New England has always had a certain independent streak: it’s a place where people come to learn, question old ideas, make things, and build community. From Boston’s revolutionary history to the region’s universities, artists, musicians, and makers, New England has a long tradition of turning ideas into action.

Whether it’s empowering students to organize sexual health outreach events on campus through our College Ambassador program, combining the arts and advocacy through Project Condom fashion shows, or distributing condoms in unexpected places through ONE® on Stage and Team ONE®, ONE® is proud to call New England our home (our company headquarters is in Lynn, Massachusetts!) and embodies this pioneering spirit through our community programs and advocacy efforts.

Our ONE® on Stage program brings sexual health advocacy into concerts and music festivals. We partner with 250+ bands across North America by providing co-branded, pocket-size tins filled with free condoms and sexual health resources. These condom cases are part merch, part conversation starter, and part reminder that taking care of yourself and your partner(s) should always be a priority. The mission is to make open conversations about sexual health feel more like a normal part of everyday life: when people can ask questions and talk about protection without shame, they have more opportunities to make informed decisions about their bodies and relationships – and New England is ready to turn up the volume on this topic!

ONE® on Stage Band Q&A

We have over 40 bands in the region working to make their scenes more welcoming and informed when it comes to sexual health. Keep reading to learn more about why they’re part of the program, what they love about the scene, and why sexual health belongs in the conversation.

For Massachusetts-based rock outfit The Ghouls, the reason for joining ONE® on Stage was simple: make protection available and make it fun. “The partnership between bands and ONE® Condoms is like a match made in heaven! We now advertise free Ghouls condoms at every show. Most people at our gigs end up walking away with condoms. Fans get a fun tin with our band logo on it, and they get the opportunity to stay safe! It’s a win-win!”

New Haven’s Haunting Titans see the program as part of something bigger than any individual show: “We believe in safety, love, art, and community. Health care and proper access need to be accessible to all.”

Boston’s Adios Fatso say the program brings together several things that already define their approach to music and community: “The ONE on Stage program is a unique opportunity where creativity, music, safe sex advocacy, and bold self-expression come together in one powerful movement. It aligns perfectly with who we are—being part of something fun, fearless, and truly making a difference. Real talk—free condoms, rad customized tins, and supporting an initiative all about positivity and confidence? We’re all in.”

Hardcore legends TREE point to education as the foundation: “I have always believed in sexual education for all people of all ages. The more people know and understand how to have safe healthy sex, the safer and happier they will be.”

Providence-based indie rockers The War in Kids like what happens when sexual health education becomes part of the experience of seeing live music: “ONE on Stage is an incredible organization that promotes smart sex, and fosters positive fan engagement for artists and musicians, which we are 100% here for. The simple act of talking about sex education, in such a fun and open manner provides the music community with tools that lead to a safer environment for all. Lastly, and most importantly: Who doesn’t like dope looking free condoms!? Win, win, win. Go ONE!”

Sexual Health Conversations in the Music Scene

There’s another common thread running through these answers: community. Independent music scenes depend on people showing up for one another. Bands support other bands. Fans discover new artists because a friend recommends them. Small and mid-size venues give emerging acts a place to play. And people keep coming back because they feel like they belong. That sense of mutual support is something several ONE® on Stage partners say they love about New England’s music and arts community right now. The Ghouls put it this way: “Most people within our music community go in with the mentality, ‘if we all help and support each other, then we’ll all lift each other up.’ Everyone is super supportive of one another, and is often more than willing to give each other a hand.”

That kind of environment creates plenty of room for conversations that might otherwise feel awkward or taboo. For these bands, putting ONE® products at the merch table is an easy way to put their values into practice. It gives fans access to free protection and gives artists a low-pressure way to open conversations about safer sex, consent, boundaries, and communication. 

We went on to ask bands about why they think sexual health awareness matters in the music scene:

For TREE, the answer is beautifully direct: “Music makes people fall in love.”

Haunting Titans focus on making sure people feel empowered to take care of themselves: “As a woman in the scene, I want other women to know they can advocate for their protection. Having these at our table for free offers an easy way for them to be prepared and safe when and if the moment arrives to get groovy.” They’d also like to see more open conversations around “abortion, trans rights, pregnancy & postpartum concerns, and rape. I want people not to feel ashamed of their truth.”

And The Ghouls have noticed something interesting at their merch table: sometimes people still feel like they need an excuse to take a condom: “Many people that we’ve come across at gigs feel as though they have to make an excuse for why they are picking up the condoms. They say they just like the tin, they are getting it for a friend, etc. I wish more people would just take them with confidence and go ‘hell yeah!’” We love this sentiment – there’s nothing embarrassing about being prepared!

The Best Merch Table Reactions

And speaking of the merch table, the custom ONE® condom cases have also become conversation starters in their own right. Vermont’s hip-hop project Sleepy Spectre say fans sometimes need a second to process the fact that the tins really do contain free condoms, but once they do, the response has been enthusiastic.

The War in Kids have gotten an even more straightforward response: “Free? Solid. We will keep your music on, next time.”

And Adios Fatso has a story that pretty much sums up the whole point: at one show, a fan picked up one of their custom tins, opened it, laughed, and said she had to show it to her boyfriend. Later, she came back for two more. When the band joked that she should actually use them, she pointed toward her boyfriend, gave a confident thumbs-up, and said: “Oh, I’m planning on it.” Naturally, high fives were in order. This is exactly the kind of energy ONE® on Stage is about: informed, confident, positive, and shame-free!

ONE® on Stage Hits the Road

This September, ONE® was on full display at RPM Fest, a three-day music festival and campout held in Massachusetts. With more than 1,500 attendees and 40+ bands, RPM Fest is deeply connected to New England’s alternative music community, and it’s a natural fit for ONE® on Stage.

Several local ONE® on Stage partners performed at the festival and handed out condoms at their merch tables, including Goblet, Lesotho, Earthlore, The Outlourdes, North Star the Wanderer, and Problem With Dragons. Backstage areas were also hooked up with ONE® products so other bands could check them out and learn more about our mission. But ONE® didn’t stay on the sidelines - our team also carried ONE® Flex® condoms throughout the festival grounds and multiple bands wore ONE® on Stage shirts during the weekend, bringing the program into the crowd in another way. One band took things a step further, deconstructing the tins and tossing the condoms into the crowd during their set.

This is what community-based advocacy looks like. It doesn’t always happen behind a table or through a formal presentation; it thrives between songs, in a merch line, or when someone hands a friend a condom and says, “Here, you might want this later.”

Where to Support These Bands

Here’s where you can find and follow this blog’s featured ONE® on Stage bands:

Adios Fatso (Indie Rock, MA) - Their music reflects the uncertainty and chaos of modern, tech-driven life, capturing its contradictions with razor-sharp wit and emotional depth. "Life is short and so are our songs."

The Ghouls (Rock, MA) - This alt-rock/powerpop four-piece takes inspiration from bands such as The Strokes, The Cure, and Weezer to create a sound entirely their own. The Ghouls’ achievements so far include winning Boston’s 2024 Rock and Roll Rumble and winning a Boston Music Award as 2024’s Rock Artist of the Year.

Haunting Titans (Indie Rock, CT) - Known across New England for their electrifying live shows and genre-fluid sound, their music blends punk energy, new wave edginess, alternative grit, psychedelic flair, and even touches of theatrical performance—creating a distinct and captivating sonic identity.

Sleepy Spectre (Hip-Hop, VT) - The summertime hip-hop vibes tribe. Pull up a couch, sit back, relax and let that boom boom bap!

TREE (Hardcore, MA) - Boston hardcore since 1988.

The War in Kids (Pop Punk, RI) - Bunch of nerds, wasting time together.

Check out our other New England-based partners and participating ONE® on Stage bands here.

Keep the Music (and the Conversation) Going

Sexual health is a community effort. When condoms are visible in everyday spaces, protection becomes a normal part of being prepared. The same goes for conversations about consent, communication, boundaries, and safer sex. Local music scenes are built on people supporting each other, and ONE® on Stage is so proud to be part of it!

Want to get involved?

• Support the bands: Stream their music, buy their merch, follow them online, and (most importantly) go to their shows! A thriving local scene depends on people showing up for the artists who make it special.
• Talk about sexual health: Follow the lead of these bands by making conversations about consent, boundaries, communication, and protection a normal part of your life.
• Shop ONE® products: Check out ONE® Flex®, MyONE® Custom Fit®, and the rest of our condom styles when you’re looking for protection that fits your life. 
• Bring ONE® on Stage to your community: Are you a band, artist, venue owner, promoter, or part of a music organization? Learn more about ONE® on Stage and how to become a partner here.

New England’s music community has never been afraid to be a little different. That’s part of what makes it exciting! So keep showing up for your people and making space for everyone. And when it comes to sexual health, let’s make “hell yeah!” the response to being prepared!