Editor’s Note: Welcome to V3 Weekend, Vanyaland‘s guide to help you sort out your weekend entertainment with curated selections and recommendations across our three pillars of Music, Comedy, and Film/TV. It’s what you should know about, where you need to be, and where you’ll be going, with us riding shotgun along the way.
Music: JP Music Fest in Jamaica Plain
We’ve long sung the praises of Jamaica Plain Music Festival, the free, all-ages, all-inclusive community music and arts fest that’s been providing a fun late-summer Saturday at Pinebank Field at Jamaica Pond since 2010. It’s always a good (and relaxing) time out in the field, a true hallmark of September around the city, and the fest returns this Saturday with its 13th edition, showcasing 21 bands and artists performing live over seven hours. Recent years have featured pretty solid lineups (Evan Greer and Aaron and the Lord in ’23; The Ghouls and New Limits last year) as the fest opens things up to all (and not just JP-based bands), and this weekend’s fest is no exception. We won’t say who we’re most excited for, because as usual, the eclectic and eccentric lineup boasts something for everyone. Supplying the tunes this year are Adult Fiction, Rick Berlin w/ Nickel & Dime Band, Colonel Broccoli and The Legion Basement Band, Kipling Drozek and the Chaperones, Nicolás Emden, The Footlight Club, The Franc Graham Band, Hallelujah The Hills, Hands and Knees, Imaginary Expedition, Lenny Lashley’s Gang of One, Magnificent Danger, Charles McEnerney, Nick & The Adversaries, Parlour Bells, Royer’s One Man Band, Adam Sherman Band, Sinnet, Sunburned Sharks, Chandler Travis Three-O, Czarna Wolgastar. Drop in for a minute, or the whole thing.
JP MUSIC FEST :: Saturday, September 5 at Pinebank Field, 345 Jamaicaway in Boston, MA :: Noon to 7 p.m., all ages, free admission :: Event homepage
Comedy: Josh Johnson at The Wilbur
Let’s turn it over to V Comedy Editor Jason Greenough, who checks in on a crazy run of shows on Tremont Street this week via Mic’d Up: “He’s put the work in on both stage and screen over the years, but it’ll be over the course of a historic run in Boston this week when Josh Johnson gets his flowers. With the first [few nights] of a sold out 10-show run at The Wilbur already in the rearview, Johnson continues along the journey of his critically-acclaimed Flowers tour with what is shaping up to be quite the history maker, as he becomes the first artist to sell out that many consecutive shows in a debut run at the legendary venue. The frenzy for seeing Johnson in a live setting comes after years on the grind, both in stand-up and as part of The Daily Show as a writer, correspondent, and most recently a guest host… Johnson has his finger on the pulse of the moment, and the turnout to his shows is indicative of that, so don’t miss out on seeing one of the true comedy powerhouses of our time in this historic setting.”
JOSH JOHNSON :: Wednesday, September 3 to Sunday, September 7 at The Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St. in Boston, MA :: Times vary, sold out :: Advance tickets
Film: ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ at Alamo Drafthouse
Hey look, the big box stores already have all their Halloween stuff out, there’s a sudden crispness in the air (hi again, false fall), and September isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. So forgive us for swan diving into spooky season a little bit early this year, because we need something to feel undead after a pretty miserable year of living. Alamo Drafthouse in the Seaport is feeling this vibe too, as the cinema is rolling out its A Nightmare on Elm Street series — “remastered in stunning 4K!” — that continues this weekend with 1985’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (Friday) and 1987’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (Saturday). The latter means you can add some Dokken to your weekend, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The Freddy fest continues to the end of the month, so it’s a proper primer as we walk the aisles of Michael’s and Home Goods getting our decor in order.
‘A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET’ :: Friday, September 5 and Saturday, September 6 at Alamo Drafthouse, 60 Seaport Blvd. in Boston, MA :: Showtimes and tickets