The Sound on Sound Music Festival in Bridgeport may finally be finding its groove.
The festival鈥檚 second year featured big-name acts like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and 海角换妻 native John Mayer. Concertgoers said they were pleased with changes the festival made after an inaugural year plagued with parking problems, long lines and bad sound.
鈥淟ast year, it actually felt a little bit unsafe,鈥� said Lissy Robie, a concert attendee.
Robie recalled portable toilets with no toilet paper and handwashing stations that ran out of soap.
鈥淭here wasn't adequate walkways for people and light. The acoustics were really terrible,鈥� Robie said. 鈥淏ut this year is like a complete 180.鈥�
Festival organizers said they worked this year to expand the festival grounds, making it easier for people to find seating and lay out chairs to socialize, eat, and rest. VIP areas were also reduced and the festival only featured one performance stage.
Many concertgoers welcomed the changes, but the weather did not make the festival鈥檚 comeback easy.
Heavy rains the day before the concert delayed its opening on Saturday by three hours. Organizers laid out walkways to help attendees avoid the mud, sectioned off wet spots to preserve the land, and communicated with people to dress appropriately for the weather.
But all that bad weather didn鈥檛 stop the great music.
Alanis Morissette, Hozier and Mayer all played. 海角换妻 Gov. Ned Lamont even made an appearance to commend the festival, as well as Mayer, who was born in Bridgeport.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what it is about great music festivals and a little bit of rain, but they come together,鈥� Lamont said. 鈥淲e love 海角换妻, we love John Mayer. One of the greatest guitarists, greatest artists, one of the greatest performers from right here in Bridgeport.鈥�
Mayer, whose father worked as an educator in Bridgeport鈥檚 public schools, was celebrated by the state with a letter of commemoration from the state and city.
鈥淲ith the stage so high, I can see the photographers here are struggling to take their photos,鈥� Mayer said. 鈥淪o I鈥檓 going to play this solo again and come closer to the edge of the stage, because I know my father would love to see this in the 海角换妻 Post tomorrow.鈥�
