Concert Review: Sublime Festival in Portland, OR

Normally, an outdoor festival at the end of June sounds like the perfect time to host a music festival. Most years, it falls just before the hottest part of the summer and usually means we're past the wet season.

Portland, Oregon, apparently didn't get the message that summer had started, as Sublime Fest was treated to what was probably the heaviest rain of the year. But that didn't stop the festival as it took over Tom McCall Waterfront Park and proved that Pacific Northwest fans won't melt in the rain.

The main stage got started with Dizzyisdead, who was making his first-ever appearance at a music festival. Coming into the festival, I wasn't extremely familiar with Dizzyisdead, but I loved his message, with many of his songs focusing on mental health. It was a very different approach to the singer-songwriter style. Instead of being on stage with a guitar or backing band, it was just him and a DJ, but I wouldn't exactly call it rap. He sits in a unique middle ground between rap and singer-songwriter music—almost like a very melodic poetry reading. He's definitely someone I will continue to follow.

Next on the main stage were Portland favorites The Codefendants. Mother Nature decided to greet this set with the biggest downpour of the day—and perhaps the hardest rain Portland had seen all of 2026. But this was an amazing set. At first glance, I was mildly disappointed when I realized Fat Mike doesn't normally tour with the band, but within 10 seconds of the opening song, I completely forgot my disappointment.

The Codefendants have a truly unique sound. Yes, it's fundamentally rooted in punk, but it also mixes elements of hip-hop and folk. It's difficult to describe their style other than saying it was fun and amazing. "The Right Wrong Man" and "Lifers" were instantly added to my playlist and have been on constant rotation ever since. The opening lines of "Lifers" just hit a certain spot:

There are days when waking up feels difficult aulling teeth

There's always someone profiting off our disease

But I won't be defined by what has been defeating me

We're scared of every evil possibility

And sacrifice our freedoms for some false safety

Forgetting we Are stronger than any of us believe

The Codefendants are absolutely a band I think everyone should be checking out and supporting.

For me, a real highlight was the SVNBVRNT Stage. It was a smaller second stage, and honestly, the only act on that lineup I had heard of before the festival was the headliner, Jakobs Castle. Yet all day, I found myself drawn to this stage and its bands. It felt completely DIY and reminded me of the local park shows I grew up attending. There were no barriers, no frills—just a lot of punk rock energy and great music.

The first band to hit this stage was Nice and Swell, who have a fun, groovy, beachy surf-rock sound. Their entire set made me wish I were sitting on a warm beach with a cold drink in my hand. They're simply a good-time, feel-good band. However, I did have to cut the set short. Since this was a multi-stage festival, I spent much of the day bouncing back and forth between stages.

Next, I headed back to the main stage for Long Beach Dub Allstars. It had been over 25 years since the last time I saw them, and the music landscape has changed dramatically since then. At the time, I felt like they were trying to fill the space left behind by Sublime. Their original material just didn't connect with me, and I was mostly interested in hearing the Sublime songs because I thought it was the closest I would ever come to hearing Sublime live.

Funny how life works out. This time around, I really enjoyed their set. I feel like they've found their own sound—much more reggae-focused and almost psychedelic at times. They're still probably not my favorite band, but I enjoyed them far more than I did back in 2000 when I saw them last.

The next band I checked out on the SVNBVRNT Stage was a group called Untitled. For anyone who misses the grunge era of the '90s, this was the band for you. They reminded me a lot of Nirvana. "Restless" was the standout track and echoed in my head for days after the show.

Back on the main stage, The Paradox took over. I'll be honest—this was the band that really sold me on attending the festival, aside from Sublime, of course. If you're not familiar with The Paradox, I highly recommend checking them out as soon as you're done reading this review.

The Paradox is proving that pop-punk is far from dead, and they're leading the charge for the next generation of up-and-coming pop-punk bands. They capture the fun, carefree energy of early Blink-182 while bringing it to a whole new audience. If you're looking for the next big thing that you can still catch on smaller stages, you need to see these guys now. It would not surprise me at all if they're headlining major festivals within the next few years. They're that talented.

Next on the main stage was Z-Trip. This was another set I questioned when I first saw the lineup. An entire festival set dedicated to a DJ? I used this time to roam the festival grounds.

Sublime Fest was so much more than just music. Earlier in the day, those who were old enough could enjoy a craft beer tasting. There were tattoos being done by the local Portland shop Rose and Dagger, along with a wide variety of vendors and food options.

While exploring, I found myself listening to Z-Trip's set from a distance and started to think I may have made a mistake by not jumping into the crowd. There were lots of fun alternative mixes, and as soon as I heard him spinning some Beastie Boys, my ears perked up. Later, I caught some videos online, and the set looked like an absolute blast.

After grabbing a bite to eat, the rest of the night became a chaotic sprint between stages. I caught a few songs from Strange Case, and this was probably the first time all day that I was genuinely frustrated by overlapping set times.

Strange Case was great. I was really enjoying the set and fully intend to catch them the next time they're in town so I can get the full experience. However, I had to leave early because they overlapped with Tech N9ne. For someone who isn't a hip-hop fan, having multiple options was probably a welcome feature, but I'm a music junkie—I wanted to catch everything.

Tech N9ne has been on my list of artists to see for quite some time. He hasn't played Portland in a few years, and when he performs nearby, tickets usually sell out, so there was no way I was going to miss this.

And man, Tech did not disappoint.

At first glance, his inclusion on a festival that leaned so heavily into '90s alternative and reggae seemed a little strange. But once he hit the stage, he quickly eliminated any doubt. His style of independent hip-hop crosses genre boundaries and feels right at home on almost any rock festival stage.

I did leave his set a little early, though, so I could make my way to the SVNBVRNT Stage for headliner Jakobs Castle.

Jakobs Castle, Jakob Nowell's other band, took over the stage, and all I can say is this: Portland loves Jakob.

The vibes were incredible. It was easily the largest crowd the side stage saw all day, with everyone dancing and singing along as Jakob occasionally paused for a bit of storytelling between songs. As happy as I am that Jakob has stepped into the role of fronting Sublime, I'm equally glad he's continuing to share Jakobs Castle with the world.

The song "Vincent Thomas" stood out as the highlight of the set for me. Jakobs Castle is definitely a band that should be on your radar.

Then it was back to the main stage for the final two acts.

When the final festival lineup was announced and I saw Yelawolf had been added, I was skeptical. He didn't seem to fit the rest of the lineup. Most of the acts had ties to either the punk and reggae community or represented an older-school sound, like Tech N9ne.

Yelawolf brought a much more modern hip-hop approach while also blending country and Southern rap influences. There was nothing else like him on the lineup, yet somehow it worked perfectly.

One of the biggest surprises of the night for me was Yelawolf's guitarist. Somehow, I had completely missed the fact that Bones Owens was playing with him. I've been a fan of Bones' solo work for a few years now. While I wasn't especially familiar with Yelawolf's catalog, I found the set very enjoyable. The stage presence was strong, the music was good, and it served as a great lead-in to the moment I'd been waiting for all day.

And now it was finally time for the headliner: Sublime.

his was something I never thought I'd get to see. To be completely honest, while I appreciated what Rome Ramirez tried to do in carrying on the Sublime name, it was always difficult for me to fully buy into it.

When I heard Bradley Nowell's son was going to take over, I was both curious and excited. And I can say as sincerely as possible that Jakob is doing it right. Every step he's taken in filling his father's shoes has been thoughtful and respectful of the legacy attached to the band's name.

You can tell that playing this music means as much to him as it does to the millions of fans around the world.

Fresh off the first new Sublime release in 30 years, Jakob and the rest of the band took the stage in Portland. While they mostly stuck to the classic Sublime catalog, they mixed in a few newer songs as well.

Without a doubt, this is the closest we'll ever get to experiencing classic Sublime again. The thought, care, and effort Jakob has put into honoring the band's legacy is remarkable.

As for some final thoughts on Sublime Fest Portland, let's start with the negatives. The weather early in the day was absolutely brutal. I think it kept some people from coming out early, but by the end of the day the skies had cleared, and honestly, it wasn't bad at all. In fact, by evening, people had gathered along the sidewalks outside the park just to peek in and watch the show.

The other unfortunate aspect was the number of lineup changes between the original announcement and the final event. This caused some understandable frustration among fans.

For me, though, the lineup evolved from featuring a lot of bands I already loved into one that gave me opportunities to discover artists I might not otherwise have seen. That's something I genuinely enjoyed. My favorite festivals have always been the ones where I leave as a fan of a band I'd never heard before.

I don't think Sublime Fest was designed for people to watch every single performance, and that's where the overlapping set times actually became a benefit. They gave attendees options and encouraged exploration throughout the festival.

Where Sublime Fest truly succeeded was in the overall experience. First, getting into the festival was a breeze compared to many other events I've attended at Waterfront Park. Entry was quick, smooth, and efficient.

The layout was another pleasant surprise. I expected the second stage to be all the way across the park, making it a hassle to move between performances. Instead, it was located near the entrance and within sight of the main stage, yet still far enough away that the sound from the two stages never bled together.

I also loved that the artists didn't spend the entire day hidden backstage. At many festivals, bands disappear once they're done performing and only emerge to watch friends from side-stage areas.

Throughout the day, however, I saw multiple artists casually walking around the festival grounds

and interacting with fans.

Most importantly, the music was outstanding. Sublime, The Paradox, and The Codefendants alone were worth the price of admission.

Seeing this version of Sublime is a must for any fan. It was so good that I seriously considered booking a flight to Salt Lake City just to catch another stop on the Sublime Fest tour.