Warped Tour might be dead, but Sad Summer Fest is revamping the emo-music world in a new way.
Sad Summer Fest started in 2019, and it kept growing ever since. It resembles the likings of Warped Tour, a now-retired cross-country summer music festival that happened every year, from 1995 to 2019. There have been multiple festivals that have formed and follow the same line-up formats to Warped Tour, such as Chicago’s Riot Festival and Dallas’ So What?! Music Festival, but nothing has ever come close – until now.
The Official Sad Summer Festival Lineup is bigger and better than ever, featuring emo-rock legends the Maine, Taking Back Sunday and PVRIS. The lineup also includes ORB favorite Hot Mulligan, who recently released their third studio album Why Would I Watch earlier this year. Hot Mulligan is no stranger to Sad Summer Fest, and it’s excited to see what they can do on an amphitheater stage this summer.
Throughout the fest, there are rotating artists that show up to specific cities. Coming to Texas is another ORB fave Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, the solo project of Andrew McMahon – former member of emo bands like Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin. McMahon just released their fourth album under the moniker called Tilt at the Wind No More, along with announcing a major tour across America this Fall. These performances at Sad Summer Fest will serve as a nostalgic homage to McMahon’s previous bands, as well as give fans a taste of the tour that is yet to come. McMahon is extremely passionate about his art, in which he highlights in his memoir titled Three Pianos: A Memoir, released in 2021.
Sad Summer Fest is also the best chance to catch up-and-coming artist in the emo music scene. Artists like Daisy Grenade and Sincere Engineer will take the stage in other cities, but Texas will have the honor to see the likings of Cliffdiver, a punk-rock band from the streets of Oklahoma. The band consists of members Joey Duffy (Vocals), Matt Ehler (Guitar/Vocals), Briana Wright (Vocals), Gilbert Erickson (Guitar/Vocals), Tyler Rogers (Bass), Dony Nickles (Saxophone), and Eliot Cooper (Drums). In 2022, Cliffdiver released their debut album Exercise Your Demons and reached acclaim with publications like FLOOD Magazine and New Noise Magazine. In June 2023, they released their newest single called “F.A.K.E,” a nice ode to the classic age of pop-punk.
If you are into live music, moshing, crowdsurfing and anything that reminds you of the Warped Tour era, Sad Summer Fest is definitely the place for you. The festival will start it’s cross country run on July 6th in Jacksonville, and will make its way down to Dallas and Austin on July 25th + 26th. Get your tickets now before it’s too late!
I'm a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, number one Paramore fan and Husky dog owner. I have a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from UT Austin and a M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston, which makes me smart! On top of being an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, I love bonding with others over the power of local music and media.
