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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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Yesterday's Magazine Live Stand Up Show
Sun. Sep. 29, 2024    
6:30 pm
Get tickets now! Boston’s newest comedy magazine published by Asylum Media brings you catch some of Boston’s best comedians and a FREE copy of the [...]
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Bill Blumenreich presents Politics as Unusual
Mon. Sep. 30, 2024    
7:30 pm
Politics as Unusual with Rick Wilson & Molly Jong-Fast Get tickets now! Molly Jong-Fast and Rick Wilson are taking their new show, Politics As Unusual, [...]
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SCES Brown Bag Program
Tue. Oct. 01, 2024    
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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All She Wrote Books Presents Sabaa Tahir "HEIR" & Azanta Thakur
Tue. Oct. 01, 2024    
7:00 pm
Join All She wrote books in a conversation with National Book Award winner and New York Times bestselling author, Sabaa Tahir, and Booktok’s Azanta Thakur [...]
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Smut Slam
Tue. Oct. 01, 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 [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Oct. 02, 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, [...]
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Get to the Gig Boston Presents: Carina Round
Wed. Oct. 02, 2024    
8:00 pm
Carina Round brings "The Disconnection" Tour to Arts at the Armory! Get tickets now! carinaround.com VIP Doors: 7:00PM General Doors 8:00PM Show 8:30PM
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Feda Eid Exhibition Closing Reception
Thu. Oct. 03, 2024    
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join us for the Closing Reception for the art exhibition by Feda Eid on view at Rooted Armory Café. Feda Eid is a Lebanese diaspora photographer [...]
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Get To The Gig Boston Presents Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers
Fri. Oct. 04, 2024    
7:00 pm
MassConcerts and Get To The Gig Boston present Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers with Special Guest Judy Blank Get tickets now! Doors open at [...]
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BSides CambridgeMA 2024
Sat. Oct. 05, 2024    
8:30 am - 1:30 pm
A community-organized 1-day information security and hacker conference. Registration is now open! bsidescambridgema.org  
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Somerville Songwriter Sessions
Sat. Oct. 05, 2024    
6:30 pm
Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe presents a CD release concert with singer/songwriters Erin Ash Sullivan, Colette O'Connor and Beth DeSombre, all of whom [...]
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Fall-ing for Plants Market
Sun. Oct. 06, 2024    
10:00 am - 3:30 pm
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Bill Blumenreich Presents: The Perfect Person Self Help Tour [SOLD OUT]
Mon. Oct. 07, 2024    
7:30 pm
The Perfect Person Self Help show is sold out on 10/7/2024. A flawless call-in advice show in which Miles Bonsignore answers your calls, solves your [...]
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Get to the Gig Presents: Bears in Trees
Tue. Oct. 08, 2024    
7:00 pm
Get To The Gig Boston Presents BEARS IN TREES with special guests: MOTHÉ THANK YOU I'M SORRY Get tickets now!
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The Bowery Presents: Tony Ann
Wed. Oct. 09, 2024    
6:00 pm
Following a sold out 4 show residency at Le 360 in Paris, Canadian pianist and composer Tony Ann now undertakes his debut World tour. Get [...]
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Tunefoolery Coffee House
Wed. Oct. 09, 2024    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tunefoolery Music is a non-profit organization for musicians in mental health recovery.
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Somerville Community Corporation Fall Job Fair
Thu. Oct. 10, 2024    
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
CALLING ALL JOB SEEKERS & COMMUNITY MEMBERS! Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) wants to connect YOU with employers and resource providers in Somerville and surrounding areas [...]
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Get to the Gig Presents: Boyscott
Thu. Oct. 10, 2024    
7:00 pm
Get To The Gig Boston & MassConcerts Present Boyscott with special guests: Raavi and Lily Konigsberg Get tickets now!
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Pub Sing
Thu. Oct. 10, 2024    
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. Oct. 11, 2024    
6:00 pm
Our Halloween-iest show yet! Wear your costume and come have fun at the Costume Jam! But before that... hear scary, and scary funny, tales from [...]
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Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents: BALA-BILA feat. Balla Kouyate and Matchume Zango
Fri. Oct. 11, 2024    
7:00 pm
Arts at the Armory is thrilled to present BALA-BILA as part of our Spotlight Series! Get tickets now! BALA-BILA brings together two African master musicians--Balla [...]
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Live Nation Presents: Kate Bollinger
Sat. Oct. 12, 2024    
7:00 pm
Get tickets now! Ranging from homespun folk songs to warmly rendered psychedelic rock—like early Rolling Stones as fronted by Hope Sandoval—the resulting album can feel [...]
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POP presents: Dylan Jack Quartet : Nosferatu
Sun. Oct. 13, 2024    
6:30 pm
Get tickets now! New music ensemble, The Dylan Jack Quartet, will provide a live soundtrack to the renowned 1922 silent film Nosferatu: Eine Symphonie des [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Oct. 16, 2024    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Hey Armory regulars, what do you mean you’ve never seen Jen Kearney perform before? OK, there was Covid so nobody was really performing much. And [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Oct. 16, 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, [...]
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Atomic Comedy Indie Improv Night
Thu. Oct. 17, 2024    
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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Illegally Blind presents: Boston Fuzzstival 2024
Fri. Oct. 18, 2024    
6:30 pm
Two-Day Event! Illegally Blind’s all-ages fest returns Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19, 2024 with a lineup of 20-plus Boston and Northeast artists that [...]
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Show Me Your Bits Standup & Sketch Show
Fri. Oct. 18, 2024    
7:30 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 [...]
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Illegally Blind presents: Boston Fuzzstival 2024
Sat. Oct. 19, 2024    
6:30 pm
Two-Day Event! Illegally Blind’s all-ages fest returns Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19, 2024 with a lineup of 20-plus Boston and Northeast artists that [...]
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Mark Lipman
Sat. Oct. 19, 2024    
7:00 pm
Mark Lipman will perform once again at the Rooted Cafe on October 19th. Come hear the music that has consistently sold out this venue! Get [...]
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GottaBal! Dance
Sun. Oct. 20, 2024    
4:00 pm - 8:00 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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The Moth: Boston StorySLAM - "Goosebumps"
Tue. Oct. 22, 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 [...]
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Strummerville Ukulele Club
Wed. Oct. 23, 2024    
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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Junebug: an Improvised Space Western
Fri. Oct. 25, 2024    
7:30 pm
Junebug: An improvised space western is back with a free show for all of you sci-fi nerds out there. Heavily inspired by the short-lived mid-2000's [...]
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Cafe Raqs
Sat. Oct. 26, 2024    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cafe Raqs is a place for New England's belly dancers of all styles and levels to perform in a fun, professional, and supportive environment! The [...]
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BLOWWLOWEEN 7
Sun. Oct. 27, 2024    
6:00 pm
Boston League of Wicked Wrestlers returns to The Center for the Arts at the Armory for BLOWWLOWEEN 7 Get tickets now! Greetings, human. The time [...]
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Arts at the Armory and Once Presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Mon. Oct. 28, 2024    
7:00 pm
Jump into the 1975 musical comedy horror cult classic in-person and live this Halloween! Costumes and call backs are highly encouraged; the Teseracte Players will [...]
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Bill Blumenreich presents: Luke Kidgell - Happy Hour
Tue. Oct. 29, 2024    
7:30 pm
Get tickets now! Luke Kidgell is an Australian comedian known for his clever observational humor and witty storytelling. He gained popularity through his YouTube channel [...]
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Events on Sun. Sep. 29, 2024
Yesterday's Magazine Live Stand Up Show
29 Sep 24
Events on Mon. Sep. 30, 2024
Bill Blumenreich presents Politics as Unusual
30 Sep 24
Events on Tue. Oct. 01, 2024
SCES Brown Bag Program
1 Oct 24
All She Wrote Books Presents Sabaa Tahir "HEIR" & Azanta Thakur
1 Oct 24
Smut Slam
1 Oct 24
Events on Wed. Oct. 02, 2024
Songwriters in the Round
2 Oct 24
Get to the Gig Boston Presents: Carina Round
2 Oct 24
Events on Thu. Oct. 03, 2024
Feda Eid Exhibition Closing Reception
3 Oct 24
Events on Fri. Oct. 04, 2024
Get To The Gig Boston Presents Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers
4 Oct 24
Events on Sat. Oct. 05, 2024
BSides CambridgeMA 2024
5 Oct 24
Somerville Songwriter Sessions
5 Oct 24
Events on Sun. Oct. 06, 2024
Fall-ing for Plants Market
6 Oct 24
Events on Mon. Oct. 07, 2024
Bill Blumenreich Presents: The Perfect Person Self Help Tour [SOLD OUT]
7 Oct 24
Events on Tue. Oct. 08, 2024
Get to the Gig Presents: Bears in Trees
8 Oct 24
Events on Wed. Oct. 09, 2024
The Bowery Presents: Tony Ann
9 Oct 24
Tunefoolery Coffee House
9 Oct 24
Events on Thu. Oct. 10, 2024
Somerville Community Corporation Fall Job Fair
10 Oct 24
Get to the Gig Presents: Boyscott
10 Oct 24
Pub Sing
10 Oct 24
Events on Fri. Oct. 11, 2024
The Nova Comedy Collective Presents: Nebula Night
11 Oct 24
Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents: BALA-BILA feat. Balla Kouyate and Matchume Zango
11 Oct 24
Events on Sat. Oct. 12, 2024
Live Nation Presents: Kate Bollinger
12 Oct 24
Events on Sun. Oct. 13, 2024
POP presents: Dylan Jack Quartet : Nosferatu
13 Oct 24
Events on Wed. Oct. 16, 2024
Songwriters in the Round
16 Oct 24
Songwriters in the Round
16 Oct 24
Events on Thu. Oct. 17, 2024
Atomic Comedy Indie Improv Night
17 Oct 24
Events on Fri. Oct. 18, 2024
Illegally Blind presents: Boston Fuzzstival 2024
18 Oct 24
Show Me Your Bits Standup & Sketch Show
18 Oct 24
Events on Sat. Oct. 19, 2024
Illegally Blind presents: Boston Fuzzstival 2024
19 Oct 24
Mark Lipman
19 Oct 24
Events on Sun. Oct. 20, 2024
GottaBal! Dance
20 Oct 24
Events on Tue. Oct. 22, 2024
The Moth: Boston StorySLAM - "Goosebumps"
22 Oct 24
Events on Wed. Oct. 23, 2024
Strummerville Ukulele Club
23 Oct 24
Events on Fri. Oct. 25, 2024
Junebug: an Improvised Space Western
25 Oct 24
Events on Sat. Oct. 26, 2024
Cafe Raqs
26 Oct 24
Events on Sun. Oct. 27, 2024
BLOWWLOWEEN 7
27 Oct 24
Events on Mon. Oct. 28, 2024
Arts at the Armory and Once Presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show
28 Oct 24
Events on Tue. Oct. 29, 2024
Bill Blumenreich presents: Luke Kidgell - Happy Hour
29 Oct 24

Upcoming Events

The Center for the Arts at the Armory