Crimson Jam in Review

Last Friday, Harvard Yard was transformed into a mini-festival ground as students gathered for the annual Crimson Jam. Hosted the first week of each September by the Harvard College Events Board, the event is a signature kickoff to the school year, drawing hundreds of students—especially first-years—eager to embrace one of their first large campus traditions.

This year’s headliner, Bryce Vine, known for hits like “Drew Barrymore” and “La La Land,” quickly proved himself to be a crowd pleaser. During his hour-long set, students tightly packed into the center of the Yard, with many first-years running to join the excitement which reverberated through their dorm rooms. 

When Vine was first announced as the headliner, the CEB faced some backlash. On Sidechat—an internal anonymous messaging platform—students wrote about being unfamiliar with Vine and his music. On the CEB’s official Instagram announcement post and press release, one user commented “Who,” receiving five likes.

Despite initial skepticism, students in attendance ultimately seemed to enjoy Vine’s performance. Old Yard came alive with students singing and dancing to his fusion of hip-hop, pop, and rap. Saving his biggest hits for last, Vine sustained the excitement by connecting directly with the audience. He took a selfie and recorded a video with the audience in the background, dedicated a “Happy Birthday” sing-along to a student, and entered the crowd of students during one of his songs, turning his set into an unforgettable experience for the crowd.

Harvard student performers set the tone before Vine’s appearance. Student bands Belly Band, the TGs, and YardBops opened the night, showcasing campus talent while adding a personal touch with familiar faces on stage. Crimson Jam provides a unique opportunity for these bands to introduce themselves to the Harvard community, especially first-years. 

One highlight performance from the student bands came from the TGs’ lively rendition of “I Will Survive,” a crowd favorite thanks to its instantly recognizable lyrics. “It really got a lot of the crowd excited and on their feet. It’s actually one of my personal favorites to sing as well, just because it has so much power and it’s so much fun,” said Bekuochukwu Uzo-Menkiti ’28, lead singer of the six-person band. 

While most students eased into the semester, the bands were also busy preparing their sets for the stage. “We found out, actually during the summer, that we would be doing Crimson Jam,” Uzo-Menkit shared. “Once we all were on campus, we had a rehearsal every single day leading up to Crimson Jam.”

Uzo-Menkiti’s standout moment from the concert stemmed from the support she and the band received from their peers. “It was seeing all of my friends and friends of all the other band members in the crowd cheering us on,” she said. “It was just really heartwarming to know that they’re supporting us and that they’re in our corner.”

“It was great performing at Crimson Jam. An honor, truly. It was so much fun. Loved the crowd, loved the energy,” she added.

Aside from live music, Crimson Jam offered a variety of activities, including a tie-dye table, a photobooth, airbrushed bucket hats, a bouncy slide, and even a miniature train to carry students around the Yard. A Mediterranean buffet kicked off the evening, allowing students to socialize before the music and festivities started.

“The variety of things that people got to do was really nice,” Mst Begum ’29 shared in an interview with the Independent. “If you’re not into music, you can do some arts and crafts, or you can just go out in the lawn.” 

The longest line of the night formed at the airbrush booth, where bucket hats became coveted souvenirs. “We waited in line for really long, but I think it was definitely worth it,” said Candy Deng ’29. “The overall vibes were just really good.” 

For many first-years, the wait itself became a chance to mingle. “I did meet a lot of new people,” Begum added. “Especially waiting in line and going on the train.”

As students waited in line, they had the chance to take in the Yard’s preparations for the event. For Cocecia Siewe ’29, even the smallest touches stood out. “My favorite little part about Crimson Jam was they had the houses lit up in red. I think that was a pretty cool detail.”

While waiting for airbrushed bucket hats, students could watch friends striking poses at the photobooth and racing each other on the bouncy slide. “I had fun racing with my friends,” Siewe said. Just one week into classes, the wide array of activities at Crimson Jam gives freshmen a chance to bond with new friends, while upperclassmen reconnect with old friends or reminisce about their own first Crimson Jam experience.

Overall, this year’s Crimson Jam was a hit, turning the Yard’s usual evening calm into a lively celebration to mark the end of the first week of classes. By night’s end, students headed back to their dorms with bucket hats, tie-dyed shirts, and music still ringing in their ears—a reminder that Crimson Jam’s activities were just as memorable as its performers.

Olivia Lunseth ’28 (olivialunseth@college.harvard.edu) loves the bucket hat she got at Crimson Jam.