07/22/2025
Baltimore, RSVP to WTMD's First Thursday Festival - August 7, 2025โBaltimoreโs biggest and best free music festivalโpresented by The CFG Bank and the Maryland Energy Administration. โ
Join us in celebrating our 20th season all summer long at Canton Waterfront Park. The fun begins at 5:30 and goes until 10 PM. As always, thanks to member support, admission is FREE. ๐ถ
Youโre not going to want to miss our August 7th show! Weโre bringing together soulful powerhouses, raw Americana, and infectious indie-pop for an unforgettable night on the waterfront! ๐
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Headliner: Oh He Dead
Our headliner will bring their brand of new soul just a short jaunt up I-95 to Canton Waterfront Park. Hailed by The Washington Post for their โinfectious and soulful sound,โ the D.C.-based five-piece, Oh He Dead has been capturing hearts nationwide with their heartfelt, funky, rock-infused sound.
Founded in 2015 by singer CJ Johnson and guitarist Andy Valenti, the close-knit crew is celebrated for putting on one heck of a live show, as โJohnson โmaneuvers her powerful voice โ a combination of Stevie Nicks and Tracy Chapmanโ (Kojo Nnamdi) in rhythm with the bandโs โsublime instrumentationโ (NPR).
Oh He Deadโs music is deeply rooted in storytelling, with Johnson often drawing from personal experiences to craft lyrics that are both humorous and profoundly relatable.
โMy favorite artists are still Sade, Kings of Leon, and Stevie Nicks,โ says Oh He Dead frontwoman CJ Johnson. โCombined, they have the rasp, the sexiness, and the storytelling. That is what I aim to be myself: a raspy, sexy, storyteller.โ
Prepare for an explosive performance! Their intimate yet electrifying live performances โare basically one big hugโ (bighassle.com).
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Second Act: Kashus Culpepper
Straight from Alexander City, Alabama, Kashus Culpepper has lived a million different lives. Itโs no wonder his music doesnโt easily fit into one box. This 26-year-old former construction worker/firefighter/EMT/Navy veteran is a true student of Southern musicโmasterfully weaving together country, soul, blues, folk, and rock. His husky, freight-train growl carries self-penned stories that are as raw and real as they are haunting.
Culpepper first discovered his voice singing in church at age five, and later, during a Navy deployment in Spain, picked up a guitar, turning covers into his own unique, Delta-infused country sound.
With influences ranging from Stevie Wonder and Howlinโ Wolf to Chris Stapleton and Ray Lamontagne, Culpepper offers a sound that is both deeply familiar and strikingly original. Prepare to be moved by his powerful delivery and genuine artistry.
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Local Opener: Plant Dad
Representing Baltimoreโs thriving music scene, Plant Dadโthe brainchild of singer-songwriter, composer, and arranger Ralph Bernabe.
His playful blend of 80โs electronic, alternative rock, and folk has made them a mainstay on the WTMD airwaves for a reason.
Joined by Jake Fine on drums, Jack Jahries on bass, Matt Hurd on guitar, and Noelle Acaso on keyboard, Plant Dad effortlessly blends indie and alternative rock, R&B, hip-hop, folk, and pop into a genre-defying sonic experience with upbeat rhythms, catchy hooks, and a palpable sense of joy.
Plant Dad aims to start a party with every song they performโฆ and you best believe theyโre cranking it to 11 for First Thursdays!
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Dance the evening away on Baltimoreโs scenic waterfront; enjoy delicious local fare from a variety of food and beverage vendors; and support over 100 local artisans, makers, and manufacturers. For more details, visit wtmd.org/firstthursdays.
Thereโs something for everyone at First Thursdaysโฆ itโs where community happens.
Mark your calendars! Weโll see you real soon, Baltimore!
First Thursdays are made possible in part by the William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund and the Dan Tamburrino Memorial Fund.
Art by: Alex Fine (alexfine.com)
