Summer is here, which means it’s festival season all across the US. From Coachella to Governor’s Ball and everything in between, millions of free-spirited people flock to these festivals to see all their favorite bands perform at one venue. Firefly happens to be one of those festivals. Firefly Music Festival is a four-day festival held every year in Dover, Delaware by Red Frog Entertainment. This year, headliners include Twenty One Pilots, Flume, Weezer, The Weeknd, Chance The Rapper, Muse, 30 Seconds To Mars and many others. With over 140 bands sharing nine stages, Firefly is a must-go every year.

Day 1 of Firefly was packed with excitement to last a lifetime, ending with a stellar show from indie rock band Glass Animals. Rock band The Steppin Stones kicked off the first day, singing hits from their last self-titled album. Singles like “False and Hallow” and “Givin’ Into You” were huge crowd-pleasers. There were plenty of things to do while waiting for one’s favorite band to perform, from indulging in some of the finest craft drinks to shopping at various vendors. As the day continued, bands took the stage to share their love of music. Philadelphia natives Cold Roses were a huge hit. After the success of their new album, Escape to Anywhere, they continued to rise in the Philadelphia live music scene. Using their hometown as inspiration, Cold Roses learned to embrace the city’s rich history of jazz and R&B in their songs.

Bands from all over the US came to be a part of something special, like Nashville’s own Judah & the Lion, who are known for crossing genres in their music, making them one of a kind. Hailing from different backgrounds and music taste, the band brought together four musicians in order to create something beautiful. Their debut album, Kids These Days, reached number 4 on Billboard Top Folk Albums in 2014. Judah & the Lion performed hits like “Take It All Back” and “Suit and Jacket” from their new album Folk Hop N’ Roll.

Day one headliners included Weezer, Twenty One Pilots and Flume, all performing their record-breaking hits. Alternative rock band Weezer even turned back time as they performed mega-hits like “Say It Ain’t So” and “Buddy Holly,” while still touching on songs from their 2016 album, Weezer (The White Album), which debuted at number one on Billboard Rock/Alternative chart. Festival goers were still partying late into the night with Twenty One Pilots and Flume closing out the evening. Both acts had a great year in 2016. Twenty One Pilots earned their first Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2016. Flume’s latest album, Skins, peaked at number one on the US Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart.

After all the stages were clean and everyone was back at their campsites, the party didn’t stop. In the echoes of the trees, people could be heard joining each other in perfect harmony. As the first night died down, only time would tell what the next three days would hold in The Woodlands.

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat