With HarpoonFest coming up fast (Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at Harpoon’s Seaport brewery), Vanyaland raises a pint glass to the bands and artists performing all weekend long at this year’s festival. Get ticket info, a full schedule, and just what’s on tap at HarpoonFest 2019 here. And keep it locked on Vanyaland.com as we spotlight some of our favorite bands and performers.
HarpoonFest Spotlight: Oompa
What Vanyaland Says: Oompa’s self-professed black girl joy and deeply stirring poetry is saturating Boston music more and more by the day. Since releasing her 2016 record November 3rd, the Roxbury hip-hop artist and MC has become one of the most ubiquitous acts in town, nabbing Boston Music Awards at the House of Blues one month and hopping on tracks with Cliff Notez, VQnC, and STL GLD the next.
Her presence in Boston showcases is even more apparent; in the past year alone, she’s performed at the first-ever TRC Fest, ZUMIX’s Big Worlds series, and Bust Out Boston. Oompa adds HarpoonFest 2019 to the ever-expanding list this Friday (May 17) as she takes stage one at 7:55 p.m. It’s a space at the Seaport that Oompa’s earned — and deserves. But she’s been telling us that sentiment in her self-affirming gospel for ages.
As we noted of her video “I Deserve That” last summer: “Filmed near Academy Homes in Roxbury, where Oompa was born and raised, the video discusses what it means for marginalized peoples to take up the space they rightfully deserve, but are granted so infrequently.”
— Victoria Wasylak
Listen: Oompa on Spotify —
Listen: Oompa on Bandcamp —
Watch: Oompa on YouTube —
Follow: Oompa on Instagram —
Attend: Oompa plays HarpoonFest 2019 on Friday at 7:55 p.m. —
HARPOONFEST 2019 :: Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at Harpoon Brewery, 306 Northern Ave. in Boston, MA :: Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at noon :: HarpoonFest tickets and info