The 2025 Great South Bay Music Festival kicked off with a bang Thursday afternoon, launching four days of music and celebration at Shorefront Park in Patchogue. With clear skies and a full lineup, Day 1 brought a mix of nostalgia, local pride, and high-energy performances that set the tone for the weekend.
Things got underway on the Five Towns College Stage with These People, who opened the festival with a blend of alt-rock that set a solid vibe for the early arrivals. Over on the main stage, Head Automatica was the first to perform, delivering a welcome dose of early-2000s swagger to the crowd.
The Imposters took over the Bandshell Stage next, followed by a highlight of the day — Gym Class Heroes. The crowd lit up as they ran through hits like “Cupid’s Chokehold,” “Cookie Jar,” and “Useless,” closing out their set with a rousing performance of “Stereo Hearts” that had the entire festival singing along.
Flycatcher kept things moving on the Bandshell Stage with a strong indie-rock set that included “Rust,” “Quitter,” and fan-favorite “Sodas in the Freezer.” Say Anything then stormed the main stage, bringing their signature brand of emotional punk and cult fanbase energy to the shoreline.
Local favorites Nonstop to Cairo represented Long Island proudly on the Bandshell Stage, warming the crowd up just in time for the night’s main event: Taking Back Sunday. The beloved alt-rock band returned to home turf and capped off the night in front of a packed crowd, giving fans a special surprise — the return of guitarist Fred Mascherino. Fred, who originally left the band in 2007 to pursue his solo project The Color Fred, was welcomed back with roaring applause as the band tore through a career-spanning set.
With Long Island pride in full effect and a powerful homecoming energy from Taking Back Sunday, Day 1 of the 2025 Great South Bay Music Festival proved once again why this event is one of the summer’s most anticipated weekends.
Taking Back Sunday Setlist: Tidal Wave, You’re So Last Summer, A Decade Under the Influence, What’s It Feel Like to Be a Ghost?, S’Old, Error: Operator, The One, Liar (It Takes One to Know One), One-Eighty by Summer, Amphetamine Smiles, Timberwolves at New Jersey, My Blue Heaven, Set Phasers to Stun, Flicker, Fade, Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut From the Team), MakeDamnSure
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