Jamaica Plain Music Festival

Jamaica Plain Music Festival is a free, annual music event held in Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, featuring a diverse range of music genres from rock music to jazz and folk music, with performances by local and regional musicians, including The Dropkick Murphys, Aimee Mann, and Lake Street Dive. The festival is organized by a team of volunteers and sponsored by local businesses, such as Samuel Adams and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. The event has become a popular attraction in the Boston music scene, with attendees coming from nearby cities like Cambridge, Massachusetts, Somerville, Massachusetts, and Brookline, Massachusetts, as well as from other parts of New England, including Providence, Rhode Island, and Portland, Maine.

History

The Jamaica Plain Music Festival was first held in 2010 and has since become an annual event, typically taking place in September, with past performances by notable musicians like Will Dailey, Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents, and The Neighborhoods. The festival has its roots in the Jamaica Plain Arts Council, a local organization dedicated to promoting arts and culture in the community, which has also supported other events like the Jamaica Plain Open Studios and the JP Music Trail. Over the years, the festival has grown in popularity, with attendance increasing from a few hundred people in its first year to several thousand in recent years, attracting visitors from across Massachusetts, including Worcester, Massachusetts, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Lowell, Massachusetts, as well as from neighboring states like New Hampshire and Vermont.

Organization

The Jamaica Plain Music Festival is organized by a team of volunteers, including local musicians, artists, and community leaders, such as Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation and The Footlight Club, who work together to plan and execute the event, with support from local businesses like Turtle Swamp Brewing and Ula Cafe. The festival is sponsored by a range of organizations, including The Boston Foundation, The Massachusetts Cultural Council, and The National Endowment for the Arts, which have also supported other cultural events in the city, like the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular and the Head of the Charles Regatta. The organizing team is responsible for booking performers, managing logistics, and promoting the event through social media and local press outlets, including The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, and Jamaica Plain Gazette.

Performers

The Jamaica Plain Music Festival features a diverse range of performers, including local and regional musicians, such as The Sheila Divine, The Gravel Pit, and Eli "Paperboy" Reed, as well as national acts like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Guster. The festival has also showcased performances by musicians from nearby cities, including The Dresden Dolls from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and The Low Anthem from Providence, Rhode Island. In addition to music performances, the festival has also featured other forms of entertainment, such as dance performances by companies like The Boston Ballet and The Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre, and theater performances by groups like The Huntington Theatre Company and The American Repertory Theater.

Venue

The Jamaica Plain Music Festival is held in Stony Brook Park, a public park located in the heart of Jamaica Plain, which has also hosted other community events like the Jamaica Plain Farmers' Market and the JP Summer Concert Series. The park provides a scenic backdrop for the festival, with its walking trails, picnic areas, and playground, and is easily accessible by public transportation, including the MBTA Orange Line and the MBTA Bus. The festival venue is also within walking distance of several local businesses and restaurants, including The Dogwood, Tres Gatos, and JP Licks, which offer a range of food and drink options for attendees.

Impact

The Jamaica Plain Music Festival has had a significant impact on the local community, bringing together residents and visitors from across Boston and beyond to celebrate music and arts, with past attendees including notable figures like Mayor Marty Walsh and Governor Charlie Baker. The festival has also had an economic impact, generating revenue for local businesses and supporting the local economy, with sponsors like Eastern Bank and Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates. The event has become an important part of the Jamaica Plain cultural scene, promoting a sense of community and creativity, and has inspired other similar events in the area, such as the Roxbury International Film Festival and the Somerville Arts Festival. The festival has also been recognized by local organizations, including The Boston Arts Commission and The Massachusetts Tourism Board, which have supported other cultural events in the state, like the Tanglewood Music Festival and the Lowell Folk Festival. Category:Music festivals in the United States