PHOTOS: Back Cove Day One – Cimafunk, Weakened Friends, Sarah Kinsley in Portland, ME (08.02.25)

Editor’s note: On August 1st, day one of the brand new Back Cove Music & Arts Festival kicked off. Taking place in Portland, ME, at Payson Park, the two-day music festival brought a lineup of big names such as Lord Huron, Jack White, The Roots, and more up to Northern New England. In addition to the international headline names, the festival brought local New England talent such as Weakened Friends and Madi Diaz. There was also room for younger rising names like Sarah Kinsley and Chance Peña.

On Saturday, Portland natives Weakened Friends greeted fans who decided to show up early, the hometown trio performed new music from their upcoming album, Feels Like Hell, due out in October. So far this year the band has released three singles, “Torn,” “Tough Luck (Bleed Me Out),” and most recently “NPC.”

Singer-songwriter Sarah Kinsley performed as well, promoting music from her 2024 album, Escaper, that came out in September.

Cuban funk singer Cimafunk was up right after that, touring behind the release of his latest album Pa’ Tu Cuerpa, from last year. Check out photos of day one’s early acts below, and click HERE to see pictures from the late day sets.

Photos – Weakened Friends, Sarah Kinsley, Cimafunk at Back Cove Festival in Portland, ME on August 2nd: (photographer name in caption):