With Soundside Music Festival having its final night Sunday September 29th, let’s take a look back on Sound on Sound 2023; last year’s iteration of the well loved New England festival. 

John Mayer took the stage as the last  headliner for the night  and proved to be the perfect choice. The singer grew up in the area and was able to play for his family who was in the crowd that night.

Mayer had a 16 track setlist making it the longest of the night. With just him and his guitar the set really had an intimate feeling. Especially coupled with the personal anecdotes of growing up in Connecticut.

The singer is known for his talent on guitar and the way he can bend genres with just a single instrument. These talents were on display at the festival with his masterful skills at lead and rhythm at the forefront of the performance.

In between sets Mayer talked about how he discovered his love of music and listened to mixtapes that had been confiscated from students at school from his father’s job. His stage presence allowed you to get to know the artist’s  personal side that isn’t typically seen.

It was clear the amount of intention that was being put into his performance with how nostalgic it was for Mayer to be back in his home state, playing for his loved ones that were out in the crowd.

Mayer also  threw in a request and maintained crowd interaction even at a venue that size. Showing how much showmanship he has been able to cultivate.

The set was open with the track “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” a track that really gave a feeling of lost hope before picking up throughout the other songs and taking the listeners on an emotional journey.

I grew up with the sound of the album Continuum playing across the car radio from my mom’s CD. Songs like “Waiting On The World to Change” and “Daughters” were always on loop throughout the house.

To get to experience his set of these songs from my childhood with my mom, who was always playing them, was an experience I won’t forget as her eyes lit up throughout the night.

Mayer also threw in tracks from Michael Jackson and Simon & Garfunkel to help give the set a fun twist for the festival which allowed for a great mix with the more serious sound the singer offers in his work. 

Two tracks were also done on a double-neck acoustic guitar to switch up the sound while still having a stripped back night. “If I Ever Get to Living” and “Edge of Desire” played before the crowd began to thin. Until the artist finished the night with a surprise encore of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin.”

CT Governor Ned Lamont also showed up to speak to Mayer’s ability on stage and spoke of the love New England has for this musician. Overall, the performance brought a homegrown spark to the festival that would have been absent without him.

Although Sound on Sound passed it’s not too late to check out other incredible artists at Soundside 2024 tonight featuring artists like Bleachers, Greta Van Fleet, Jack White, and more.