The Sad Summer Festival wasn’t all that sad. The fest made its way to The Rave in Milwaukee, WI. Many people are saying this new touring festival is an attempt to replace Vans Warped Tour, but I would challenge that comparison. The two festivals are quite different; both are amazing, but not the same! At Sad Summer Fest there is no worry about overlapping sets; so you don’t have to choose between the bands. Instead, you get to watch them all since there is only one stage. The festival had a non-profit initiative that brought attention to important issues such as mental health awareness and anti-harassment. They featured organizations Hope for the Day and Our Music My Body in an attempt to keep everyone safe and happy, not only at the festival but when the attendees traveled back home too.

The festival had a lot of great bands representing it like Mayday Parade, State Champs, and The Wonder Years, but the mastermind behind it all was the Arizonian alternative pop/rock band, The Maine. There aren’t enough words to describe how amazing this inaugural Sad Summer Fest really was. You know people say a picture is worth a thousand words, so hopefully, I captured the moment well enough to make it a little easier to comprehend.