By Ryan Wallis, news correspondent
After entering the festival grounds, it was easy to see that the annual MixFest concert did not attract its usual college-aged crowd. Parents and children alike to could relate to the cross-generational lineup.
Thousands made their way to the Department of Conservation and Recreation Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade this past cloudy Saturday to experience MixFest, Bostonâs biggest outdoor music festival. Performers this year included singer Andy Grammer, rock group Blondie and Grammy-award winning pop star Kelly Clarkson.
Charlotte, a sixth grader from Stoughton, Massachusetts, came to the festival with her best friend Olivia and both were most excited for Kelly Clarkson.
âI just really like music, and I just wanted to come out and dance with my best friend,â Charlotte said.
Nikita Manjrekar, a second-year behavioral neuroscience major at Northeastern, came to see Grammer. Her favorite song of his is âMasterpieceâ from Grammerâs 2014 album, âMagazines or Novelsâ.
âHeâs my absolute favorite,â Manjrekar said. â[The concert was] as amazing as I expected it and more.â
While most people either sat on blankets or lawn chairs in the grassy field, a few people kayaked to the venue and enjoyed the performances from the Charles River. Between songs, Clarkson noticed them and said, âOh hey, whatâs up kayakers?â
Grammer took the stage first at 2:10 p.m. and began his set with his hit song âKeep Your Head Up.â The singer also performed hits âFine by Me,â âKiss You Slow,â âGood To Be Aliveâ and crowd-favorite âHoney, Iâm Good.â Additionally, he sang two new songs: âSpaceship,â a tribute to his daughter Louisiana, and âGive Love,â a tribute to his mother. During his performance of âFresh Eyes,â the clouds began to part and the first streaks of sunlight emerged.
Grammer left the stage and went into the crowd during âKiss You Slow,â singing the entire song as he walked through the audience and hugged fans.
âAndy hopped the fence into the crowd, and I just stood there with my mouth open in shock as he ran two feet in front of me,â said Hailey Konisky, a second-year biochemistry major. âI still canât believe he actually did that.â
By the time Blondie took the stage at 3:15, the clouds were starting to dissipate and the sun was shining. Debbie Harvey, Blondieâs lead singer, greeted the crowd with a, âHello Boston! How are you?â and received a thunderous applause. The band began their set with hit song âOne Way or Anotherâ followed by âFun,â âLong Timeâ and their new song, âToo Much.â
When Clarkson took the stage at 4:30 to perform âWe Belong Together,â the sun was in full force and there was not a cloud in the sky. Throughout the afternoon, she sang hits âCatch My Breath,â âHazel Eyes,â âBreakaway,â âStrongerâ and concluded with fan-favorite âSince Youâve Been Gone.â She also performed two new songs from her upcoming album: âLove So Softâ and âMovie.â
âSheâs a vision,â said Mackenzie OâDonnell, 24, of Boston. âShe was incredible. Itâs just crazy to see somebody thatâs so famous so close by.â
Clarkson connected with the audience throughout her set, and kept everybody laughing with her witty remarks.
âI know you know this song, even if you donât like it. I know youâve heard it, even if itâs annoying,â said Clarkson before performing âStronger.â
All three singers praised Boston. Grammer further mentioned his long relationship with the city, saying that Boston always comes to support him.
Clarkson described the festival best when she said, âItâs a family event, yâall.â Whether youâre a middle school student coming with your best friend, a parent coming with your children or a college student coming with your friends, the festival offered fun and entertainment for everyone.
âItâs quite awesome that they do thisâ Manjrekar said. âIt kind of gives you something to look forward to.â