Eight local bands perform at Brighton Music Hall ahead of summer festival appearances.
The energy was electric at Brighton Music Hall on the night of April 25 as the Berklee Popular Music Institute, or BPMI, held their 23rd annual showcase. The event highlighted eight local acts that have planned festival appearances this summer. The crowd was filled with Berklee students, music lovers, and friends and family alike, hyping up the acts and celebrating the occasion with the ice cream, raffle prize announcements, a photo booth, and more.
First up was Axel & Lolo, an indie folk duo whose harmonies couldn’t have been more artfully aligned. The duo sat front and center, both playing guitars beside one another, and were backed by a four-piece band. They started their set with debut single, “You’d Like Me More,” showcasing their intricate vocals and relatable storytelling, followed by their newest song, “Get Me In Your Lifetime,” released May 16. “Dragonfly” and “Sofia Vergara” rounded out their set. The duo are set to perform at Kentucky’s Bourbon & Beyond Festival in September.
Second up was Ryan Mead, an artist that was introduced as “a little bit of Australia, a little bit of Boston, and a whole lot of honky tonk.” The Australian-born artist’s set riled up the crowd, performing upbeat country tunes with his twangy voice and four-piece backing band, which included a fiddle and steel guitar. In addition to appearing at Colorado’s Country Jam Music Festival in June, Mead also teased a debut album to be released soon.
Third in the night was Park National, who is set to perform at the Great Escape in Brighton, UK, in mid-May. Lead singer Liam Fagan was accompanied by a backing band and mostly played songs from his debut album, You Have To Keep Searching, which was released May 2. With songs like “Let ‘Em Live” and “Your Mom’s House,” the band brought an upbeat rock vibe to the night. In addition to the upcoming festival appearance, he also plugged his album release show, which will take place at Brighton Music Hall on May 31.
Following Park National was Archon Theory, a metal band who will perform at Ohio’s Inkcarceration festival this July. The four-piece band performed songs “Stoic” and “Wasted Prayers” from their 2024 EP A Place Devoid Of Love, bringing down the house with their heavy metal instrumentation and raw vocals. They ended their set with “Garrote,” a single set to come out in the coming months.
Rap trio Glasshouse was fifth in the night, and their infectious energy invigorated the crowd halfway through the showcase. They engaged the audience with a fun call and response with their own name, asking “can I get a Glasshouse?” Their song “PRTTYGURLSWAANATAST” was particularly memorable, with one of the members going down to the crowd’s level to rap along with them. The trio will perform at New York City’s Governor’s Ball in June, where they’re sure to bring the (glass)house down.
The sixth band to perform was Dipsea Flower, a folk rock four-person band. Accompanied by another multi-instrumentalist, they performed songs from their EP Sundance, which was released on May 9, as well as their debut single “Hummingbird.” They brought a sunny, warm presence to the stage and were bathed in golden light as they harmonized with one another. Dipsea Flower will perform at the Soundside Music Festival in Bridgeport, CT, this September.
The penultimate act was Jesse Detor, a pop rock solo artist with a three-piece backing band. With songs like “Juno” and unreleased “Once,” Detor regaled the audience with her 90s-inspired rock songs and the stories behind them. She’ll be bringing her fun storytelling tunes to Lollapalooza in Chicago this August.
Last but certainly not least, ending the night was Ringpop!, a pop punk band that left the crowd on a high note. They performed songs like “Oipers Gonna Oip!,” which is on their 2024 debut album, Friend Crush. The pop punk group will play at Vans Warped Tour in both DC and Long Beach this June and July.
The crowd left the night with a taste of what music of all genres Boston has to offer – and perhaps even a new favorite local artist. With these artists ready to embark on journeys around the world, it’s clear that the BPMI has a pulse on what’s up and coming. The annual showcase will return next year with another crop of Boston artists, and if you keep an eye out, maybe they’ll find their way to a festival near you soon.