Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion
Originally called the Harbor Lights Pavilion, this outdoor, seaside amphitheater is now popularly known as the Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion, and is one of the main summer performance venues in Boston. With a seating capacity of approximately 5,000, along with a great location, neighboring attractions, and a good overall sound setup, this concert venue is truly a favorite of both performing artists and music lovers. From specialty bands to pop artists perform at this venue, attracting different crowds depending on the style of music.
The Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion is located at the east end of the Harborwalk path, along Boston's waterfront. It is essentially an outdoor venue because the structure is just a giant tent in the open air. The Pavilion's location places it among some culturally significant structures such as the Boston Convention Center, Seaport World Trade Center, Institute of Contemporary Art, and the Children's Museum. It's fitting that amidst these buildings of visual and cultural art, a large structure for music like the Pavilion is situated.
According to online reviews, people who have attended concerts here all agree on having had a great experience. The cool evening breeze brought about by the open-air structure, the waterfront ambience and overall design of the stage and sound system truly meet expectations, and is worth the somewhat steep ticket prices that one expects from this type of venue. A common comment is that there isn't a bad seat in the house. The only differences, in such reviews, is based on one's preference for being close to the action or being able to look at the entire stage. Some people prefer seeing the performers up close, while others prefer being farther away from the stage to also watch the crowd and enjoy the light shows.
It is advisable to eat somewhere else prior to the concert as the food has been notably described as not worth the price—let's face it, this is not a restaurant. The drinks are also priced on the steep side, which is expected at such venues. The cocktails are reportedly very bland. Security and staff are very diligent, checking tickets multiple times and strictly enforcing the no smoking policy within the premises, despite the open-air tent setup. This security checks and no smoking policy gets on some people's nerves at times.
The Pavilion is quite accessible via public transportation, with the Silver Line being the nearest public transit. For those with their own vehicles, parking is easy at the Seaport Hotel Garage and other nearby parking lots. Please take note the box office will close 1 hour after the show starts and doors open 1 hour before.
Some famous artists that have performed at Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion are The Goo Goo Dolls, Weezer, Pretty Lights, Selena Gomez, Zappa, and Return to Forever. As you can deduce, the musical genre really varies from mainstream pop, to heavy rock, all the way to jazz and specialty artists.
LiveNation, the company that owns Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion is an international leader in the live entertainment and eCommerce business. They produce 20,000 shows annually for over 2,000 artists worldwide. They have a talent management arm in Front Line and a ticket sales business in Ticketmaster. LiveNation also owns the House of Blues nightclub on Lansdowne Street in Boston.
A former sponsor's old Facebook page can be considered a summary of online reviews: "...there's no better spot than this open-air venue, especially once the sun sets, the breeze picks up, and you settle in with a couple of frosty beers."
Contact Information & Address:
Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion
290 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
617.728.1600
livenation.com
