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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. Nov. 01, 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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SCES Brown Bag Program
Tue. Nov. 02, 2021    
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. Nov. 02, 2021    
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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SMUT SLAM Boston: Back with a Vengeance!
Tue. Nov. 02, 2021    
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
What else is there to say besides: WE'RE BAAAAAAAACK! SMUT SLAM Boston returns November 2nd! Can you handle it?? What's a SMUT SLAM? I'm so [...]
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Open Armory
Wed. Nov. 03, 2021    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Open Armory is your chance to tap into beauty. Bring your talent, be it music, comedy, storytelling, or hula hooping. All are welcome at the [...]
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Palaver Strings w/ Warp Trio Presents: Affirmation
Fri. Nov. 05, 2021    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Palaver Strings joins forces with the genre-defying chamber ensemble Warp Trio to present Affirmation. This program centers music and stories that have been suppressed or [...]
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Somerville Songwriter Session
Sat. Nov. 06, 2021    
7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
The Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe present a live, in-person concert with singer/songwriters Terry Kitchen, Chris Lavancher and Amy Kucharik. The concert will [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Nov. 08, 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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Been Out Here: Teen Open Mic Night
Wed. Nov. 10, 2021    
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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The Art of Improv Jazz Jam
Fri. Nov. 12, 2021    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Come join us for a night of improv featuring local Somerville musicians! The house band takes the stage at 7pm for a set of improvised [...]
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Opening Reception for Outside/ In: Graffiti & Street Art Through the Photographer’s Lens
Sat. Nov. 13, 2021    
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Join us for an opening reception of the new exhibition "Outside/ In: Graffiti & Street Art Through the Photographer’s Lens" Curated by Renana Greenberg Kehoe [...]
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THE CENTER FOR ARTS AT THE ARMORY PRESENTS TOBIN SPROUT NOVEMBER 14TH
Sun. Nov. 14, 2021    
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Join us for a special concert with painter, illustrator, author, songwriter and former Guided By Voices guitarist Tobin Sprout in the Armory Performance Hall on [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Nov. 15, 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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CANCELLED: Musician Performance: Trae Sheehan
Thu. Nov. 18, 2021    
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
UPDATE: This event has been cancelled. Apologies for the inconvenience! If you're a fan of Jackson Browne's voice, Mumford & Son's live energy, and Randy [...]
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The Loop (Virtual event)
Thu. Nov. 18, 2021    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
  Please note: this show will not take place in person at the Armory on 11/21, it will be live streamed here: https://youtu.be/S5st0pyDKTo This month's [...]
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notloB Music Presents: Noah y Maurizio
Fri. Nov. 19, 2021    
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Noah y Maurizio is a Boston-based band that comes out of the vibrant musical environments of the Berklee College of Music and the Acoustic Music [...]
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THE CREATIVE MUSIC SERIES PRESENTS : FROM BOSTON
Sat. Nov. 20, 2021    
8:00 pm
Eric Dahlman & the JMDEQuartet now with Jimmy Zhao on multiple Chinese instruments, viola, etc. These are Important musicians and concepts contributing to the Boston [...]
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Mega64 Live!
Sun. Nov. 21, 2021    
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
It all started with one machine. The Mega64 - a console that makes video games appear real. That’s the premise behind the San Diego public [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Nov. 22, 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 [...]
More Info
Strummerville Ukulele Club
Wed. Nov. 24, 2021    
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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Wintergreen Herbstalk Market!
Sat. Nov. 27, 2021    
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Join us for an HERBSTALK holiday event on Saturday, November 27th from 11am - 5pm at The Armory, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA Our Wintergreen Market [...]
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Somerville Flea Market
Sun. Nov. 28, 2021    
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Two jam-packed floors of gift giving ideas that you won't find anywhere else! Vintage and artisan wares along with DJ, cafe and bar. Try to [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Nov. 29, 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 [...]
More Info
Open Armory
Wed. Dec. 01, 2021    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Open Armory is your chance to tap into beauty. Bring your talent, be it music, comedy, storytelling, or hula hooping. All are welcome at the [...]
More Info
Karen Bella / Kaylee Fredermann / Todd Trusty / Amy Kucharik
Fri. Dec. 03, 2021    
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Come on out for an amazing night of music at Arts at the Armory! This is a FREE show but please feel free to bring [...]
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Events on Mon. Nov. 01, 2021
Queer Tango Boston
1 Nov 21
Events on Tue. Nov. 02, 2021
SCES Brown Bag Program
2 Nov 21
Smut Slam
2 Nov 21
SMUT SLAM Boston: Back with a Vengeance!
2 Nov 21
Events on Wed. Nov. 03, 2021
Open Armory
3 Nov 21
Events on Fri. Nov. 05, 2021
Palaver Strings w/ Warp Trio Presents: Affirmation
5 Nov 21
Events on Sat. Nov. 06, 2021
Somerville Songwriter Session
6 Nov 21
Events on Mon. Nov. 08, 2021
Queer Tango Boston
8 Nov 21
Events on Wed. Nov. 10, 2021
Been Out Here: Teen Open Mic Night
10 Nov 21
Events on Fri. Nov. 12, 2021
The Art of Improv Jazz Jam
12 Nov 21
Events on Sat. Nov. 13, 2021
Opening Reception for Outside/ In: Graffiti & Street Art Through the Photographer’s Lens
13 Nov 21
Events on Sun. Nov. 14, 2021
THE CENTER FOR ARTS AT THE ARMORY PRESENTS TOBIN SPROUT NOVEMBER 14TH
14 Nov 21
Events on Mon. Nov. 15, 2021
Queer Tango Boston
15 Nov 21
Events on Thu. Nov. 18, 2021
CANCELLED: Musician Performance: Trae Sheehan
18 Nov 21
The Loop (Virtual event)
18 Nov 21
Events on Fri. Nov. 19, 2021
notloB Music Presents: Noah y Maurizio
19 Nov 21
Events on Sat. Nov. 20, 2021
THE CREATIVE MUSIC SERIES PRESENTS : FROM BOSTON
20 Nov 21
Events on Sun. Nov. 21, 2021
Mega64 Live!
21 Nov 21
Events on Mon. Nov. 22, 2021
Queer Tango Boston
22 Nov 21
Events on Wed. Nov. 24, 2021
Strummerville Ukulele Club
24 Nov 21
Events on Sat. Nov. 27, 2021
Wintergreen Herbstalk Market!
27 Nov 21
Events on Sun. Nov. 28, 2021
Somerville Flea Market
28 Nov 21
Events on Mon. Nov. 29, 2021
Queer Tango Boston
29 Nov 21
Events on Wed. Dec. 01, 2021
Open Armory
1 Dec 21
Events on Fri. Dec. 03, 2021
Karen Bella / Kaylee Fredermann / Todd Trusty / Amy Kucharik
3 Dec 21

Upcoming Events

The Center for the Arts at the Armory