A Beachy Blast with The 502s at Minnesota Yacht Club Festival

Sun-Kissed Vibes and Horn-Fueled Joy by the Mississippi

Oh, what a treat it was on that golden July afternoon in 2025, as the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival unfolded along the lazy curves of the Mississippi River in St. Paul. Harriet Island Regional Park was alive with the scent of sunscreen and grilled treats, families lounging on blankets, and that palpable buzz of a crowd easing into the day’s rhythms. Then, right around 2:50 pm on July 18, The 502s bounded onto the stage like a squad of sun-soaked surfers crashing a backyard luau. Dressed head-to-toe in breezy beach wear—flowy shirts, shorts, and sandals that screamed eternal summer—these Florida folksters turned the Midwest into their personal paradise. I loved this band from the first funky horn blast; they were pure fun, a whirlwind of energy that had everyone grinning like kids on the first day of vacation.

Leading the charge was Ed Isola, the banjo-strumming frontman whose tousled hair and round specs made him a dead ringer for a young John Lennon, channeling that same cheeky charisma into every lyric. Flanking him was Graci Phillips, the female guitarist with a free-spirited, hippie flair—her wild curls and easy strums evoked memories of Sissy Spacek in her most bohemian moments, adding a layer of earthy groove to the mix. But let’s talk about Joe Capati, the tenor sax player—good lord, that man was a force of nature, the craziest, hardest-working horn man I’ve ever witnessed. Leaping across the stage like a jack-in-the-box on espresso, he poured his soul into every note without missing a beat, turning the air electric with his wild wails and infectious zest.

The set kicked off with “If Good Times Were Dollars,” a toe-tapper that set the sunny tone, horns punching through like ocean waves. They urged the crowd to “let’s get warmed up and sway to ‘Waves,'” and sway we did, hips loosening as the indie folk groove pulled us into a collective trance. Then came the hip-hop vibe infusion in “Friday Night,” where the rhythms got downright bouncy, blending their beachy roots with urban swagger that had fists pumping skyward. But the real crowd pleaser exploded with “Backstage in Glasgow”—pure mayhem in the best way. The audience was jumping and clapping in unison, and there was Capati, soaring through the air, waving his sax like a victory flag, not skipping a single riff even as the soprano sax player grappled with some unfortunate tech glitches. The band powered through seamlessly, turning potential hiccups into triumphant high-fives with the fans.

Slowing things down for a breather, they slipped into “Skinny Dipping and Mimosas,” a quieter, laid-back gem with that mellow Jimmy Buffett sway—evoking lazy afternoons by the shore, toes in the sand, cocktail in hand. The crowd melted into it, a gentle ripple of appreciation washing over the park. Closing strong was “Magdalene,” where the keyboardist stole hearts with swirling melodies, and Capati switched to dulcimer for a folksy twist that had everyone whooping. The whole 30-ish minutes flew by in a haze of joy, leaving the festival primed for the headliners with hearts fuller and feet itching to dance more. If you ever catch The 502s, drop everything—they’re the kind of band that reminds you life’s too short not to chase the good times.

Band History

The 502s formed in 2016 in Maitland, Florida, founded by Ed Isola as an indie folk outfit blending upbeat melodies with orchestral flair. Gaining traction through TikTok virals like “Magdalene” and “Just a Little While” in 2021, the band released their debut EP Just Another EP in 2022, followed by the full-length Stories to Tell in 2023. Known for their “happiest band on Earth” moniker, they’ve toured extensively, dropping EPs like Easy Street and Could It Get Better Than This, all infused with beachy, feel-good vibes that mix folk, pop, and horn-driven energy.

Current Members

• Ed Isola: lead vocals, banjo
• Matthew Tonner: keyboards, backing vocals, guitar
• Graci Phillips: guitar, backing vocals
• Nicholas Dallas: bass
• Joe Capati: saxophone
• Sean Froehlich: drums

Verified Setlist

1. If Good Times Were Dollars
2. Friday Night
3. Backstage in Glasgow
4. Like My Father
5. Waves
6. Skinny Dipping and Mimosas
7. Magdalene

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