, soul and classic jazz turned the Stoke Stage into a nonstop dance party as Bowers leaped, bent and sprinted across the stage throughout the performance. Among the highlights was their song “Jackie Onassis,” during which Bowers momentarily disappeared backstage near the song’s conclusion before returning wrapped in a Pride flag to finish the number to thunderous applause. Equally memorable was the band’s jazzy version of the Genesis song “That’s All,” which showcased the musicians’ versatility.
As late afternoon approached, the drizzle continued through the performances on the Style Stage, but when Ziggy Marley emerged, a sea of red, yellow and clear ponchos stretched across the fairgrounds. Undeterred by the weather, Marley bounded onto the stage shouting, “Let’s go!” before his band launched into a joyful set of reggae favorites that had concert goers dancing in the rain.
The rain finally eased just before Alanis Morissette took the Stoke Stage. Just back in the United States from her London concert, Morissette opened with her 1995 hit “Hand in My Pocket,” harmonica in hand, Morissette immediately reminded fans that after three decades she still remains one of rock’s most outstanding live performers. Just like the lyric in her opening song states “What it all comes down to is that everything’s gonna be fine, fine, fine” foreshadowing the rest of the night’s performance. Dressed entirely in black, highlighted by a sparkling long-sleeve top that shimmered beneath the stage lights, she paced confidently from one side of the stage to the other while delivering her 22-song set which featured classics including “Ironic,” “You Oughta Know” and “Uninvited.” Day 1 of the 2026 Levitate Music & Arts Festival had delivered standout performances and fans that would not let a little rain dampen their fun, setting the stage for another memorable weekend on Massachusetts’ South Shore.
