thePULSEWe’ve got two words for you, and they pretty much say it all. SUMMER CONCERTS. Whatever your taste in music is ~ rock-n-roll, punk, death metal, pop ~ it’s out on tour. And to start the season out right and get you in the mood for all the kickass shows coming our way, we’re bringing you interviews with the hottest acts scheduled to take over local venues this summer. So in the immortal words of Aerosmith, our first interview in the pages that follow, we’ve decided to just “Let the music [well, and the musicians] do the talkin’.” Enjoy!
Aerosmith
Back in the Saddle Again!
By Suzy Geers
The Bad Boys from Boston are teaming up once again with Guitar Hero for this summer’s MASSive nationwide tour. And Aerosomith isn’t “… riding into town alone,” tapping Boston’s punk brigade Dropkick Murphys for their opening act at the Comcast Center in Mansfield on June 16. Three Doors Down (not on the Boston date) has the opening slot on the tour until June 21 when…wait for it…legendary “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers” ZZ Top take over.
This fantastic pairing came to fruition because, as the very cool and animated Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer jokes, “They wanted to get the oldest guys in rock-n-roll they could find, and put them all together!”
I don’t think I need to tell you that these “old guys” rock harder than most half their age.
Counting “Nobody’s Fault” and “Lord of The Thighs” as his favorite Aerosmith songs, Kramer fesses up that his most beloved ZZ Top (who celebrate FORTY years this year) tune is “Tush,” “…well, ‘cuz I’m a guy!”
Hmm…a duet, perhaps?!
Aerosmith is arming themselves with a brand new (undisclosed) set list, and Steven Tyler proudly shares, “You’re gonna hear every rock n’ roll lick that ever made you wanna kiss a girl. From A to Z, Aero to ZZ Top!”
And there is certainly NO place like home. Having toured the world just about twelve times over, (Central MA lays claim to the band’s first show at Nipmuc High School in 1970), Krame Dog states, “anywhere in Boston” is a favorite place to play. It’s all home ~ after all, Joe Perry is from Lawrence and Tom Hamilton married a Worcester girl ~ and it’s all good.
This tour is unique, with a VIP Meet and Greet pre-party before each show, where “Joey Kramer Dog wants to hear from YOU!” The special occasion?! Aerosmith turns FORTY this November!
What exactly will you see backstage, faithful Blue Army? Well, not your typical rock and roll shenanigans, Kramer tells us. “There is nothing out of the ordinary ~ tables and chairs, drinks, rugs and couches.”
So what’s changed?! Well, there may not be half naked women prancing around like there “may have been” (wink wink!) in years gone by, but the band is still unstoppable, still masters of their craft. And they’ve still got a unique sound, infusing their brand of rock and roll with the blues and an unrivalled down-n-dirty sexuality (Tyler’s definitely the king of the double-entendre!).
Their new record (on which nothing is done by or with computers ~ pretty rare in this day and age, right?) lands in stores in 2010, and Kramer tell us it’ll revert to “old school Aerosmith.” Most of the songs are written and ready to be recorded once this tour gets under way.
Quite an anniversary gift for us, their generations of loyal fans. Long live Aerosmith, long live the Blue Army!
Check out aeroforceone.com and be sure to welcome the Bad Boys back on June 16 at the Comcast Center in Mansfield or on June 28 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT…or hell, at both!
Paramore
Beloved by Fans and Vampires Alike
By Tine Roycroft
The whole country has been bitten by the “Twilight” bug. Even if you haven’t been personally seduced by the tale of sexy teen vampires and a lovelorn bookworm, you are aware of the novels, movies and cult following. The stars of the movie ~ Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart ~ have been thrown into the spotlight. But Paramore, a band featured twice on the “Twilight” soundtrack, is also tasting the sweet, succulent taste of success.
Paramore ~ comprised of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, Zac Farro on drums, Josh Farro on guitar and Jeremy Davis taking care of the bass ~ has a deceptively young look with all members in their late teens or early twenties. But the depth of their lyrics, the passion that is infused into every chord, creates songs that touch fans on an incredibly intimate level. A look at fan sites reveals kids reaching out to Paramore and thanking them, in some cases for literally saving their lives with music.
“There are stories, letters and emails that we get that are pretty heavy,” revealed Josh Farro in a recent interview. “We never thought [the music] would really help someone get through an abusive family. There are kids who are struggling with the idea of suicide and they tell us that our music helped. That’s really heavy stuff and I think it’s cool that our music gives people hope and security.”
The literally life-saving band formed in 2004 with their first show in Nashville, Tennessee. After just a few months of touring, they were signed to the Fueled by Ramen label after founder John Janick saw them gigging in Florida. Influenced by groups like Death Cab for Cutie, Jimmy Eat World and Sunny Day Real Estate, Paramore’s debut album, All We Know is Falling, hit the public’s ears in the summer of 2005 and the accolades started rolling in. Kerrang! readers voted Paramore as “Best New Band” and NME named the group as one of the ten to watch in their “New Noise 2007.” They’d only just begun.
2007 brought the fiery hot album RIOT! and 2008 blew minds with The Final RIOT! and the “Twilight” soundtrack featuring songs “Decode” and “I Caught Myself.” The especially tasty cherry on this musical sundae? The group will be touring with No Doubt this summer.
But like all guys of the humble pie, Farro says the group remains focused on the music and not the fame. “We try to ignore the fame,” he said. “None of us really feels like we’re famous. There are times when it’s surreal to see yourself on TV or in a record store. Then it’s crazy. But I don’t let it get to me.”
But even this sweetheart of a guitarist couldn’t mask his true feelings about the upcoming Summer 2009 tour with No Doubt.
“So excited!” Farro gushed. “I really feel like our bands are similar in a lot of ways and it’s going to be cool to get to know them, to get advice from them. They’ve been doing it for a long time, they have a female lead singer. They’ve probably been through a lot of the same things we’ve been through.”
Catch Paramore at the Boston Comcast Center on 6/20, or at the Mohegan Sun Arena on 6/24. And ‘til then, get more info on the band at paramore.net.
20 Years Later and still “Nuthin’ but a Good Time” for Bobby Dall of Poison
By Mary Ouellette
What do you get when you mix two outspoken lead singers, a public war of words, and a dash of ego? Well, if you ask Poison and Def Leppard, you get the perfect recipe for a summer blockbuster tour. Just a year after the publicly fought battle royale between front men Bret Michaels and Joe Elliott aired through the media, the bands are now joining forces for what could be the most face-melting, hair raising, lighter waving tour of the summer ~ and oh yeah, they’re bringing Cheap Trick along for the ride too.
After the verbal fisticuffs between the two camps, a tour may have seemed unlikely, so when the announcement came of the 2009 summer tour package fans didn’t know if this were a peace offering or if they were getting punk’d. According to Poison bassist Bobby Dall, the whole thing was blown out of proportion. “Did Joe make a comment? Yes, Joe made a comment. Did Bret respond? Yes, Bret responded. The guys have since made up, so it’s all cool,” assures Dall. Kicking off the tour in June, Dall and company wanted to “create a festival-like environment for music fans” and feel that these three band pack that punch. “It’s a natural fit for Def Leppard and Poison to play together, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”
Poison, together since 1983, forged a new era and paved the way with lipstick for glam rock bands in the 80s and 90s. Able to sustain while other bands dropped like flies, bassist Dall tells us the secret of their longevity. “We always did what we wanted to do.” It’s as simple as that. Doing what they wanted to do often made them the whipping boy for critics along the way but that never bothered the band. “I don’t think about that stuff and I don’t care. I care about the fans and I care about what I do,” said Dall. “If you stick your head above the crowd you’re in for a rock fight. And we stand pretty tall.”
Reinventing themselves throughout the years, Poison hasn’t missed a step along the way. The latest installment is Bret Michael’s hit reality show on VH1, “Rock of Love.” However, the one thing missing from the show is a lethal dose of Poison. So what is Dall’s take on it? “I like the show. I think it’s funny and entertaining. My opinion is somewhat distorted and would not be fair because I know too much about everything. There’s a separation between the show and Poison that needs to be there because otherwise it would become a conflict of interest.” Will we ever see Dall on his own reality show? “I wouldn’t do a reality show because they’re not real.”
What is real is the new demographic of fans that the show brings to the band as well as the generational passing down of their music. “All bands as they mature tend to cross generations” shares Dall. “It’s always been like that for us. We’re starting to get the third generation now, which is not a bad place to be. It’s a family affair! Grandma or granddaughter; I don’t care, bring them all!”
On Poison’s legacy, Dall left us with this: “I’m not the one to write the legacy, I think the legacy writes itself. History speaks for itself; we’re one of the bands that survived the genre and the era. We have our place in rock and roll history and I think it will remain seated for a long time. Our first record was in 1926…I mean 1986 and here we are in 2009 so it’s been a long run and a good one!”
Black Tide
Rolling In with the Vans Warped Tour
By Patrick Douglas
When this year’s incarnation of the Vans Warped Tour rolls into Boston’s Tweeter Center July 21, you’ll find your obligatory punk bands and extreme sports demonstrations.
Hidden amongst the punk ethos will be the full-on thrash youngsters of Black Tide. As is often the case on a Warped Tour, there will be a few metal bands sprinkled amongst the punk rockers.
Bringing the music to a new crowd is something that Black Tide frontman Gabriel Garcia is looking forward to.
“It’s gonna be different. The Warped Tour is really different for us as far as crowds go,” Garcia said. “It’s been great to make new fans. It’s always great to see your fan base growing. We always just come into the tours and just do our thing and if people like it, great, but we know it isn’t for everybody.”
Garcia was just 11 years old when he helped form Black Tide in 2004 (he began shredding on guitar at age 8). Now, just 16 years old, Garcia has already seen great success behind the debut Light From Above, which features the singles “Shockwave,” and “Warriors of Time.”
For two years, the band of youths has been touring the nation, leading to the inevitable question, “What about school?” Initially, Garcia attempted to stay in tune with his school work, but life on the road became all consuming.
“I started [home schooling] when we first started touring, but after a couple months it’s like you can’t really do it,” he said. “If you do online schooling, you really have to wanna do it yourself. You really have to be interested in it. I just wasn’t. When we started touring, it was mad fun so I was like, ‘F**k it.’ I don’t really care about school so I haven’t been doing it for about a year and a half.”
For the four-piece, sounding like a reincarnation of old school Metallica has been a positive in earning respect from their peers, although it hasn’t always come easy.
“For the most part, everyone’s been cool, but there’s definitely those bands who are like ‘Oh, they’re just stupid kids that get everything handed to them,’” Garcia said. “I would probably think that too [but] we’ve worked hard. I think we’ve paid our dues.”
The group has already entered the studio to begin working on new material for their sophomore effort. It’s a chance to really show what they’re made of, according to Garcia.
“Honestly, I was more of a kid when we wrote the first record,” he said. “The lyrics didn’t really make sense. On this [new] record, at least lyrically, it’s gonna be a lot more meaningful. It’s more melodic and core driven.”
blacktidemusic.com and
myspace.com/blacktide
Breathe Carolina
Ultramodern Artists of Pop
By Tine Roycroft
The 2009 Vans Warped Tour promises to be the best yet with performances planned from coast to coast and bands that bend over backwards to keep the fans screaming and rocking from the pit to the parking lot. This year’s tour will feature the electric pulses of Breathe Carolina ~ a fiery hot pop group who might never have danced on the radar had it not been for MySpace.
Breathe Carolina’s Kyle Even, 23, and David Schmitt, 21 ~ both tasty to look at and to listen to ~ met in high school in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Even was graduating, Schmitt was still in the crux of studies, so the magic didn’t occur until they were both out in the real world. Even had spent some time as a lead vocalist in a friend’s band and was looking to delve deeper into music scene. He met his match with Schmitt and the two created some of the grooviest, poppiest lollypop licks ever. Their music can be defined as ultramodern pop mixed with barks and croons harvested from deep within a rainbow soul.
Initially unaware of their talent or potential popularity, it was their friends who encouraged them think big.
“We put up two of our first tracks on MySpace because our friends suggested it,” Even revealed. “Lots of people started listening and writing to us. Soon we were spending the entire day just writing people back. We’d go to the library, because we didn’t really have a computer.”
Today, the boys have over 154,000 MySpace friends and are signed to Fearless Records. But they opt to overlook their viral tune take-over and just concentrate on creating new sounds and keeping the music real.
“I don’t even think we’re very big at all,” Even said. “We’re realizing that we’re growing, sure. But I can’t stand outside of my self and judge myself or the band.
“Creating music is a lot of fun,” he continued. “We just go back and forth. We try not to think too much, just so it’s more organic. If you don’t have any expectations, it’s better. It’s not forced. And sometimes you come out with something super pop and sometimes you don’t.”
Breathe Carolina’s album, “It’s Classy, Not Classic,” contains fan favorites such as “Diamonds” and “That’s Classy,” which are sure to hook any listener who is looking for an upbeat rhythm with a couple of Even’s screams thrown in for good measure. A new album is set to drop in September 2009, but right now Even and Kyle are just riding the joy that is the Warped Tour.
But inquiring minds need to know ~ what’s up with the band name?
The name “Breathe Carolina” actually came after Schmitt had a dream; he was helping an older woman remain calm during an anxiety-inducing situation. Stick that in your trivia hat. Or better yet, check out Breathe Carolina at myspace.com/breathecarolina. For more information on the Vans Warped Tour 2009, go to www.warpedtour.com.
Job for a Cowboy
Ready for Mayhem
By Tom Godfrey
If you hold death metal close to your black heart and haven’t checked out Job for a Cowboy, then your world is soon to be shattered at high decibel. Ripped from the Arizona metal scene, Job will take the stage with the likes of Slayer and Marilyn Manson at this summer’s Rockstar Mayhem Fest tour, coming to the Comcast Center in Boston on August 4.
So, what do the guys have planned for entertainment on the road? Museums? Duck tours? “Extensive drinking,” admits guitarist Bobby Thompson. “There isn’t a heck of a lot to do on the road. If it is accessible we like to see the local scene but usually we find the closest bar. Jonny works out a lot, but I don’t. Too lazy.”
“Being on tour is great because we are playing with amazing bands and that makes us want to keep improving,” says vocalist Jonny Davy, “but it can be difficult. You lose touch with people at home. Time passes and people change while you are away.”
Completing the band is Jon Rice on drums and Brent Riggs on bass. The band, though with a different lineup, formed in a high schooler’s garage. Channeling their penchant for aggressive rock, the band came to be known as Job for a Cowboy.
“We went through every generic band name,” says Davy. “The name is really too ridiculous to mean anything. It was a joke that just stuck with us.”
Make no mistake, Job’s music is no joke. It is powerful, mind-jarring, guitar driven, scream and growl-inducing death metal. Their stage performance is grueling, sacrificing their bodies and voices to the almighty rock god.
“It can definitely be difficult,” admits Davy.
“It depends on how drunk we are,” laughs Thompson. “If the crowd’s energy is up then it isn’t hard. Sometimes you hit a wall though, but there is usually a second wind. It’s important for us to keep that energy up though. These people are paying good money to see us. I sure wouldn’t want to see some dude who looks like he doesn’t want to be there.”
With the tour and the release of a new album this summer, things are looking bright for a dark band. “We’re really excited about the new record,” says Thompson. “It is a very different album than we have put out. There are different elements in there and we have really taken the sound to a new level.”
Straying from their religious themed 2007 release Genesis, their new album has much more of a global decomposition theme.
“Angry music has always made me happy if that makes sense.” Says Thompson, “It’s a great outlet for anger.”
Check out jfacmetal.com and myspace.com/jobforacowboy for news of their new album and more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What YOU Had to Say About Summer Concerts!
By Erika Schmitt
1) Best summer concert you’ve ever seen?
Anthony Luzzo, 30, Paxton: LL Cool J- Riverside Amusement Park back in the day in ‘96
Candace Atchue, 26, Grafton: Alanis Morissette and Radiohead ‘95
Nikki, 22, Shrewsbury: Dave Mathews Band, Tweeter Center ‘07
Gregg Kusumah-Atmadja, 27, Worcester : 311
Liz Kendrick, 24, Westborough: Warped tour ‘06
Jill Nanof, 26, Northborough: Jay-Z and 311
Jen Benson, 24, Marlboro: The White Stripes
Mike Glynn, 25, Marlboro: The Dead
Jake Pagoya, 27, Worcester: 311
Virginia Orlando, 25, Upton: Prince in ‘04 at the Fleet Center
2) Concert you are most looking forward to this summer?
Anthony Luzzo, 30, Paxton: Jimmy Buffet
Candace Atchue, 26, Grafton: Aerosmith/ZZ Top at the Tweeter Center
Nikki, 22, Shrewsbury: Pink
Gregg Kusumah-Atmadja, 27, Worcester: Still waiting for good shows to pop up
Liz Kendrick, 24, Westborough: Bad Religion at Warped Tour ‘09
Jill Nanof, 26, Northborough: Pearl Jam ~ they usually come to the Boston area in the summer
Jen Benson, 24, Marlboro: Allman Bros.
Mike Glynn, 25, Marlboro: Phish in Mansfield
Jake Pagoya, 27, Worcester: Far in California
Virginia Orlando, 25, Upton: Gathering of the Vibes in Bridgeport, CT
3) Best summer concert venue?
Anthony Luzzo, 30, Paxton: Bank of America Pavilion
Candace Atchue, 26, Grafton: Great Woods (now Comcast Center)
Nikki, 22, Shrewsbury: Tweeter Center (now Comcast)
Gregg Kusumah-Atmadja, 27, Worcester: Suffolk Downs Racetrack ~ saw Radiohead there
Liz Kendrick, 24, Westborough: Tweeter Center
Jill Nanof, 26, Northborough: Tweeter Center
Jen Benson, 24, Marlboro: Calvin Theatre in Northhampton
Mike Glynn, 25, Marlboro: Bank of America Pavilion
Jake Pagoya, 27, Worcester: Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Virginia Orlando, 25, Upton: Jones Beach
4) What’s the most you would be willing to spend on a concert ticket?
Anthony Luzzo, 30, Paxton: $150
Candace Atchue, 26, Grafton: 100 bucks
Nikki, 22, Shrewsbury: $150
Gregg Kusumah-Atmadja, 27, Worcester: A few hundred dollars
Liz Kendrick, 24, Westborough: $150
Jill Nanof, 26, Northborough: $100
Jen Benson, 24, Marlboro: $100
Mike Glynn, 25, Marlboro: $200
Jake Pagoya, 27, Worcester: $50
Virginia Orlando, 25, Upton: $150
5) Farthest you would be willing to drive to see a show?
Anthony Luzzo, 30, Paxton: 3 or 4 hours
Candace Atchue, 26, Grafton: For Mr. Bungle I would drive for days
Nikki, 22, Shrewsbury: Cross Country
Gregg Kusumah-Atmadja, 27, Worcester: California
Liz Kendrick, 24, Westborough: Maybe 3 hours. I would really only go to New England states
Jill Nanof, 26, Northborough: 30 minutes, haha, I like to have a few drinks at shows especially in the summer
Jen Benson, 24, Marlboro: Philadelphia
Mike Glynn, 25, Marlboro: Tennessee- I’d drive to Bonnaroo
Jake Pagoya, 27, Worcester: California
Virginia Orlando, 25, Upton: Tennessee ~ we rented a van and drove down there for Bonnaroo ‘06
6) Best summer festival you have ever seen?
Candace Atchue, 26, Grafton: Locabazooka ~ Faith No More played and that was all that mattered
Nikki, 22, Shrewsbury: Never been to a festival
Gregg Kusumah-Atmadja, 27, Worcester: Almost went to Coachella last year, but it ended up not working out
Liz Kendrick, 24, Westborough: The Sprite Remix tour in ‘03 ~ Talib Kweli, The Roots, Blackalicious
Jill Nanof, 26, Northborough: Gathering of the Vibes in NY ‘03 ~ James Brown, Allman Bros.
Jen Benson, 24, Marlboro: Moe.down
Mike Glynn, 25, Marlboro: Gathering of the Vibes in ‘08
Jake Pagoya, 27, Worcester: Curiousa Festival ‘04 ~ Muse and Head Automatica at the Tweeter
Virginia Orlando, 25, Upton: Gathering of the Vibes ‘03 with James Brown!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s Outdoor Festival Season!
By Meghan Ennes
What better way to spend a sunny summer day ~ or entire weekend ~ than taking in a festival. From camping to music to food and beer to demonstrations to art…you don’t have to look far to find a festival that’ll appeal to your sense of fun. Here’s just a partial list of what’s going on this summer ~ so pack up the car, put on some sunscreen, and get going!
Jazz at Sunset
6/12-7/24 at the Ecotarium. Concerts are on Fridays from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Sundial Plaza. In case of rain or the threat of rain, concerts are held in the tent pavilion. Please bring lawn chairs and blankets. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. This year’s line-up includes Sunny and her Joy Boys f/ Duke Robillard, The Worcester Jazz Orchestra, The Love Dogs, and Greg Abate. For more info and a complete schedule, visit www.ecotarium.org/activities/jazz.
New England Summer Nationals
7/2-7/5 at Green Hill Park & Crown Plaza Hotel, Worcester. Largest auto event on the East Coast featuring live entertainment, street rods, and muscle cars. Tickets on sale at www.summernationals.com
Wachusett Valley Folk Festival
8/9 at the Wachusett Village Inn & Conference Center, Westminster. Folk festival featuring John Gorka, The Kennedys, and more. Tickets on sale at www.wachusettmusic.com
Indian Ranch Summer Brewfest
8/15 at Indian Ranch, Webster. Festival on the beach with great music, food, and a variety of beers from local craft brewers. Tickets on sale at www.indianranch.com
Life Is Good Festival
6/20 on the Boston Common, Boston. Music from Grammy winners The Blind Boys of Alabama, classic backyard food, and ‘good-time’ activities for all ages. www.lifeisgood.com/festivals
Wormtown Music Festival
9/12-9/14 at Camp KeeWanee, Greenfield. Weekend-long local band blowout hosted by Wormtown Trading Co. on a campground in Greenfield. Ticketing information at www.wormtown.com/wormfest
New Bedford Summer Fest
7/3-7/5 at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, New Bedford. This highly acclaimed old-fashioned festival features traditional folk music, arts and crafts fairs, boat races, and harbor tours. Tickets on sale at www.newbedfordsummerfest.com
Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival
7/18 at Look Park, Northampton. Traditional dance and music from the Scottish highlands and Scottish cuisine. Haggis, anyone? Ticketing information at www.glasgowlands.org
Lowell Folk Festival
7/24 – 7/26 in downtown Lowell. The largest free folk festival in the nation – three days of traditional music, dance, craft demonstrations, and more. www.lowellfolkfestival.org
Blackstone Valley Celtic Festival
7/25 at Indian Ranch, Webster. Music, games, sheep herding, and even a raffle for a trip to Ireland. If anything, go for the ‘Men-in-Kilts’ contest. Tickets on sale at www.blackstonevalleycelticfestival.com
Provincetown Jazz Festival
8/14-8/16 at Provincetown High School, Provincetown. Come on up for the only three-day jazz festival on Cape Cod. This year featuring Shawnn Monteiro, String of Pearls, and more. www.provincetownjazzfestival.org
Carnivale
8/16-8/22 in Provincetown. A ‘mardi-gras’ style celebration with an extravagant costume parade. This year’s theme is Summer of Love: Peace, Love, and Go-Go Boots! www.ptown.org
Blues ‘N’ Brews Festival
8/22 at the Nashoba Valley Ski Area, Westford. Live blues, craft beer tasting, BBQ, and craft booths. All proceeds go to charity! Tickets on sale at www.bluesLife Is Good Festival nbrews.com
Tanglewood Jazz Festival
9/4-9/6 at the Seiji Ozawa Hall, Lenox. Talented jazz musicians play for one weekend only on the beautiful grounds at Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Tickets on sale at www.bso.org
Music Fest
9/13 at Wachusett Mountain, Princeton. Great food, great brew, and a scenic outdoor stage area beside Wachusett Mountain. www.wachusett.com
Pet Rock Festival
9/13 at Qiunsigimond Community College, Worcester. Enjoy fun activities with your leashed pet at this annual festival promoting kindness to animals.
www.petrockfest.com
Berklee Bean Town Jazz Festival
9/26 at Burke Street Center Park alongside Columbus Ave., Boston. Free outdoor event with three stages of live jazz, food, and family-friendly events including an Instrument Petting Zoo! www.beantownjazz.org
Festival Latino
9/27 at Lee First Congregational Church Park, Worcester. Free folkloric entertainment, floats, music, authentic food, dancing by Liliana’s troupe and more. www.festivallatino.org
