Minnesota Yacht Club 2025: Three Days of Heart, Heat and Harmony on Harriet Island
Set along the banks of the Mississippi River on Harriet Island in St. Paul, the 2025 Minnesota Yacht Club Festival brought together a diverse, passionate lineup in one of the most intimate settings a festival can offer. With only two stages, fans could roam freely, catch every single set, and still find time to grab a salad wrap, slice of pizza, taco or burger between sets. Despite the summer heat and a weather hiccup on opening night, the crowd was energized, kind and fully present for three days of music that felt personal, politically aware and powered by performance.
Day 1: Storms, Soul and Standing for Something
After energetic sets from local artists Maygen & The Birdwatcher and Mike Kota, Gigi Perez, who immediately captivated the early crowd with her emotional range and vulnerability. Her performances of “Fable” and “Sailor Song” showed off her haunting vocals and moody storytelling, building a strong start to the festival. She was surrounded by her female bass player and guitarist.
Gigi Perez by Sloane Johnson
Father John Misty followed with a cinematic set full of irony and beauty. He performed “Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins),” and “Mr. Tillman,” never breaking character as his lush instrumentation swirled around the crowd, and he danced along to his tunes. The set felt both theatrical and grounded, exactly what you’d expect from an artist who blends sincerity with satire.
Alabama Shakes brought a wave of raw power to Harriet Island. Brittany Howard’s vocals were as mighty as ever as she led the band through songs like “Don’t Wanna Fight,” “Gimme All Your Love” and “Hold On.” Their set was a triumphant reminder of the band’s soulful Southern roots and musical evolution.
Hozier by Sloane Johnson
Hozier took the stage just as dark clouds began rolling in. He opened with the poignant “Nobody’s Soldier,” and his performance quickly took on a heavier tone. Between songs, large screens behind him showed data about homelessness in the United States, France and other countries, offering a stark visual reminder of the issues he often sings about. As he moved through songs like “Francesca” and “From Eden,” the message was clear. This wasn’t just a concert, it was a platform.
Though lightning forced an early end to his main stage set, Hozier made the most of the moment by performing a stripped-down version of “Cherry Wine” on a nearby side stage for the fans who stayed. He closed with a powerful reflection on the political issues he believes in, urging the audience to stay aware, get involved and vote. It wasn’t a rant, but a passionate, articulate call for change that fit perfectly with the themes of his music.
Day One Photo Gallery
Day 2: Funk, Flashbacks and Indie Fire
Remi Wolf by Sloane Johnson
Saturday was technically the least attended day of the weekend, but you couldn’t tell by looking around. The crowd’s energy was sky high from the first note. Throughout the day, local talent also had a chance to shine. Artists like Landon Conrath brought slick indie-pop grooves and confessional lyrics to the stage, while Raffaella’s dreamy alt-pop presence rounded out the local showcase, her set bridging the gap between Minneapolis flair and New York art-pop cool. These smaller acts held their own among the national names and reminded the crowd why Minnesota’s local music scene deserves the spotlight.
Cory Wong kicked things off with explosive funk and precision. His energy was infectious, every guitar riff and horn blast delivered with enthusiasm and joy. One of the day’s biggest highlights came when he brought out Remi Wolf for a surprise cover of “Tell Me Something Good.” The crowd went wild, and the chemistry between them was electric.
Weezer by Sloane Johnson
Remi Wolf returned for her own set later in the afternoon, mixing bright chaos and quirky charm with real vocal chops. She danced her way through hits like “Disco Man,” “Sexy Villain” and closed with “Photo ID,” leaving the crowd in a sweaty, happy frenzy.
Weezer followed with a tight, no-frills set. Lead singer Rivers Cuomo barely spoke between songs and carried a shy, almost timid presence on stage. But the band let the music speak for itself. They opened with “Hash Pipe” and followed with beloved tracks like “Beverly Hills,” “My Name is Jonas,” “Island in the Sun” and “Say It Ain’t So.” The crowd sang every word, turning the main lawn into a karaoke pit of joy.
Fall Out Boy wrapped up the night with a show full of theatrics that spanned their entire career. Rather than using fire or pyrotechnics, they filled the stage with elaborate props and visuals tied to the different eras of their music. They opened with “Grand Theft Autumn / Where Is Your Boy” and tore through classics like “Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” “Dance, Dance,” “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race,” and “Thnks fr th Mmrs.” The production matched the emotional swings of their set, giving fans a visual and sonic journey through the highs and heartbreaks of 2000s pop-punk.
Day Two Photo Gallery
Day 3: Female Power, Guitar Gods and a Grand Finale
Sunday’s lineup was stacked from start to finish and carried the strongest sense of momentum. The day was filled with standout female artists and female-fronted bands, making it one of the most exciting and balanced lineups in recent memory. There was a sense of unity in the air, as if the festival saved its most inspired acts for last.
Winona Fighter, a rising pop-punk act from Nashville, opened with punchy anthems and an aggressive presence that instantly turned heads. Their energy was raw and contagious, with a sound that brought to mind early Paramore with a modern twist. They’re clearly a band on the rise.
Grace Bowers by Sloane Johnson
Grace Bowers followed and brought an entirely different energy. At only 18, she played with the confidence and skill of a seasoned musician. Most of her set was instrumental, highlighting her incredible command of the guitar. Backed by her band, The Hodge Podge, she leaned into Southern rock and blues influences with solos that felt both precise and deeply emotional. During a brief pause between songs, she addressed the challenges of being a young woman in the industry, saying, “I have to see through a lot of bullshit. There’s things that happen that my bandmates don’t have to go through.” Her honesty landed with weight, and her talent spoke louder than anything.
The Beaches brought a fun, swaggering set filled with sharp hooks and playful banter. Songs like “Blame Brett,” “T-Shirt” and “Everything is Boring” had the crowd moving and laughing along. The all-female quartet proved that rock can still be fun and fresh while staying edgy.
Garage brought raw energy, followed by 311, who delivered the familiar grooves fans know and love. With tracks like “Amber,” “Down,” “Beautiful Disaster” and “Come Original,” they turned the field into a dance party for both longtime fans and casual listeners alike.
Green Day by Sloane Johnson
Sublime took the stage with Jakob Nowell, the son of late frontman Bradley Nowell, now leading the band. It was their first time performing new material in years, and their new single “Ensenada” landed well with the crowd. Jakob brought his own energy and style to the set while still honoring the legacy of his father. The band performed classics like “Santeria,” “What I Got,” “Wrong Way” and “April 29, 1992 (Miami),” creating a nostalgic but fresh experience that felt like a passing of the torch.
Green Day closed out the weekend with the kind of show only they can deliver. Billie Joe Armstrong was magnetic from the start, launching into “American Idiot” and keeping the energy high throughout. The band played a massive setlist including “Holiday,” “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “Basket Case,” “When I Come Around,” “Hitchin’ a Ride,” “Jesus of Suburbia,” and “She.” New songs like “One Eyed Bastard” and “Bobby Sox” fit seamlessly into the set. Confetti rained down, flames erupted and the crowd never stopped moving. As the final fireworks lit up the sky over the river, Green Day ended the night with “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” a perfect, reflective sendoff to a weekend no one wanted to end.
The Minnesota Yacht Club Festival proved that you don’t need a massive footprint or endless stages to create a meaningful and unforgettable experience. Between the stacked lineup, spotlight on local talent and welcoming community feel, Harriet Island became the heartbeat of the Midwest music scene for one perfect weekend.
Day Three Photo Gallery
