New Bedford Feast Reveals More Surprises Beyond Sugar Ray

The more I hear about this year's Feast of the Blessed Sacrament entertainment lineup, the more convinced I am that the committee knew exactly what it was doing.

Within 24 hours after announcing that Sugar Ray will headline Thursday night of the 110th Feast in New Bedford, entertainment co-chair Tony Abreu joined The MGM Show Friday morning to pull back the curtain on what went into assembling this year's lineup. If his goal was to get Feast fans even more excited for August, mission accomplished.

For Abreu and the entertainment committee, landing Sugar Ray wasn't just about securing a recognizable name. It was about finding a band whose music instantly feels like summer.

READ MORE: New Bedford Feast Lands Sugar Ray for Massive 110th Anniversary

"We wanted a band that played some great summer anthems that we could all jam out to at the Feast," Abreu said.

A Milestone Year Calls for Something Bigger

According to Abreu, this year's Feast is unique because it marks the organization's 110th anniversary. Rather than relying on a small entertainment committee, every committee member had a seat at the table, creating what Abreu called a "dream team" of past entertainment directors and experienced organizers.

Their mission was simple: make the entertainment bigger while staying true to the Feast's Portuguese roots. "We wanted to make it as big as possible and keep it as Portuguese as possible," Abreu said. The result is a lineup that's essentially split down the middle, featuring major English-language acts alongside prominent Portuguese performers.

Starlight Returns to New Bedford

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the morning came when Abreu announced the return of Starlight from Portugal. The internationally known Portuguese group has become one of the most beloved acts to ever perform at the Feast, and judging by the reaction inside the Fun 107 studio, their return was met with immediate excitement.

"I love Starlight," I blurted out before Abreu could even finish the announcement.

"They definitely get the crowd going," he said.

Starlight will headline on Saturday night, joining a Portuguese-heavy lineup that also includes Joey Medeiros on Friday, Edge on Thursday, Hardwire on Sunday and several other Portuguese favorites throughout the four-day celebration.

A Full Return for the Folklore Group

Another announcement that may have flown under the radar is one that longtime Feast-goers will appreciate. After years of pandemic-related challenges, the Feast's beloved folklore group is returning for all four days of the event. Abreu considers the group the Feast's true house headliner, performing nightly on Stage 1 at 8 p.m.

During COVID, the group didn't have enough members to maintain a full performance schedule. Last year, they returned for two nights. This year, they're back for the entire Feast. "For us, our main headliner at the club is always our folklore group," Abreu said.

A Personal Bucket List Moment

As if Sugar Ray and Starlight weren't enough, I received some unexpected news during the interview. Abreu announced that I'll be serving as one of the roaming DJs during the Feast alongside Rock The Mike and DJ Infinite, helping provide entertainment throughout the grounds on Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.. For someone who grew up attending the Feast and has spent years DJing throughout the SouthCoast, it's genuinely a bucket-list moment.

Of course, Michael Rock quickly reminded me that I've threatened retirement more times than Brett Favre. He's probably right.

One thing is certain: between Sugar Ray, Starlight, the folklore group, local favorites and nearly 40 hours of entertainment spread across four days, the 110th Feast of the Blessed Sacrament is shaping up to be one of the most memorable celebrations in recent memory.