One of the more popular music festivals in the region returns to Marshfield, MA, the weekend of July 5-7 with a stacked lineup. The Levitate Music and Arts Festival celebrates its 11th year at the Marshfield fairgrounds with headliners Sublime, Lake Street Dive, and Mt. Joy.
The story is certainly about a great weekend of music, but it’s also a tale of how a local surf shop built a music festival from humble beginnings. We spoke to festival co-founder Dan Hassett to learn more about the annual event, which draws thousands of fans daily to Boston’s South Shore.
“This will be our 11th year; in a way, it’s gotten a little easier to plan, we’ve developed a team and kind of know how to put this thing together, but we complicate it every year because we want to involve and do new things,” said Hassett.
Hassett focuses on the fan experience, one reason music enthusiasts keep returning year after year. This year, the festival features a new layout, “to make the experience more comfortable,” says Hassett, with more shade and water stations. “Our goal is to make the entire site feel like a comfortable VIP area, with sitting areas, shade areas, and art, ways to create different experiences.”
He’s especially excited about this year’s lineup. “We curate the event in a way where we try to merge local and emerging artists with national touring artists,” he explained. “I am a Mt. Joy fan, so I’m really excited about Friday night, and Cory Wong, I’m a big fan. I’m also really excited about Sublime, they just did Coachella and it went really well. It’s the first Subline show in New England ever.”
Levitate began as a surf shop in 2001 and has evolved into a major lifestyle brand and entertainment provider. “The concept around Levitate is to be a community oriented brand, we’ve always represented and grown community through creative outlets, first surfing and skateboarding, and then music and art,” said Hassett. “ A music festival was a natural progression for us. We just try to make it a fun enjoyable community event. It feels like that when you are there on site.”
The festival has certainly grown over the years. “The first year we had 1,500 people, it was the 10th year anniversary of our surf shop,” said Hassett. “We rented out the local fairgrounds and booked some bands. At the time, it was not intended to be an annual event, but it went so well, we’ve been doing it every year since.”
The family-friendly festival, with a capacity of around 15,000, draws fans of all ages.
“I’ve never seen another event like it; it’s literally all ages, from toddlers to grandparents and all the college kids too,” said Hassett. “It’s a daytime event; you can park close or take a shuttle. People are able to come and go, which makes it easier for families. It’s an easy event to attend.”
Hassett also produces the Levitate Backyard Concert Series with music all summer at the surf shop, with many shows provided free of charge. “This summer, we have Langhorn Slim, The Original Wailers, and Deer Tick from Rhode Island. Those artists don’t usually play such a small venue, they are very popular, and usually sell out quick.”