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.
Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for 59 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers looked like a completely different team against the Boston Celtics in Game 2.
And unlike Game 1, the Sixers’ defense also showed up, holding Boston to 43 second-half points and 39 percent shooting for the game in a 111-97 road win to tie this Eastern Conference first-round series at 1-1.
Edgecombe scored a team-high 30 points on 12-for-20 shooting, and Maxey added 29 points and nine assists. The Sixers’ backcourt duo combined to shoot 11-for-22 from 3-point range. The Sixers were 19-for-39 from 3 after going 4 of 23 from that distance in Game 1.
Boston was led by Jaylen Brown’s game-high 36 points, but Jayson Tatum was the only other Celtics player who scored in double figures with 19. Boston shot 13-for-50 from 3-point range.
Here are some takeaways with Game 3 set for Friday in Philadelphia.
Celtics offense falls flat
The Celtics knew to expect a different effort from the 76ers.
One adjustment from Philadelphia likely didn’t take Boston by surprise. After taking just 23 3-pointers in Game 1, the 76ers sought out more long balls in Game 2.
Maxey called his own number more often. Edgecombe was aggressive from the start. As a team, the 76ers played with more freedom, firing plenty of shots that they might have turned down in the series opener. Philadelphia made plenty of those looks while shooting 48.7 percent from behind the arc.
Still, the Celtics would have been all right if they had played their usual offensive game. Instead, their offense was their biggest issue. They shot just 39.3 percent on field goal attempts. They missed 37 of 50 3-point attempts. They committed an atypical 13 turnovers.
Trying to come back in the fourth quarter, they had too many empty offensive possessions. Jaylen Brown got blocked while trying to beat the shot clock buzzer and picked up an offensive foul while hitting Maxey in the face. Jayson Tatum missed a contested pull-up 3-pointer early in the shot clock on one possession and threw away a pass on another. Derrick White was left wide open in the left corner but couldn’t find the bottom of the net. The 76ers left the door open early in the fourth quarter by missing several shots, including a couple of layups, but the Celtics couldn’t fully capitalize. Eventually, Maxey sank a series of baskets to create more separation for Philadelphia, and the Celtics largely went away down the stretch. — Jay King, Celtics beat writer
Sixers bounce back in Boston
This is the way the 76ers have to play if they want to extend this series as far as possible.
Maxey and Edgecombe have to dominate their guard matchups, which is exactly what they did in Tuesday night’s Game 2. Paul George needs to be a deterrent to Celtics stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. He doesn’t have to eclipse them, because that would be difficult. But he does have to give them a bit of pause. Most of all, the 76ers have to play the focused brand of basketball they exhibited in Game 2 rather than the sloppy and slapstick kind of hoops they played in Game 1.
The Celtics are such a good team that the above equates to near-perfect basketball. But that’s the task the Sixers are facing, particularly without star center Joel Embiid. On Tuesday night, this was a team up to the task. They were focused. They executed on both ends of the floor. They got much better play from their role players. Maxey and Edgecombe were absolutely dominant.
Overall, on both ends of the floor, this is the best game the 76ers have played in months. And they got it at just the right time. Now we have a 1-1 series heading back to Philadelphia. — Tony Jones, Sixers beat writer
A former doctor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has been indicted on 81 new sexual assault charges, prosecutors announced Tuesday. Dr. Derrick Todd, a rheumatologist, was already facing rape and assault charges in Middlesex County and had been sued by dozens of former patients.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said the new charges stem from accusations made by 22 victims between 17 and 56 years old. Todd faces 21 new rape charges, 59 new counts of indecent assault and battery and one count of assault with intent to rape.
“Many of these women had complicated and gravely serious symptoms and conditions. Some were in excruciating pain. Many were desperate for relief,” Hayden said. “Dr. Todd intently groomed them all into quiet submission.”
With the latest indictments, Todd is now facing more than 100 charges of sexual assault in Massachusetts.
“Almost unimaginable”
The alleged assaults occurred between 2017 and 2023 at Brigham and Women’s Hale Building in Boston and the Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain. Hayden said it’s “almost unimaginable” how Todd was able to violate and betray patients’ trust.
“The scale of victimization and the magnitude of trauma left in the wake of these allegations is something we have never encountered,” Hayden said.
WBZ-TV has reached out to Todd’s lawyer for comment. He could be arraigned in court on the new charges this week, Hayden said.
Charges against Dr. Derrick Todd
Brigham and Women’s fired Todd in 2023 following accusations that he performed inappropriate pelvic and breast exams on his patients. The I-Team reported at the time that police were investigating more than a dozen complaints of sex assault against Todd by his female patients.
In January of 2025, Todd pleaded not guilty in Middlesex Superior Court to rape charges involving two of his former patients at Charles River Medical Associates in Framingham.
Last month, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said a grand jury indicted Todd on three new charges of rape and 17 counts of indecent assault and battery.
Boston, MA
Between Providence And Boston Is A Vibrant Massachusetts Town Bursting With Diverse Entertainment – Islands
For some, New England might conjure images of skating rinks, Colonial architecture, and quaint villages. Others might picture waterfront cities like Boston or Providence, rich in history and — in the case of Boston, especially — towering skyscrapers. As you drive between these two capitals along Interstate 95 — a trip that should take about an hour — you’ll pass by towns like Foxborough. For the last few decades, this little community has developed a reputation as a hub of diverse entertainment, making it a worthwhile pit-stop as you journey along the East Coast.
If you’ve ever watched the Patriots kick off from Gillette Stadium on TV, then you’re already familiar with this Massachusetts town. The stadium, considered one of the 10 best in the U.S. for fun activities and events, was completed in 2002, but Foxborough itself has served as the home base for the Patriots since the 1970s. In the decades since, the team has attracted millions of visitors.
Foxborough — also spelled “Foxboro” — is normally home to about 6,500 year-rounders, but it floods with thousands more people on game or concert days. In total, the stadium can accommodate over 65,000 fans. When you’re not at Gillette Stadium, which is less than 4 miles from the heart of downtown, you’ll find plenty of other things to do. There’s live theater, outdoor recreational opportunities, and an eclectic mix of dining options, each deserving some exploration.
NFL games and Cranberry Bogs in Foxborough
Foxborough is located roughly 30 miles from Boston and just over 20 miles from Providence. In the area, you’ll find plenty of suburbs with historic downtowns and lush trails, like Hopedale, but Foxborough, nicknamed the “Gem of Norfolk County,” has one of the most diverse mixes of entertainment options. Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center, for instance, housed in a 1920s-era silent movie theater, offers a busy calendar of comedy and musical performances year-round.
Football fans will also enjoy visiting the Patriots Hall in Patriot Place Mall, which is open daily for $10 per standard ticket. Here, you’ll be able to watch interviews with former players and stroll through a range of exhibits. “I liked all the different memorabilia from all different players all labeled with who and what milestone they came from,” reads one review on Tripadvisor. Afterward, check out the dozens of shopping and dining options in the surrounding mall, which also has its own commuter rail station and connected hotels. Gillette Stadium is next door; along with the Patriots, the venue has hosted performers like Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, and The Rolling Stones.
The Ocean Spray Cranberry Bogs and surrounding nature trails are also part of Patriot Place. Planted back in the 1920s, these bogs continue to thrive. They’re typically harvested in October, when visitors can attend the annual Harvest Festival. At this fun and family-friendly local event, you’ll be able to enjoy an inflatable corn maze, a beer garden, live music, and more.
Where to eat and sleep in Foxborough
As you explore Foxborough, you’ll find a range of dining options, from classic breakfast plates at The Commons, to artisanal burgers at Union Straw. As one reviewer writes about the latter on Google, “[This is a] Gorgeous venue, one of our favorite daytime lunch or date places. All food options are 10/10, truffle burger, gnocchi bolognese, and the flatbread pizzas are delicious and the fries are perfect.”
If you’re planning to spend the night rather than hit the road after a burger at Union Straw or a long football game, you’ll have a range of vacation rentals, local inns, and chain hotels to choose from. The Rally Point Inn & Pub, for instance, is within walking distance of local restaurants and shops. It also has its own sport-themed bar, weekly trivia nights, and karaoke. Just make sure to book your stay well in advance, as places tend to fill up before popular events.
The nearest airport is also in Providence, but you’ll find more flight options at Boston Logan International. Travelers can also opt for the “Event Train,” which runs between Patriot Place and Boston’s South Station on game days, providing a convenient way to avoid the notorious traffic. Besides the I-95 drive from Providence to Boston, there are plenty of other New England road trip tours you can take through gorgeous small towns. That being said, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a destination that attracts as many annual visitors as Foxborough.
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