Philly Roots: Day 2 of the 2025 XPoNential Music Festival thoughts and photos

Day 2 of the 2025 XPoNential Music Festival presented by Subaru was maybe the best single day of music available at any festival this year. It was a mix of artists with deep roots in Philadelphia, and undeniable legends. The day started much earlier than day 1, with gates opening around noon. It was another mad dash to save seats, lawn chairs, blankets and more, especially at the smaller Marina stage.

XPoNential Music Festival’s host is WXPN, the University of Pennsylvania’s public radio station. The theme all weekend was “They can take away our funding, but they can’t silence the music”. And that applied to so many of the people who performed on the festival’s two stages. From Richard Thompson, to the impactful headlining set of Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory.

On a personal note, the day was an emotional one for me. Many bands and artists talked about their connection to the city of Philadelphia. From Kathleen Edwards performing her 5th time at the festival (including a plush Gritty appearance) , to Philly transplant Maxwell Stern shouting out the Phillies, even those not from the city, found themselves at home. The moment that hit me hardest was Sharon Van Etten talking about her early days in the city. She’s an artist I’ve covered even from before my previous blog. She’s someone whose career I’ve followed since its early days in Brooklyn. It wasn’t just seeing her on the massive stage, but the fact that those words, with the backdrop of Philadelphia really hit me, as a recent transplant to the area. It made me fall in love with the city even more, a place I’m so proud to call home.

If you missed our coverage of the first day of the XPoNential Music Festival presented by Subaru, you can catch up here!

Sadie Gust

The first artist of the day was XPN’s 2025 24-Hour Song Challenge winner Sadie Gust. And instantly, it was obvious why Gust won the award. Her music is catchy, and perfect for a beautiful late summer afternoon. Her band was massive, featuring family members, including her father David on keys. Gust is an up and coming artist, who already has a massive stage presence, and it shouldn’t be long before we see her on other big stages.

Connect with Sadie Gust: insta / website

Maxwell Stern & The Good Light Band

Maxwell Stern may originally be from Ohio, but he has deep roots in the Philly music scene. His solo album, In The Good Light came out last year, and thus the Good Light Band was born. Stern kicked his set off with the title track from that record and it set the tone for his set. A great blend of Alternative, folk, with some really inviting musicianship. Stern’s banter also between songs made everyone at the Marina stage into a fan, looking out for people, sharing his experience coming up through the Philly scene, his love for the cheap seats, and just being undeniably authentic. A definitive “good vibes” set for sure.

Connect with Maxwell Stern: insta / bsky / website

Owen Stewart

Owen Stewart’s set on the River Stage was a celebration. Of rock and roll, of Philadelphia, Stewart’s powerful voice boomed through Wiggins Park, recalling voices of guys like Seger and Cocker. His band was on fire from the drop. Groovy as hell, horn section, harmonicas, and a tight rhythm section let Stewart just do his thing. And my god is he good at his thing, blues, rock, funk, it’s all there. Where some throwback bands can feel like imitations, Stewart’s love for classic rock shines through as genuine through his soulful performances. Saturday was no exception.

Connect with Owen Stewart: insta / website

Tune-Yards

There is no other duo quite like Tune-Yards. Just watching Merill Garbus and Nate Brenner on stage is entertainment enough, colorful clothes, with Garbus bouncing between a drum kit and ukulele, creating loops, oh, not to mention her powerful voice. It’s a voice, that when it sings, wails, talks, it demands attention. Between songs, Garbus talked of freedom – and to embrace it while others fight for it, and also a shout out for trans rights in a time where they’re also under attack. Despite the reminders, Tune-Yard’s set was a joyous occasion. The duo also just released a new EP, Tell The Future With Your Body just days before the festival.

connect with Tune-Yards: insta / website

Soccer Mommy

Soccer Mommy are very obvious XPN favorites, with “Driver” being the soundtrack for a commercial that played between every set on the River Stage. Hearing that track finally played live after that was a huge moment at this year’s festival. Sophie Allison dug in and provided a career-spanning set, including “Your Dog”, “Cool”, “Circle The Drain” and a bunch more. Allison is one of this generation’s great songwriters, and paired with her grungy, indie sound, it translates to a huge, booming live sound, especially on a massive stage.

Connect with Soccer Mommy: insta / website

Richard Thompson

At a festival with a long history of great songwriters – heck, the original name of the XPoNential Music Festival was the WXPN Singer-Songwriter Weekend – there may have been no songwriter greater than Richard Thompson. Armed with just his acoustic guitar, Thompson’s storytelling was on full display. He’d joke and tell stories, and man, once he started strumming and singing, the set was utterly captivating. And when he started fingerpicking? Just incredible. Thompson also dug into his vast catalog, playing tracks from his early Fairport Convention days, to stuff off his most recent record Ship To Shore.

Connect with Richard Thompson: insta / website

Molly Tuttle

Molly Tuttle is a legend in the making. Her songwriting puts her in a class with so many others on this fest, especially on her stellar latest record So Long Long Little Miss Sunshine. Her performances are completely engaging, both from her stage presence, and what she can mix into any given setlist. She kicked off her set with “Everything Burns”, and her band was undeniably – pardon the pun – on fire. She also included her own, slower cover of “I Love It” by Icona Pop and Charli XCX. Just more proof that even when she covers a recognizable song, she still makes everything undeniably Tuttle.

Connect with Molly Tuttle: insta / website

Kathleen Edwards

Kathleen Edwards is another long-time XPN favorite, as noted by Bruce Warren who introduced her, as well as the fact that this was her fifth performance at the festival. And goodness, Edwards truly was at home on the Marina Stage that afternoon. Edwards’ performances are a joy to witness, you can tell she is feeling each note she’s playing, each word she sings.

Connect with Kathleen Edwards: insta / website

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory

It was a homecoming of sorts for Sharon Van Etten. Van Etten has deep roots in Philadelphia, she recorded the song “Love More” with Weathervane Music as part of their Shaking Through series. Her dad was in attendance. But since those early days, Van Etten’s sound has expanded. Her latest record, isn’t even a Sharon Van Etten record, it’s an Attachment Theory record. And that much fuller sound was on full display on the River Stage as the sun set for the evening. The Attachment Theory are an incredible lineup of musicians, Devra Hoff on bass, Teeny Lieberson on keys, Jorge Balbi on drums, and Shanna Polley on guitar. The lineup suits her new record perfectly, but when they dove into “Serpents” off Van Etten’s 2012 record Tramp, they breathed new life into an already intense song. Between the intense songs, Van Etten’s charm shined through, laughing, telling stories, and getting nostalgic about her connection with Philadelphia and New Jersey.

Connect with Sharon Van Etten: insta / website

That concludes our coverage of Day 2 of the 2025 XPoNential Music Festival presented by Subaru. Keep an eye out for our coverage of the fest’s final day later this week!