Photo courtesy of Maplewoodstock
(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- Going on 20+ years, the annual, free, two-day Maplewoodstock Music + Art Festival will take place the weekend of July 11-12, 2026, in Memorial Park in Maplewood. The festival features performances by Anders Osborne, Lettuce, Slap Dragon, and Megan Jean's Secret Family. It kicks off with music at noon and ends around 9:30pm each night. As always, it is free and welcomes the entire community.
These acts end two full afternoons of 18 other local/regional bands curated to present a variety of styles from rock to reggae, R&B to jazz, grunge to Latin, and pop to Americana.
Eight bands are from Maplewood, NJ, and the near vicinity. Ten other bands are gracing the stage from surrounding areas that contribute to the regional musical vibe (e.g., Jersey City, Asbury Park, Brooklyn). All but one band are first-time performers as Maplewoodstock takes this festival into its third decade.
In addition to music, Maplewoodstock celebrates the arts, with over 50 arts and crafts vendors and a free community art exhibit.
Click here to scroll down to the complete lineup and schedule.
Anders Osborne is a Swedish-born New Orleans–based singer‑songwriter and guitarist whose career spans nearly four decades. Arriving in New Orleans in 1986, he became a fixture of the city’s music scene, and became known for his open‑D fretwork and a songwriting voice shaped by blues, folk, rock and jazz. His songs have been recorded by artists such as Keb Mo, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Aaron Neville, and Trombone Shorty.
Lettuce bring the musical heat; an invitation to join the band at the table, where funk, soul, jazz, rock, and hip-hop come together in one rich, flavorful dish. These six life-long partners bring s a bold expansion of their ever-widening musical palette with a generous dose of funk throughout paying homage to James Brown and the JB’s while honoring longtime mentors like Tower of Power and Maceo Parker. The band feels like their concepts and ideas can come to fruition with an innovative team and devout fan base behind them—they’re in a fresh new headspace ready to savor a new chapter.
Slap Dragon is the brain-child of bassist Scott Mulvahill and vocalist Laura Berens who met and began writing songs together in the summer of 2023. Soul vocals and acoustic instruments (played by some of Nashville’s heaviest session musicians) combine for a fresh, funky irresistibly joyful sound that is equal parts bluegrass, disco, and RnB.
Megan Jean’s Secret Family is a genre-bending rock and roots band built around the songwriting and powerhouse vocals of Megan Jean Klay. Blending the spirit of 70’s rock with the edge and independence of the 90’s alternative scene, the band delivers vocal-driven, danceable original songs that bridge generations of American music.
Committee Member Tarquin Learned reflects, “It is a good challenge every year to curate the music lineup from so much local and regional talent. We are super thrilled to expose our attendee’s eyes and ears to a cornucopia of established and on-the-rise bands and get their toes wiggling and hips swaying.”
Committee Member Amy Biasucci adds, “Art is an important part of the festival. In 2025, we introduced The Long Hall – an art and family space for the community to gather. The theme for the 2026 Art Gallery within the Long Hall is ‘America at 250: What Does Independence Mean to You’.”
In addition to nine hours of music and art each day, the festival also features approximately 20 food vendors (including vegetarian and vegan offerings), a Kid Zone, a Beer Garden (in partnership with SO Elks Lodge #1154), and is steps away from the charming village of Maplewood.
Maplewoodstock is committed to being accessible and inclusive for all attendees. The festival offers handicapped parking spots at the Maplewood train station (NJ Transit), handicapped accessible toilets, a Senior Tent in partnership with SOMA’s Two Towns for All Ages, sign language interpretation staffed by volunteers, a dedicated space for nursing mothers and changing diapers, and a Sensory Activation Area for those who might need respite from the sights, sounds, and crowds.
Committee Member Susan Rogers says, “This festival is driven entirely by volunteers. It is a labor of love from so many supporters, and we are grateful for everyone who helps bring this weekend together in unity and community, anchored by music and art.”
Maplewoodstock is produced by Music & Arts Education Project, Inc. (MAEP), a SOMA-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advocating for comprehensive music and arts education for all students, in all grades, across all schools. Maplewoodstock is MAEP’s flagship annual event.
Maplewoodstock invites the community to join in: to sit with friends and neighbors; to listen and dance to the music; to buy a special item from an arts and crafts vendor; to enjoy lunch or dinner from a food vendor; to wear a Maplewoodstock t-shirt; to meet a new friend in the Beer Garden. Maplewoodstock is “OF and FOR the community.”
NOTE: This is a rain or shine event, and the lineup is subject to change due to extreme weather conditions. Here is their Weather Policy.
SATURDAY JULY 11, 2025:
NOON – BARD |This Montclair band takes the long view of rock and roll — weaving classic poetic tradition through a genre-bending mix of rock, funk, and country. Original music is built to move you: lyrically, emotionally, and physically.
12:45pm – A Band Called Sundown | High energy, psychedelic jams, incorporating influences from rock and jazz, creating a sonic playground of sound.
1:30pm – The Brand New Steadys | Local band bringing the groove with a mix of rock, funk, blues, and a jam band twist. Their original tunes and eclectic covers will get you on your feet and dancing!
2:15pm – Dhärä | Instrumental progressive / post-rock band whose music lives at the intersection of technical precision and immersive atmosphere. A fully realized sonic world that rewards musical curiosity, while provides mood, texture, and momentum.
3:00pm – VØYAGR | Buffalo, NY, indie-folk/Americana act blending warm instrumentals, soaring harmonies, and roots rhythms with honest lyrics on life, love, and loss.
3:45pm – Rini | NJ-based, Chennai-born violinist Harini “Rini” Raghavan blends Carnatic roots with pop and jazz to create Indian Jazztronica—a “powerful fusion.”
4:30pm – Royal Blush | From Jersey City, a blend of nostalgic alt-rock roots and modern grunge punch. Powerhouse vocals and moody guitars with a sonic vision.
5:15pm – the dt’s | Shifting harmoniously from rock to blues, to power pop and beyond. their modern pop approach and various vintage influences are key in their collective and individual songwriting skills. the duo is not afraid to experiment while incorporating their love of harmonies.
6:00pm – Waiting on Mongo | Immersive experience as a soulful journey of psychedelic grooves. Strutting guitar riffs, transcendent horns, and heady organ depth. A cathartic journey where you shed the weight of the world.
7:15pm – Slap Dragon (Featured Act) | Soul vocals and acoustic instruments combine for a fresh, funky irresistibly joyful sound that is equal parts bluegrass, disco, and RnB. Debut album, “Mission Statement,” to be released in 2026.
8:30pm – Lettuce (Saturday Headliner) | Funk, soul, jazz, rock, and hip-hop come together in one rich, flavorful dish that pays homage to James Brown while honoring longtime mentors like Tower of Power and Maceo Parker.
Then: pick after yourselves, get home safely, rest up, and prepare to do it again on Sunday!
SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2025:
NOON – little slicer | Indie rock, blending heartfelt songwriting with exhilarating grooves & infectious guitars. Lead by a CHS alumn.
12:45pm – Mya Bryne Band | Bold and bluesy, weaving a rich tapestry of folk-rock storytelling and ’70’s proto-punk. Her voice is equal parts honey and grit, with authenticity in every lyric.
1:30pm – The Jist | 8-piece powerhouse party band pushing high-energy dance flavors into funk, rock, & soul. Blasting horn section, dance floor Latin percussion, and a seamless set of originals and bar band favorites.
2:15pm – Similar Kind | Blending evocative lyrics, synth textures, groove-driven arrangements, and sax into cohesive alt-pop shaped by years of writing and performance. From Norwalk, CT.
3:00pm – Heroes for Ghosts | Pink Floyd’s timeless music, with a unique take that honors their blend of emotional and theatrical psychedelic rock.
3:45pm – Troubleman | Combines their powers as singer song writers, resulting in a brilliant technical display of creativity between four distinctive minds that create a reggae rock music.
4:30pm – Whiskey & Sugar | Matt & Jess are joined by a full band of talented friends with funky versions of guilty-pleasure hits. Classic rock, Americana, 90s alt-rock, and the singalongs everyone secretly loves.
5:15pm – James “Biscuit” Rouse | Modern Funk, Jazz, Blues and Soul. Built for live rooms. As simple and straightforward as that.
6:00pm – Heston | R&B, soul, and reggae and blending in Caribbean vibes that sounds effortlessly unique and inspires audiences.
6:45pm – Megan Jean’s Secret Family (Featured Act) | Fresh blend of the 70’s by way of the 90’s rock, soul, country, and jam, emphasizing vocal-driven danceable original songs that bring together generations of sound.
7:45pm – Anders Osborne (Sunday Headliner) | Swedish-born and New Orleans-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist shaped by blues, folk, rock, and jazz. A poet laureate of Lousiana’s fertile roots music scene.
