Hatch Shell Concert Schedule

For more than 25 years, local radio stations have sponsored free concerts at Boston’s Hatch Shell. The official names of the programs are 100.7 WZLX FREE Summer Concerts and MIXFEST sponsored by Mix104.1. The series are a true public service, allowing hundreds of thousands of Boston residents to attend free performances of some of the greatest bands of all time.

The classic radio station broadcasts a wide variety of music from the 1970s through early 80s. Listeners may hear songs from the British Invasion to a smash-hit rock ballad from the 70s. A Rush or Supertramp tune, or a one-hit wonder from the era, may be on the air at this very moment. One can also listen to this classic station from the world wide web, and then view a playlist in real-time.

Hatch Shell Concerts

Over the years, many great artists have performed at the Free Summer Concert Series at the Hatch Shell. Artists such as Johnny Rivers, KC and the Sunshine Band, The Stylistics, The Guess Who, and The Rascals have performed here. This author’s favorite bands were The O'Jays and more recently Three Dog Night. Thousands of people sang along to Love Train and Joy To The World; it was amazing.

For new visitors or tourists, the Hatch Shell is an open-air stadium located at Boston’s Esplanade park. The lawn in front of the shell fills up on a first-come, first-serve basis. Lawn chairs and blankets are extremely popular. Alcohol is strictly prohibited, and violators are subject to arrest.

The concerts usually start at 7:00 pm with a warm-up artist. As the sun recedes, excitement builds for the main act. By nightfall, the Esplanade paths and knolls surrounding the shell are full of happy concert-goers. The acoustics are great at this fun family-friendly event.

Also of course, the oldest tradition at the Hatch Shell is the annual July 4th concert with the Boston Pops. In recent years, the Boston Landmarks Orchestra has performed here, bringing classical music and opera to the Esplanade; another great public service.

July, 2018

Tuesday July 3, 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm



Soston Pops Orchestra Warm-Up Concert

Wristbands at Oval Usually Available at 9:00 am

Wristband Oval Checkpoint Gate Opens at 5:00 pm

Concerts starts at 8:30 pm

1812 Overture Played at about 9:45 pm - NO FIREWORKS

Boston Pops Orchestra Independence Day Celebration

Wednesday July 4, 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm



Boston Pops Orchestra July 4 Concert

Special Guest Performers: Rachel Platten, Rhiannon Giddens, Indigo Girls

Wristbands at Oval Usually Available at 9:00 am

Wristband Oval Checkpoint Gate Opens at 5:00 pm

Concert Starts at 8:30 pm

1812 Overture Played at about 10:15 pm

Fireworks at 10:30 pm

Boston Pops Orchestra Independence Day Celebration

Wednesday July 11, 6:00 pm

(Rain Date: Canceled if Rain)

Season Tune-Up/ Family Musical Night

Program:

Musical Playground – Try out a Musical Instrument

Maestro Zone – Practice your Conducting Skills

Face Painting

Boston Children's Museum Exhibits

New England Aquarium Exhibits

Landmarks Orchestra Series

Wednesday July 18, 7:00 pm

(Rain Date: Thursday, July 19)

The Planets (Opening Night)

Artists:

Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Christopher Wilkins, Conductor

ZUMIX

St. Paul’s Girls’ School Choir

Program:

Edward Elgar – Pomp and Circumstance No. 1

Claude Debussy – Claire de lune

Gonzalo Grau – Pegasus Promenade (world premiere)

Gustav Holst – The Planets

Landmarks Orchestra Series

Wednesday July 25, 7:00 pm

(Rain Date: Canceled if Rain)

Boston University Tanglewood Institute

Artists:

Young Artists Orchestra, Paul Haas, Conductor

Young Artists Wind Ensemble, H. Robert Reynolds, Conductor

Program:

Leonard Bernstein – Candide Overture

Bernstein – Suite from Mass

Bernstein – Symphonic Dances from West Side Story for wind ensemble

Igor Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring

Landmarks Orchestra Series

August, 2018

Wednesday August 1, 7:00 pm

(Rain Date: Thursday August 2)

Verdi Requiem

Artists:

Pre-concert prelude (at approximately 6:20 pm) by North End Music & Performing Arts Center Children’s Choir

Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Christopher Wilkins, Conductor

One City Choir

Back Bay Chorale, Scott Allen Jarrett, Music Director

Meredith Hansen, soprano

Ann McMahon Quintero, mezzo-soprano

Yeghishe Manucharyan, tenor

Nathan Stark, bass-baritoner

Program:

Giuseppe Verdi – Messa da Requiem

Landmarks Orchestra Series

Wednesday August 8, 7:00 pm

(Rain Date: Canceled if Rain)

Longwood Symphony Orchestra

Artists:

Longwood Symphony Orchestra, Ronald Feldman, Conductor

Program:

To Be Announced

Landmarks Orchestra Series

Wednesday August 15, 7:00 pm

(Rain Date: Thursday August 16)

Sounds of the Sea

Artists/Contributors:

Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Christopher Wilkins, Conductor

New England Aquarium

Boston String Academy

Program:

Maurice Ravel – Une Barque sur l’océan

Bernard Herrmann – Moby Dick excerpts

Stella Sung – Oceana (world premiere)

Claude Debussy – La Mer

Landmarks Orchestra Series

Wednesday August 22, 7:00 pm

(Rain Date: Thursday August 23)

Symphonic Dances

Artists/Contributors:

Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Christopher Wilkins, Conductor

Peter DiMuro/Public Displays of Motion

The Dance Complex

Boston Ballet II

Conservatory Lab Charter School

Camp Harbor View

Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston

New England Aquarium

Boston String Academy

Program:

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Scenes from Swan Lake

Amy Beach – Bal masqué

A Tribute to Leonard Bernstein

Landmarks Orchestra Series

Wednesday August 29, 7:00 pm

(Rain Date: Canceled if Rain)

Mercury Orchestra

Artists:

Mercury Orchestra, Channing Yu, Conductor

Program:

Works of Dmitri Shostakovich

Alexander Borodin

Tchaikovsky



Landmarks Orchestra Series

Contact Information & Address:

Hatch Shell (Mass Department of Conservation & Recreation)

Storrow Drive & Mugar Way, Boston, MA

617.626.4970 Hatch Hotline

mass.gov/dcr