John Lennon Songwriting Contest Song of the Year
NEW England Music Awards
Best In State, RHODE Island
WBRU Rock Hunt Champions
The Rare Occasions are an LA-based, New England-bred indie rock band known for their explosive garage rock anthems with catchy vocal harmonies.
The Rare Occasions formed in Boston in 2012. Since then, they have toured nationally, won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and released a vast catalog of music online.
In 2021 the band released their album, Big Whoop, which received significant press and radio play. Around the same time, their 2016 track “Notion” went viral on TikTok and continues to make waves, topping Spotify’s viral chart in the US and several other countries, and later landing on Billboard’s alternative charts and top 100 singles charts in the UK, Ireland, and Canada.
They recently released their 3rd LP, Through Moonshot Eyes end of 2024. They’ve garnered radio play across the states, and even in the UK for the new album and completed a national headlining tour to support it.
““Exhilarating garage rock...packed with infectious melodic hooks and catchy vocal harmonies, making it an instant earworm””
““Like actual origami, the track is intricate, really showcasing the group’s talent and dedication...With their sound and lead singer Brian McLaughlin’s voice, it can easily remind anyone of The Strokes or early Arctic Monkeys.””
““The Rare Occasions have always had a knack for overdrive and dynamic juxtaposition. Recent years have seen the band grow into a sleek machine of tight, fierce sonics balanced by raw human thought and emotion. Their niche is one where broiling left-of-center rock meets intellectual stimulation and curiosity.””
