After a successful maiden voyage in 2024, the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival dropped anchor for its second excursion. Expanding to a three-day festival, 2025’s event welcomed nearly 100,000 people, and amplified all the best qualities of a Minnesota music festival.
Hosted riverside at Saint Paul’s Harriet Island, days began with a relaxed atmosphere. Fans laid in the grass or sat by the Mississippi while enjoying music from acts like Maygen and the Bird Watcher, Raffaella, and more. The crowd would grow, and energy climbed throughout the day.
Timing was excellent at the festival. As soon as the music ended on one stage, the next act was already on across the field. On Saturday, Jake Clemons raised the temperature and would be followed by Silversun Pickups on the mainstage, getting fans on their feet.
The blend of acts throughout the festival combined the best of past Twin Cities music festivals. It was equal parts nostalgic and modern, mellow to high energy, Basilica Block Party to Target Field concert. For me, the strongest parts of the lineup came on Saturday.
The highlights began when local pop-punk outfit Motion City Soundtrack came to the stage with a unique dilemma: lead singer Justin Pierre was sick and couldn’t perform. Luckily, the group has a special connection with the night two headliners, Fall Out Boy.
Patrick Stump pulled double duty as he stepped in for much of the set. For fans of mid-2000s pop-punk, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Fall Out Boy go way back with Motion City Soundtrack. They have appeared on each other’s records, toured together, and have made past guest appearances at each other’s shows. Patrick Stump is even set to appear on Motion City Soundtrack’s next album.
Additional artists also stepped in for a few songs in Justin’s absence, including Ber and Gully Boys. Motion City Soundtrack wasn’t the only set to feature guest stars.
Remi Wolf and Yam Haus joined local legend Cory Wong during his set as well. As the crowd grew, Cory Wong set the tone for the latter half of Saturday’s exciting lineup.
As his instrumental heavy set concluded, fan favorite group Weezer took the stage. The opening notes of “Hash Pipe,” followed by classic “My Name is Jonas,” caught everyone’s ear. Frontman Rivers Cuomo charmed the crowd with his signature cool dad spirit.
“Anyone know any good stage banter?” Rivers asked. “Yea, me neither.”
Rivers and company are a band tailor-made for summer festivals. This was my sixth time seeing them, and they’re always reliable for smile-inducing sing-alongs.
Leaning into their older material, Weezer knew how to play to the crowd of fans in their late 20s to early 30s. The highlight, though, was seeing parents lift their kids up for a better view. Seeing parents share their favorite music with their children was heartwarming.
Concluding with “Buddy Holly,” some fans felt deja vu. Much like the iconic 2021 Hella Mega Tour, Weezer was preceded by bombastic hitmakers Fall Out Boy.
Personally speaking, Fall Out Boy is a group that means a lot to me. It was nearly 10 years ago when I had my first big break as a concert photographer: taking their photos at the KDWB Jingle Ball.
10 years and 9 concerts later, it felt fitting to see them perform an eras-spanning set.
Fall Out Boy brought their acclaimed Days of Fall Out Past show to the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival. Starting at the beginning with 2003’s “Take This to Your Grave,” the stage took on the aesthetics of each album over the years. Flying sheep (Franklin), inflatable bears, pyro, and all.
The highlights of their set included an abundance of pyro, Pete Wentz being carried away by balloons, and an intimate piano section led by Patrick Stump.
Their performance was what truly elevated The Yacht Club into being more than just another Minnesota music festival. It was an event on par with the glitzy Westcoast festivals you see online.
Closing out the night with fan anthem “Saturday,” the festival continued on to the final day. Sunday’s lineup was clad in 90’s nostalgia with 311, Sublime, Garbage, and Green Day.
Green Day has treated the Twin Cities well, with this being their third massive show in the area in the last few years. Their Yacht Club performance was no exception as they performed with revolutionary energy.
Overall, the 2025 voyage of the Minnesota Yacht Club festival was smooth sailing, and one worthy of another trip. With an excellent lineup, great location, and perfectly curated vibes – we can’t wait to see what 2026 brings.
We have so much more to say about the festival. Check back here for more coverage!
