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Spotlight Series

Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series

The Center for Arts at the Armory curates and produces the Spotlight Series to celebrate the diversity and culture of our community by bringing world-renowned performers, always paired with a local opening act, into our historic and intimate setting. We put the spotlight on local, national and international artists from diverse communities, and provide platforms that amplify these voices.

In its first two seasons, the series has focused on music but there are plans to include dance and comedy, as well as keynote speakers, to create immersive experiences sparking joy, inspiration, reflection, and intercultural learning. Past Spotlight Series artists have included Sweet Honey in the Rock, John Scofield, iLe, Bill Frisell, Lakou Mizik, Bitch, Ryan Montbleau Band, Wesli, Chris Pureka, David Wax Museum, Riders in the Sky, Fabiola Méndez, and Acoustic Nomads.

Upcoming Spotlight Series Events


The Soul Rebels

May 16, 2024

This eight-member collective is set to bring their unique blend of funk, soul, hip hop, jazz, and rock to the stage with vibrant style. Don’t miss your chance to witness The Soul Rebels as they continue to chart new territory and celebrate peace, love, and soul through their top-notch musicianship.


Ravi Coltrane featuring Gadi Lehavi and Ele Howell

June 22, 2024

An exquisite evening featuring the critically acclaimed Grammy nominated saxophonist, bandleader, and composer, Ravi Coltrane, featuring Gadi Lehavi and Ele Howell. With a career spanning over two decades, Ravi has captivated audiences worldwide with his mesmerizing performances and innovative compositions.


Dobet Gnahoré

June 27, 2024

Afropop sensation, GRAMMY-winning artist Dobet Gnahoré, takes the stage on June 27th with her beautiful voice, fierce dance moves, magnetic stage presence, and colorful sense of style. Gnahoré will offer a free dance workshop on Monday, June 24 in the Performance Hall.


Meshell Ndegeocello

September 20, 2024

Ndegeocello is a virtuosic creative as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Her storied career has included songs topping Billboard charts, most notably her original “If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night)” in 1994.


BALA BILA featuring Balla Kouyate and Matchume Zango

October 11, 2024

BALA-BILA brings together two African master musicians–Balla Kouyate on balafon, calabash, bass guitar and voice, and Matchume Zango on timbila, mbira, percussion and voice–through a live concert framed as an intercultural musical conversation between the two artists.


Search Events

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9:00 AM - Herbstalk 2024
10:00 AM - Rick & Friends
Sun. Apr. 28, 2024    
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
The Vegan Market SPRING EDITION in SOMERVILLE! www.theveganmarketma.com The Vegan Market was founded in 2018 with a desire for a place for everyone to find [...]
Sun. Apr. 28, 2024    
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
ROOTED Armory Café is the place to be for SUNDAY BRUNCH!
Sun. Apr. 28, 2024    
5:30 pm
Somerville Poets Reading Their Own Poems and Poems They Love This once-in-a-lifetime reading includes the largest array of Somerville poets ever assembled. More than 30 [...]
Tue. Apr. 30, 2024    
5:00 pm
Wed. May. 01, 2024    
7:00 pm
Arts at the Armory is excited to welcome Tracy Kidder and Dr. Jim O'Connell for a book discussion of Rough Sleepers. Get tickets now! Doors [...]
Wed. May. 01, 2024    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Eagle-eyed music watchers will want to bear witness to our next Songwriters in the Round at the Center for Arts at the Armory. Peter Eldridge makes a rare Somerville appearance [...]
Thu. May. 02, 2024    
7:00 pm
Doors 6:30 pm Event 7:00 pm An event that celebrates the flavors of Somerville's immigrant community and the contributions of our new neighbors. Get tickets [...]
Thu. May. 02, 2024    
7:30 pm
Atomic Comedy at The Armory Cafe An independently-produced, monthly improv show featuring new and veteran local talent. Come see what’s blowing up! 7:30-9:30pm Reserve tickets [...]
Fri. May. 03, 2024    
7:00 pm
Get To The Gig Boston & MassConcerts present R.A.P. Ferreira with special guests Cavalier Get tickets now! Doors open at 7:00 PM Show begins at [...]
Fri. May. 03, 2024    
7:30 pm
Join us for a night of queer comedy with a spooky twist, where the occult meets hilarity in a Wyrd and wonderful way! Get tickets [...]
Sat. May. 04, 2024    
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Jazz vocalist (and flute player) Rick Silberg holds a weekly residency in the Armory Cafe.   Stop by throughout the morning; a varied line-up will play [...]
Sat. May. 04, 2024    
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Somerville Open Studios 2024 will take place on Saturday + Sunday, May 4-5, 2024, from 12-6 pm each day, at artists’ studios and homes throughout [...]
Sat. May. 04, 2024    
7:30 pm
Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe presents an evening with Mary Casiello, Jay Verchin and Rachel Marie. The evening begins at 7 PM with [...]
Sun. May. 05, 2024    
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
ROOTED Armory Café is the place to be for SUNDAY BRUNCH!
Sun. May. 05, 2024    
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Somerville Open Studios 2024 will take place on Saturday + Sunday, May 4-5, 2024, from 12-6 pm each day, at artists’ studios and homes throughout [...]
Tue. May. 07, 2024    
8:00 am - 10:00 am
First Tuesday of every month.  Somerville-Cambridge Elder services (SCES) along with the Greater Boston Food Bank, provide older people and younger people with disabilities living [...]
Tue. May. 07, 2024    
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
What's a SMUT SLAM? I'm so glad you asked! It's a fast-paced storytelling open mic based on REAL life, REAL lust, REAL sex. Consenting Slammers [...]
Wed. May. 08, 2024    
7:00 pm
Doors open at 7:00PM. Show begins at 8:00PM. Get tickets now! Website: https://www.modernlifeiswarofficial.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernLifeIsWarOfficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/MLIWofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mliwofficial Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/24OGO7fr96L0azkG3pZZa2?si=i4NlJbpGSO6V_j5pji0PKQ&nd=1&dlsi=cae904a7169742b4
Wed. May. 08, 2024    
7:00 pm
Monthly Coffee House with Open Mike for the mental health recovery community and the general public, as well.
Thu. May. 09, 2024    
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
LZC's Annual Spring Celebration Learn from researchers and community experts, strategize and shape our Center’s future work to influence policy and practice. Register Now Join [...]
Thu. May. 09, 2024    
7:00 pm
Join in with chorus songs that are easy to learn and fun to sing
Fri. May. 10, 2024    
7:30 pm
Join us for an evening of North Indian classical music expressed through a joyous collaboration between the sitar and the tabla. Mike Jarjoura has studied [...]
Sat. May. 11, 2024    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
LadiesCon 2024 is a one day celebration of women of all kinds and their work in comic books, science fiction, fantasy, cosplay, and many other [...]
Sat. May. 11, 2024    
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Jazz vocalist (and flute player) Rick Silberg holds a weekly residency in the Armory Cafe.   Stop by throughout the morning; a varied line-up will play [...]
Sat. May. 11, 2024    
7:30 pm
An acoustic creative evening with Uladzimir Puhach, the frontman and unmistakable voice of the legendary J:MORS. Get tickets now! Dear Belarusians of Boston, Join us [...]
Sun. May. 12, 2024    
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
ROOTED Armory Café is the place to be for SUNDAY BRUNCH!
Sun. May. 12, 2024    
12:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Our biggest event of the year is here!! We stepped it up with 40+ vendors, tooth gems, tats, live DJs, free yerba, and more! Free [...]
Sun. May. 12, 2024    
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Please join us for a closing reception to celebrate our artists! This year’s show is a celebration of our local community. Contributions from artists aged [...]
Wed. May. 15, 2024    
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
The Red Cross’s regular blood drive returns to the Armory. Make an Appointment Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting [...]
Wed. May. 15, 2024    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
1st & 3rd Wednesdays at ROOTED Cafe at 7 PM Four songwriters take the stage, seated in a comfortable semi-circle. They take turns playing songs, [...]
Thu. May. 16, 2024    
7:00 pm
Join us at Arts at the Armory’s Spotlight Series for an electrifying performance by The Soul Rebels. This eight-member collective is set to bring their [...]
Fri. May. 17, 2024    
7:00 pm
Get To The Gig Boston / MassConcerts present: Earth with Special Guest Esther Blue Get tickets now! Dorrs open at 7:00 PM Show begins at [...]
Fri. May. 17, 2024    
8:00 pm
Jonathan Anderson brings his hottest and funniest friends in Boston comedy to do their best standup bits and he’s got follow up questions! Get tickets [...]
Sat. May. 18, 2024    
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Jazz vocalist (and flute player) Rick Silberg holds a weekly residency in the Armory Cafe.   Stop by throughout the morning; a varied line-up will play [...]
Sat. May. 18, 2024    
2:00 pm
Boston Uilleann Pipers Club presents The Piper’s Chair The Piper's Chair is an end-of-the-season celebration for members of the Boston Uilleann Pipers Club and our [...]
Sat. May. 18, 2024    
7:00 pm
A fundraiser with Squirrel Flower (solo), BabyBaby_Explores, Rick Maguire (of Pile), Nova One, Haasan Barclay, Bong Wish, Pet Fox & Mercet STILL AROUND is a [...]
Sun. May. 19, 2024    
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
ROOTED Armory Café is the place to be for SUNDAY BRUNCH!
Sun. May. 19, 2024    
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Students who study at Guitar Stop in Porter Square perform! No cover, open to all. Doors open 2:45 Free Admission - No tickets necessary
Tue. May. 21, 2024    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join us the fourth Tuesday of each month for the Boston Moth StorySLAM! This community-focused, open-mic storytelling competition is open to anyone can share a [...]
Wed. May. 22, 2024    
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The Strummerville Ukulele Club is a fun-loving, ukulele-strumming, singing and humming group of amateur musicians who love the ukulele almost as much as we love [...]
Thu. May. 23, 2024    
7:00 pm
Details TBA
Sat. May. 25, 2024    
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Jazz vocalist (and flute player) Rick Silberg holds a weekly residency in the Armory Cafe.   Stop by throughout the morning; a varied line-up will play [...]
Sat. May. 25, 2024    
7:00 pm
Doors open at 7:00 PM Show begins at 8:00 PM
Sun. May. 26, 2024    
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
ROOTED Armory Café is the place to be for SUNDAY BRUNCH!
Sun. May. 26, 2024    
7:00 pm
Doors open at 7:00 PM Show begins at 8:00 PM
Mon. May. 27, 2024    
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
The Orchestra Book Club returns to the Center for Arts at the Armory in Somerville for a thrilling concert exploring themes and variations in classical [...]
Wed. May. 29, 2024    
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
CALLING ALL JOB SEEKERS! Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) wants to connect YOU with employers in Somerville and surrounding areas. Get tickets now! Are you: Looking [...]
Thu. May. 30, 2024    
7:00 pm
Get To The Gig Boston & MassConcerts presents: The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die with special guests [...]
Sat. Jun. 01, 2024    
9:00 am - 5:30 pm
Herbstalk brings together local herbalists, farmers, medicine makers, teachers, healers and artists who come to share their knowledge, products and passion with one another. Join [...]
Sat. Jun. 01, 2024    
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Jazz vocalist (and flute player) Rick Silberg holds a weekly residency in the Armory Cafe.   Stop by throughout the morning; a varied line-up will play [...]
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1 Jun 24

Upcoming Events

Leah Zallman Center for Immigrant Health Research: Listening in Action

Leah Zallman Center for Immigrant Health Research: Listening in Action

Thu. May. 09, 2024, 3:00 PM
Pub Sing

Pub Sing

Thu. May. 09, 2024, 7:00 PM
The Center for the Arts at the Armory