July 4th, 2026, marked the 250th anniversary of the United States. With celebrations ensuing across the nation, Rolling Stone found the perfect opportunity to bring live music to the Hudson Valley. Rolling Stone Stateside Festival had a stellar debut with compelling performances, activations, and top-class security measures that were put to the test once the weather took a turn.
Hutton Brickyards Riverfront Hotel + Venue in Kingston, NY, was the perfect backdrop for this fest. Sitting right on the edge of the Hudson River, the venue was a picturesque slice of New England: tall trees, a wooden pavilion adorned with fairy lights, boats on the water. It was like stepping into a movie, the calming atmosphere setting guests at ease for the festivities.
Bebe Stockwell kicked off the lineup of performances with solid vocals, her rich tone radiating like a trance. Texas-born Hudson Ingram was the first to grace the Scout Stage. Set in the grassy plain beyond the pavilion, the Scout Stage was the perfect spot to watch performances while grabbing a bite to eat from one of the many vendors. This was also the location of the most popular activation of the evening – a Dickie’s button-up with your choice of patches and custom name embroidery.
The following hour Bo Staloch made his way to the Main Stage, where audience members lounged on blankets listening to his set and enjoying the shade. At this point in the day, festival sponsor Hertz unleashed a battalion of popsicle carts that handed out Golden Retriever-shaped sweet treats to help guests beat the heat. To build off this note, the festival took great care to provide adequate protection against the rising temperature plaguing the northeast this weekend. As temps soared into the mid 90’s, they stationed basins of free Fiji Water throughout the festival grounds. Being that this is Stateside’s inaugural run, I was impressed by the measures to keep attendees cool. As a frequent festival goer, I’ve attended similar fests that hadn’t put in nearly the same consideration into the well-being of both ticketholders and staff.
Derby, Arcy Drive, and Michalea Anne took over the midday slots as the fans began to enter the festival in droves, no doubt arriving closer to the headline slots to avoid the excessive heat. Sydney Rose was the last act on the Main Stage before a torrent of rain struck the area, leaving guests scrambling for coverage under the Main Stage Pavilion, putting a pause on Calder Allen’s Scout Stage performance. Luckily, the festival was not oversold, leaving space for the staff and attendees to have adequate coverage from the elements – even when water began to leak through a section of the roof. One point of contention was the communication between the festival and guests onsite about the weather and updates surrounding the setlists. The person chosen to relay the message struggled to annunciate on the mic, which led to widespread confusion. Within the following hour, the update came that Gigi Perez would take the stage to perform an adjudicated version of her set. Like a pro, Perez got on stage delivering a stellar performance of tracks from her debut album At the Beach in Every Life, including “Sailor Song”, “Sugar Water” with her sister Isabella Perez, and a cover of Lana Del Rey’s smash hit “Summertime Sadness”.
The final performance came from the star of New England himself, Noah Kahan. The Vermont-born and bred singer-songwriter enchanted the slightly water-drenched audience with fan favorites like “Stick Season” and “Dial Drunk”. He also delved into tracks from his critically acclaimed fourth studio album, The Great Divide, including “Deny, Deny, Deny” and “Dashboard”. His performance was the perfect way to cap off the night’s festivities, as fans hung on to the barricade shouting lyrics back to him, and parents danced with their young ones in the grass under the stars. The venue, vibe, and talent wove together to create a near- perfect summer fest. Overall, I would give Rolling Stone’s Stateside Fest an 8.5/10. It’s a great option for music lovers of all ages looking for a laid-back festival by the shore.
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