This November will mark the fourth consecutive Hassle Fest that I’ve helped to plan. I was initially asked to write this column to discuss all of the work that I’ve put into this year’s Fest (spoiler alert: it’s been a sh*tload). As I type this, it’s impossible to imagine Hassle Fest growing to this magnitude without the dedication and perseverance of dozens of volunteers, local businesses, and countless others both in–and out–of the music scene.

Brighton Music Hall—and Lance Tobin in particular—have been incredible to work with. If you see Lance on the street, give him a high five. But the Fest is so much more than the venue, the lineup, or our incredible sponsors, some of whom have generously supported the Fest for multiple years. After the countless hours our volunteers spend updating our website and social media (and receiving incessant emails from me about tweaking it), soliciting sponsors, setting up our art installation, designing poster and program artwork, planning—and executing—our fundraising video campaign, and doing a myriad of other tasks that I can’t think of at the moment, it’s the sum of all the hard work that each of these people put in for months leading-up to the Fest that makes it the freakin’ awesome event that I look forward to each year (with equal parts anxiety and excitement).

I’m proud to be a part of such a dynamic team of volunteers and I’m psyched to share our collective efforts with you on November 4 & 5.

Rock n’ roll,
Dan M.