Like many music fans, I’d been wild with anticipation about the lineup reveal for the debut of the Back Cove Music & Arts Festival at Payson Park on Aug. 2-3.

The last time Portland had an outdoor music event of this scale in a public space was in 2012 when Mumford & Sons’ Gentlemen of the Road festival drew 15,000 fans to the Eastern Promenade.

That was an experience to remember, and I can’t wait to dive headfirst into festival mode 13 years later, almost to the day.

I know a lot of people would be ecstatic about heavy-hitter headliners like Jack White, André 3000 and Lord Huron, because they’re all huge. White is of course half of The White Stripes and André 3000 is half of Outkast.

There are also a bunch of new-to-me acts that I look forward to discovering like Cimafunk, Crowe Boys and Eliza McLamb, among several others.

But the real joy waves hit five times upon seeing the names of  singer-songwriters Lucy Dacus, Margo Price and Madi Diaz, along with Portland-based rock trio Weakened Friends and indie-folk-pop duo Oshima Brothers.

Pinch me!

Dacus’ debut “No Burden” was released in 2016 with the song “I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore” and she’s played at Space a couple of times.

Dacus has released two other albums, and her fourth, “Forever Is A Feeling,” is out on March 28. The tracks “Ankles,” “Limerence” and “Best Guess” are already out, all tremendous.

She is also part of the supergroup boygenius with Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker.

Madi Diaz released my favorite album of 2021, “History Of A Feeling.” She’s one of the most personal, introspective songwriters out there. Diaz played the State Theatre that year, opening for Caamp. Singing along with the emotional “Crying In Public” is a cherished concert memory.

Last year, she did it again with “Weird Faith,” an album that’s a jewel of 2024.

Alt country artist Margo Price rocked the house at Port City Music Hall in May 2018, and took the stage at Thompson’s Point in 2023 with Tyler Childers.

Oshima Brothers is the local sibling duo of Sean and Jamie Oshima, and they’re excited to be playing at the festival.

“Portland, Maine has such a great music scene because there are so many beloved venues and folks who bring music here year round,” Sean texted me from Italy. “Now we have something new to look forward to, and my brother and I are honored to be part of  this festival bringing such a stacked lineup to our backyard.”

Weakened Friends, fresh off of opening for Jack White in Boston on Feb. 18, are also looking forward to performing at the festival. The band is singer/guitarist Sonia Sturino, bassist Annie Hoffman and drummer Adam Hand. The band has been touring nationally and in Europe for a number of years. They kick off a long tour of dates around the U.S. in April.

The most recent Weakened Friends release is last year’s scorching single “Awkward.”

Sturino talked to me about what it was like opening for White. “It was awesome. If every show was that show, then I would be living the dream that I thought I would be living when I was 10 years old and started doing this. It was really cool.”

Sturino said she and her bandmates chatted with White that night. “He was a really cool dude.”

Sturino said Weakened Friends is excited to play at the Portland festival, which will carry an additional bonus for them.

“The festival is a five-minute walk from our house,” said Sturino.

Tickets are on sale now for Southern Maine residents in certain zip codes at BackCoveFestival.com. Two-day general admission tickets are $211 ($444 VIP), single day $122 (VIP $248). General public tickets go on sale Thursday at noon with a to-be-determined pricing structure.

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