Collected Live Reviews

September 14, 2024

The one-day music festival Moon Over Salem, FKA Hope Fest, shined on a hustling & bustling Saturday in Salem. Were we still in September? You don’t even want to know what kinds of crowds come out of the tourist woodwork closer to Halloween.

As it was, a beautiful day and night of music, tightrope-walking the line between summer and fall, with more than thirty bands performing at seven stages: Old Town Hall, Ames Hall, Cinema Salem, Bit Bar, Gulu-Gulu Cafe, Chagall PAC and Koto.

And if you had one of those little green cloth wristbands (don’t overtighten them!), you had a front row seat for the entire moveable feast.

Prince Daddy & the Hyena close out Ames Hall.

With Actor/Observer, Kal Marks, Hell Beach, Dropbear, The Freqs, and Return Address.

Astral Bitch casts a spell at Cinema Salem.

With Rupert Selection, Oldsoul, Winkler, Permanent Blue, Good June, and Shiver..

Megan From Work drops into Bit Bar.

With Radio Compass, Jude Ivy, Ladybug, and Sailor Down.

Kara Holbert Howe sings over lotsa folkin’ noise at Gulu-Gulu Cafe.

With Clay Pigeons, Molly O’Leary, Jimmy Clifford, and Shabby Two-Times.

Awnthay rocks the tchotchkes at Chagall PAC.

With Pregame Rituals, Deadwait, Jeff Savlon, and Canadian Sailor.