Solid Sound

Apologies for the radio silence. I’ve been preoccupied with health issues and moving apartments. When it rains, it pours!

It literally poured on us at the Solid Sound music festival that we attended in June. I’d been wanting to attend this biennial festival for years. It’s hosted by the band Wilco and it’s packed with music performances, pop-up concerts, food trucks, and more. And it takes place on the amazing campus of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

I had an injured ankle and was wearing a boot, so I requested ADA seating at the outdoor venues. About 10 minutes into the first performance (Billy Bragg) at one of the smaller venues, it started pouring. I jumped out of the ADA seating and Allen, who was standing nearby, and I hustled to the back of the crowd so we could open up our umbrellas. But the damage had been done; we were wet.

The rain didn’t last too long, thankfully…but it was long enough for the grounds to become a muddy mess. We waited in the merch line for about 20 minutes and then headed to the ADA seating at the main venue. Seating had been tight at the first venue, and we wanted to get a good seat.

Unfortunately, the amount of ADA seating was inadequate and we were packed in like sardines. I don’t know what we would have done in an emergency.

We saw a great set by Gang of Four. Wilco and Billy Bragg were the headliners, and I really wanted to see them. But I was worried about having to vacate the ADA seating in the dark. I didn’t see any lighting. I was concerned about the ramp leading up to the seating, which was slick because of the rain. We were also planning to leave early, and I didn’t want to disturb all of the other folks in the seating area.

So we ended up standing in a spot where we couldn’t see the stage for a few of Wilco and Billy Bragg’s songs. Then we left because I couldn’t stand anymore and we had a 45-minute drive to our Airbnb.

Not a great experience because of the rain and the ADA seating. We also thought that there were way too many people in general. But I would try it again someday.

On our way out of town the next morning, we stopped at a nice diner. When you start your day off at a diner, it’s a good day.