Berklee Bands Make Their Mark on the Summer 2015 Festival Circuit
Summers around Berklee’s Boston campus are known for buzzing with performances of all kinds. Summer program students toting instrument cases of all kinds flood the sidewalks, classrooms, and venues at Berklee, while around the Greater Boston area at large, the Summer in the City series boasts more than 300 free concerts featuring Berklee student performers.
This summer, bands made up of alumni and current students have extended their reach to some of North America’s premier concert festivals and series, including South by Southwest (SXSW), Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Boston Calling, and Osheaga. In addition, four bands have earned estimable slots at this year's Lowell Summer Music Series. "The experience of performing on such large stages is irreplaceable for young artists," says Mark Campbell, vice president for enrollment at Berklee. "It gives each of them a deep look at today's music industry, which is so driven by live performance. At the same time, the relationships we have built help to deepen awareness of Berklee with music lovers."
Grey Season, a five-piece band with an infectious blend of folk rock and Americana, is having a particularly stand-out summer with four high-profile festival shows and recent praise from the likes of Billboard and Vanyaland. The band snagged the lucrative SXSW gig after being a featured act on the Berklee student-run Heavy Rotation Record's annual showcase.
Read more about Grey Season's recent successes.
Here’s a sampling of the Berklee performers and bands heating up the summer circuit this year:
- SXSW: Grey Season (March 25)
- Bonnaroo: Grey Season (June 14)
- Newport Folk Festival:
- Honeysuckle (July 24)
- The Ballroom Thieves (July 24)
- Lollapalooza: Kyle Thornton and the Company (July 31)
- Lowell Summer Music Series:
- Jacob McCaslin (July 10) – opening for Pat Benatar
- Vanessa Collier (July 30) – opening for Tower of Power
- Grey Season (July 31) – opening for the Blues Brothers
- Chris Plante (August 14) – opening for Bruce Hornsby
- Osheaga: Cordelia and the Buffalo (August 2)
- Boston Calling: Grey Season (September 25-27, slot TBA)
Watch Grey Season perform "New Kind of Dirty" live at the BIRN: