How 26 Golden Retrievers Took Over Stateside

And why we were totally OK with that Long before the first artist took the stage at Stateside on the Fourth of July, Hertz made the journey feel like part of the experience. As the official car-rental partner of Rolling Stone’s inaugural festival in Kingston, N.Y., Hertz helped kick off the weekend before festival-goers even arrived on site. That was certainly the case for Sydney Rose and Nick Mateyunas of Arcy Drive, two artists on this year’s lineup, who hit the road together en route to Stateside. After picking up their rental from Hertz, where they were greeted by members of Hertz’s beloved Gold Squad (a fleet of Golden Retrievers!), the pair loaded up their bags and began the drive north to Hutton Brickyards. Along the way, they reflected on what it meant to be part of Stateside’s inaugural lineup and why road trips remain such an important part of life as working musicians. Maria-Juliana Rojas “I’ve never been more excited,” Rose said during the drive. For both artists, the road has become an essential part of the creative process. Some of their most meaningful memories have happened behind the wheel. “There’s something really cool about being with your buddies in the van,” Rose and Mateyunas agreed. “Those are the best memories, the ones you hold onto,” Mateyunas added. As they made their way through the Hudson Valley toward Stateside, excitement continued to build. Set on the scenic, 100-acre grounds of Hutton Brickyards, 90 minutes from Manhattan, Stateside offered sweeping Hudson River views, grassy lawns, and an unusually intimate setting for indie-folk superstar Noah Kahan, along with an all-American Independence-Day lineup featuring Gigi Perez, Sydney Rose, Arcy Drive, and more. When Rose and Mateyunas arrived, they were reunited with some familiar faces. Members of the Gold Squad were stationed at the festival entrance for guests to say hello, take photos and kick off their festival experience. Maria-Juliana Rojas The Gold Squad’s presence extended far beyond the festival entrance, though. All day long, nearly everywhere festival-goers turned, an immaculately groomed Golden Retriever was never far away.” Unofficially considered the great American dog, the Golden Retriever became the face of Hertz in 2025. The dogs, often spotted greeting travelers at airports across the country, are part of the company’s effort to “make travel feel golden.” Editor’s picks At Stateside, they made a music festival feel more like a friendly backyard barbecue. Hailing from nearby Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the Goldens and their handlers fanned out over the lush, green grounds. Three four-legged friends chilled along the Hudson River at the Hertz Gold Squad Hangout, clearly enjoying being petted by concert-goers taking in the music. While Kahan performed, a pair of pups wearing booties and matching headphones amused folks outside the platinum lounge. And throughout the afternoon, the dogs took turns greeting guests at Hertz’s popular lemonade stand, from which an endless supply of dog-shaped popsicles were distributed. Maria-Juliana Rojas But the canine highlight of the day? When all 26 Goldens parted the crowd like the Red Sea in a parade that led them across the field to line up for a group photo in front of Stateside’s most Instagram-able spot: Hertz’s giant “Roadside Attraction” license plate. A swarm of guests holding up their phones instantly assembled to capture the moment. Trending Stories From the road trip to the festival grounds, Hertz helped turn the journey to Stateside into a memorable part of the weekend. For Rose and Mateyunas, the trip ended under the main stage lights. Their drive to Stateside was a reminder that some of the best festival memories begin long before the music starts.