Shoot the Moon: Jamaica Plain Music Festival

Strawberry-thyme lemonade

While a good amount of the Boston population was gearing up for a day in City Hall Square for Boston Calling, I was headed in the opposite direction, to Jamaica Plain.

I wasn't sure what to expect when my roommate invited me to the Jamaica Plain Music Festival to see her boyfriend, Jesse play. I had never been to Jamaica Plain, despite my proximity to it and I also had never been to a music festival in this part of the state. When I finally arrived (after getting on the wrong 39 bus) I found that the festival was set in a nice grassy field just off of South Huntington. I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of concrete. As soon as I found my group (a pack of Simmons College students) I kicked off my sandals and squished my toes in the soft ground accompanied by some strawberry-thyme lemonade.

The highlight of the festival (at least for me) was when the Nickel and Dime Band took the stage clad in an array of outrageous dresses - some even complete with jewelry. Their attire was not to distract though. Musically their was well-done and certainly got most of the crowd up from their seats. I found myself smiling as the band's lead singer, Rick Berlin, sang the lines "like a little girl," as a group of little girls hula hooped at the base of the stage. I enjoyed the show and I look forward to attending more of performances by the Nickel and Dime Band.