EarthFest Rocks Boston

It was still overcast at 10 a.m. on Saturday as the first concertgoers began to settle on the lawn in front of the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell to be a part of the 18th Annual EarthFest.

As the music began to heat up, the clouds evaporated leaving a canopy of blue sky and sun for the crowds of people popping up on the Esplanade.

“EarthFest is a way for people from the city and outside the city to come together and enjoy the Esplanade, find out about products and companies that do good things for the earth, and enjoy some great music,” said Ken West, program director at Radio 92.9, a sponsor of the event. Whole Foods Market was also sponsor, and kept the free samples flowing.

Sam Brown, a 19-year-old college student, said EarthFest was the perfect way for her to catch up with friends and have a good time.

“EarthFest is free, there’s great music, and it’s a nice day,” said Brown. She and her friends had been to previous EarthFests and had “loved it,” and the free samples from vendors and good music keep them coming back.

This year's bands Atomic Tom, Sponge, OK Go, and Ed Kowalczyk (former lead singer of Live) entertained and interacted with the audience with each band leading the crowd through choruses of their songs.

One of the many highlights of the concert came when the singer from OK Go, Damian Kulash, brought his guitar and microphone into the crowd to perform a song causing the crowd to surge around him.

The free concert helps to get the message across to help the environment, explained West.

“It’s great to have the local vendors involved," he added. "Because it helps save the earth to buy products that are local.”

During intermission people walked around to the different vendors and checked out various products, or stretched their legs by strolling along the Charles River.

Opposite the Hatch Shell at the Kids Area, children listened to songs about the environment and danced around. The Kid's Planet stage included performances by Sarah Wheeler & Little Groove, RhymeZweLL, Vanessa Trien & the Jumping Monkeys, and Zumix Artists.

The diverse crowd brought together people of all ages and people who traveled to watch the concert with their families.

Dean Compton, a 57-year-old New Hampshire resident, came to EarthFest with his granddaughter Brooklyn Compton.

“It’s a family event for me,” said Compton. This was the fifth time he had come to the event, a great way to “kick off summer,” he explained.

West said this year's EarthFest was a success. “There was a really great turnout and I think the bands have been spectacular," he said.

Boston resident Nick Blanchette, 30, said the free concert is great event in the city.

“We get to save money and have fun at the same time," he said, adding that he had planned to attend EartFest rain or shine. “It’s been a beautiful day,” he said.