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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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SCES Brown Bag Program
Tue. Dec. 03, 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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Smut Slam
Tue. Dec. 03, 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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SOLD OUT - The Bowery Presents: Chelsea Wolfe
Wed. Dec. 04, 2024    
7:00 pm
Door open at 7:00PM Show begins at 8:00PM Enhancement to open chelseawolfe.com Tickets on sale: September 20th at 10:00AM Advance: $39.50 Day of show: $45 [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Dec. 04, 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: Uniform
Thu. Dec. 05, 2024    
6:30 pm
Get To The Gig Boston & MassConcerts + Sacred Bones present... Uniform with Pharmakon, True Body, and Infinity Ring Get tickets now! Doors open at [...]
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The Bowery Presents: Mike Viola
Fri. Dec. 06, 2024    
7:00 pm
Mike Viola comes to Arts at the Armory for his Rock of Boston album tour! Get tickets now! Doors open at 7:00 PM Show begins [...]
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WYRD Presents... Improv Comedy! – Silly Love Songs
Fri. Dec. 06, 2024    
7:30 pm
WYRD: Queer Comedy 7:30 PM – Silly Love Songs A fully improvised musical made up on the spot based on your suggestions! Get tickets now! [...]
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WYRD Presents... Improv Comedy! – Classy Characters
Fri. Dec. 06, 2024    
9:00 pm
WYRD Presents... Improv Comedy! 9:00 PM – Classy Characters A group of comedians pretending to be characters who have never done improv before. Watch them [...]
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The Flavor Continues presents FLAVORDAY
Sat. Dec. 07, 2024    
4:00 pm
The mission of #EnteringShaoLynn has always been to bring a Hip Hop feel back to the breaking community, emphasizing the cypher and culture in a [...]
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Somerville Songwriter Sessions
Sat. Dec. 07, 2024    
7:00 pm
Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe presents a concert with singer/songwriters Rachel Marie, Brian Theoret, and Nick Carter. Each performer will do a short [...]
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Bill Blumenreich Presents: Off Book - The Improvised Musical - SOLD OUT
Sun. Dec. 08, 2024    
7:00 pm
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT! Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino create a completely improvised musical in an attempt to combat the notion that musicals should [...]
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Tunefoolery Coffee House
Wed. Dec. 11, 2024    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tunefoolery Music is a non-profit organization for musicians in mental health recovery.
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The Bowery Presents: Karly Hartzman with Cryogeyser
Thu. Dec. 12, 2024    
7:00 pm
The Bowery Presents Karly Hartzman with special guest Cryogeyser Get tickets now! 7:00 PM Doors 8:00 PM Show Advance: $20 Day of show: $22 *No [...]
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Pub Sing
Thu. Dec. 12, 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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Junebug: an Improvised Space Western
Fri. Dec. 13, 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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Live Nation Presents An Evening with Donna Missal
Fri. Dec. 13, 2024    
7:30 pm
The Acoustic Tour comes to Arts at the Armory this December. Get tickets now! Doors open at 7:30 PM Show begins at 8:30 PM $20.50 [...]
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A Christmas Carol
Sat. Dec. 14, 2024    
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Callisto Stage Co. is putting on their first production! Get tickets now! Join us for a festive evening filled with the classic tale of "A [...]
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VoiceLab A Cappella Concert
Sat. Dec. 14, 2024    
6:30 pm
VoiceLab is an a cappella group comprised of graduate students and young professionals in the Boston area. They are an all-gender group typically comprised of [...]
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A Christmas Carol
Sun. Dec. 15, 2024    
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Callisto Stage Co. is putting on their first production! Get tickets now! Join us for a festive evening filled with the classic tale of "A [...]
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Wicked Good Aht Mahket
Mon. Dec. 16, 2024    
4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Aht Dept. began as a backyard art show in 2022 put on by a passionate group of local artists trying to showcase their own [...]
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Screening of Majority Rules
Wed. Dec. 18, 2024    
6:00 pm
Join us for a screening of Majority Rules with Q&A afterwards. Get tickets now! Alaska is gearing up to do something that no other state [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Dec. 18, 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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Second Annual Somerville Chanukah Party
Thu. Dec. 19, 2024    
6:30 pm
Second annual Somerville Chanukah Party! Get tickets now! This year, we are delighted to present, for the first time in history, as far as we [...]
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Atomic Comedy Indie Improv Night
Thu. Dec. 19, 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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Show Me Your Bits Standup & Sketch Show
Fri. Dec. 20, 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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A Christmas Celebration in Kompa
Fri. Dec. 20, 2024    
9:00 pm
Let's celebrate Christmas together with GABEL, GIG, & ALAN CAVE. Get tickets now! Doors open at 8:30 PM. Event begins at 9:00 PM.
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Gaia Music Collective One-Day Choir: Defying Gravity
Sat. Dec. 21, 2024    
6:00 pm
Whether you're a vocal ensemble veteran or have never sung in a group before, you are welcome here - all experience levels are valued in [...]
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The Nova Comedy Collective Presents: Nebula Night
Sat. Dec. 21, 2024    
6:00 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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Brazilian Theater of Boston: O Cordel Natalino do Compadi Jesuino
Sun. Dec. 22, 2024    
5:00 pm
Doors open at 4:00 PM Show begins at 5:00 PM
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GottaBal! Dance
Sun. Dec. 22, 2024    
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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Strummerville Ukulele Club
Wed. Dec. 25, 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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Strummerville Ukulele Club
Wed. Dec. 25, 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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Cafe Raqs
Sat. Dec. 28, 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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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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Events on Tue. Dec. 03, 2024
SCES Brown Bag Program
3 Dec 24
Smut Slam
3 Dec 24
Events on Wed. Dec. 04, 2024
SOLD OUT - The Bowery Presents: Chelsea Wolfe
4 Dec 24
Songwriters in the Round
4 Dec 24
Events on Thu. Dec. 05, 2024
Get To the Gig Boston Presents: Uniform
5 Dec 24
Events on Fri. Dec. 06, 2024
The Bowery Presents: Mike Viola
6 Dec 24
WYRD Presents... Improv Comedy! – Silly Love Songs
6 Dec 24
WYRD Presents... Improv Comedy! – Classy Characters
6 Dec 24
Events on Sat. Dec. 07, 2024
The Flavor Continues presents FLAVORDAY
7 Dec 24
Somerville Songwriter Sessions
7 Dec 24
Events on Sun. Dec. 08, 2024
Bill Blumenreich Presents: Off Book - The Improvised Musical - SOLD OUT
8 Dec 24
Events on Wed. Dec. 11, 2024
Tunefoolery Coffee House
11 Dec 24
Events on Thu. Dec. 12, 2024
The Bowery Presents: Karly Hartzman with Cryogeyser
12 Dec 24
Pub Sing
12 Dec 24
Events on Fri. Dec. 13, 2024
Junebug: an Improvised Space Western
13 Dec 24
Live Nation Presents An Evening with Donna Missal
13 Dec 24
Events on Sat. Dec. 14, 2024
A Christmas Carol
14 Dec 24
VoiceLab A Cappella Concert
14 Dec 24
Events on Sun. Dec. 15, 2024
A Christmas Carol
15 Dec 24
Events on Mon. Dec. 16, 2024
Wicked Good Aht Mahket
16 Dec 24
Events on Wed. Dec. 18, 2024
Screening of Majority Rules
18 Dec 24
Songwriters in the Round
18 Dec 24
Events on Thu. Dec. 19, 2024
Second Annual Somerville Chanukah Party
19 Dec 24
Atomic Comedy Indie Improv Night
19 Dec 24
Events on Fri. Dec. 20, 2024
Show Me Your Bits Standup & Sketch Show
20 Dec 24
A Christmas Celebration in Kompa
20 Dec 24
Events on Sat. Dec. 21, 2024
Gaia Music Collective One-Day Choir: Defying Gravity
21 Dec 24
The Nova Comedy Collective Presents: Nebula Night
21 Dec 24
Events on Sun. Dec. 22, 2024
Brazilian Theater of Boston: O Cordel Natalino do Compadi Jesuino
22 Dec 24
GottaBal! Dance
22 Dec 24
Events on Wed. Dec. 25, 2024
Strummerville Ukulele Club
25 Dec 24
Strummerville Ukulele Club
25 Dec 24
Events on Sat. Dec. 28, 2024
Cafe Raqs
28 Dec 24
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

Upcoming Events

The Center for the Arts at the Armory