Dorothy takes Boardwalk Rock on a roller coaster ride.

By Dave Parsons

As the afternoon moved along on the last day of the inaugural Boardwalk Rock, the wind was carrying across the Ocean City beach front at a fairly good pace.  One of the upsides of playing what they call the bolt stage at this festival is that there isn’t another act on stage when you are.  So, when frontwoman Dorothy Martin and her comrades took the stage at 3:45 in the afternoon, all eyes were on her.

With the opening chords of Down to the Bottom, the crowd was already engaged and ready to watch the act known as just Dorothy.  Martin wore all black, from her boots to her commanding fringe leather jacket.  She had to be overheated in that jacket, yet every inch of her stage persona said rock and roll with a side order of blues.

Born in Nashville in 2014 and named after Martin’s grandmother, Dorothy arrived on the scene in 2016 with Raise Hell. Built around blues-rock and anchored by Martin’s voice, the band hit the charts in 2017 with Women of Rock, earning accolades for craft and presence.

Their 2022 album Gifts from the Holy Ghost found Martin exploring sobriety, compassion, and strength.  Their Boardwalk Rock setlist blended all of it together with sweet banter between the songs that made you feel like you were listening to a long-lost friend.

Dorothy sang After Midnight with her eyes closed, as if she were praying for everyone, and maybe for herself too.  Like a ride on a roller coaster up the beach 100 yards or so, Dorothy asked, Are you ready to raise hell with me, Ocean City?,  and the band dropped into Raise Hell.  

Like that previously mentioned roller coaster, Dorothy went the other direction next, and said This next song goes out with love and strength to Brad Arnold from 3 Doors Down.  The crowd responded with love and respect. He couldn’t be with us tonight, but our hearts are with him and the whole band.

They played Rest in Peace, one of Dorothy’s most stripped tracks.  Arnold and his 3 Doors Down crew were supposed to be on stage at the festival following Dorothy, but had to cancel the week of the festival due to Arnold’s health diagnosis. It was very sweet to see her pay tribute to a fellow artist having a rough go of things. It was a nice reminder that even in rock’s loudest moments, there is room for grace.

The show went over that last roller coaster climb, though, as Dorothy brought us roaring back with Whiskey Fever. The song had Martin dancing with the mic stand, boots kicking, hair whipping, and the band firing on all cylinders.  They followed it with the closer, Tombstone Town.  Dorothy didn’t just perform at Boardwalk Rock. She made it holy ground.

Standing on the sand, near the back of the gathering of the 50,000 that made the trek to the Bolt stage, was a middle-aged couple who had watched intently.  The woman told me I came for the beach and maybe some Bush. I’m leaving a Dorothy fan for life. Her friend added, That was like watching Janis Joplin do a TED Talk.

‘Nuf said.

Full Setlist – Dorothy at Boardwalk Rock, Ocean City, MD – May 18, 2025

Down to the Bottom

Ain’t Our Time to Die

BONES

MUD

After Midnight

Raise Hell

Rest in Peace (preceded by dedication to Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down)

Whiskey Fever

TOMBSTONE TOWN