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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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Beyond Wrestling: "Motherlode"
Sun. Nov. 27, 2022    
5:00 pm
To purchase tickets and for more information, click here.  Doors Open: 5:00PM Pre-Show: 6:00-6:45PM Main Card: 7:00-10:30PM
More Info
Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
Mon. Nov. 28, 2022    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
This class is for pre-teens and teens of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques of parkour, [...]
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Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
Mon. Nov. 28, 2022    
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
This class is for children (ages 6 - 13yo) of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques [...]
More Info
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
Mon. Nov. 28, 2022    
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
A class designed for practitioners with "more life experience" (age 40/50+) that are interested in getting the fitness and agility benefits of parkour training without [...]
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Avi Wisnia: Catching Leaves Album Release Concert
Fri. Dec. 02, 2022    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Nearly a decade after his debut release, jazz/pop piano singer-songwriter Avi Wisnia is back with special guests to celebrate his poignant and long-awaited new album, [...]
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WholeTone Music Academy Winter Recital
Sat. Dec. 03, 2022    
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
You are invited to attend a studio recital featuring students from the WholeTone Music Academy in Cambridge. Join us at 4pm for our Winter Recital, [...]
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Bowery Presents: Yot Club
Sat. Dec. 03, 2022    
7:30 pm
The Bowery Presents: Yot Club with TOLEDO 7:30pm Doors / 8:30pm Show All Ages To purchase tickets, please click here.
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Somerville Songwriter Sessions
Sat. Dec. 03, 2022    
7:30 pm
The Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe present a live, in-person concert with singer/songwriters Terry Kitchen, Janet Feld and Esther Friedman and special guest [...]
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Somerville Flea Holiday Market
Sun. Dec. 04, 2022    
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Come join the Somerville Flea as they celebrate our 10th year hosting Holiday Markets at the Armory. More information available here.
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Lady Ray: She Wrote the Song
Sun. Dec. 04, 2022    
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
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Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
Mon. Dec. 05, 2022    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
This class is for pre-teens and teens of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques of parkour, [...]
More Info
Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
Mon. Dec. 05, 2022    
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
This class is for children (ages 6 - 13yo) of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques [...]
More Info
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
Mon. Dec. 05, 2022    
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
A class designed for practitioners with "more life experience" (age 40/50+) that are interested in getting the fitness and agility benefits of parkour training without [...]
More Info
SCES Brown Bag Program
Tue. Dec. 06, 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
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Smut Slam
Tue. Dec. 06, 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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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Dec. 07, 2022    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
1st & 3rd Wednesdays at ROOTED Cafe at 7 PM Billy Joel. Sara Bareilles. Stevie Wonder. Tori Amos. What do these artists have in common? [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Dec. 07, 2022    
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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BB Presents: Depths of Wikipedia Live
Fri. Dec. 09, 2022    
7:00 pm
To purchase tickets, please click here.  
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Artist Reception with Nelson Salazar
Sat. Dec. 10, 2022    
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
We are delighted to welcome artist Nelson Salazar to the Armory Cafe! You are invited to attend Nelson’s reception which will be held on Dec. [...]
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ONCE Presents: The Hinterlands Ball
Sat. Dec. 10, 2022    
7:00 pm
To purchase tickets, please click here. Sinnet and ONCE are teaming up for The Hinterlands Ball, a wintery evening of excellent indie rock, tasty drinks [...]
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Poet's Theatre: Lo Galluccio & Andrés Amitai Wilson
Sat. Dec. 10, 2022    
8:00 pm
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Teatro Brasileiro De Boston Presents: Um Natal Muito Especial
Sun. Dec. 11, 2022    
4:30 pm
Doors open 4:30PM.
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Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
Mon. Dec. 12, 2022    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
This class is for pre-teens and teens of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques of parkour, [...]
More Info
Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
Mon. Dec. 12, 2022    
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
This class is for children (ages 6 - 13yo) of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques [...]
More Info
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
Mon. Dec. 12, 2022    
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
A class designed for practitioners with "more life experience" (age 40/50+) that are interested in getting the fitness and agility benefits of parkour training without [...]
More Info
Café Flamenco
Thu. Dec. 15, 2022    
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
The Arts at the Armory has partnered with Laura Sánchez Flamenco to create a multidisciplinary space to share, create and build communities around flamenco. This [...]
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Singing in the Winter Solstice (Workshop + Concert) - CANCELLED
Sat. Dec. 17, 2022    
5:00 pm
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.  For more information and to purchase tickets (free), please click here. Singer-songwriters Luke Concannon, Alex Fam, and Morgan Johnston present [...]
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Somerville Flea Holiday Market
Sun. Dec. 18, 2022    
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Come join the Somerville Flea as they celebrate our 10th year hosting Holiday Markets at the Armory. More information available here.
More Info
Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
Mon. Dec. 19, 2022    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
This class is for pre-teens and teens of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques of parkour, [...]
More Info
Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
Mon. Dec. 19, 2022    
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
This class is for children (ages 6 - 13yo) of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques [...]
More Info
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
Mon. Dec. 19, 2022    
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
A class designed for practitioners with "more life experience" (age 40/50+) that are interested in getting the fitness and agility benefits of parkour training without [...]
More Info
First and Last Word Poetry
Tue. Dec. 20, 2022    
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Doors 6:30 pm. Third Tuesday of every month, with different featured poets each time, and a chance to read your own work during the open-mic section [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Dec. 21, 2022    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
1st & 3rd Wednesdays at ROOTED Cafe at 7 PM The year comes to an end, inviting a reckoning. Fortunately, the accounts are looking mostly [...]
More Info
Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Dec. 21, 2022    
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
Strummerville Ukulele Club
Wed. Dec. 28, 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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Strummerville Ukulele *CANCELED*
Wed. Dec. 28, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
This event is cancelled due to the Armory's holiday closure. The Strummerville Ukulele Club is a fun-loving, ukulele-strumming, singing and humming group of amateur musicians [...]
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Events on Sun. Nov. 27, 2022
Beyond Wrestling: "Motherlode"
27 Nov 22
Events on Mon. Nov. 28, 2022
Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
28 Nov 22
Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
28 Nov 22
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
28 Nov 22
Events on Fri. Dec. 02, 2022
Avi Wisnia: Catching Leaves Album Release Concert
2 Dec 22
Events on Sat. Dec. 03, 2022
WholeTone Music Academy Winter Recital
3 Dec 22
Bowery Presents: Yot Club
3 Dec 22
Somerville Songwriter Sessions
3 Dec 22
Events on Sun. Dec. 04, 2022
Somerville Flea Holiday Market
4 Dec 22
Lady Ray: She Wrote the Song
4 Dec 22
Events on Mon. Dec. 05, 2022
Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
5 Dec 22
Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
5 Dec 22
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
5 Dec 22
Events on Tue. Dec. 06, 2022
SCES Brown Bag Program
6 Dec 22
Smut Slam
6 Dec 22
Events on Wed. Dec. 07, 2022
Songwriters in the Round
7 Dec 22
Songwriters in the Round
7 Dec 22
Events on Fri. Dec. 09, 2022
BB Presents: Depths of Wikipedia Live
9 Dec 22
Events on Sat. Dec. 10, 2022
Artist Reception with Nelson Salazar
10 Dec 22
ONCE Presents: The Hinterlands Ball
10 Dec 22
Poet's Theatre: Lo Galluccio & Andrés Amitai Wilson
10 Dec 22
Events on Sun. Dec. 11, 2022
Teatro Brasileiro De Boston Presents: Um Natal Muito Especial
11 Dec 22
Events on Mon. Dec. 12, 2022
Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
12 Dec 22
Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
12 Dec 22
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
12 Dec 22
Events on Thu. Dec. 15, 2022
Café Flamenco
15 Dec 22
Events on Sat. Dec. 17, 2022
Singing in the Winter Solstice (Workshop + Concert) - CANCELLED
17 Dec 22
Events on Sun. Dec. 18, 2022
Somerville Flea Holiday Market
18 Dec 22
Events on Mon. Dec. 19, 2022
Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
19 Dec 22
Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
19 Dec 22
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
19 Dec 22
Events on Tue. Dec. 20, 2022
First and Last Word Poetry
20 Dec 22
Events on Wed. Dec. 21, 2022
Songwriters in the Round
21 Dec 22
Songwriters in the Round
21 Dec 22
Events on Wed. Dec. 28, 2022
Strummerville Ukulele Club
28 Dec 22
Strummerville Ukulele *CANCELED*
28 Dec 22

Upcoming Events

The Center for the Arts at the Armory