The diversity, equity and inclusion of Boston’s rich cultural populations are showcased again this year from June 24-28 in the Momentum event series organized by the Boston Art & Music Soul (BAMS) Fest.

Fifteen events all over town and in Brockton, Somerville and Cambridge offer live music, poetry readings, dancing, a skate party, live mics, award ceremonies, World Cup watch parties and of course, lots of delicious food. You can watch and listen. Or let yourself go and participate.

Boston has a well-deserved reputation for contradictions. On the one hand, the city is the birthplace of the revolution that spearheaded the creation of the United States. On the other hand, it is famous in the modern era for the systemic racism that was exemplified in the busing “crisis” that started over 50 years ago.

More recently, Boston’s leadership has been in the vanguard of advocating human rights as applied to immigration, health care and public policy. The BAMS Festival is part of the city’s ongoing cultural evolution. Primarily, it is a festival of inclusion and momentum.

The festival is not only about music, poetry, dance and art. It also honors leadership in the city through The Rock Her Crown Award, which identifies individuals who provide avenues for ongoing change. Overall, this award and the festival exemplify change through the arts.

Austyn Ellese Mayfield, the BAM Fest’s board chair, spoke to the Banner about this year’s events.

Banner: Rock Her Crown celebrates “Black and Latina/e women/womxn across all industries who are changing the game in culture, entrepreneurship and social impact.” Honorees for 2026 are Dr. Chelsey Green, Denella Clark, Giselle Byrd, Fabiola Mendez, Elsa Mosquera-Sterenberg, Joanna Edwards and Adrienne Hawkins. What goes into choosing whom to honor?

Mayfield: One of things I love about Rock Her Crown honorees is that since its inception these individuals represent both excellence in their space and they also drive imagination and possibilities in that space that allow other people to join the movement as they push their objectives forward.

It’s not about self-aggrandizement. They are bringing people together. Through activated inspiration, they are showing what’s possible and elevating collectives around them.

Momentum is the formatted schedule for the BAMS Festival, with some events free and others ticketed. What do we need to know to navigate this?

The format is purposeful: our mission dictates that we amplify both types of platforms. People can show artists that they are willing to pay them for what they contribute to the culture. Our sponsors also allow us to invest in access to free events. There are multiple events every day of Momentum: poetry and live music and games and activities. Momentum as a framework allows people to engage in one or more events. The festival is creating space for shifting narratives: a people’s festival in the tradition of Howard Zinn. Meaning that we can hear and tell stories outside of academe from where we gather in communities.

On Saturday, June 27, BAMS Festival is organizing a full day of events that are cultural and artistic. Tell us about that.

As part of Momentum, we are bringing programming to The Record Co. at 55 Morrissey Blvd. It’s called the BAMS Festival: Play Playe Edition. Food vendors and games and performances. DJ Jazzy Jeff will be there as will Junior Rodigan, DJ Michelle Bee, Kelvin Sylvester, DJ Bobby Bangers, DJ Ashisha and Deejay Dex. The day is all about the art of play: an intergenerational recess!

There’s also a solstice concert at the Boston Common.

Momentum is all about partnerships in arts and culture. The solstice series is part of Emerson’s Uncommon Stage. We are bringing Black arts and culture as part of that initiative.

Events are taking place all over; not just Boston. Brockton and Somerville and Cambridge, too.

Brockton is an official expansion of our program. There are over six neighborhoods of Boston participating in this year’s events. It’s a de-siloing of the arts. This year’s programming is especially important as it is the 250th birthday of America and it would be a lost opportunity not to tell the bigger story. A city that has claimed to be about opportunity should have the arts fully represented.

What are the origins of the BAMS Festival?

Catherine T. Morris started the festival in 2015. She got her undergraduate degree at Temple University in Philadelphia. When she returned to Boston, after seeing what’s possible in other major cities, she said, “We can do this, too. We can celebrate the creative capital of everyone to ensure that the city of Boston can showcase the talent that’s here. We’re not going to be left out.”

How can people get involved with BAMS?

Reach out! There are volunteer opportunities you can find on our website. All of these things matter to us: creativity, connections, culture, collaboration and community.

ON THE WEB

Learn more at bamsfest.org