BRAINTREE — The family and friends of Nicholas Bean, a 2013 Braintree High School graduate and EMT who died of a heroin overdose at the age of 20 a year ago, want his death to help raise awareness of the opioid crisis that is killing an estimated four Massachusetts residents daily.
And they want to provide hope for addicts and their loved ones.
As part of that effort, the Beanstock Music Festival will rock Braintree Town Hall Friday, July 15 from 4 to 9 p.m. The $5 admission fee will go to The Sun Will Rise Foundation, a new addiction resource organization being formed by Bean’s mother.
Robyn Houston-Bean said the name comes from the notebook that her son kept while working to recover from heroin addiction.
“It said, ‘Please be happy, the sun will rise,’ ’’ she said. “That was his message to himself, but I took it as his message to me. It really gave me hope that [even though] I couldn’t help my son anymore, maybe I could help another mother’s son.’’
The music festival, which will be held on Nick Bean’s birthday, will feature eight bands and performers in the Town Hall auditorium. Numerous organizations that work with the opioid issue will be present to provide information.
At the end of the night, participants will move to the front lawn of Town Hall for a candlelight vigil, where the names of Braintree residents who died of overdoses will be read.
“We want to show the young people that they are not alone,’’ Houston-Bean said, “and that Braintree understands that this is happening.’’
Johanna Seltz can be reached at seltzjohanna@gmail.com.

