Sun, Sand & Sounds: Highlights from Point Break Festival 2025
Point Break 2025 transformed the Virginia Beach oceanfront into a two-day dreamscape of music, sunshine, and good vibrations. The festival struck that rare balance of organized and effortless—it felt like a giant beach hangout that just happened to be soundtracked by some of the biggest names in feel-good live music. Bare feet in the sand, cold drink in hand, and no bad energy in sight—this is what summer’s supposed to feel like.
The Lineup Flow: Smooth Transitions & Coastal Vibes
This year’s roster was stacked, but what stood out most was how perfectly the sets flowed—no dead time, no weak links, just a smooth ride from golden hour grooves to nightfall anthems. Each performance felt like part of a bigger story, rolling in with the tide and building momentum with every handoff. From breezy daytime rhythms to bass-heavy after-dark explosions, the music moved like a perfectly timed wave.
Aurorawave Delivers a Heavy Reggae-Metal Hybrid
With Mike Mocerino leading the charge on guitar, Aurorawave tore through a set that fused heavy metal aggression with reggae rhythms masterfully. Mocerino’s shredding soared over the band’s dark, pulsing beats and dub-infused basslines. Frontman Nate Aurora’s gritty, commanding vocals added raw intensity and emotion, perfectly complementing the heavy yet rhythmic sound. Highlights included the crushing weight of “Tibetan Sky Burial” and the anthemic “Turn the Page,” both showcasing the band’s ability to balance heaviness with hypnotic groove. Their performance injected a much-needed surge of fire, proving that reggae’s spirit can thrive even when it’s wrapped in distortion and fury.
East Coast Flavors: Little Stranger, Grateful Dub & Bumpin Uglies
This trio of East Coast acts brought serious personality to the beach. Little Stranger fired off a genre-bending set packed with clever rhymes, indie flair, and just the right amount of chaos—like a house party crashed by poets and pranksters. Their tight chemistry and unpredictable energy kept the crowd locked in, proving why they’ve become one of the most consistently fun live acts on the circuit.
Grateful Dub, led by Brett Wilson, reimagined Dead classics through a reggae lens that felt both fresh and familiar. Their sun-drenched jams stretched and swayed like waves, making the oceanfront feel right at home.
Bumpin Uglies played the main stage to a huge and rowdy crowd, bringing their distinctive mix of grit and groove with full force. Frontman Brandon Hardesty delivered raw, emotionally charged vocals that hit just as hard as the rhythms behind them. Their set included a standout performance of “Orange Crush,” which felt like the perfect match for the beachside energy. Unfiltered and unapologetic, Bumpin Uglies showed up big and owned their moment.
Slightly Stoopid: Masters of the Chill & Groove
Slightly Stoopid headlined Saturday night with the kind of laid-back swagger only decades of touring can buy. Their blend of reggae, punk, funk, and bluesy jam rock felt natural—like they were channeling the ocean itself. Highlights included “Somebody,” featuring Little Stranger, and “Got Me in the Run,” with Scott Woodruff of Stick Figure joining in—a moment that lit the crowd up. Woodruff also returned for their new Sublime cover, “Slow Ride,” turning the beach into a singalong under the stars. Chali 2na jumped in for a few tracks throughout the set, delivering his signature deep flow and unmistakable presence. Their latest single, “Step Into the Sun,” fit the mood like a glove—uplifting, beachy, and right on time. It was the kind of set that reminded everyone why Stoopid summers are undefeated.
311 Serves Up a Flavorful Jam Session
311 rolled through their set with cool confidence, mixing rock grit, reggae sway, and funk flair into one tight package. One of the heaviest moments of the night came with “You’re Gonna Get It,” a newer track that hit with thundering riffs and raw energy. Even after three decades, they still jam just as hard—tight, aggressive, and totally in sync. Their fluid flow kept the crowd hooked, moving and singing along like it was a giant block party. Every track landed with punch and groove, proving once again why 311’s vibe is timeless.
Stick Figure’s Two-Hour Headlining Set Delivered Their Best Production Yet
Stick Figure closed out Point Break Festival 2025 in Virginia Beach with a mesmerizing two-hour headlining set. Known for their soulful blend of dub reggae, electronic layering, and uplifting energy, Stick took things to a new level—delivering what may have been the best lighting and stage production they’ve ever toured with.
Traveling with their own custom lighting rig, the band transformed the beachfront into a dreamscape of color and motion. Deep blues pulsed through dub breakdowns while warm golds and strobe bursts elevated every drop. They also performed their brand-new track, “What a Feeling,” released just two days earlier. After debuting it in New Jersey, Point Break marked only the second time the song had been played live—and the crowd soaked it in like it was already a classic. The visuals were immersive, emotional, and perfectly synced to the music, creating a fully sensory experience that washed over the crowd like a wave.
The final stretch of the set turned the stage into a full-on fire wonderland, as the band launched into “World on Fire,” “Fire on the Horizon,” “Eruption,” and the explosive closer, “Wasteland.” With towering flames, smoke bursts, and a thunderous EDM backtrack shaking the beach, the energy reached its peak. As the beat dropped, Scott and KBong climbed the barricades, teasing the audience before perfectly timed launches into a sea of hands, riding a wave of fans in sync with the music and lights. It was a bold, celebratory finale to a weekend full of magic and connection.
Festival Vibes: More Than Music
From start to finish, Point Break felt like the perfect beach escape—easygoing, very well run, and packed with good energy. The oceanfront was alive with smiles, music, and memories in the making. Until next year, keep the vibes rolling.
ARTICLE BY KELLY GRAHAM PHOTO BY: Ryan McMillen
