Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents Rufus Wainwright

Friday, April 17th at 7:00PM

Rufus Wainwright returns to Arts at the Armory for his 2026 East Coast Solo Shows!

The Center for Arts at the Armory is proud to welcome Rufus Wainwright on Friday, April 17th at 7pm as part of Arts at the Armory’s Spotlight Series.  

Praised by the New York Times for his “genuine originality,” Rufus Wainwright has established himself as one of the great male vocalists and songwriters of his generation. Wainwright’s work spans 11 studio albums, landmark live recordings, collaborations across pop and classical worlds, and recent orchestral projects that confront our political and environmental moment. His songs, often exploring unrequited love and self-reflection, have made him one of the most distinctive voices of his generation.

Wainwright has received Juno Awards for Best Alternative Album in 1999 and 2002 for Rufus Wainwrightand Poses, and nominations for his albums Want Two (2005) and Release the Stars (2008). He was nominated for Songwriter of the Year in 2008 for his Release the Stars album. He also composed the original music for choreographer Stephen Petronio’s work BLOOM which has toured across the country.

Musically Rufus has collaborated with artists including Elton John, Burt Bacharach, Miley Cyrus, David Byrne, Boy George, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Joni Mitchell. 

In 2024 Wainwright completed Dream Requiem which premiered with the Orchestre Philharmonique de la Radio France. Dream Requiem started as an idea in Wainwright’s mind, and came to fruition during the Covid pandemic. The project draws inspiration from Lord Byron’s poem “Darkness” and examines the critical moment we are in environmentally and politically.

Join us on April 17, 2026 for an intimate concert with Rufus Wainwright on the Performance Hall stage at Arts at the Armory. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the concert will start at 8:00 PM.

Tickets: $65 for General Admission seating

Tickets purchased for Rufus Wainwright are non-refundable. All sales are final.

We strive to be a welcoming, accessible community arts space. We are delighted to announce we will join Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program.

Arts at the Armory will offer 10 free tickets (max of 2 free tickets per person) to EBT, WIC and ConnectCareholders for each Spotlight Series performance. Please contact administrator@artsatthearmory.org for more information.

HOME ALONE & DIE HARD

Naughty & Nice Double-Feature December 19, 2025

5:30 PM

A feel-good double-feature from heartwarming to hair raising!

What’s one of the best parts about the holiday season? The movies and the nostalgia they give us. Celebrate December-time at Arts at the Armory’s historic venue this year with a special holiday movie double feature: Home Alone and Die Hard.

One ticket gets you access to both movies; fresh popcorn and quintessential movie candy will be available for purchase.

Doors open at 5:30pm, Home Alone will start at 6pm. Intermission will include an ugly sweater contest for the adults and a holiday PJ contest for the kids. After the winners are announced, relax back into your seats and enjoy Die Hard at 8:15pm.

Why sit at home, when you can watch holiday classics on the big screen with delicious refreshments to enjoy all night? Bring friends, bring family, and tuck in for a cozy night at Arts at the Armory on December 19.

Tickets: $15 (children who can sit in guardians’ laps may attend free of charge)

Please note that Die Hard is rated R (violence & profanity) and is recommended for viewers ages 17+. Learn more about Die Hard’s rating on IMDB.

Tickets for Naughty & Nice: Holiday Movie Night are non-refundable. All ticket sales are final.

Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents Djékady with Balla Kouyaté and Mike Block

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Led by Balla Kouyaté and Mike Block, this band weaves Malian and American traditions into music that moves feet and lifts spirits.

Djékady, a Mandinka phrase that means “coming together is good,” is a fiery six-piece band led by Grammy-winning musicians Balla Kouyaté (balafon, vocals) and Mike Block (cello, vocals) that puts Malian music into conversation with American folk music and contemporary styles. Featuring Mamoudou Konate (djembe), Idrissa Koné (talking drum, calabash, percussion, vocals), Luke Okerlund (guitar), and Mike Rivard (bass, sintir), the band’s energetic nature and deep appreciation for each other’s cultures create an unexpected and beautiful display of music without limitations.

As soon as Balla Kouyaté was old enough to sit up, his father placed a mallet in his hand. If their 800-year-old lineage of balafon players were a baobab tree, Balla would be its newest branch. The Kouyaté family are griots, or djelis, from the village of Niagassola on the Mali-Guinea border. In West African culture, djelis are more than just eminent musicians — they are storytellers, soothsayers and peacemakers. They transmit their oral history like a long game of telephone across generations. Djékady puts Malian music into conversation with American folk music and contemporary styles, allowing new shoots to sprout from Balla Kouyaté’s musical tree.

This concert is the Boston release party for Benkan, Djékady’s debut album. Meaning “agreement” in the Mandinka language, Benkan expands the possibilities of American music by celebrating the cultural richness shaped by global connection.

Join us for an incredible concert with Djékady on March 1, 2026 at Arts at the Armory in Somerville, MA. Doors open at 5:00pm, the show will start at 6:00pm.

Tickets purchased for Djékady are non-refundable. All sales are final.