Back Cove Music Festival Portland, Maine Eyes Multi-Year Return

The Back Cove Music Festival looks set to keep the music playing in Portland for at least three more years.

According to WGME 13, the city committee in charge of contract negotiations recently voted 3-1 to approve an agreement between festival organizers and the city, potentially securing the event through 2028. The vote comes after previous delays, when committee members raised concerns about revenue transparency and the festival’s three-year commitment.

Some key changes were made to the contract before it passed. The noise fee for the event has been increased, reflecting the city’s focus on balancing community impact with festival growth. WGME also reported that additionally, any transfer of the agreement to a different organizer now requires city council approval, giving local leaders more oversight over the festival’s future.

The Portland City Council is scheduled to review and discuss the contract at their Monday meeting. Festival organizers say they are excited about the potential long-term partnership with the city, which would allow them to plan bigger and better music events while continuing to draw both local fans and visitors to the area.

The Back Cove Music Festival has become a staple of Portland’s cultural scene, attracting music lovers with a mix of local and national acts, food vendors, and family-friendly activities along the waterfront. If approved, the new contract could give the festival organizers the stability to expand programming, invest in production upgrades, and make the event an even bigger draw for the city, the news station reported.