The San Francisco Bay Ferry is turning its commute into a musical escape with a series of Friday night concerts that remind us public transit doesn't have to be a slog. According to KTVU, this revival offers a didactic slice of Bay life, complete with cocktails and melodious ambience, reinstating a tradition that was shelved two decades before Silicon Valley 1.0 tanked. Last Friday, commuters on the Richmond line were treated to the soulful stylings of San Jose-based singer Lolah, a surprise that commuter Marco Sorenson called “a real surprise tonight, fascinating; on the boat anyway, so this adds a little extra."
But it’s not just about nostalgia, the SF Bay Ferry notes their aim to boost ridership, so they're betting on livening up the humdrum of daily commutes with these live performances, and if that means going the distance to get a glimpse of live music then that’s what faithful transit-takers like Jess Jenkins are willing to do; she told KTVU, "It's a little bit out of my way. Yeah, but I was excited to try and check out the live music on the ferry." Meanwhile, on the Oakland and Vallejo lines, other revelers are finding their own rhythm with the ferry's pared-down Friday night parties, no extra charge for the music or merriment, as stated by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The ferry system's recent musical lineup emerged from social media, where the artists involved boast significant social media followings, blending digital influence with authentic, on-the-water experiences. This innovative tactic aims to draw new riders, a strategy the San Francisco Bay Ferry hopes will echo the success of their festive December marketing. Case in point: J.P. Breganza and friends led a “Filipino party” on Friday, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, on the Vallejo line as part of the "Tides and Tunes" series, and a 24-hour pass deal through the end of January sweetens the deal, as highlighted by the San Francisco Bay Ferry's Facebook page.
