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Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series

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.

The series focuses on music but also includes theater and dance, 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, Rufus Wainwright, Meshell Ndegeocello, 10,000 Maniacs, Shawn Colvin, Blind Boys of Alabama, Ravi Coltrane, The Soul Rebels, John Scofield, iLe, Bill Frisell, Leyla McCalla, Lady Lamb, Lakou Mizik, Tracy Kidder & Jim O’Connell, Rodney Crowell, Bitch, Ryan Montbleau Band, BALA BILA w/Balla Kouyate and Matchume Zango, From Baghdad to Brooklyn by Michelle Azar, Wesli, Chris Pureka, David Wax Museum, Riders in the Sky, Fabiola Méndez, and Acoustic Nomads.

If you are interested in sponsoring a performance or the entire series, please click here for more information.

Upcoming Spotlight Series Events

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

April 27, 2026

An intimate concert with one of the most distinctive voices of his generation.

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Grace Kelly
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Grace Kelly

May 9, 2026

Saxophonist-singer-songwriter Grace Kelly takes the stage in May 2026 at Arts at the Armory!

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Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents Tourmaline
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Tourmaline

May 28, 2026

Artist, filmmaker, and national bestselling author Tourmaline will discuss her new book!

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Tito Puente, Jr. and dancers musicians from MetaMovements
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Tito Puente Jr. with MetaMovements

December 11, 2026

Tito Puente, Jr. and his ensemble brings exhilarating Latin rhythms that will get your feet moving.

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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Dec. 27, 2021    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join queer folk and their allies for Monday night tango classes with Boston Tango teachers! Learn the social dance connecting queers around the world! No [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Jan. 03, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join queer folk and their allies for Monday night tango classes with Boston Tango teachers! Learn the social dance connecting queers around the world! No [...]
More Info
SCES Brown Bag Program
Tue. Jan. 04, 2022    
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Free groceries for older people and younger people with disabilities living in senior housing, provided by Somerville-Cambridge Elder services and the Greater Boston Food Bank
More Info
Smut Slam
Tue. Jan. 04, 2022    
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 [...]
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The Minimalists – Love People Use Things Tour
Sat. Jan. 08, 2022    
7:00 pm
The Minimalists – Love People Use Things Tour The Minimalists will simplify your life! Netflix stars Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus are bringing a [...]
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New Year, New Plant Market
Sun. Jan. 09, 2022    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
It's time to turn a new leaf and celebrate with a New Year, New Plant Market! An indoor space for plant enthusiasts, 20+ local artists [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Jan. 10, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join queer folk and their allies for Monday night tango classes with Boston Tango teachers! Learn the social dance connecting queers around the world! No [...]
More Info
Red Cross Blood Drive
Wed. Jan. 12, 2022    
2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
The Red Cross’s regular blood drive returns to the Armory on January 12th, 2022 from 2 PM to 7 PM. Please consider donating!
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Been Out Here: Teen Open Mic - CANCELLED
Wed. Jan. 12, 2022    
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Been Out Here Teen Open Mic is back at the Armory every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Bring your poems, your verses, your music, [...]
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Been Out Here: Teen Open Mic Night
Wed. Jan. 12, 2022    
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
The Been Out Here Teen Open Mic is holding it down at the Armory every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Bring your poems, your verses, [...]
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Amazigh New Year in Boston
Sat. Jan. 15, 2022    
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Join us Saturday, January 15th, 2022 6 PM-9:30 PM to celebrate the North African Amazigh new year and enjoy great live music from the best [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Jan. 17, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join queer folk and their allies for Monday night tango classes with Boston Tango teachers! Learn the social dance connecting queers around the world! No [...]
More Info
Boston Security Meetup (Virtual) - CANCELLED
Thu. Jan. 20, 2022    
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
The Boston area has one of the most diverse information security ecosystems in the world. Over the past several years our local community has been [...]
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An Afternoon of Jazz & Acoustic Music
Sat. Jan. 22, 2022    
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Join us for a low-key afternoon of standards, original music, and more! Featuring singer-songwriter Emily Mitchell and piano vocal jazz duo Sarah Bernadette + Rowan [...]
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5th Annual Banboche 2022 (Virtual)
Sat. Jan. 22, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
JAE's 5th Annual Banboche is moving to an online format and will be live-streamed at the Armory on January 22, 2022 6:30 PM - 9 [...]
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The Loop (Virtual)
Sat. Jan. 22, 2022    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Free Local Live Music! The Loop January Singer-Songwriter Showcase 1/20/22 features: Linda Marks, William D McMillan, Dan and Faith, and Marvin Velasquez Songlists Tune in [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Jan. 24, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join queer folk and their allies for Monday night tango classes with Boston Tango teachers! Learn the social dance connecting queers around the world! No [...]
More Info
The Moth: Boston StorySLAM
Tue. Jan. 25, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join us Tuesday, January 25th for the Boston Moth StorySLAM! This community-focused, open-mic storytelling competition is open to anyone can share a story on the [...]
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Strummerville Ukulele Club
Wed. Jan. 26, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Grab your uke and join us as we sing and strum the hits! All levels welcome, from beginners to seasoned hands.
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Red Cross Blood Drive
Mon. Jan. 31, 2022    
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
The Red Cross’s regular blood drive returns to the Armory on January 31st, 2022 from 11AM to 4PM. Please consider donating!
More Info
Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Jan. 31, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join queer folk and their allies for Monday night tango classes with Boston Tango teachers! Learn the social dance connecting queers around the world! No [...]
More Info
SCES Brown Bag Program
Tue. Feb. 01, 2022    
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Free groceries for older people and younger people with disabilities living in senior housing, provided by Somerville-Cambridge Elder services and the Greater Boston Food Bank
More Info
Smut Slam
Tue. Feb. 01, 2022    
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 [...]
More Info
Smut Slam - CANCELLED
Tue. Feb. 01, 2022 - Wed. Feb. 02, 2022    
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
UPDATE: This event on February 1st has been cancelled. What's a SMUT SLAM? I'm so glad you asked! It's a fast-paced storytelling open mic based [...]
More Info
Archery Tag
Wed. Feb. 02, 2022    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Hunger Games meets Dodgeball, Archery Tag® is the exhilarating new sport that's easy to learn and hours of fun.  Adults only, please.  When you arrive [...]
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Events on Mon. Dec. 27, 2021
Queer Tango Boston
27 Dec 21
Events on Mon. Jan. 03, 2022
Queer Tango Boston
3 Jan 22
Events on Tue. Jan. 04, 2022
SCES Brown Bag Program
4 Jan 22
Smut Slam
4 Jan 22
Events on Sat. Jan. 08, 2022
The Minimalists – Love People Use Things Tour
8 Jan 22
Events on Sun. Jan. 09, 2022
New Year, New Plant Market
9 Jan 22
Events on Mon. Jan. 10, 2022
Queer Tango Boston
10 Jan 22
Events on Wed. Jan. 12, 2022
Red Cross Blood Drive
12 Jan 22
Been Out Here: Teen Open Mic - CANCELLED
12 Jan 22
Been Out Here: Teen Open Mic Night
12 Jan 22
Events on Sat. Jan. 15, 2022
Amazigh New Year in Boston
15 Jan 22
Events on Mon. Jan. 17, 2022
Queer Tango Boston
17 Jan 22
Events on Thu. Jan. 20, 2022
Boston Security Meetup (Virtual) - CANCELLED
20 Jan 22
Events on Sat. Jan. 22, 2022
An Afternoon of Jazz & Acoustic Music
22 Jan 22
5th Annual Banboche 2022 (Virtual)
22 Jan 22
The Loop (Virtual)
22 Jan 22
Events on Mon. Jan. 24, 2022
Queer Tango Boston
24 Jan 22
Events on Tue. Jan. 25, 2022
The Moth: Boston StorySLAM
25 Jan 22
Events on Wed. Jan. 26, 2022
Strummerville Ukulele Club
26 Jan 22
Events on Mon. Jan. 31, 2022
Red Cross Blood Drive
31 Jan 22
Queer Tango Boston
31 Jan 22
Events on Tue. Feb. 01, 2022
SCES Brown Bag Program
1 Feb 22
Smut Slam
1 Feb 22
Smut Slam - CANCELLED
1 Feb 22
Events on Wed. Feb. 02, 2022
Smut Slam - CANCELLED
1 Feb 22
Archery Tag
2 Feb 22

Upcoming Events

The Center for the Arts at the Armory