By Riley Vecchione, Digital Marketing Specialist
Right before the Celtics won Banner 18, WERS 88.9 rocked the socks off of City Hall Plaza on June 17th, 2024, aka 617 Day. Situated right along the path of the Beer Garden, our state of the art performance stage was the perfect platform for some phenomenal local artists we are proud to play on the air. The sun shone beautifully that day with a breeze that broke the heat, and as local tunes wafted through the hustle and bustle of city life, passerbyers and our loyal listeners paid a visit to our all-day string of shows. We wanted everyone to know our 75th Birthday was a year-round party, and this was a perfect way to keep the celebration going.
Staff and attendees at City Hall Plaza on 617 Day. Photos 1-6 by Maurice Wilkey. Photo 7 by Riley Vecchione.
From 3pm to 9pm at City Hall Plaza, the lineup of Boston bands we curated played, causing folks to stop in their tracks to enjoy the sun, enjoy the music, and enjoy the company of like-minded people who love local music. Hal Slifer and George Knight were live on-air, on-site as well, volleying their coverage back to Eva in the studio, who was rolling out local tunes all day for us.
Contenders tried their luck at our tent as well, spinning the wheel to win some free swag that showed off their love for Boston’s Uncommon Radio.
That’s what we’re all about here at WERS: keeping it local, keeping it live, and keeping it real.
It was a blast to watch people get up off their seats (some even brought their own in preparation for the day!) and dance together— jamming, laughing and feeling the groove. The music was five-stars all around, with brilliant performances from the following bands:
SUPERPINK
Self-proclaimed “space disco” band SUPERPINK opened for us at 617 Day, starting the jams off right with an amazing set in the summer sun. Their music spans from garage rock to disco, rockabilly to 80s pop. Talk about the perfect blend to dance to! The beat and energy was a perfect way to kick off the day.
SUPERPINK performs on stage at City Hall Plaza on 617 Day. Photography by Maurice Wilkey.
THE FOLK COLLECTIVE AT PASSIM
Club Passim in Harvard Square showcases 12 folk artists quarterly, who inspire conversation, cultural leadership, and innovative ideas. This is The Folk Collective. Their talent is vast and unique, and four of their artists took the stage to perform not just their music, but their values and ideals. Introspective and moving, their lyrics pulled no punches and left the audience clapping and snapping in a resounding agreement to their profound pieces.
The Club Passim Folk Collective performs on stage at City Hall Plaza on 617 Day. Photography by Maurice Wilkey.
MIRANDA RAE
Miranda Rae is an R&B singer and songwriter from Cambridge, MA. She won the Best R&B Artist of the Year at the Boston Music Awards, and graced our stage at 617 Day with her incredible vocals and vibes. Her work has garnered her fans worldwide...and understandably so. We were honored to have her on our stage.
Miranda Rae performs on stage at City Hall Plaza on 617 Day. Photography by Maurice Wilkey.
CHRIS WALTON
A “jack of all trades,” Chris Walton is a singer-songwriter whose introspective love songs and retro tracks will get you moving and grooving…and it did exactly that on the steps of City Hall Plaza. We caught him rockin’ out to our other acts as well, so he’s a great guy to have in your corner.
Chris Walton performs on stage at City Hall Plaza on 617 Day. Photography by Maurice Wilkey.
CARISSA JOHNSON & THE CURE-ALLS
Carissa and her band really put the ROCK in Rock and Roll. The energy was astounding, blaring rad guitar riffs and lively vocals through the air as dusk settled around City Hall Plaza. They lit up the night as we wrapped up 617 Day on an amazing note – no pun intended…
THANK YOU to all our AMAZING artists, staff, and students who made this day happen. Thank you to the City of Boston Department of Arts and Culture. And most of all, thank YOU, our amazing listeners and readers, who show up for us constantly and support our station and the artists we play.
We can’t wait to see you next year. But the party doesn’t stop here… keep an eye out on our other birthday celebrations in 2024, our 75th Year on Air!
