Jackson Dean Returns To Arundel High For Hometown Music Festival

Jackson Dean is heading back to the place where many people first heard him sing.

The country artist and Arundel High School graduate will headline the Arundel Bands Together Music Festival on Saturday, May 23, in Gambrills, Maryland. And honestly? It feels like a full-circle moment.

Years before Nashville, record deals, and national tours, Dean was just a student at Arundel High with a guitar in his hands.

Now he’s coming back as the festival’s biggest act.

The Festival Will Take Over Arundel High School

The all-day event kicks off at noon on Carroll Field at Arundel High School. Organizers say the festival will feature three stages, local bands, food trucks, and performances from 17 different acts across Anne Arundel County.

Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and settle in for a full day of live music.

And no, this isn’t one of those giant overcrowded festivals where you spend half the day searching for parking and the other half standing in line for food.

This one is designed to feel local, relaxed, and community-focused.

The festival is also smoke-free and alcohol-free, making it a family-friendly event for music fans of all ages.

Jackson Dean’s Story Started Right Here

If Jackson Dean’s name sounds familiar, there’s a good chance you’ve heard songs like “Don’t Come Lookin’” or “Fearless (The Echo).” But before all that, Dean first caught attention while still attending Arundel High.

Back in 2018, he performed a guitar-heavy version of the national anthem before a football game.

The performance quickly spread online.

Suddenly, a local student-athlete from Maryland was getting national attention, including coverage from CBS Evening News.

That moment helped launch a career that eventually took him to Nashville.

Since then, Dean has signed with Big Machine Records and continued building a strong following in country music.

Now he’s returning to the same campus where it all started.

That has to feel a little surreal, right?

More Than Just One Big Concert

While Jackson Dean may be the headline act, the festival lineup includes a long list of local performers and student musicians.

Acts scheduled to appear include Brendan Lane and the Sugar Packets, PorchSetters Union, Electric Circus, What’s The Vibe, School of Rock, Violet Collapse, Blue Funk, Safety2nd, Nuclear Tomb, and several others.

Dean is expected to close out the night with an 8 p.m. performance.

The Event Supports Student Musicians

One of the biggest parts of the festival is where the money goes.

All proceeds from the event will support the Arundel High School music program.

The program currently serves more than 300 student musicians through different classes, bands, and performance groups.

Organizers say the goal is to help students grow creatively, build friendships, and challenge themselves through music.

So while fans may show up to see Jackson Dean perform, the festival is also helping support the next generation of local musicians.

That makes the hometown return feel even more meaningful.

Tickets and additional event information are available through the Arundel Bands Together festival website.