Groundbeat Concert Series: Sonic Passports

Start: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 6:00PM
End: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 8:00PM

Join us for Travel Through Music: Sonic Passports, a powerful evening of global sound, storytelling, and cultural celebration on the iconic Esplanade. As part of the GroundBeat Concert Series, this free and family-friendly concert highlights the richness of the African diaspora—featuring soul-stirring music, spoken word, and rhythms that connect continents. From Madagascar to Jamaica, Boston to the Caribbean, experience a sonic journey that bridges cultures and uplifts community. Enjoy live music, the gorgeous view of the Charles River Esplanade and our vendor fair featuring free empanadas (free empanada to the first 100 customers) from Bocadillos, food vendors, lawn games and other family friendly activities. We will have a limited number of free picnic blankets and stadium seating chairs we can loan out during the event! Concert Line Up Amanda Shea: Amanda Shea is a 3x Boston Music Award spoken word poet, educator, and activist based in Boston whose performances are known for their emotional depth and social impact. She uses her voice to challenge injustice, empower marginalized communities, and speak truth to power through rhythm and word. Concious Band: Boston’s Conscious Band is a foundational force in New England's reggae scene, blending authentic Jamaican roots with decades of live performance experience. The group features Bobin Nicholson on bass, Tariq Nicholson on keys, Aaron Seymore on drums, and Errol Strength on vocals—together creating timeless performances that uplifts and inspires. Niu Raza: Niu Raza is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Madagascar blending soul, Afrobeat, and traditional Malagasy rhythms into a fresh global sound. Based in Boston, she uses her music to build cultural bridges and empower voices from her homeland. Safiya Leslie: Safiya Leslie is a dynamic vocalist blending jazz, and neo-soul with Afro-Caribbean roots, earning acclaim for her captivating performances and cultural fusion.Founder of the global arts platform Travel Through Music, she has graced stages from Boston to Tokyo and was recently nominated for both the New England Music Award’s Jazz Act of the Year and the Boston Music Award’s Reggae Artist of the Year. Activities, Tablers & Vendors Enjoy food, info sessions and family friendly activites from Bocadillos, Culture Pop, Polar, Mass Audubon, Ohana, Navigation Games, The American City Coalition, E-inc, Grateful Queen, and Brookline Bird Club. About Groundbeat GroundBeat Concert Series fosters opportunities to perform on the Esplanade’s iconic Hatch Memorial Shell for producers and artists across greater Boston who are committed to increasing inclusivity and diversity in Boston’s arts scene. Learn more and register for other concerts on our website, or humanitix page. Event Cancellation In the event of extreme weather or other hazardous conditions, the Esplanade Association will email all registrants and post a cancellation notice. Please follow our social media accounts Facebook page (@EsplanadeBoston) / Instagram (@EsplanadeInBoston) to keep up to date about potential class cancellations. Location Information & Directions NOTE: There is NO PARKING on the Esplanade. Please plan to arrive via one of the options below: WALKING If entering by foot, you can take one of many footbridges to enter the park. They are all noted on this map. The Hatch Memorial Shell is closest to the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge which is located between Beacon Street and Beaver Place, adjacent to David G Mugar Way. Once in the Esplanade, begin walking right to shortly find the Hatch Shell! MBTA The Hatch Shell is a ten-minute walk from the Arlington MBTA Station (Green Line) and a ten minute walk from the Charles / MGH MBTA Station (Red Line). Find all of the nearby stations on this map. BLUE BIKES Pick up a Bluebike at any station around Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville and return to a station located conveniently near the Hatch Shell. Find locations on the System Map or mobile app. The closest Blue Bikes station is located where Beacon Street meets David Mugar Way, in front of Beacon Street access to the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge. PARKING (outside of park) Recommended parking locations include Newbury Street lots or the Boston Common Garage. RIDE SHARE Please direct rideshare vehicles to drop you off on Beacon Street near Arlington Street. Cheers is a good reference spot. Once you’ve been dropped off, enter the park on foot via the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge, located between Beacon Street and Beaver Place, adjacent to David G Mugar Way. About the Esplanade Association The Esplanade Association (Esplanade.org) is a nonprofit organization that works to revitalize and enhance the Charles River Esplanade, sustain its natural green space, and build community in the park by providing educational, cultural, and recreational programs for everyone. Stay up to date with the Esplanade by following us: Facebook (@EsplanadeBoston),Instagram (@EsplanadeInBoston).