Vans Warped Tour launched its 30th anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C., kicking off the first of three major festival stops planned for 2025.
It had been 26 years since the Vans Warped Tour last rolled through D.C. and the RFK Festival Grounds. After months of anticipation, 40,000 pop-punk, emo, screamo, and metal fans made the pilgrimage to the capital to witness a mammoth lineup spread across six different stages. Each stage carried its own identity. The Vans Left and Right Foot stages hosted the day’s biggest acts, while the Ghost and Beatbox stages, tucked on the other side of the festival, served up a mix of nostalgic Warped Tour throwbacks and pure, bone-crushing chaos. Meanwhile, the Eagle and Arrow stages spotlighted the rising stars of Warped’s next generation.
The morning kicked off with eager fans sprinting toward the massive red inflatable that displayed the day’s schedule. In true Warped Tour fashion, the lineup wasn’t announced online. It’s a long-standing tradition: race to the inflatable, scan the set times, make your game plan, and then bolt to the stage where you’ll either spend the whole day or kick things off.
Slide/Ways was the first band we decided to check out. Kicking off day one of the festival, this New Jersey alternative rock band hit the Vans Left Foot Main Stage after winning the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands, an incredible opportunity for emerging artists to get their music heard by a massive crowd. They opened their set with “Home Again” from their 2020 EP Ernestine, and rolled through a high-energy 30-minute setlist. To help fans sing along, they even curated a special Spotify playlist in advance for Warped Tour attendees. They closed with “This Might Be It,” also from Ernestine. Slide/Ways proved to be the perfect band to launch a full day of music on the Left Foot/Right Foot stages.
Meanwhile, over on the Ghost Stage, Oxymorrons opened up that side of the festival with a genre-smashing set that defied every expectation. The New York-based alternative rock/hip-hop band is a masterclass in blending sounds, merging rap, alternative rock, metal, and pop into something so cohesive and captivating that it shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does – a true oxymoron in sound and spirit. As soon as they launched into “Enemy” from their 2023 album Melanin Punk, the pits erupted and didn’t let up. The band’s explosive energy, gritty vocals, and relentless stage presence had the crowd locked in from the start. Highlights included a blistering performance of “Definition” from their 2021 EP Mohawks & Durags, which features Jason Aalon Butler of Fever 333. Every moment of their set felt like a controlled riot, loud, raw, and unforgettable. Next up, we headed over the Eagle stage to check out Gritty In Pink. They brought a fierce wave of female empowerment and raw talent to the Vans Warped Tour stage. Led by founder and powerhouse performer Shira Yevin, the collective showcased an electrifying lineup of female artists who commanded the crowd. With shredding guitars, soaring vocals, and a message of inclusivity at its core, Gritty in Pink reminded everyone that the future of rock is loud, diverse, and undeniably gritty. Her Leather Jacket hit the Warped Tour Arrow stage like a lightning bolt, delivering a high-octane set that perfectly blended punk grit with alt-rock swagger. Hailing from Nashville, the band wasted no time firing up the crowd with punchy riffs, anthemic choruses, and raw, emotionally charged vocals that had fans screaming every word back at them. Her Leather Jacket felt like a band born to play Warped. They are unique and different with their rock punk sound, but undertones of country twang that set them apart from your typical acts and let them shine through. Songs like “Famous,” “Madness In My Mind,” and especially “Cloud 9” are all songs that will give you that country-punk sound.Mod Sun took to the 2025 Warped Tour Right Foot Stage just as the day was hitting its stride, delivering an electrified rollercoaster of pop-punk, hip-hop, and raw rock energy. Kicking off with bangers like “Betterman,” “Annoying,” “Bones,” “Flames,” and his blistering Honestav remix “I’d Rather Overdose,” his set had the crowd jumping, crowd-surfing, and fully immersed from the first note to the last. His performance embodied what Warped Tour has always celebrated—artists who carve their own lane, blend genres without hesitation, and leave their mark by refusing to follow the rules.
Fever 333 lit the Ghost Stage on fire at Warped Tour 2025, pure chaos in the best way possible. Jason Aalon Butler exploded onto the stage, launching himself off risers and climbing anything in sight, pouring every ounce of sweat and fury into the mic. The band tore through tracks off their latest release Darker White, unleashed fan favorites like “Burn It,” and even threw down a blistering cover of Blur’s “Song 2,” each one sending the crowd into a frenzy. April Kae brought thunder on bass, and their genre-blending mix of punk, hip-hop, and hardcore hit like a brick wall—it was more than a show, it was a call to action. Crowd surfers never stopped, pits opened wide, and Fever 333 detonated the energy of the night.
After a brief set break, Butler wasted no time transitioning into his next act with letlive., storming the stage with the same untamed fervor. He ripped off his shirt (and later scaled a tower), and let the stadium-shaking post-hardcore roar through tracks spanning their career. It was the perfect follow-up, if Fever’s set was an explosion, letlive.’s was the aftershock, searing through the festival and rounding out an unforgettable evening.
Escape the Fate’s set on the Beatbox Stage turned into an all-out tidal wave of crowd surfing the moment “The Flood” kicked in. As the opening notes rang out, a surge of bodies began lifting above the crowd, wave after wave of fans riding the chaos like it was a rite of passage. Security scrambled to keep up, arms outstretched as bodies kept coming with no signs of slowing down. The song lived up to its name, not just sonically, but in the sheer volume of movement it triggered. Then, just when the crowd barely had time to catch its breath, the band ripped into “Gorgeous Nightmare.” The tempo stayed high, and the guitars snarled louder. It was the perfect one-two punch that defined their set: emotionally charged and sonically feral.
Atmosphere took to the Vans Warped Tour Right Foot Stage in what felt like the calm before the chaos. A rare breath of reflection on a day stacked with high-energy sets still to come from Slaughter to Prevail, INK, Sublime, All Time Low, and Machine Gun Kelly. Performing to a crowd buzzing with anticipation for metal, pop-punk hooks, and pop-rock anthems, Slug stepped up with stripped-down beats and raw, introspective storytelling. Tracks like “GodLovesUgly” and “Yesterday” cut through the noise in a different way, commanding the audience’s attention and pulling them into something more grounded. It wasn’t loud or flashy, but it didn’t need to be. Atmosphere delivered a set that reminded everyone that real power can come from stillness—and that sometimes, the most intense moments are the quietest ones. Slaughter to Prevail brought an unrelenting assault of deathcore intensity to the Left Foot Stage, led by the monstrous presence of Alex Terrible. From the first crushing note of “Bonebreaker,” there was no slowing down—ferocious breakdowns, guttural roars, and pit after pit of crowd surfers spilled onto the sun-baked asphalt of RFK Field. They tore through fan favorites like “Baba Yaga” and “Russian Grizzly in America,” each song hitting like a sonic sledgehammer. The band was locked in tight, with brutal riffs and thunderous drumming sending shockwaves across the grounds. It was, without question, one of the heaviest and most intense sets of the day. Between songs, Alex took a moment to reflect on what it meant to be playing Warped Tour, expressing deep respect for the fans and heartfelt gratitude for everything the music scene has given him. Whether you loved or feared their sound, their set was a spectacle—an unfiltered blast of chaos, power, and catharsis, closing with the crushing weight of “Demolisher.”Ice Nine Kills transformed the Right Foot Stage into a full-scale horror show at Warped Tour 2025, delivering one of the most visually intense and musically gripping sets of the weekend. Opening with “Funeral Derangements” and launching into “The American Nightmare” and “Ex-Mørtis,” the band cranked the energy with theatrical gore and razor-sharp metalcore precision. Spencer Charnas commanded the stage, seamlessly blending screams, clean vocals, and psychotic character work like a horror villain in full control. The setlist was stacked with fan favorites, including “Stabbing in the Dark,” “Rainy Day,” and “The Shower Scene.” One of the wildest moments came when they launched into “Walking on Sunshine”—only to twist it into pure chaos by closing with a warped outro of Reel Big Fish’s “Sell Out.”
From “Wurst Vacation” to “Meat & Greet,” and ending with the massive finale “A Work of Art,” the set was a masterclass in horror-metal showmanship. Props, fake blood, costume changes—every song played out like its own slasher flick, complete with jump scares and punishing breakdowns. By the time “IT Is the End” and “Hip to Be Scared” hit, the pit had become a swirling vortex of horrorcore joy. Ice Nine Kills didn’t just perform—they directed a festival-sized horror movie in real-time, and every fan was cast as an extra.
Sublime took the Vans Left Foot Main Stage, signaling a shift in sound and energy as the evening began to build. Their presence marked a full-circle moment, Sublime originally played the inaugural Vans Warped Tour back in 1995. Now, 30 years later, their return was a powerful reminder of the legacy they helped create.
In recent years, Sublime has been gaining momentum again, largely due to Jakob Nowell, son of the late Bradley Nowell, stepping in as frontman. Jakob channels his father’s spirit so authentically that if you close your eyes, you might believe it’s Bradley himself singing.
They opened with “April 26, 1992” from their iconic 1996 self-titled album. The basslines hit hard—vibrating through the ground and into your chest. The set continued with fan favorites like “What I Got,” “Santeria,” and “Caress Me Down,” the latter featuring a special guest appearance by Gabo Fayuca, who joined Jakob on vocals.
The band also performed classics like “40 Oz. to Freedom” and “Badfish,” which featured Michael Netka taking the lead on vocals. Then came a crowd-surfing highlight: Fletcher Dragge of Pennywise stormed the stage for “Same in the End.”
The entire performance captured the essence of Sublime and everything Warped Tour stands for: good music, unexpected collaborations, and celebrating with your crew. With a full tour lined up across the country in the coming months, fans will have plenty of chances to catch this reborn version of Sublime live.
All Time Low’s set was a full-blown pop-punk celebration, packed with massive hooks, infectious energy, and a powerful nod to Pride Month. They opened with “SUCKERPUNCH,” joined onstage by D.C.’s own LGBTQ+ marching band, DC’s Different Drummers, and a cheer squad, instantly turning the performance into a community-fueled spectacle. From there, they launched into fan-favorite anthems like “Weightless,” “Six Feet Under the Stars,” “Jasey Rae,” “Poppin’ Champagne,” and “PMA,” each one met with massive sing-alongs and pits full of crowd surfers.
Midway through the set, just when the energy felt like it couldn’t go any higher, a burst of rainbow confetti exploded from a cannon, showering the crowd in color and kicking the celebration into overdrive. Phones went up, voices got louder, and for a moment, the Right Foot Stage felt like the center of the Warped universe. The crowd went wild again when they debuted “Hate This Song” with I Prevail’s Eric Vanlerberghe, and the set closed on a massive high with “Monsters” (featuring Four Year Strong) and “Dear Maria, Count Me In,” with Mayday Parade’s Derek Sanders joining in on vocals.
All Time Low didn’t just play a set, they delivered a statement. Loud, proud, and full of heart.
MGK headlined night one on the Vans Left Foot Stage, delivering a high-energy performance that kept the crowd fully engaged. He made a dramatic entrance atop a platform designed to look like a graffiti-covered gas station—bathed in his signature pink. One side of the structure read “Cliché,” a nod to the lead single from his upcoming album Lost Americana, set for release on August 8, 2025.
Before launching into “Title Track” from 2020’s Tickets to My Downfall, MGK took a moment to reflect on his long history with Warped Tour, sharing that he’s been performing at the festival since 2010.
Later, ahead of “Maybe” from his 2022 album Mainstream Sellout, he lightened the mood with a joke about setting a world record for holding his pee—thanks to being “super hydrated.” Then he teased the crowd by singing, “This is a slow song… or is it?” before launching into the explosive track.
Throughout the night, MGK delivered hit after hit, keeping the energy high with constant crowd interaction. At one point, he encouraged fans to break out of the typical “flat ocean” of a festival crowd, saying: “I want to see people in the sky. I want to see people on shoulders. I want to see you fly. I want to see you do magic.”
During “Bloody Valentine,” he changed the lyrics to: “I don’t do fake love—holy sh*t, you look good tonight,” drawing a huge reaction. The set also included standout performances of “Forget Me Too” and “Drunk Face”, both off Tickets to My Downfall.
To slow things down, he covered the Goo Goo Dolls’ classic “Iris.” At the end of the song, he removed his in-ears to hear the crowd singing along—a simple but powerful moment that showed just how focused he is on staying present with his fans and creating shared memories.
This show marked MGK’s first performance since the passing of Luke “The Dingo” Trembath in February. Reflecting on the loss, MGK shared with the crowd, “This would have been his playground,” expressing how nervous he felt taking the stage without his longtime friend by his side. He admitted they had skipped their usual pre-show ritual and speeches, something they never missed.
MGK went on to share that Dingo’s mother had given him some of his ashes, asking him to spread them on the Warped Tour stage. Honoring that request, MGK scattered the ashes, declaring, “You still made it to Warped Tour, motherf*cker!”, a raw, heartfelt moment that immediately transitioned into the live debut of “Your Name Forever,” the emotional tribute song he wrote in Dingo’s memory.
The night continued with coming into the crowd to sing “Cliche” with a little girl on her mom’s shoulder. Shocked at how well she already knew the words to the song. Mod Sun came out of “Concert for Aliens” He seamlessly transitioned from pop punk to hip hop and back again. With “Wild Boy”, “El Diablo” and “Elpastero” before heading back into “Jawbreaker” and ending the night with “My Ex’s Best Friend” and “Half Naked and Almost Famous” which they performed on the small stages at Warped tour back in the day.
It’s clear that MGK can stand tall against the haters. Not only does he make waves in the music he is producing, but he backs it with how engaged and connected he keeps his fans at shows. Marking him a must-see if you have yet to catch him.
The wild part of all this? It was only a fraction of the madness packed into day one. With more than 60 bands across six stages, tough choices had to be made. Sets overlapped, stages clashed, and fans sprinted from one side of the RFK grounds to the other trying to catch just a few songs from each favorite. Some sets had to be sacrificed for others, tough calls that no fan wanted to make. But if All Time Low’s performance was any indication, Warped Tour 2025 isn’t just back… it’s back bigger, louder, and more unforgettable than ever.You can check out coverage for day two here.
