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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

Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents We Black Folk Showcase
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We Black Folk Showcase

March 20, 2026

Celebrate the Boston-based movement to highlight and expand the Black folk genre!

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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 MetMovements

December 11, 2026

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

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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Jan. 01, 2025    
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, [...]
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Vortex Ecstatic Dance
Fri. Jan. 03, 2025    
7:00 pm
Join us for the next Vortex Dance experience and ride with us the ecstatic wave into the New Year. Get tickets now! Dear dancing friends, [...]
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School of Rock Watertown Adult Band Showcase
Sun. Jan. 05, 2025    
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
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SCES Brown Bag Program
Tue. Jan. 07, 2025    
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
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Smut Slam
Tue. Jan. 07, 2025    
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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Tunefoolery Coffee House
Wed. Jan. 08, 2025    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tunefoolery Music is a non-profit organization for musicians in mental health recovery.
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Pub Sing
Thu. Jan. 09, 2025    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Join in with chorus songs that are easy to learn and fun to sing
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The Nova Comedy Collective Presents: Nebula Night
Fri. Jan. 10, 2025    
8:00 pm
Join us in celebrating independent arts around the Boston area, enjoying the musical stylings of local artists, and coming together for all our arts community [...]
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Back & Forth Flea Market
Sun. Jan. 12, 2025    
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Come shop a unique curation of vintage clothing, art, and small goods from local vendors. Live mending and alterations, music and more. It is a [...]
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Red Cross Blood Drive
Wed. Jan. 15, 2025    
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 [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Jan. 15, 2025    
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, [...]
More Info
Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Jan. 15, 2025    
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, [...]
More Info
Atomic Comedy Indie Improv Night
Thu. Jan. 16, 2025    
7:30 pm
An independently-produced, monthly improv show featuring new and veteran local talent. Come see what’s blowing up!
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Get to the Gig Presents Grass is Green with Speedy Ortiz and Pile
Fri. Jan. 17, 2025    
6:30 pm
Grass is Green comes to The Center for the Arts at the Armory with Philadelphia rock quartet Speedy Ortiz plus Special Surprise Guest PILE! Doors [...]
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WYRD Presents... Improv Comedy!
Sat. Jan. 18, 2025    
7:00 pm
WYRD Presents... Improv Comedy! A cast of your favorite Boston comedians improvise a brand new show completely made up on the spot. We invite guests [...]
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Massachusetts Pirate Party Winter Conference
Sun. Jan. 19, 2025    
10:00 am
Join the Massachusetts Pirate Party for their Winter 2025 conference on Sunday, January 19th, in the ROOTED Armory Café. The conference starts by 10:00 AM [...]
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The Moth: StorySLAM - Happy Accidents
Tue. Jan. 21, 2025    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
HAPPY ACCIDENTS: Five-minute stories about positive setbacks, failing upwards, or blessings in disguise. Did you try to cure the common headache but ended up with [...]
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Strummerville Ukulele Club
Wed. Jan. 22, 2025    
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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The Artist’s Way Course
Thu. Jan. 23, 2025    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
The Artist's Way — a course in discovering and recovering your inner creative self. For 13 weeks, we will nurture our inner artists through reflection, creation, [...]
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Exhibition Reception for Conversations We Had: An Exhibition of BFAC Member Artists
Sat. Jan. 25, 2025    
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Join us for an Exhibition Reception for Conversations We Had: An Exhibition of BFAC Member Artists at ROOTED Armory Cafe.  The exhibition runs from December [...]
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Esh Circus Arts Staff Show
Sat. Jan. 25, 2025    
8:00 pm
Join us on Saturday, January 25th for an evening of performance by the teaching staff of Esh Circus Arts! Get tickets now! Doors at 7:30 [...]
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GottaBal! Dance
Sun. Jan. 26, 2025    
7:00 pm
Monthly DJ’d dance event! We are a diverse and inclusive community of dancers united by our love of Swing dance. Balboa originated in Southern California [...]
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Get to the Gig presents: Half Waif
Fri. Jan. 31, 2025    
7:00 pm
Get to the Gig Boston and MassConcerts present Half Waif See You at the Maypole Get tickets now! Doors open at 7:00PM Show begins at [...]
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Max's House - The Seriously Silly Tour
Fri. Jan. 31, 2025    
8:00 pm
Max’s House is a musical puppet show about reconnecting with the things that bring us joy (in this case, singing and dancing) and returning to [...]
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Events on Wed. Jan. 01, 2025
Songwriters in the Round
1 Jan 25
Events on Fri. Jan. 03, 2025
Vortex Ecstatic Dance
3 Jan 25
Events on Sun. Jan. 05, 2025
School of Rock Watertown Adult Band Showcase
5 Jan 25
Events on Tue. Jan. 07, 2025
SCES Brown Bag Program
7 Jan 25
Smut Slam
7 Jan 25
Events on Wed. Jan. 08, 2025
Tunefoolery Coffee House
8 Jan 25
Events on Thu. Jan. 09, 2025
Pub Sing
9 Jan 25
Events on Fri. Jan. 10, 2025
The Nova Comedy Collective Presents: Nebula Night
10 Jan 25
Events on Sun. Jan. 12, 2025
Back & Forth Flea Market
12 Jan 25
Events on Wed. Jan. 15, 2025
Red Cross Blood Drive
15 Jan 25
Songwriters in the Round
15 Jan 25
Songwriters in the Round
15 Jan 25
Events on Thu. Jan. 16, 2025
Atomic Comedy Indie Improv Night
16 Jan 25
Events on Fri. Jan. 17, 2025
Get to the Gig Presents Grass is Green with Speedy Ortiz and Pile
17 Jan 25
Events on Sat. Jan. 18, 2025
WYRD Presents... Improv Comedy!
18 Jan 25
Events on Sun. Jan. 19, 2025
Massachusetts Pirate Party Winter Conference
19 Jan 25
Events on Tue. Jan. 21, 2025
The Moth: StorySLAM - Happy Accidents
21 Jan 25
Events on Wed. Jan. 22, 2025
Strummerville Ukulele Club
22 Jan 25
Events on Thu. Jan. 23, 2025
The Artist’s Way Course
23 Jan 25
Events on Sat. Jan. 25, 2025
Exhibition Reception for Conversations We Had: An Exhibition of BFAC Member Artists
25 Jan 25
Esh Circus Arts Staff Show
25 Jan 25
Events on Sun. Jan. 26, 2025
GottaBal! Dance
26 Jan 25
Events on Fri. Jan. 31, 2025
Get to the Gig presents: Half Waif
31 Jan 25
Max's House - The Seriously Silly Tour
31 Jan 25

Upcoming Events

Jamie Dunphy and True North

Jamie Dunphy and True North

Sat. Apr. 11, 2026, 3:00 PM
Esh Circus Arts Spring Student Show

Esh Circus Arts Spring Student Show

Sat. Apr. 11, 2026, 7:30 PM
Le Stelle di Bacco Present a funny play for a fun evening

Le Stelle di Bacco Present a funny play for a fun evening

Sat. Apr. 11, 2026, 7:30 PM

The Center for the Arts at the Armory