The 2025 All Good Now festival rolled through Merriweather Post Pavilion with a mix of electrifying jam sessions and some lineup turbulence. Fans praised the venue’s Chrysallis stage, imagining immersive projection mapping to lift night sets even higher next year.
Standout performances came from Daniel Donato, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD), and The String Cheese Incident, each delivering tight, captivating jams. JRAD emerged as the weekend’s highlight for many, while fans felt The Disco Biscuits deserved more stage time. Several posts from r/jambands also highlighted Dogs and Pigeons positively, adding texture to the festival’s sound.
However, controversy simmered around Sunday’s headliner Lawrence. Their polished Broadway-pop vibe, bolstered by Hollywood and Ivy League pedigrees, felt out of sync with the festival’s traditional jam-heavy roots. Multiple commenters called the booking a tonal mismatch, saying it brought the energy down after heavier sets by moe. and Goose.
The festival’s growing pains were apparent in scheduling choices and set allocations, fueling passionate calls for better flow in 2026. The highly developed Merriweather Post Pavilion grounds stood out, a sign of the festival’s evolution from earlier “field and parking lot” days.
Despite mixed reactions, the consensus view is hopeful—All Good Now is solidifying itself as a premier amp festival with a distinct identity in Maryland’s summer circuit. With tighter booking and more streamlined set times, next year promises a sharper festival experience.
Highlights from r/jambands user Nickzpic’s scoring:
- JRAD 10/10
- String Cheese Incident 9/10
- Daniel Donato 8/10
- Dogs 8/10
- Pigeons 7.5/10
- Eggy 6.5/10
- Goose 6/10
- Neal Francis 5.5/10
- Lawrence 2/10
Sources: Reddit r/jambands June 2025, gratefulweb.com, orcasound.com, Wikipedia
Source: r/jambands