Big Union Square music festival October 13? Same day as HONK Parade and Harvard Sq Oktoberfest?

[ron_newman]

This story is a bit hard to piece together, but apparently Mayor Curtatone and House of Blues and RadioBDC (Boston.com's internet "radio" station) are planning to hold a large free outdoor music event in Union Square on Sunday, October 13. It's not entirely clear whether the event will close all of Union Square to traffic, or just take over the parking lot and plaza. An earlier proposal would have charged $25 for tickets, which seems like a Really Bad Idea when taking over public city streets.

The Somerville Arts Council and Union Square Main Streets don't appear to be involved at all -- at least, I don't see the event on either organization's website.

Links:
Organizers: Free concert would draw 3000 to Somerville's Union Square (Wicked Local/Somerville Journal)

Somerville licensing board member: Rock and roll is noise pollution (Wicked Local Somerville blog)

Licensing Commission agenda for 9/16 - see item #4

I'm not usually one to complain about having too many festivals, but I wonder if it's really a good idea to hold this on the same day as the HONK Parade and Harvard Square Oktoberfest. With Davis, Porter, Harvard, and Union squares all closed at the same time, I wouldn't want to be in an MBTA bus or a car anywhere in Cambridge or Somerville that day.

Comments

[dashford.livejournal.com]

And thank YOU for pointing out you don't know the popularity of the acts on the bill, but are nevertheless willing to predict a poor attendance for the event.

[teko.livejournal.com]

As someone who used to organize and promote local music festivals starring dozens of little-or-unknown acts, I'm a big, big fan of promoting and celebrating bands with a fervent local fan base, so as I say, a local festival is awesome, and I applaud the city for doing so.

But, again, I think that booking a local-music fest against two established, popular, long-running festivals is a terrible idea, and I fear will give the impression that festivals of local music aren't well attended. I wish they'd give it a different weekend so it could be enjoyed on its own terms, not as an alternative to HONK and Oktoberfest.