Written by Kristan Whitlow Hughes
Photographed by Ed Payne / Kristan Whitlow Hughes
Frozen Harbor, a two-day music festival hosted by arts non-profit Feed the Scene and One Koast Entertainment, has become an annual tradition for many after coming together in 2014. Approaching it’s sixth official year on February 28th and February 29th, 2020, this festival guarantees an action-packed weekend with over 100+ performers. This event is held throughout the multiple venues at Power Plant Live! near the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, MD, and headliners in the past have included artists such as Method Man, Red Man, Keller Williams, Bumpin’ Uglies, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Less Than Jake, among more.
One Koast Entertainment, along with their mascot, Koasty, arranges a killer yearly lineup featuring ska, hip-hop, jam, and EDM local and regional performers. Live artists, a tattoo booth ran by Artworx Tattoo, ample garage parking, an array of food options, and a majestically illuminated path with inviting and often heated outdoor seating, made this festival the ultimate adventure. With bands like Reel Big Fish, The Bridge, Waterloo Revival, and BadBoyBill headlining this year, smaller but well-known local acts including Ray Wroten, The Grilled Lincolns, Pie Tasters, Secondhand, and Troll Tribe could be found alongside some jam community favorites like Tweed and Aqueous.
Luckie’s Tavern, PBR, and Tin Roof, serving alongside Rams Head Live! and many others, all work together which enables Frozen Harbor to pack in an impressive amount of music with multiple stages throughout the venue – and whether you want to purchase a ticket for one particular show or experience the festival as a whole, a multitude of options are offered to suit your preferences. Set times were shared the day before on the event’s Facebook page with warning to potential time changes, but all sailed smoothly. Frank Lewis, Artist Manager of One Koast Entertainment, could be seen checking in with artists to ensure a successful weekend. It was apparent that this was truly a community event.
The largest venue in Power Plant Live! is undoubtedly Rams Head Live!, which opened it’s doors in 2004 and hosted Frozen Harbor 2020’s headlining acts. At roughly 26,000 square feet, this space offers five bars and a tri-level viewing setup; there is truly no bad seat in the house. It’s been 24 years since Reel Big Fish released their best known and top-charting album, Turn the Radio Off, but the guys proved that age isn’t anything but a number; they were full of energy and spirit, and fans enjoyed every minute of their set while skanking and moshing.
Surrounding Rams Head Live! was Luckie’s Liquors, Mosaic, and PBR. Luckie’s Liquors is connected to Luckie’s Tavern, and quickly became a favorite little dive to explore new music, with the capacity of only 75 people. Tin Roof, also well known for their eclectic food menu, hosted a quaint stage next to their bar. An outdoor lounge complimented their interior communal picnic table-style seating; this space offered whatever you were looking for, including memorable artists.
Overall, Frozen Harbor Music Festival holds a good time for all; whether you’re hoping to explore new music, enjoy your already favorite artists, or want to support your community – it is a great way to warm up your wintery February. You can find out more about the Frozen Harbor Music Festival by clicking their Facebook link below, and we are hoping to see new faces and old friends in 2021!
Frozen Harbor Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/frozenharbor
