All Night Boogie Band to headline a newly free JamFest in downtown Keene

When All Night Boogie Band takes the stage at JamFest this summer, the performance will mark more than another stop on the band's touring schedule. It will also be a return to a festival the group has watched evolve over the past three years — one that organizers hope will introduce even more people to New England's live music scene by making admission free for the first time. The blues, rock and soul-inspired band will headline this year's JamFest in downtown Keene, where organizers have partnered with The Colonial Theatre to move the festival into the heart of the city and remove ticket prices through support from local business sponsors. For lead guitarist Brendan Casey, the festival has become more than just another performance. "This will be our third year performing at JamFest," Casey said. "Our first year it poured (shoutout to everyone who braved the rain), second year was so fun, and we're excited to do it again, bigger and better! It's been special to see it grow over the years." That sense of growth mirrors organizer Gavin Key's vision for this year's event, which he says was shaped in part by conversations surrounding Keene's Downtown Infrastructure Project and what it could mean for activity along Main Street. "While planning the 2026 festival, I had the upcoming Keene Downtown Project on my mind, and some people's concerns that it would cause Main Street to lose all of its vibrancy," Key said. "This eventually resulted in our new partnership with The Colonial, who coincidentally was looking for a way to showcase their new outdoor stage." The move downtown also prompted organizers to rethink how people would attend. "We realized pretty quickly that it would both be hard to manage ticket sales out in the open, and that if we were making the location more accessible, we wanted the festival to be financially accessible as well," Key said. "We came to the conclusion of accepting business sponsorships to pay the bands this year. While the show itself is always the primary focus, I would say a secondary 'theme' of this year is bringing this event to downtown Keene and supporting local businesses." The result is a festival designed to lower barriers for audiences while highlighting regional musicians. Key describes JamFest as occupying a unique space within New Hampshire's live music landscape. "While the longtime Keene Music Festival is a more laid back day with volunteer performances, and the more recent Northlands Festival growing to be one of the biggest in the country with nationally touring bands, JamFest aims to be right in the middle," he said. The festival features local musicians alongside touring acts from across New England, spanning blues, reggae, indie rock, bluegrass, jazz fusion and other styles connected by the improvisational spirit associated with jam music. "The goal of Jamfest is to showcase the amazing talent of our region while also introducing audiences to other New England-based acts they might not have heard before," Key said. "I always make sure there are new bands on the lineup each year, and only a handful of people from previous years. It's also important to me that there is a healthy mix of jam genres." That philosophy is one reason All Night Boogie Band continues to return. "We're a blues, rock & roll, and soul inspired band," Casey said. "I think we're very dynamic — we can be loud and upbeat and 'dancy,' and we can be quiet and emotional. We deliver a whirlwind of emotions but I think (unbiased of course), we're a blast!" Casey said the band's connection to JamFest extends beyond the opportunity to perform. "I think what brings us back is the community here, and also Gavin's understanding of bands and how to put on a great show," he said. "It's totally a group effort, and it's such a good feeling to witness it come alive." This year's free admission, he added, has the potential to introduce the band to listeners who otherwise may not attend. "As a performer, having a festival so accessible to audiences such as JamFest is something we look forward to because it's a great opportunity for us to share our music with so many people who otherwise may not show up," Casey said. "It also allows a band to play to a wide range of ages, which is cool." The atmosphere changes as well. "I also think something about a free festival for fans and for bands creates such a relaxed atmosphere for whatever reason," he said. "Something about that dynamic just makes things easy." That relationship between performers and audiences is one of Casey's favorite parts of playing community festivals. "As performers, we more-or-less have a symbiotic relationship with the crowd," he said. "We play upbeat, we want the crowd to feel that and react emotionally. If we play a slow, emotional one, they lock in and understand the assignment. Local festival audiences always feel very attentive and ready to listen and react, which makes our job a lot easier (and more enjoyable)." The performance also comes during a busy year for the band. On July 3, All Night Boogie Band released its third full-length album, "Shut Your Eyes and See," and the group plans to spend the summer performing before embarking on a northeast tour this fall. "We've got a loaded summer of shows before a Northeast Fall Tour in October and November," Casey said. "Very much looking forward to that." For Key, however, the festival's success will be measured by more than the performances themselves. By bringing JamFest into downtown Keene, opening the gates to everyone through community sponsorships, and continuing to showcase emerging and established musicians from around New England, organizers hope the event will strengthen connections between artists, audiences and local businesses alike.