On Saturday, May 6, in a nondescript parking lot near the Best Buy in Everett, a musical showcase will take place that blends local bands with local beer in a way designed to empower attendees to better appreciate both.
You can expect a lot of fun, up-beat music ready-made for your draft-crushing needs.[/pullquote]
The event is Springfest, a non-ticketed offering from Night Shift Brewing that represents the outfit's largest event next to its fall Oktoberfest. While it may look like your typical beer fest on paper, there's an added element to this one: The lineup of live music acts has been curated by Boston's own The Ballroom Thieves. And as if there was any question, Night Shift will be releasing a host of special event-only beers to do the day justice.
"We're super excited about the music lineup that The Ballroom Thieves put together," Night Shift marketing coordinator Gene Buonaccorsi told me. "Their vision for the festival is totally in line with the local focus we're all about, so it's a pretty perfect partnership. Being able to stack the day with awesome beer releases and an awesome music lineup from experts in both industries is what makes Springfest so special in our opinion."
Night Shift will be releasing four beers for the festival, each available on draft and in cans, and each intended for warm weather imbibing:
Thievery – American pale ale (named in honor of The Ballroom Thieves)
Matisse – Saison with lavender
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To Helles and Bock – German-style maibock lager
Nite Lite – American light lager
Inspiration for the event came easily. It turns out, a bunch of staff members at Night Shift have been fans of The Ballroom Thieves' music for some time now and the group, big craft beer lovers themselves, have long enjoyed the beers coming off the Night Shift line. Once they all got together for a pint at the Night Shift Taproom (after the Night Shift guys attended one of their shows at The Sinclair), ideas started flowing about how the two groups could collaborate. And Springfest was born.
"There are so many great bands in the general Boston area, so we were psyched to have the opportunity to put together a small lineup of some of our favorites, and we were even more psyched that we'd be able to watch them all play while sipping Night Shift on a mild May afternoon," the group's guitarist, Martin Earley, told me. "Some of the bands on the bill have been performing in the area for years while others are far less established, but they all deliver the goods. It's a spring festival, so you can expect a lot of fun, up-beat music ready-made for your draft-crushing needs."
Here's the full lineup, complete with a description provided by Earley:
Noon - 12:30: Gentle Temper
Kicking off the afternoon are Gentle Temper, an up-and-coming indie folk/rock duo from right here in Boston. Taking a page from the book of Shakey Graves and then writing all over the margins in their own style, this twosome has been turning heads in the local scene with their tight vocal harmonies and memorable guitar riffs. Show up early and don't miss their set!
1:00 - 2:00: Hannah Daman and the Martelle Sisters
The second band of the afternoon will be Hannah Daman and the Martelle Sisters, a rootsy indie folk trio from Portland, Maine. Their particular blend of folk is equal parts traditional and contemporary: a lush bed of flowers for Daman's often mournful voice and inventive, thoughtful lyrics to lay.
2:30 - 3:30: Elizabeth Vaughan and Rocco DeRosa
Elizabeth Vaughan will take the stage next, and we're really, really psyched about that. She's been a good friend of ours for years, and we're so excited for her to share her talent with the good people at SpringFest. Armed with one of the most powerful voices we've heard, this Boston-based pianist and songstress wears her emotions on her sleeves, and we're all better off for it.
4:00 - 5:00: These Wild Plains
Our friends These Wild Plains are up next, and they'll hit everyone with their own take on classic American rock n' roll. These guys are no strangers to big stages, having performed at Stagecoach in California, Patriot Fest at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, and at last year's Boston Calling, so we're honored to have them join our lineup at SpringFest. Get ready to get rowdy.
5:30 - 6:30: Andrea Gillis Band
The stalwart Andrea Gillis is the fifth act of the night, and there's not too much I want to say about her because her booming voice speaks for itself. She's a rocker through and through, and I can guarantee that the infectious energy her band brings to each of their shows will get the audience out of their seats and onto the dance floor.
7:00 - 8:30: Ghetto People Band
Rounding out the evening will be local favorites The Ghetto People Band. We used to live in Somerville and one of our most cherished local haunts was Bull McCabe's in Union Square, where this incredibly funky reggae outfit has a Tuesday night residency. We thought they'd be the perfect fit to bring the evening to a close, and we can't wait to be a part of the crowd when they take the stage.
Springfest is a non-ticketed event open to the public; Saturday, May 6, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Ballroom Thieves at Night Shift Brewing from Night Shift Brewing on Vimeo.
All images via Tim Oxton, Night Shift Brewing.
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