UPCOMING PROJECT:
Screening of short documentary film, Open Your Heart: Immigrant Voices Changing the Conversation, Boston’s Civic Pavilion. Date: Fall, 2023
Previously…
Open Your Heart: Immigrant Stories and Music from Boston and Beyond, June 30, 2023 from 5-8pm at City Hall Plaza. The event was followed by a dance party with Eli Pabon.
A production by Hoopla Productions, in collaboration with ZUMIX.
Finding Home: Immigrant Stories and Music from Boston and Beyond
September 17th, 2022, from 5:30–7:00pm at Piers Park in East Boston. The event was followed by a dance party with Eli Pabon.
A unique event featuring musicians, dancers and storytellers in a celebration of immigrant experiences in our community.
HERE’S A SHORT VIDEO FROM FINDING HOME 2021 (created by Jesse Epstein and Monica Cohen, with cinematography by Abhi Indrekar, Isabella Escobedo and Carla Pelino, and sound by Michaela Henry).
Concert Series at the Eliot Schoolyard
Concerts in 2023 produced by Hoopla Productions include Dis n Dat Band, A Far Cry, Grooversity, and Stan Strickland Group.
2023 Lineup:
2023 Concert Schedule
Jump to Concert Details
June 4: Dis n Dat Band (Neo-reggae)
June 11: Cocktail Hour (R&B, New-soul)
June 18: Rhombus (Collective improvisation)
June 25: James Dargan: Familiar Songs (Black songs)
July 9: Gordon Michaels: Unforgettable: Tribute to Nat King Cole (Classic standards)
July 16: Jesse Taitt & Brian Friedland (2-piano jazz)
July 23: A Far Cry (Classical)
July 30: Jorge Perez-Albela/Keala Kumeheiwa/Brian Friedland (Jazz)
August 6: Grooversity (World percussion)
August 13: Cliff Notez (Hip-Hop, soul, R&B)
August 20: The Stan Strickland Group (Jazz)
August 27: Shavonne Brown (Soul)
September 10: Catherine Bent/Rafael Barata/Brian Friedland (Brazilian)
September 17: Jameo Latino (Latin jam)
September 24: BOMBAntillana (Bomba)
2022 Lineup:
Concerts in 2022 produced by Hoopla Productions include: Dis n Dat Band, Akili Jamal Haynes, Naomi Westwater, Trio Let’s Vamos, and Stan Strickland Trio.
June 5: Shaw Pong Liu & Brian Friedland (violin & keyboard, improvisation & new compositions)
June 12: Niu Raza (Malagasy singer-songwriter + band)
June 19: Dis N Dat Band (neo-reggae)
June 26: Schoolyard Quartet: Lihi Haruvi, Brian Friedland, Keala Keala Kaumeheiwa & Jorge Perez-Albela (globally-inspired jazz)
July 10: Ava Sophia (soulful grooves)
July 17: Nadia Washington & Brian Friedland (soul, R&B, jazz)
July 24: Akili Jamal Haynes (Positive African Images)
July 31: YBH Trio (jazz trumpet & more)
August 7: Naomi Westwater (folk, jazz, soul, electro-pop)
August 14: Miguel Landestoy Trio (jazz)
August 21: Phil Sargent & Brian Friedland (boundary-pushing jazz)
August 28: Trio Let’s Vamos (Brazilian forró)
September 11: John Williams Jam Band (movie music with a funky twist)
September 18: Shavonne Brown (classic soul vocals)
September 25: Stan Strickland Trio (jazz & soul)
Jamaica Plain Porchfest
Hoopla Productions produced Jamaica Plain Porchfest from 2014-2019. Over these years, the festival became a tradition within the JP community, involving over 800 artists and 200 porches. We expanded the event from a music festival to one that included dance, theater, spoken word, storytelling, comedy and more. We worked closely with many community groups and engaged people from all parts of the neighborhood and beyond, to ensure a diverse festival with engagement from people of all backgrounds. In 2020 we handed the JP Porchfest reigns – with great confidence – to our friends at Dunamis, and the tradition continues to evolve and deepen!
DONATE HERE to help us create awesome community-building arts events!
All donations – small, medium and large – are welcome.
Hoopla Productions is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Your donation is tax deductible as allowed by law.
OTHER HOOPLA EVENTS HAVE INCLUDED:
Thriller Flash Mob! A collaboration with Alexandria Pierre-Etienne and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, October 2018
Jamaica Plain Porchfest , 2004-2019
The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae Book Launch with author Ifé Franklin, April 2018
Re-Read Me a Story – a Benefit for Puerto Rico with Wee the People, March 2018
Resist & Rejoice! with Petrichor and Porsha Olayiwola (raising funds for Boston GLASS and Student Immigrant Movement), February 2018
JPPorchfest Up Close – Photo Exhibit at Boston City Hall, December 2017
Speak Out Sing Out: Fundraiser for Black Lives Matter, with Dis N Dat Band and Ashley Rose, November 2017
OPEN ARMS: Welcoming our neighbours through poetry, music & art, April 2017
Resistioke: Live Band Singalong at Libreria Donceles, March 2017
To Islam With Love: A Card-Making Marathon Against Islamophobia with Wee the People, February 2017
Wee Walk the Walk: Sign-Making Workshop for Boston Women’s March with Wee the People, January 2017
ResistARTS At JP First Thursdays, January 2017
Art performances including live band singalong, spoken word, live music and more, raising funds for 3 local non-profit organizations
PorchfestFEST #2 at Lawn on D, August 2016
Porchfest Inside at the Haven A weekly showcase featuring local musicians, February 2016
Lighting the Line – Celebration of the new MBTA stations in Dorchester and Hyde Park, October 2015
PorchfestFEST at Lawn on D, August 2015
JPPorchfest Film Premier, February 2015
JPPorchfest Film Screening at First Night Boston, December 2014
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