The Buzz
ON THE BAY
By Ken Abrams
Waterfront Music’s Comeback Popular East Providence venue gears up for a full season of concerts It’s no secret that COVID did a number on the live music industry, as many longtime concert venues shut down completely while others found creative ways to keep the lights on, but at a limited capacity. One popular East Providence spot came out in pretty good shape – even after all concerts were canceled in 2020 and only a few shows followed in 2021. This summer, Bold Point Park’s waterfront concert stage is back with a full slate of shows. From indie-rock innovator Mitski to the
Rockzilla Festival with Papa Roach and Falling in Reverse taking the stage this month alone, 2022 is shaping up to be quite a season with around 20 concerts planned in a variety of genres, including country, classic blues, rock, and cover bands. Bold Point is owned and operated by Maine-based Waterfront Concerts, a company that also manages eight other music venues. Waterfront’s marketing director Pat Shaw says, “Fans can expect much of the same. As a company, Waterfront
came out of the pandemic relatively well. Unlike most, we were prepared for something like this to happen, and the Save Our Stages Act helped bridge the gap and keep employees staffed,” referring to stimulus funding designated for music and performance venues. “We’re coming back stronger than ever,” he notes. “It’s a heavy lift coming into this season, kind of like going from zero to a hundred. We took all the bells and whistles away and now we’re trying to add them all
Photos by Rick Farrell
A Reggae Festival that came to Bold Point Park in 2017
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The Bay • July 2022
