Berklee Popular Music Institute's 24th Showcase Channels '80s Prom Nostalgia

Berklee Popular Music Institute's 24th Showcase Channels '80s Prom Nostalgia The April 24 event at Brighton Music Hall will spotlight eight rising artists bound for major festivals including Governors Ball, Lollapalooza, and the Great Escape.

March 19, 2026

By

Tori Donahue

Eight Berklee Popular Music Institute (BPMI) acts, including Good Sleepy (above), will take the stage at Brighton Music Hall on April 24 for their annual showcase.

Image by Elia Ma/@thoughtsbyelia

Beno

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Jazz Cuti

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JimmyBoy

Image by Elia Ma/@thoughtsbyelia

Leila Lamb

Image by Elia Ma/@thoughtsbyelia

Nico Welsh

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Pat Kennedy

Image by Elia Ma/@thoughtsbyelia

Sophies Body

Image by Elia Ma/@thoughtsbyelia

The Berklee Popular Music Institute (BPMI) will transform Brighton Music Hall into an '80s-inspired prom-complete with themed visuals and throwback flair-at its 24th annual showcase this spring. Taking place Friday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m., the showcase will feature eight emerging artists chosen by BPMI's 2026 student cohort, each set to play major music festivals worldwide later this year.

BPMI will travel across North America, return to the UK for the Great Escape following a successful debut in 2025, and make its first appearances in Germany, the Netherlands, and France. The 2026 lineup spans rock, country, and reggaeton, and includes Sophie's Body (Shaky Knees), Pat Kennedy (Minnesota Yacht Club), Nico Welsh (Minnesota Country Club), Leila Lamb (Southside Festival), Jimmy Boy (Governors Ball), Good Sleepy (Warped Tour), Beno (Lollapalooza), and Jazz Cuti (Great Escape and Oberkampf).

About BPMI LiveThe institute's BPMI Live program is an innovative, three-semester program that provides hands-on experience in the live music industry with a focus on major music festivals. Participants in this prestigious program interact with all facets of the music industry, including A&R, artist development, booking, promotion, social media, sponsorship, and touring. BPMI Live students work as production managers, tour managers, publicists, and social media representatives at some of the worlds largest music festivals, such as Lollapalooza, the Governors Ball, and Warped Tour.

BPMI Live serves as a springboard for careers in the music industry, with alums working at Interscope Records, Capitol Records, Universal Music Group, Live Nation, AEG Live, Danny Wimmer Presents, YouTube, Creative Artists Agency, Red Bull, Spotify, and other noteworthy institutions. Notable BPMI alumni include Lizzy McAlpine (RCA Records), Fifteen eight, Kyle Ray, and Jobi Riccio (Yep Roc Records).

This year's showcase is sponsored by Citizens Live and presented in partnership with Crossroads Presents and Live Nation New England. Tickets are available online for $10. Brighton Music Hall is located at 158 Brighton Avenue in Allston.

About the ArtistsSophie's BodySelf-described as bubble-grunge, Sophies Body is equal parts distortion and butterflies, channeling piercing lyricism and intricate melodies into a total release of everything eating you alive. Comprising lead singer Sophie McMinn, drummer Dylan Hughes, bassist Harry Van Der Meer, and guitarist Adam Hurt, Sophies Body is an undeniable force. The band released their Mandatory Girl EP in 2025, which featured standout tracks LASH and Baby Dont You (Baby). No matter the room, Sophies Body plays hard and loud, leaving behind ringing ears and a palpable energy.

Pat KennedyPat Kennedy is the electrifying new voice of rock 'n' roll, celebrating reckless youth, love, and glory. A staple in Bostons nightlife, he has performed with the likes of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Danny Seraphine (Chicago) and Jac Ross (Jelly Roll). Released in 2025, Pat Kennedys debut album, Table 42, features standout tracks Eve, Somehow, and Before I Drown. Built around choruses that crowds can shout back after a single listen, Pat masterfully blends catchiness with plainspoken intimacy.

Nico WelshYouthful on the surface, weathered in voice, Washington-born alt-country artist Nico Welsh sings with the soul of someone who has lived every mile of the road he writes about, told in a style that melds country, rock, bluegrass, and jam bands into one. Whether a listener is sitting fireside while playing the record or catching one of his electric live sets at a local haunt, Welsh's songs are conversations that will find you.

Leila LambLeila Lamb blends sounds and bends genres, creating pop music that makes a listener wonder: should I dance or scream? The answer: yes. Lamb has received Spotify placements on editorial playlists such as Lorem, Fresh Finds, Fresh Finds Indie, and Glow Tapes, and has gained nearly 180,000 streams with only four tracks out. She recently premiered and sold out her new show series, gLAMB cage. With gLAMB cage, Lamb yearns to interlace the concert experience with the club scene, offering a space for young queer people to dress up, dance, and connect.

JimmyBoyJimmyBoy is a Cuban-born, Puerto Rico-raised artist redefining reggaeton, featured by Billboard on its On the Radar Latin emerging artists list during Latin Music Week 2025. A rapper, vocalist, producer, and classically trained cellist, JimmyBoy is fusing his traditional music roots with contemporary R&B, trap, and Afrobeats, crafting his own sound grounded in culture. His first single, IG, marked the beginning of his career as a recording artist, which created momentum that ultimately led to his collaborative hit with Karol Wilson, Lo Siento, along with international touring opportunities.

Good SleepyRestless and relentless, curious and committed, Good Sleepy marries angsty instrumentation with tender, exposed lyrics. Thomas Sullivan (bass, vocals), Seth Girard (guitar, vocals),

LINK:	https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/berklee-popular-music-institu...
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