Special to the Times
The Esplanade Association (EA) is thrilled to announce the eighth season of their GroundBeat Concerts: The Esplanade’s FREE Pre-Juneteenth Riverfront Music Series. Each concert is produced by local creators and showcases a diverse lineup of artists, bringing communities across Greater Boston together through music, culture, and connection.
All performances take place at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell with a lively atmosphere of vendors, lawn games, and family-friendly activities.
GroundBeat begins with a Community Day kickoff concert: ‘ZUMIX Hatch Shell Takeover’ produced by ZUMIX on Sunday, May 31 at 4:00 PM. ZUMIX is celebrating their 35th anniversary by featuring performances from ZUMIX’s youth bands (Zukix, Voces, Pop Rocks, Beware of Denise, Rhythms of Ghana, Sprouts Ukulele Orchestra), the ZUMIX Staff Band, Alumni performances (Nick Shea, Lady Fortuna), and Dance Groups (Salsa y Control, the Floor Lords, and Pumawari Tusuy).
The series continues Wednesday, June 3 at 6:00 PM with ‘Abilities: Amplified’ produced by Luigi’s Fishtank and Harvard Biodesign Lab. These organizations combine their expertise in music and wearable technology for people with disabilities to demonstrate how innovative tools and inclusive platforms can empower individuals and foster a more accessible community. Lineup includes: Lachi, The Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education (BIAAE) Jazz Trio, Luigi’s Fishtank, and Plugged In | 3 Day Regin.
On the evening of Wednesday, June 10 at 6:00 PM, Travel Through Music returns with ‘Sonic Passports – Caribbean Heritage Month.’ This year’s concert is a tribute to Caribbean Heritage Month, with incorporations of vibrant musical traditions from the Caribbean. Lineup includes: SAFIYA, Roots Alley Collective, and ZAMA.
The series closes off on Wednesday, June 17 at 6:00 PM with ‘Salsa at the Shell’ with longtime Esplanade collaborator Boston Music Project. BMP returns to GroundBeat after a grand performance last year with a 60+ youth orchestra. Their 2026 lineup includes: BCYF Creates, FutureBOS BMP Youth Band, Salsa Y Control, and Angel Subero and Latin Logic.
This year, our partners at Community Boating, Inc. are providing attendees with 50% off a 2-hour kayak or stand-up paddleboard rental on concert dates.
“We are thrilled to present 4 GroundBeat concerts in our 25th Anniversary year to further activate the park, animate the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell, and bring communities together through the arts,” said Jen Mergel, James & Audrey Foster Executive Director of EA. “The Esplanade Association worked hard to secure support to revitalize the Hatch Oval Lawn as a vibrant destination for concerts, and 8 years on we are honored to commission such talented producer-partners and artists for yet another season. Inspiring, innovative, inclusive and connective arts experiences are what bring the park to life!”
Last year’s GroundBeat series hosted nearly 80 artists and 34 partners, with the finale concert drawing 7,000 attendees, 51% of which traveled from more than 3 miles to enjoy. We are excited for the series’ growth, affirming the Esplanade as a destination for all of Greater Boston to enjoy.
The GroundBeat series experience is made possible by the following local partners this year: Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education, Bionic Project, Bocadillos, The Brookline Bird Club, Mr. Vinny The Bubble Guy, Community Boating Inc., DCR, Fruttiberri, Girls in Gear, Mexibites, Mobilio, Navigation Names, Neurohumanities Network, Ohana New England Dragon Boat Team, Plugged in Band Program, Polar Beverages, Reachable, REEV, Stone Living Lab, UMass Amherst Robotics, and Youth Enrichment Services. GroundBeat is supported this year through grants from Audax Charitable Foundation and Eastern Bank.
The Esplanade Association is the community-supported non-profit dedicated to expanding the care of and for the historic Charles River Esplanade, sustain its natural green space, and build community in the park by providing educational, cultural, and recreational programs for 10,000+ people yearly. Working in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Esplanade Association is dedicated to improving the experiences of the millions of visitors who enjoy Boston’s iconic riverside park. Since its founding in 2001, EA has funded and implemented more than $30M in major capital enhancements and revitalizations as well as educational, recreational and cultural activations that benefit all park users. Learn more at esplanade.org.
ZUMIX is an East Boston-based nonprofit organization dedicated to building our community through music and creative technology. We believe music is the most powerful means of developing adolescent self-identity. Our award-winning music and creative technology programming is designed to equip youth with the tools necessary to reach their full potential, while creating a safe space for youth to explore who they are and who they want to be. Through community events, ZUMIX also provides access to top-quality arts experiences for a low-income, historically underserved neighborhood. Learn more at zumix.org.
Luigi’s Fishtank is a musical group that performs a dynamic mix of rock, pop, and Latin music, while the Harvard Biodesign Lab develops wearable technology for people with disabilities. By combining their expertise in music and technology, these two organizations are dedicated to demonstrating how innovative tools and inclusive platforms can empower individuals and foster a more accessible community. Learn more at luigisfishtank.com and biodesign.seas.harvard.edu.
Travel Through Music is a cultural concert experience that brings audiences on a journey around the world through sound, rhythm, and storytelling. Founded by vocalist and cultural curator Safiya Leslie, Travel Through Music began to connect people to global cultures through music, travel, and shared experiences. What started as an international music subscription box has evolved into immersive live events that celebrate the artists, traditions, and communities that shape the sounds of our world. Through concerts, festivals, and community activations, Travel Through Music Live highlights genres rooted in culture and diaspora — from jazz and Afrobeat to calypso, soca, reggae, Latin music, and beyond. Each event blends live performance with cultural education, creating spaces where audiences can dance, learn, and experience the stories behind the music. Learn more at instagram.com/travelthroughmusicbox.
For fifteen years, the Boston Music Project has provided music-based Creative Youth Development programming to thousands of Boston youth. Their team of diverse teaching artists provides weekly music education to thousands of PreK to 12th-grade students at 30+ Boston schools each year. BMP before, after, and in-school programs provide students with the resources and support to unleash their musical creativity through instrumental and digital music instruction while fostering their social-emotional skills to find success in music, school, and life. Learn more at bostonmusicproject.org.
DCR manages state parks and oversees more than 450,000 acres throughout Massachusetts. It protects, promotes, and enhances the state’s natural, cultural, and recreational resources. Learn more at mass.gov/orgs/department-of-conservation-recreation.