It’s been a decade of discovering new artists. A decade of experimental artists in small spaces. A decade of sweaty fans singing back at sweaty singers. Folks, we’re talking about Hassle Fest, the oddball music festival that brings the most overlooked and beloved artists of Boston and beyond to stages around the city. This weekend, the music festival rings in its 10th year, and things are already looking to get wilder than ever before to celebrate the anniversary.
Hassle Fest 10 will take place on Friday, Nov 9, and Saturday, Nov 10. As always, it’s all-ages and open to the public. Each day, there will be eight different shows you can attend, each with a special theme and lineup across venues like Zone 3, Hardcore Stadium, Green St Studios, Studio 550, Lilypad, Industry Lab, Brighton Music Hall, Outpost 186, ONCE Somerville, and more. It’s a lot to take in, yes, but the fine folks at The Boston Hassle break the schedule down for you in simpler terms at their website.
To help you digest the massive lineup Hassle Fest 10 organized, we teamed up with one of The Boston Hassle’s founders, Dan Shea, to fill you in on who’s who in the class, yearbook style.
MOST UNIQUE SOUND
“There are so many unique sounds at our fest, so this is a bit overwhelming to consider narrowing it down. I’ll go with Gyna Bootleg & Tamio Shiraishi, though, who offer up a body horror noise and sax duo that will terrify and amaze at Studio 550 on Nov 9.” – Dan Shea
“Dubbed as ‘conspiracy jingles,’ Beverly Tender isn’t technically the weirdest sound on their own, but by comparison to the other artists on this lineup they are. Equal parts freak folk and anti-pop, this sparse indie rock band from Providence will keep you perplexed while nodding along during their performance at the Lilypad on Nov 9.” – DigBoston
WEIRDEST LOOK
“I’ve got to give it to the Hassle Mystery Box. Not a band, it’s true, but rather an immersive experience of color, light, and texture. It’s also free and open to the public at Green Street Studios in Central Square on both days!” – Dan Shea
“We hear the bizarre rock act Planet of Adventure isn’t afraid to bust out masks and other weirdness. Weigh in on the visual strangeness during their Nov 9 set at Green Street Studios.” – DigBoston
FUNNIEST BANTER
“This definitely goes to Storytime at the Ape’s Nest, which for HFX goes down at Industry Lab on Nov 10. Weird storytelling over weird music is the gist, but the banter? The banter is gold, as there’s always comedians and other stray funny persons lurking about.” – Dan Shea
“Definitely swing by Storytime, if only to hear Angela Sawyer talk. Best known as the tour de force who used to run the aptly titled Weirdo Records, Sawyer also performs music and does comedy sets. She’s one of the true DIY queens in Boston’s scene.” – DigBoston
CATCHIEST HOOKS
“This one is very hard to pick, but it’s also very hard not to choose Mini Dresses. They have for so long held my pop heart in their masterful, dreamy, laid-back pop hands. Put on your swaying clothes and come out and sway to this band at the Lilypad on Nov 9.” – Dan Shea
“There’s something sweet at the crux of Grace Givertz’s indie folk songs. That saccharine part of her music will wedge itself in your ears all day long after you see her at Outpost 186 on Nov 9.” – DigBoston
BEST GUITAR SOLOS
“Andy California is playing the fest’s biggest show at Brighton Music Hall with the Gories on Nov 10! He has the best guitar solos. I know this personally to be true.” – Dan Shea
“Nobody can play guitar like Wendy Eisenberg, though she wouldn’t brag about it even if you asked her to. Watch the ex-Birthing Hips member whittle down free jazz chords and improv solos on guitar and banjo when she plays late on Nov 10 at Studio 550.” – DigBoston
MOST UNDERRATED
“Brandie Blaze, straight up. An outstanding rapper. How is this amazing, potent, charismatic woman not running this town yet? She’s playing at the Lilypad on Nov 10!” – Dan Shea
“Dare we say LEYA? An experimental duo hailing from New York City, LEYA sees a violinist and harpist create beautiful, dark, almost ambient work together that lures you in the weirder it gets. Their set at Green Street Studios on Nov 10 shouldn’t be missed.” – DigBoston
ABOUT TO BLOW UP
“Besides Brandie, you mean? I’ll take this question to mean the most literally combustible performer … and that might be Timeghost. He’s playing the End of Fest Party at Cambridge Elks Lodge on Nov 10. You see, he uses cellphone signals and microwaves as part of his performances, so I’ll leave this one to the imagination.” – Dan Shea
“Anson Rap$ is taking his time to reveal his work because he’s a creative perfectionist. As someone with an artistic eye and command of space as great as his, it’s no wonder Anson Rap$ is poised to be all over your feed in the next year. See him start things off right at the Lilypad on Nov 10.” – DigBoston
EASIEST TO DANCE TO
“If you haven’t checked out Providence and Montreal’s DJ Richard, do that now. He’s headlining the techno party on Nov 9 at Cambridge Elks Lodge. Tweaked house beats and deep and evil late night chords for you? It’s going to [be] a fun night.” – Dan Shea
“Get your fix of nihilist queer revolt music when genderqueer and nonbinary artist Dreamcrusher takes the stage at Studio 550 on Nov 9. With a combination of industrial, noise, punk, and shoegaze, their music will get you dancing in a different way.” – DigBoston
BIGGEST BOSTON STAPLE
“For me, it would be New England Patriots. Survivors of the last great Boston Noise Rock Wars. They survive to play on Nov 10 at Green Street Studios. One hell of a band.” – Dan Shea
“By now, you have to be trying to avoid Funeral Advantage if you’ve never seen the dream pop band before. Watch as Tyler Kershaw brings you into his world of confusion, desolation, and post-relationship blues in a melodic dreampop light. They play at the Lilypad on Nov 9.” – DigBoston
MOST SURPRISING GRAB
“The Gories. If there’s one band that we can probably smile about and say that they might never have come to Boston (ever again?) if we didn’t try for years to get them here, then it’s these legends. So psyched that we were able to make this happen! They’re playing at Brighton Music Hall on Nov 10.” – Dan Shea
“Cienfuegos is a Brooklyn-Cuban nomad churning out noise techno with a colorful twist. If that doesn’t have you hooked, the fact that his music is an ode to family and floating—and that his name translates to “one hundred fires”—should. Though New York City isn’t far, tacking this act onto the Nov 9 show at Cambridge Elks Lodge was a surprise we were happy to see.” – DigBoston
BEST SEEN WITH FRIENDS
“Video Nasties. Weirdo, culty, noisy dance rockers from Portland, Maine. You’re like, ‘Huh?’ then before you know it, you’re dancing with 50 sweaty weirdos, blissing out and forgetting that life sucks.” – Dan Shea
“Imagine if Juana Molina’s earliest work was combined with Bjork, then somebody shot it warp speed into the future, and then you slowed it down and took a few screenshots. That’s what Solei’s music sounds like. It’s a beautiful reworking of electronic samples and ambient tones. See it with your friends when she plays at ONCE Somerville on Nov 9 because you will have trouble explaining it to them otherwise.” – DigBoston
COOLEST RAPPER
“Abdu Ali is very cool. You seen their duds? Repping Baltimore club and queer black culture ferociously, and starting parties all over, that’s exactly what I imagine will happen over at Lilypad on Nov 10 for HFX!” – Dan Shea
“Red Shaydez is so cool that you probably will get flustered in her presence. The Boston-based rapper practices the art of self-care and basks in her own magnetic aura. See her at the Lilypad on Nov 10 to see for yourself.” – DigBoston
MOST INSTAGRAM-ABLE MOVES
“Escuela at ONCE on Nov 9. The singer of this massively sick New York and Massachusetts grind four-piece is like lightning in a bottle continually being set off by her bandmates’ brutal musical attack.” – Dan Shea
“Get into the groove with Baltimore’s own Wume on Nov 9 at Green Street Studios. As they explore the weird German sounds of the 1970s, both you and they will be thrust into a world of bizarre dancing, whether you want to or not.” – DigBoston
MUST SEE ON FRIDAY
“Aaron Dilloway at Studio 550. Rarest of appearances by the former Wolf Eyes member and American noise legend in Boston. Should be sick … and loud.” – Dan Shea
“Get your anger out when powerviolence band ACxDC visits all the way from Los Angeles. They’re headlining the stacked grindcore bill on Nov 9 at ONCE Somerville alongside other greats like Fluoride and Ampallang Infection.” – DigBoston
MUST SEE ON SATURDAY
“The Gories. An ultra-rare chance to see soul garage punk legends do their thing in our city. May never come again. Garage rockers and RnB heads, get outta bed, ya dummies!” – Dan Shea
“What Dan said. We’re all for diversifying picks, but the Gories are a legendary garage rock band for a reason.” – DigBoston
HASSLE FEST 10. FRI 11.9, SAT 11.10. VARIOUS VENUES. ALL AGES/SLIDING SCALE. BOSTONHASSLE.COM