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Harvard Yard sprang to life as hundreds of undergraduates flocked to hear pop-punk singer Bryce Vine at Crimson Jam, an annual concert hosted by the Harvard College Events Board.

The concert bookends the first week of classes, giving students a chance to come together to enjoy music, a bouncy house, miniature train, and several other attractions. Undergraduates also got to showcase their talents, with several student openers performing before Vine took the stage.

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For senior Robyn M. Boyland ’26, it felt “nostalgic” to see all of the commotion and all the freshmen in the middle of the crowd.

“It’s good to see how the freshmen are, like embracing this moment,” she said. “It reminds me to go in with that youthful glee into my everyday activities.”

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Ashley L. Miller ’29 said that as a freshman, she appreciated the opportunity to bond and have fun with her class.

“I think it’s been fun being able to meet people and talk to them after the first week of classes and have some cool music in the background,” she said.

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Lia Lai ’29 echoed Miller’s enthusiasm for Crimson Jam, saying that she had never seen the Yard “this spirited.”

“It’s really nice to see everyone come together and like, actually chill out and have fun,” she added.

For many students, a highlight was seeing familiar faces on stage before the headliner. The Belly Band, the TGs, and the Yard Bops, all student music groups, played as their friends cheered them on.

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Haley L. Hicks ’29 said she did not realize the bands were made up of student performers until she asked her friend.

“They’re so good too, oh my gosh,” she said. “It was like, whoa, I thought they were professionals.”

Daniel T. Spadafora ’28 took to the Crimson Jam stage for the first time this year, playing saxophone for the TGs. He said he had a “great time” playing for his peers.

“I thought the vibes of the audience were great, and it was a wonderful time playing,” he said.

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Theo W. Tobel ’27, the bass guitarist for the Yard Bops, said that he looks forward to playing in Crimson Jam every year.

“It’s honestly really exhilarating to play as a student opener, and I’m really grateful for the opportunity,” said Tobel, a Crimson Editorial editor. “It feels like nothing else, playing in front of a bunch of friends and other Harvard undergrads.”

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Even though many students had never heard Vine’s music before, many said they enjoyed his set.

“He’s calm, you know, he sounds like what you would hear on the radio,” Boyland said.

Adaolisa A. Mba ’27, said she rediscovered Vine for the first time since 2020 at the concert.

“I’m really underground,” Mba said. “Back in like 2020 I heard of his song Drew Barrymore, it used to be my Spotify playlist for some reason.”

“But then, like, I forgot about him,” she added.

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For Michael S. Jones ’29, Crimson Jam was about more than just the music.

“I loved it so far — though I don’t know who Bryce Vine is — it’s really just an excuse to hang out with friends,” he said. “It was a really welcome break from the first week of classes.”

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—Multimedia Editor Pavan V. Thakkar contributed reporting.

—Staff writer Claire A. Michal can be reached at claire.michal@thecrimson.com.