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A new stage, fresh faces, and more Stick Figure: This year at Levitate

'It's so funny. People always ask that,' Hassett said. 'No, I don't think so. The character of the venue that we hold our event at is a big part of the event itself. We think it might lose some of what it's all about if we were to relocate.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Such attitudes are a common trend at Levitate, a festival whose traditions are loyal to locals. The major summer event has never left its home in Marshfield — where the brand's original surf shop is located — and its lineups have never strayed far from home, always incorporating musicians from New England. Hassett said that typically 30 percent of Levitate's performers have ties to the region, although this Saturday and Sunday, he noted that figure will skew closer to 50 percent. Advertisement Among visiting performers like Jamaican reggae artist Advertisement But Levitate devotees who might not be interested in seeing Stick Figure perform for the umpteenth time (they truly are a festival favorite) can find fresh talent at this year's 'Songwriter Stage' for emerging acts. Hassett describes the feature as a 'centerpiece stage' in the middle of the festival that will host four finalists from the Levitate Foundation's just-launched 'Songwriter of the Year' competition. Out of hundreds of applications from budding artists across the country, the inaugural finalists range from A short, stripped-down set at Levitate is only part of the prize; each finalist will also receive grants of up to $7500 to help fund a debut studio album. Similarly, the foundation will unveil an 'Artist of the Year' award in the fall, which will offer grants for visual art education and residences. So, while the festival's physical footprint isn't expanding, its impact is. At a time when many major fests are Advertisement In light of this weekend's likely sellout, though, it looks like this Marshfield tradition won't be leaving the South Shore anytime soon. 'I was nervous about it, but we're gonna have a very busy year,' Hassett said. 'We're grateful that people are still valuing coming out to this event this year.' GIG GUIDE It's the final (local) curtain call for also launch a double header this week, rekindling the stomp of the 2010s indie folk craze at Fenway Park on Coldplay bring their 2024 record "Moon Music" to Gillette Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday. Anna Lee Ahead of her performance at the Newport Folk Festival later this month, New Orleans bounce queen Advertisement On In the world of all things weird and wonderful, Boston's inimitable alt-rock outfit The Lowell Summer Music Series welcomes NOW SPINNING Wet Leg, Advertisement Wet Leg's sophomore LP "moisturizer" proves that the success of their 2022 self-titled LP was no winking fluke. Alice Backham Mal Blum, Mal Blum's complex new record "The Villain" is sometimes folky, sometimes punk-y, and always plucky. Nate Sturley Syd, Syd's new single "Die For This" is a persuasive (but never pleading) R&B serenade. Swurve BONUS TRACK Jazz fans won't be bored this weekend. with her band the Cookout , among others. Also this weekend, the fifth annual Advertisement Victoria Wasylak can be reached at . Follow her on Bluesky @