Third Annual Rumble on the River Free Rowing and Music Festival Returns to Brighton on Saturday, September 15.
Music lineup includes Gentlemen Hall, Otis Grove with Akrobatik, Jesse Dee, Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons, and Kingsley Flood
BRIGHTON, Mass.’Community Rowing Inc. (CRI) is set to host the third annual Rumble on the River, a free outdoor music and rowing festival scheduled for Saturday, September 15 from noon to 6:30 p.m. at the Harry Parker Boathouse, 20 Nonantum Rd. in Brighton. MySecretBoston, the online Boston lifestyle and things-to-do magazine will present the festival for the third year in a row. This year’s music lineup features a mix soul, funk, folk, indie dance rock, and hip-hop. Scheduled to play on the riverside stage is a diverse mix of New England-based bands including Gentlemen Hall, Otis Grove with Akrobatik, Jesse Dee, Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons, and Kingsley Flood. DJ Ryan Brown will spin vinyl to keep the party going in between band sets. Music starts at noon. "The vibe at the boathouse truly adds to the thrill of seeing live music in the festival environment. There’s nothing else in Boston quite like it," says Jeff Wallace, festival director and MySecretBoston music editor. "With amazing bands that appeal to all ages, great food trucks, fun games, fitness demos, rowing races, and, of course, a VIP beer garden, there’s something for everyone to enjoy." In addition to the music, there will be rowing races on the water throughout the day featuring skilled rowers from local rowing clubs. Crossfit Boston will curate a series of fitness demos along with official beverage sponsor Hint Water. Life is good will bring games including a bag toss and giant Jenga and will run a contest to giveaway tickets for its upcoming festival in Canton, MA. "Bringing people to the Charles River for a unique music festival is an excellent way for Community Rowing to let more people know about a great lifetime sport and the important community outreach programs we provide," says CRI executive director Bruce Smith. Proceeds generated from sponsorships and donations will aid CRI’s adaptive and military veterans rowing programs, which provide rehabilitation and social opportunities for people with mental and physical disabilities. The VIP beer garden will feature samples from Narragansett Beer, 50 Back, Cisco Brewers of Nantucket, Woodchuck Hard Cider, and more. RSVP for entry here (space is limited): http://rumbleontheriver2012.eventbrite.com/ For directions to the Harry Parker Boathouse, free parking information, and updates on the rowing events, log on to www.communityrowing.org. Schedule of events: Noon - gates open. Additional parking is available along North Beacon Street and at the Arsenal Mall. (Both are less than a 10-minute walk from the boathouse). 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. - Kingsley Flood (folk, Americana, rock) 1:35 to 2:25 p.m. - Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons (folk, Americana, country) 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. - Jesse Dee (funk, soul) 4:05 to 5:05 p.m. - Otis Grove with Akrobatik (soul, funk, rock, hip hop) 5:30 to 6:20 p.m. - Gentlemen Hall (indie dance rock) About MySecretBoston.com MySecretBoston uncovers the best in food, music, and entertainment in Boston and on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. With a focus on the city's lesser-known gems’deals you won’t believe are true, hidden facts about popular spots, drinks or dishes not on the menu, great things to do that are cheap and free’the online magazine is a go-to source for Bostonians who want to consider themselves in the know. MySecretBoston is also one of the area’s fastest-growing concert promoters, bringing great music to the stage with an emphasis on homegrown talent. About Community Rowing Inc. Community Rowing Inc. was founded in 1985 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the belief that the sport of rowing provides unique abilities to promote personal and community growth through teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness. Committed to making these opportunities available to all, it’s become one of the largest rowing programs in the United States, serving more than 1,500 rowers annually. Located on the Charles River, Community Rowing was the first public rowing club in Boston and remains one of America’s largest, with a mission of enriching the community and providing programs for young people and adults with novice to elite skill levels. ABOUT THE BANDS Gentlemen Hall (5:30 p.m. to 6:20 p.m.) Winners of "best act" in the Phoenix’s 2012 Best Music Poll, Gentlemen Hall blends indie dance rock and pop funk into a highly musical package. No stranger to big stages, the group won the Billboard Battle of the Bands in 2011, an award that earned them a slot in the Billboard Music awards which aired on ABC. A product of Berklee School of Music, Gentlemen Hall has toured the country in 2012, playing colleges and major festivals including SXSW and North Coast in Chicago. Otis Grove with Akrobatik (4:05 p.m. to 5:05 p.m.) Otis Grove is one of the hardest working bands in Boston. With more than 1,000 gigs in the books, the jazz-rock organ trio will put out its fourth album by the end of the year. A band that always plays well with guests, Otis Grove will welcome Akrobatik to the group for the first time ever at the Rumble on the River. The Dorchester-bred hip-hop legend has performed only select shows this year and is highly respected nationwide in the underground hip-hop community. Jesse Dee (2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.) Jesse Dee is Boston’s brightest soul singer/songwriter. Already a fixture at European soul and blues festivals, Dee and his band of Boston all-stars will release its second album in November, a follow up to 2008’s much acclaimed Bittersweet Batch. Dee has had a productive year. He recently opened for J. Geils Band as well as a handful of shows for soul legend and hero Al Green. Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons (1:35 p.m. to 2:25 p.m.) It’s been a great 2012 for Joe Fletcher, all stemming from his appearances at the Newport Folk Festival, where he shared the stage with the likes of Deer Tick, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and Brown Bird. Along with the Low Anthem, Brown Bird, and Deer Tick, Fletcher is part of a bright crop of Rhode Island based artists starting to gain prominence in the national indie-folk community. Kingsley Flood (12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.) Kingsley Flood adds serious fuel to the rowdy Americana movement in the Northeast. In the same vein as Tom Petty and more recently the Drive-by Truckers, the Boston-based band writes accessible music that feels resolutely American at its core. Kingsley Flood is in the process of crowd funding (via Pledge Music), for its upcoming record release. More info on that project is available at: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/kingsleyflood