The 8123 Fest is a high-energy, 5-day, 6-show celebration hosted by The Maine, the legendary American rock band from Tempe, Arizona. After a 3-year hiatus, the iconic emo festival returned for 2025, running from January 16th-20th. This year’s event was packed with excitement, featuring a launch party, two full days of live music, exclusive pop-up shops, and after-parties hosted by The Maine themselves. We had the privilege of covering the highly anticipated 8123 Fest Kick-Off Party at The Nile Theater, which set the stage for the two-day festival in Mesa.

This year, the Kick-Off Party was headlined by Charlotte Sands, backed by an impressive lineup that included local artists Maeby and Sorry X, as well as California’s Like Roses.

The night kicked off strong with Maeby, who lit up the stage with a set of eight songs, including her three singles: Rock Me, I’m a Star, and Not Ur Friend.

Making her festival debut, Maeby took the stage with undeniable confidence, delivering a sultry performance that had the crowd energized and ready to move. Her bold attitude and captivating moves set the tone, pushing the audience to get loud and keep the energy high for the rest of the night’s performers.

Following Maeby, the stage was handed over to Sorry X, another rising local act. They delivered a dynamic set that blended their standout originals with well-crafted covers, showcasing their raw talent and energy.

They captivated the crowd with their powerful stage presence, effortlessly engaging with fans throughout the performance. Sorry X had the audience roaring, clapping, and jumping in unison, building an undeniable energy that peaked when they closed with their latest release, Bring Me To Life (Sorry X Version). After the set, we caught up with vocalist Alexa, who gave an exciting tease about a new album currently in the works for her eager fans.

As soon as Sorry X wrapped up their set, the final opener of the night, Like Roses, took the stage. Hailing from the Bay Area and formed in 2016, the band drew a dedicated crowd of their own fans to this year’s Kick-Off Party, bringing their own unique energy to the event.

Like Roses expertly catered to their loyal fanbase while drawing in new listeners with an electrifying set. They played a mix of tracks, ranging from The Bench off their debut album to songs from their latest EP, Stuck, which was released late last year. Building on the high energy set by the previous openers, Like Roses kept the crowd’s momentum strong, leaving everyone hyped and ready for the headliner.

As Like Roses exited the stage, the stage crew began swapping out instruments. In anticipation of the final set of the night, the DJ dropped Britney Spears’ Oops I Did It Again and the atmosphere grew electric, the entire crowd singing along. Behind the stage door, Charlotte Sands was in full prep mode, hidden from the crowd but far from still. Those of us in the front row caught glimpses of her, hyping herself and her band up, singing and dancing along to the iconic track, building excitement with every moment before she finally stepped into the spotlight. 

As the song wrapped up the lights dimmed and Charlotte ran out onto the stage in the moment everyone had been waiting for. With her debut album, can we start over?, dropping just last year and already achieving massive success, Charlotte commanded the spotlight. Before diving into her set, she took a moment to express her deep gratitude—not only to the artists and bands who came before her but also to The Maine, whom she credited for playing a pivotal role in her rise to mainstream success.

Despite her relative newcomer status, Charlotte has an extraordinary natural talent for delivering unforgettable performances. Her powerhouse vocals, dynamic stage presence, and seamless crowd interaction kept fans fully engaged from start to finish—even when faced with technical setbacks like broken drumsticks, disconnected audio cables, and falling mics. I vividly remember attending Charlotte Sands’ can we start over? tour last March as a casual fan, buying tickets just hours before the show, only to walk away thinking it was the best concert I’d ever seen. Unsurprisingly, she brought that same level of passion, energy, and raw excitement to the 8123 Fest Kick-Off, leaving an indelible mark on the audience once again with her hits including Spite, Bad Day, Lost and more.

Charlotte possesses an extraordinary ability to tap into the emotions of her audience, pulling them in with each note. Throughout her set, she seamlessly blended her powerful, high-energy tracks with soulful ballads like Alright. In the midst of the song, she poignantly reminded the crowd, “I’ll never be all right, but I heard it gets good/I’m thinking that I could in time,” offering a moment of raw vulnerability that resonated deeply with everyone in the room amidst current events.

To close out her electrifying set, Charlotte delivered the highly anticipated live debut of her upcoming single, One Eye Open, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Wrapping up the unforgettable night, she honored the journey that led her here with a final, powerful performance of her hit song, Dress. The crowd was left electrified, buzzing with anticipation for what’s to come in the days ahead.