Boston, MA
At the inaugural Home Alone Fest, Boston artists aim to pack the house – The Boston Globe
“I experienced [pay to play] my whole career as an artist,” he says. “What do you get out of it at the end of the day? Nothing. You don’t even get to meet the headliner.”
That won’t be an issue at Home Alone Fest, which has no national headliner; instead, the bill stacks sets from heavyweights in the area’s hip-hop and R&B scene, including Neemz, Latrell James, ToriTori, Shaykh Hanif, and BML J.R. The lineup is an outlier for The Sinclair and similarly-sized venues in the area, which sporadically present all-Boston bills.
Home Alone Fest furthers the mission of Joey’s Home Entertainment, a business that Santiago launched with collaborator Ashley Lord to assist artists with services like management and brand development. The endeavor fuses Santiago’s expertise as an artist with 500-plus shows under his belt, and Lord’s experience working at venues like The Middle East, The Sinclair, and Roadrunner, where he’s currently venue operations manager.
Lord states that Boston’s concert market is “oversaturated” with acts from out of town, often because venues perceive national artists as less of a financial risk than locals. Factor in the reality that some touring groups adopt the pay to play model when selecting openers, and there’s limited room for area musicians to break into larger venues.
“Us doing a show at The Sinclair is because a booker at Bowery [Boston] decided they want to take chances,” Lord says. “They want to be outside of the box, they want to do something not ‘normal,’ especially within the city that has a whole bunch of talented artists.”
The Sinclair’s upcoming schedule reflects that mind-set, with a rare cluster of Massachusetts artists headlining shows throughout August: Club d’Elf, Bent Knee, and Coral Moons. If Home Alone Fest packs the house as intended, Lord and Santiago hope to repeat the event — and hopefully expand its impact while demonstrating that all-local bills belong on the calendar regularly.
“It’s not ‘just a show,’” Lord says. “A festival gives us a chance to grow as well and bring it to any space.”
GIG GUIDE
Beginning Friday, Phish jam through three consecutive nights at the Xfinity Center with their new record “Evolve.” Santana and Counting Crows head to the amphitheater on Tuesday for their “Oneness” Tour to blend decades of immersive Latin psychedelia and poppy roots-rock.
Fenway Park’s concert season reaches a fever pitch this week as Watertown folk favorite Noah Kahan performs the second of two shows at the ballpark on Friday. Country star Kane Brown returns to the venue on Saturday, followed by Foo Fighters’ Sunday performance, which will be their first local appearance since their much-delayed headlining performance at Boston Calling last year. On Tuesday, blink-182 make their Fenway debut and mark the ballpark’s final show of July.
It’s no less busy at Roadrunner, where The LOX will celebrate 30 years of shaping East Coast hip-hop on Friday, and New Bedford’s hardcore punks Have Heart will complete a small slew of summer shows on Saturday. Swinging Tennessee string band Old Crow Medicine Show round out the weekend on Sunday on the “Jubilee” tour supporting their 2023 record of the same name.
A global sampling of new tunes comes to Somerville this week, as Montreal’s Cola spin minimalist post-punk from their June record “The Gloss” at the Rockwell on Friday, while Seoul trio The Volunteers slip beneath a shroud of gentle alt-rock from their new EP “L” at Crystal Ballroom on Wednesday.
O.A.R. summon their best renditions of songs like “Shattered (Turn The Car Around)” to record a live album at Leader Bank Pavilion on Saturday; serial handclappers Fitz and the Tantrums open the performance, which will also be available for fans at home to livestream via Veeps.
On Thursday, Club Passim hosts a celebration for the release of “Mass Spiritz Vol. 2,″ a collaborative hip-hop record supported by Passim’s Iguana Music Fund. The performance will feature Terry Borderline, the Brockton artist who spearheaded the project, and Jamaica Plain rapper and hip-hop educator Paul Willis.
NOW SPINNING
Barns Courtney, “Supernatural.” When stuck in the doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic, Barns Courtney flipped a doom spiral into a roller coaster. With his third album, the British singer-songwriter crafts a fast track of rock ‘n’ roll that whirs through dystopian and hedonistic themes, securing Courtney a coveted spot in modern rock alongside Cage the Elephant and The Black Keys.
Battlemode, “Playlist.” Love is a losing game for Boston trio Battlemode, who power down an old romance on their newest single. With every loop of an ex’s playlist, the electro-pop group treads a rut of abandoned love, tweaking the sound of defeat into an aching chiptune lament.
Lava La Rue, “STARFACE.” When Lava La Rue released their 2022 EP “Hi-Fidelity,” the suave project’s only flaw was its quick runtime. No one can say the same about “STARFACE,” an ambitious debut that doubles as a 17-track supernova of funk-flecked sensuality and Tame Impala-esque psychedelia. “Finna gravitate to greatness,” the London shapeshifter casually announces on “FLUORESCENT / Beyond Space” — or, as “STARFACE” demonstrates, perhaps greatness will gravitate to them instead.
BONUS TRACK
Good news for everyone who missed Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls at Boston Calling this year — the British folk-punk act will return to Massachusetts Aug. 24 to headline the 22nd annual Riverfest. The free festival from 92.5 the River will take over Salisbury Beach’s Broadway Boardwalk with performances from Turner, singer-songwriter Matt Pond PA, and Massachusetts-raised artists Ali McGuirk and Zola Simone.
Victoria Wasylak can be reached at vmwasylak@gmail.com. Follow her on X @VickiWasylak.
Come February a former New York Yankees first-round draft pick, will get a chance to prove himself to their longtime rivals.
Left-hander T.J. Sikkema, 27, is one of seven non-roster invitees to Red Sox spring training, the club announced Tuesday.
Catcher Jason Delay, infielder Vinny Capra, lefty Alec Gamboa, and right-handers Osvaldo Berrios, Hobie Harris and Devin Sweet round out the group.
The Yankees drafted Sikkema 38th overall in the ‘19 draft. He was one of three minor league pitchers they dealt to the Kansas City Royals for former Red Sox star Andrew Benintendi at the ‘22 MLB trade deadline.
Sikkema spent the last two years in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Last year he reached Triple-A for the first time, and pitched to a 3.47 ERA over five games (four starts) with nine earned runs allowed over 23.1 innings, following the late-August promotion.
While the Red Sox had a top-ranked farm system last year, their catching depth is notoriously thin. Delay, 30, has 134 games of big-league experience with the 2022-24 Pittsburgh Pirates, including 131 behind the dish, a career .231/.333/.400 line in the majors. He spent last season with the Double-A and Triple-A levels of the Atlanta Braves organization.
Capra, 29, appeared in 47 major league games last season, 24 with the Milwaukee Brewers and 23 with the Chicago White Sox. Since his debut with the ‘22 Toronto Blue Jays, he has played 67 big-league games over the last four years.
Though a lifetime .133/.181/.188 hitter in the majors, Capra brings defensive versatility to the table. In just 58 fielding games, he has already covered third base, second, shortstop, left and right field, and made three pitching appearances.
Gamboa, 28, comes to the Red Sox after a season split between the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets and the Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball League. He was the Dodgers’ ninth-round pick in ‘19, and owns a 4.23 ERA over 131 career minor league games, including 41 starts.
Berrios is one of several former St. Louis Cardinals who will be in Red Sox camp next month. The Puerto Rico native split last season between Cardinals’ Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis. Working primarily in relief, he logged a 5.12 ERA and struck out 62 over 58 innings (40 games, four starts).
Harris’ name will likely be familiar to Red Sox fans, as he spent all of last season in Triple-A Worcester. The 32-year-old righty posted a 4.05 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 31 relief appearances and one start. He also has 16 games of major league experience, from his time with the ‘23 Washington Nationals.
Like Sikkema, Harris is a former Yankees draft pick; they selected him in the 31st round in 2015.
The Red Sox signed Sweet to a minor league deal last month. He has seven games of big-league experience between the ‘23 Seattle Mariners and then-Oakland Athletics. He spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies’ Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, with whom he posted a 5.08 ERA over 46 games, including two starts, and struck out 49 batters in 51.1 innings.
Tumbling from top spot
Entering last spring training, the Red Sox earned the top spot in Baseball America’s farm system rankings for the first time since the publication began their assessments in 1984.
“The Red Sox have returned to the top of the farm system rankings, even after dealing four prospects to the White Sox to bring Garrett Crochet to Boston,” Baseball America’s explanation stated. “No other organization can match the trio of Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer, and Boston’s pitching depth has improved as well.”
The publication’s annual Prospect Handbook ranks the Red Sox 14th.
Chalk some of that up to the aforementioned trio making their respective big-league debuts and progressing out of prospect eligibility. Players like Anthony don’t exactly grow on trees.
Other top prospects, like slugging outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia, have since been traded away. (Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow has made a staggering 49 trades since taking the reins in November ’23.)
At present, most of Boston’s current top prospects are in the lower levels of the farm system. Three of the organization’s top five on MLB Pipeline are expected to debut in 2027 or later; the exceptions are lefties Payton Tolle (No. 2) and Connelly Early (No.4), who both debuted late last season but remain prospect-eligible.
Best Stationery, Gus & Ruby / Photo by Lindsay Hackney
Stationery
GUS & RUBY
At Gus & Ruby, stationery isn’t just paper—it’s personality, pressed and printed to perfection. Beloved for their inventive designs, hand-rendered illustrations, and luxurious letterpress, this New England favorite crafts suites that tell your story from the very first envelope. Founders and longtime friends Samantha Finigan and Whitney Swaffield lead their team to infuse every project with warmth, wit, and impeccable taste, making each invitation a true keepsake. gusandruby.com.
Photographer
CITYLUX STUDIOS
CityLux Studios captures weddings with the cinematic flair of a Vogue spread and the heart of a love story. Known for luminous tones, modern composition, and effortlessly emotive moments, this Boston-based team turns real life into high art. Married couple and founders Sarah and Peter blend editorial precision with genuine connection to create luminous imagery that feels as timeless as the love it celebrates. citylux.studio.
Videographer
STOPGOLOVE
Founded by filmmakers Jared Haskell and Jason McCutchen, StopGoLove turns real moments into modern, cinematic stories. Their style is clean, intentional, and emotionally honest—beautiful composition, smart pacing, and an instinct for the in-between beats that make a film feel alive. The result is wedding cinema with editorial polish and zero pretense: story first, style built in. stopgolove.com.
Floral Studio
ORLY KHON
Orly Khon doesn’t just arrange flowers; she composes living art. Known for her moody, romantic designs that balance wildness with refinement, Khon approaches each event like a painter at her canvas, blending texture, color, and movement into unforgettable floral moments. Whether it’s a delicate tablescape or a lush, architectural ceremony design, her work feels both timeless and a touch rebellious—much like the modern couples she designs for. orlykhon.com.
Best Catering, Max Ultimate Food / Photo by Person Killian Photography
Catering
MAX ULTIMATE FOOD
Turning culinary imagination into edible art, this Boston-based team delivers restaurant-level dining with the precision of a luxury event planner. Creative tasting menus, impeccable service, and presentation that’s anything but predictable make every celebration unforgettable. From passed hors d’oeuvres to late-night bites, every detail is, well, ultimate. maxultimatefood.com.
Best Cakes, Lizzie’s Bakery / Photo by Lushi Song
Cakes
LIZZIE’S BAKERY
Whimsical yet sophisticated, these confections are as delicious as they are striking—think handpainted details, sculptural sugar florals, and modern, clean-lined tiers. Behind the magic is Lizzie Johnson, a Food Network alum with a fine-art eye and a love of bold flavor, crafting designs that feel personal, polished, and picture perfect. Sweet beauty, inside and out. lizziesbakery.com.
Best Band, Hot Mess / Photo by Shannon Bialy Photography
Band
HOT MESS
No cookie-cutter wedding playlists here. This Boston-based band is known for turning every crowd into a dance-floor frenzy, thanks to powerhouse vocals, magnetic stage presence, and an uncanny ability to read the room. Whether it’s a soulful slow jam or a pop anthem that gets Grandma on her feet, they bring the perfect blend of polish and pure fun. Simply put: They don’t just play the party, they are the party. hotmessrocks.com.
DJ
C-ZONE ENTERTAINMENT
For couples who want a packed dance floor and a soundtrack that feels uniquely theirs, this Boston-based team delivers. With decades of experience, seamless mixing, and an intuitive sense for what the crowd craves, these DJs curate moments that move effortlessly from first dance to final encore. Sophisticated, high-energy, and always in tune with the couple’s style—this is music done right. czonemusic.com.
Photo Booth
ENTERTAINMENT SPECIALISTS
A photo booth should be as stylish as the celebration itself, and this team delivers just that. With sleek setups, creative backdrops, and instant share options, they turn snapshots into unforgettable keepsakes. Whether it’s a glam booth worthy of the red carpet or a playful setup packed with props, they make every moment memorable and a whole lot of fun. entertainmentspecialists.com.
Best Wedding Planner, Baciare Events / Photo by Constance Schiano
Wedding Planner
BACIARE EVENTS
Founders Ashley Saffer and Renée Sabo are masters of turning dream days into beautifully lived experiences. With a blend of creativity, calm precision, and genuine care, they craft weddings that feel effortless, elegant, and deeply personal. Whether it’s an intimate coastal gathering, a grand ballroom affair, or a celebration halfway across the world, their team ensures every detail is seamless. baciareevents.com.
Event Designer
TYGER EVENT DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Founded by principal Ty Kuppig, this design and production studio brings a couture sensibility to every celebration. With an architect’s eye and a storyteller’s instinct, Kuppig transforms venues into cinematic settings layered with texture, light, and mood. From sculptural floral moments to bold, modern palettes, each event feels elevated, expressive, and entirely one of a kind. tygerproductions.com.
Hairstylist
MONIKA RAMIZI, SALON MARIO RUSSO
Known for her “try-anything” attitude and calming presence, Monika Ramizi approaches bridal beauty with both artistry and ease. Whether it’s soft, romantic waves, a sleek modern updo, or something entirely unexpected, she tailors each look to the bride’s personality and vision. The result is hair that feels fresh, confident, and camera-ready from the first look to the final dance. mariorusso.com.
Makeup Artist
BEAUTY BY NELSE
For Nelse Karini, makeup is more than artistry; it’s empowerment. A self-taught talent with a passion for helping women look and feel their best, she’s known for her luminous, skin-first approach and ability to create a flawless finish that still feels like you. Brides love her mix of precision and personality—equal parts perfectionist and hype woman—and the confidence that comes with her chair-side magic. beautybynelse.com.
Bridal Boutique
L’ÉLITE BRIDAL
A destination for the fashion-forward bride, this Newbury Street institution curates an elite roster of global designers—from Oscar de la Renta and Monique Lhuillier to Berta and Ines Di Santo. With more than three decades of experience, the boutique’s expert stylists and in-house tailoring team deliver a couture-level experience that feels as personal as it is polished. Every gown is chosen for its artistry, craftsmanship, and that unforgettable moment when a bride sees herself and knows: This is the one. lelite.com.
Best Wedding Dress Designer, Candice Wu Couture / Photo by Reinhardt Kenneth
Wedding Dress Designer
CANDICE WU COUTURE
With a couture sensibility and a flair for the unexpected, Candice Wu redefines modern bridal style. Her gowns balance romance and edge, featuring exquisite craftsmanship, sculptural silhouettes, and intricate detailing that make every look unforgettable. Whether ethereal and whimsical or sleek and daring, each design embodies her signature blend of elegance, confidence, and artistry. candicewucouture.com.
Best Engagement Rings, Boston Diamond Company / Photo courtesy of Boston Diamond Company
Engagement Rings
BOSTON DIAMOND COMPANY
Discerning brides and grooms turn to this Newbury Street jeweler for more than sparkle—they come for expertise. Owner Stephanie Binder and her team of certified gemologists offer a refreshingly educated approach to fine jewelry, guiding clients through every facet of diamond selection with honesty, precision, and an impeccable eye for design. Whether sourcing an exceptional natural stone or creating something from the boutique’s Pure Luxe Lab collection of lab-grown diamonds, each piece reflects the brand’s unwavering commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Because true luxury isn’t loud; it’s brilliantly, quietly flawless. bostondiamond.com.
Wedding Bands
LONG’S JEWELERS
For more than a century, Long’s Jewelers has been synonymous with craftsmanship, integrity, and enduring style. This fifthgeneration, family-owned jeweler bridges heritage and modernity with a collection of wedding bands that balance artistry and intention. Each piece is designed to feel as effortless as it is enduring—refined in form, rich in meaning, and unmistakably elevated. A modern icon of lasting love and impeccable taste. longsjewelers.com.
Rentals
DEZ COLLECTIVE
At Dez Collective, design lives in the details. This Boston-based studio curates a thoughtful collection of furniture, tabletop, and décor that elevates weddings from stylish to unforgettable. With a deeply honed instinct for atmosphere, the team creates layered environments that feel intentional, artful, and entirely now: the kind of spaces that photograph as beautifully as they feel. dezcollective.com.
Urban Venue
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
A landmark of art and architecture, the Boston Public Library offers one of the city’s most breathtaking backdrops for a wedding. Beneath vaulted ceilings and along marble corridors, history and grandeur converge in a way that feels both timeless and distinctly Boston. Partnering exclusively with the Catered Affair, the venue hosts some of the city’s most luxurious celebrations, yet it’s also possible to exchange vows here in a one-hour ceremony that costs little more than a library card. Either way, the setting is unforgettable. bpl.org.
Historic Venue
THE GREAT HOUSE AT THE CRANE ESTATE
High above the Ipswich coast, the Great House at the Crane Estate feels like stepping into another era. Designed in 1928 by architect David Adler for industrialist Richard T. Crane Jr., the 59-room Stuart-style mansion crowns a 165-acre National Historic Landmark surrounded by salt marshes, barrier beaches, and sweeping ocean views. The property’s showstopper, the Grand Allée, a 2,060-foot lawn that stretches from the mansion to the water’s edge, offers a photo backdrop worthy of royalty. craneestateevents.com.
Best Coastal Venue, Wychmere Beach Club / Photo by Alex Paul
Coastal Venue
WYCHMERE BEACH CLUB
If it’s possible to have glamour on the beach, this is where it lives. In Harwich, Wychmere Beach Club merges Cape Cod’s oceanfront ease with a distinctly polished edge. Expansive water views, clean architectural lines, and light-filled spaces create a setting that feels both elevated and elemental: seaside sophistication, perfected. wychmerebeachclub.com.
Rustic Venue
THE BARN AT GIBBET HILL
If “rustic” makes you think of mason jars, think again. The Barn at Gibbet Hill redefines the genre with its soaring post-and-beam architecture, polished wood interiors, and panoramic views of rolling pastureland. Set on a working farm in Groton, the venue blends country character with refined hospitality: think firefly evenings, farm-to-table menus, and sunsets that wash the hills in gold. barnatgibbethill.com.
Best Ballroom Venue, Fairmont Copley Plaza / Courtesy photo
Ballroom Venue
FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA
In the heart of the Back Bay, the Fairmont Copley Plaza is Boston’s grande dame—all gilded ceilings, marble columns, and chandeliers that seem to glow from another century. A Beaux Arts masterpiece with unmistakable presence, it brings drama to the classic ballroom wedding. Yet behind the opulence is a pulse of modern sophistication: flawless service, effortless style, and a setting that never goes out of fashion. fairmont-copley-plaza.com.
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The good news for Marco Sturm and the Bruins is that the team could get defenseman Henri Jokiharju back in action Tuesday night in Seattle.
But the potential return of Jokiharju, who has been out of Boston’s lineup since sustaining an injury back on Nov. 28, does not give Sturm a healthy blue line. Instead, the Bruins are apparently dealing with yet another injury ahead of Jokiharju’s return to action, this time with Hampus Lindholm back on the shelf with an injury.
And one that certainly sounds concerning based on what Sturm said.
“It’s not going to be a day-to-day thing,” Sturm, whose team is on a three-game point streak, said following Monday’s practice when asked about Lindholm’s injury status. “Hopefully it’s not too long, but he’s definitely going to be out for a little bit. We’ll have to do more testing when we’re back in Boston so we can go from there.”
Sturm added that Lindholm has “been hurt,” though it’s unclear if he meant that Lindholm has been hurt in the last contest if he’s been playing hurt for the last little bit here. Lindholm did finish Saturday’s game without issue (at least one that was visible), and finished with an assist and logged a pair of overtime shifts in a 22:47 night.
Lindholm is also less than a week removed from what was one of his best games of the season, with a goal and an assist in Boston’s 6-2 win over the Oilers last Wednesday.
Lindholm has not traveled back to Boston ahead of schedule, though that admittedly means very little with just one more game on deck for the B’s on this road trip.
“We just had our first appointment [Sunday] and we’re going to wait until we get back because there’s nothing we can do right now,” Sturm said when discussing Lindholm’s injury. “And then we’ll let our doctors decide our next steps.”
Lindholm, who has three goals and 14 points through 34 games this year, has already missed eight games due to a lower-body injury earlier this season.
Sturm noted that Jokiharju looked “pretty good,” which is a positive development when it comes to his potential availability for Tuesday against the Kraken. If Jokiharju is unable to go, Vladislav Kolyachonok would slide back into the Boston lineup.
The Bruins come into Tuesday’s head-to-head with the Kraken with five of a possible eight points on this road trip banked away, but are a woeful 2-6-0 with Lindholm on the shelf this season.
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