Words and Photos by: Jacklyn Lipscomb
In Between Days Festival returned to the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, Massachusetts for its second year this past weekend. With over double the amount of artists as last season, the up and coming festival generated an overwhelmingly positive response and inspired fans from near and far to travel to the quaint coastal city to experience the eclectic collection of live music. Spanning two full days, the festival featured artists and bands local to the Boston and New England region, with national and even international acts as well.
From the vintage vendor marketplace, a pop-up vinyl record shop, retro arcade, lawn games, to trendy local food and drink vendors, and craft beer, there were plenty of sights to take in while exploring the festival grounds and listening to sounds ranging from indie, rock, country, pop, r&b, alternative, folk, and everything - quite literally - in between!
The Arabella Insurance stage featured artists like Shallow Pools, Weakened Friends, The Beths, Mint Green, and Phantogram. Meanwhile, the In Between Days stage featured greats such as Allison Ponthier, Yoke Lore, Cautious Clay, and headliners Modest Mouse and Lord Huron.
Check out the full galleries of our Alternative Lately favorites from both days, below!
Shallow Pools
Celebrating the release of their latest single “Nightmare,” Shallow Pools proved once again that they are an up and coming force to be reckoned with. Proud members and advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community, the beloved Boston-based 4 piece uses their charming shimmery pop sound to create emotive queer anthems that bring a ray of hope and a sense of belonging to devoted listeners across New England and beyond. This message is more prominent than ever with the announcement of their debut album titled I Think About It All The Time, aimed to be released on October 13th. The record paints a paints a vivid picture of the dystopian times we find ourselves in throughout 2023—both in general, but especially in the USA if you’re a minority. It’s that unavoidable setting that dictated both the tone and the themes of this album, but also which propelled the band—all of whom are close friends who live together—to rally against the discrimination and oppression which seems to be becoming more and more a part of everyday life. Also featuring songs co-written with LGBTQ+ icon Lynn Gunn of PVRIS, I Think About It All The Time is sure to be a release you won’t want to miss!
Weakened Friends
Maine based trio Weakened Friends have been a long time favorite of New England’s indie music scene. Performing tracks from both their debut album Common Blah and their 2021 release Quitter, fans were over the moon to experience their unique alt rock sound. With headlining tour dates announced throughout September and well into November, listeners will have plenty of opportunities to catch the trio in New England again very soon.
The Beths
If you haven’t been introduced to The Beth’s yet, that is about to change right now! Formed back in 2014 and hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, the indie rock band flawlessly blends groovy soundscapes with vocalist Elizabeth Stokes’ beautifully crisp melodies and honest lyricism. Songs from their most recent album Expert In A Dying Field provided the perfect soundtrack to be paired with a warm summer afternoon, as many festival goers could be spotted dancing and singing along with the band for the entire duration of their set.
Modest Mouse
Creating music together since 1993, perhaps the title Most Experienced Indie Rock Act of Night 1 of In Between Days Festival goes to: Modest Mouse. With 7 full length records and two Grammy nominations under their belt, the band have built a notable sound and dedicated following over the years. Keeping the infectious rock beats going from start to finish, the band played favorites like "Dashboard," "Dramamine," and "Float On." Embarking on a sprawling co-headline summer tour with Pixies for the remainder of August throughout September, the indie rockers are sure to impress many with their grippingly catchy and electrifying performance!
Mint Green
Boston’s own Mint Green specialize in making music that mixes elements of pop, emo, and alternative to deliver their signature high energy sounds. This pure-hearted and adrenaline pumping energy is only amplified in a live setting, as it instantly became apparent how lead vocalist Ronnica pours her heart and soul into every single song. Just recently releasing their debut record All Girls Go To Heaven in 2022, the up and coming group had a dynamic catalogue of tracks to share and even snuck a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” into their early afternoon set, which only highlighted the band’s enormous talent and ability to captivate just about anyone who was in earshot at the Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Allison Ponthier
If there was one artist who was guaranteed to keep the entire audience smiling from ear to ear for the duration of their set- it was Allison Ponthier. Easily winning the crowd over with tracks like her latest single “Character Development,” while putting her gentle demeanor and soft-spoken attitude on full display, it was impossible for festival-goers not to be enchanted by her naturally charismatic stage presence. Many of Allison’s lyrics hint at her experiences growing up in a Texas suburb and the struggles of coming to terms with her sexuality. Her openness regarding these struggles only adds to her authentic charm and leaves us all excited to hear what other intricate storylines she will share with the world in future releases.
Yoke Lore
Genre bending indie pop songwriter Yoke Lore has been turning heads since the release of his 2017 hit “Beige.” Amassing a total of over 450 million streams to date as a rising artist, Yoke Lore has acquired a loyal fanbase that showed up in full force at the festival. With his just announced debut album Toward A Never Ending New Beginning due out in September, the New York native played a mix of old and new tracks that left audience members thoroughly impressed by his genuine candor and high-spirited banjo strumming skills.
Cautious Clay
Taking center stage in the peak of Sunday’s summer sunshine was multi-faceted instrumentalist and producer Cautious Clay. Bringing a much appreciated dose of groovy R&B and indie pop to the day’s soundtrack, the Brooklyn based powerhouse was sure to be a beloved highlight of the entire festival with his flawless transition between singing, playing the saxophone, electric guitar, and even beatboxing while playing the flute. Halfway through his set he took ample time to address the crowd, expressing his gratitude for being included in such an important and “eclectic” music festival. Hot on the heels of the release of his brand new album KARPEH, Cautious has another upcoming festival slot at Bridgeport’s Sound on Sound, as well as a 4 day residency at New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club starting in late November!
Phantogram
New York rock duo Phantogram, comprised of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, ramped up the energy with their dark, guitar driven psychedelia and electronic pop style. Since 2010, the pair has amassed over half a billion streams and garnered worldwide praise for their infectious sound. Performing tracks spanning each of their album releases so far, from their debut record Eyelid Movies, to 2013’s Voices, 2016’s Three, and 2020’s own Ceremony, fans were pleased to experience a little bit of their favorites from each era. After also completing a run of opening dates with Queens Of The Stone Age, there is truly no telling what more exciting news the duo might announce next.
Lord Huron
Bringing the weekend’s festivities to a close in a haze-enveloped, green and blue luminescent glow was Los Angeles indie rock band Lord Huron. Their soulful, folk inspired melodies drew a massive crowd of hundreds of fans to gather in the heart of the stadium, making 2023’s In Between Days Festival one to remember for years to come. Featuring songs from their 2021 album Long Lost, along with tracks from records such as Vide Noir, and Strange Tails, it only made sense that the band also invited fellow collaborator Allison Ponthier onstage for a stunning duet of the viral hit single “The Night We Met.” With a handful of festival appearances planned throughout the remainder of the year and into early 2024, Lord Huron will continue sharing their art and the powerful unifying impact of live music with the rest of the world.
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