by Abbie Hrabar

Pensacola has long been a site for local music to thrive. From punk to indie, there are always live music events for locals and tourists alike to enjoy at places like the Handlebar, 309 Punk Project, the Vinyl Music Hall, and many more. 

One organization, Night Moves, has been participating in the Pensacola music scene for years, providing live music events for Pensacola’s musicians. Their website gives a clear view of their mission, saying that they view music “as a way to build the community” and “as a way to give … musicians and artists more opportunities to create and perform.” 

Last year began the first annual Night Moves Musical Festival, a live music event at the Hunter Amphitheater outside the Blue Wahoos Stadium. The festival is associated with the downtown Pensacola  Foo Foo arts Festival. Not only was music performed by both locals and artists all across the nation, but art was also put on display. 

You may recall that there were several donation bins all throughout PSC campus from late October to early November asking students to donate plastic water bottles. UWF students used these bottles to create individual sculptures representing many different objects, one resembling a coral structure. These recycled water bottle works were installed all throughout the park during the music festival, lining the walkways and the stages. 

Besides the music and art on display, festival goers got to browse various local vendors, from art to clothing resale tents and more. Nearby were food trucks and stalls galore, with local downtown food legends like Maker’s Cafe & Espresso Bar and MI SU Street Food. 

The festival hosted two primary stages, one being the Hunter Amphitheater and the other a tent set up in Maritime Park, called the Discovery Stage. The Hunter Amphitheater housed many of the larger bands, while the Discovery Stage saw many local or smaller artists, such as Color the Void and Pony. 

While 2023 saw an incredible lineup, with talented artists like Manchester Orchestra and Soccer Mommy playing, this year’s Night Moves Fest perhaps outdid itself with great hardcore bands such as Drug Church and Modern Color and indie rock bands like Beach Fossils, Silversun Pickups, and Tigers Jaw. 

As the sun began to set, each of these artists owned the stage, giving it their all and bringing enormous amounts of energy to the festival and the environment. Much of the buzz, though, was for headliner Alvvays, a grammy-nominated indie band and creator of the hit song “Archie, Marry Me”. Alvvays took the stage, finishing out the night with their harmonic richness and lyrical depth. 

The 2024 Night Moves Music Festival achieved just what its host organization has set out to do. It brought people together, as they all sat on blankets in the park listening to music, talking, eating, meeting new friends, and running into old ones. There is no doubt that the 2025 music festival will do just the same, encouraging local music and deepening community in the people of Pensacola.