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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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POP African Music Series: Kotoko Brass with Dzidzor
Sun. Jan. 29, 2023    
5:00 pm
To purchase tickets, please click here. Inspired by the traditional drum rhythms of Ghana, Kotoko Brass has created a unique, joyful, and improvisational style of [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Feb. 01, 2023    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
This week at Songwriters in the Round we have a combo of talents that will keep you guessing. Nora Meier has amazing range as a writer — [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Feb. 01, 2023    
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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[CANCELED] Brittany Karlson, Forbes Graham, Francisco Mela, Miranda Agnew: Free Jazz/Free Form at the Cafe
Fri. Feb. 03, 2023    
8:00 pm
2/3/23 UPDATE: This event is canceled due to inclement weather. Who: Brittany Karlson, bass, the leader Forbes Graham, trumpet Francisco Mela, drums Miranda Agnew, trumpet [...]
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Charlot Lucien Artist Exhibition Closing Reception
Sat. Feb. 04, 2023    
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Please join us for Charlot Lucien's closing reception, which will be held on February 4th 4:00PM – 6:00PM in the ROOTED Armory Cafe.
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The Fourth Wall Ensemble Presents: Fruit Flies Like a Banana
Sat. Feb. 04, 2023    
7:00 pm
The Fourth Wall is back in Somerville after a 50-show run in Edinburgh, Scotland! Time flies like an arrow…Fruit flies like a banana! The performers [...]
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Somerville Songwriter Sessions
Sat. Feb. 04, 2023    
7:30 pm
The Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe present a live, in-person concert with singer/songwriters Rachel Marie, Owen Walsh, and Jessye DeSilva. The concert will [...]
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Somerville Songwriter Sessions
Sat. Feb. 04, 2023    
7:30 pm
The Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe present a live, in-person concert with featured singer/songwriters. The concert will include a solo set by each [...]
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POP AFRICAN MUSIC SERIES: Kina Zore with author Pacifique Irankunda
Sun. Feb. 05, 2023    
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Join Boston-based Mozambican funk band Kina Zoré for a unique collaboration with Brooklyn-based Burundian author Pacifique Irankunda. Pacifique will read from his award-winning memoir The [...]
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SCES Brown Bag Program
Tue. Feb. 07, 2023    
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. Feb. 07, 2023    
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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Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents Bitchcraft (a musical play)
Sat. Feb. 11, 2023    
7:00 pm
Queer Icon Bitch Stars in a One-Woman Musical Play About Her Life Story and How Bitch Became Bitch Performance artist and musician Bitch tells the [...]
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Reproductive Justice Salon: An Abortion Fundraiser
Sat. Feb. 11, 2023    
7:00 pm
Suggested donation: $15-50 *Reserve your spot because this event might sell out!* Join us for a night of very short, very timely presentations about reproductive [...]
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BB Presents: Antoni: Let's Do Dinner!
Sun. Feb. 12, 2023    
2:00 pm
Celebrate the season of love with Queer Eye star and New York Times bestselling author Antoni Porowski Grab your crush or besties and join us [...]
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The Women of Tunefoolery
Tue. Feb. 14, 2023    
5:00 pm
Learn more at tunefoolery.org
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Arts at the Armory POP Presents Tongue in Cheek Presents Cry Me A River/Peel Me A Grape
Tue. Feb. 14, 2023    
7:00 pm
  Learn more about  POP here.    
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Feb. 15, 2023    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
It seems like we have two totally separate musical ecosystems today. One is the world of Super Bowl halftime shows, Grammy hot takes, and Ticketmaster [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Feb. 15, 2023    
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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Stephanie Vecellio Artist Opening Reception
Sat. Feb. 18, 2023    
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Join us for Stephanie Vecellio's Exhibit Opening Reception! Stephanie Vecellio is a local illustrator who has lived in Somerville since 2014. She grew up in [...]
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Spotlight Showcase Open Mic
Sat. Feb. 18, 2023    
7:00 pm
We are a collection of singer songwriters that have been gigging in clubs, open mics, and busking in Harvard Square since 2011.
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Yiddish Women Songwriters: Isabel Frey & Sarah Larsson
Sun. Feb. 19, 2023    
7:30 pm
  Isabel Frey (Vienna) and Sarah Larsson (Minneapolis) are troubadours in a new tradition of Yiddish songwriting and folksinging. Both rooted in a deep background [...]
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BB Presents: THE EDUCATION OF KENDRICK PERKINS
Tue. Feb. 21, 2023    
7:00 pm
MEMOIR BY NBA STAR/MEDIA HEAVYWEIGHT KENDRICK PERKINS ESPN NBA analyst/personality and social media star presents an intimate memoir about race, fatherhood and basketball. Perkins was [...]
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First and Last Word Poetry
Tue. Feb. 21, 2023    
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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Strummerville Ukulele Club
Wed. Feb. 22, 2023    
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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Out Loud - A Very Queer Open Mic
Fri. Feb. 24, 2023    
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Feature: JR Mahung (She/They) is a Garifuna poet from the South Side of Chicago. She now lives in Boston, MA where she writes, meal preps [...]
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Cafe Raqs
Sat. Feb. 25, 2023    
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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The Moth: Boston StorySLAM
Tue. Feb. 28, 2023    
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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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Mar. 01, 2023    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
People ask how we are able to keep Songwriters in the Round at the Center for Arts at the Armory so fresh. Honestly, it’s not that hard. [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Mar. 01, 2023    
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
Mxnifest!
Fri. Mar. 03, 2023    
7:00 pm
MXNIFEST plays March 3rd 2023 at Rooted Armory Cafe; doors open at 7:00PM. MXNIFEST is an independent rock band that was founded in July of [...]
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Get To The Gig Boston Presents: Pile (All Fiction Release Show)
Fri. Mar. 03, 2023    
7:00 pm
PILE celebrates the release of their new album All Fiction on Friday, March 3rd! $20 advance / $25 day of show 7pm - ALL AGES [...]
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Events on Sun. Jan. 29, 2023
POP African Music Series: Kotoko Brass with Dzidzor
29 Jan 23
Events on Wed. Feb. 01, 2023
Songwriters in the Round
1 Feb 23
Songwriters in the Round
1 Feb 23
Events on Fri. Feb. 03, 2023
[CANCELED] Brittany Karlson, Forbes Graham, Francisco Mela, Miranda Agnew: Free Jazz/Free Form at the Cafe
3 Feb 23
Events on Sat. Feb. 04, 2023
Charlot Lucien Artist Exhibition Closing Reception
4 Feb 23
The Fourth Wall Ensemble Presents: Fruit Flies Like a Banana
4 Feb 23
Somerville Songwriter Sessions
4 Feb 23
Somerville Songwriter Sessions
4 Feb 23
Events on Sun. Feb. 05, 2023
POP AFRICAN MUSIC SERIES: Kina Zore with author Pacifique Irankunda
5 Feb 23
Events on Tue. Feb. 07, 2023
SCES Brown Bag Program
7 Feb 23
Smut Slam
7 Feb 23
Events on Sat. Feb. 11, 2023
Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents Bitchcraft (a musical play)
11 Feb 23
Reproductive Justice Salon: An Abortion Fundraiser
11 Feb 23
Events on Sun. Feb. 12, 2023
BB Presents: Antoni: Let's Do Dinner!
12 Feb 23
Events on Tue. Feb. 14, 2023
The Women of Tunefoolery
14 Feb 23
Arts at the Armory POP Presents Tongue in Cheek Presents Cry Me A River/Peel Me A Grape
14 Feb 23
Events on Wed. Feb. 15, 2023
Songwriters in the Round
15 Feb 23
Songwriters in the Round
15 Feb 23
Events on Sat. Feb. 18, 2023
Stephanie Vecellio Artist Opening Reception
18 Feb 23
Spotlight Showcase Open Mic
18 Feb 23
Events on Sun. Feb. 19, 2023
Yiddish Women Songwriters: Isabel Frey & Sarah Larsson
19 Feb 23
Events on Tue. Feb. 21, 2023
BB Presents: THE EDUCATION OF KENDRICK PERKINS
21 Feb 23
First and Last Word Poetry
21 Feb 23
Events on Wed. Feb. 22, 2023
Strummerville Ukulele Club
22 Feb 23
Events on Fri. Feb. 24, 2023
Out Loud - A Very Queer Open Mic
24 Feb 23
Events on Sat. Feb. 25, 2023
Cafe Raqs
25 Feb 23
Events on Tue. Feb. 28, 2023
The Moth: Boston StorySLAM
28 Feb 23
Events on Wed. Mar. 01, 2023
Songwriters in the Round
1 Mar 23
Songwriters in the Round
1 Mar 23
Events on Fri. Mar. 03, 2023
Mxnifest!
3 Mar 23
Get To The Gig Boston Presents: Pile (All Fiction Release Show)
3 Mar 23

Upcoming Events

The Center for the Arts at the Armory