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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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7:00 PM - Mxnifest!
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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, [...]
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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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Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents iLe
Sat. Mar. 04, 2023    
7:00 pm
Experience iLe's hypnotic vocals infused with fierce spirit and Puerto Rican traditions. iLe is a gifted vocal artist with a musical background in Latin and [...]
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Somerville Songwriter Sessions
Sat. Mar. 04, 2023    
7:30 pm
The Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe present a live, in-person concert with award-winning singer/songwriters Terry Kitchen, Susan Levine, and Mark Stepakoff. The concert [...]
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SCES Brown Bag Program
Tue. Mar. 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. Mar. 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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Pub Sing
Thu. Mar. 09, 2023    
7:00 pm
Typically on the second Thursday of each month (skipping April and May), the café hosts a pub sing. Based on a traditional English pub sing, [...]
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Vlada Brofman Performance
Sat. Mar. 11, 2023    
7:00 pm
Vlada Brofman (voice/guitar) will perform Russian songs set to poems by Silver Age and Russian singer-songwriter songs; featuring Max Guselschikov (formerly of the legendary Russian [...]
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Boston League of Wicked Wrestlers Presents: Tests of Strength
Sun. Mar. 12, 2023    
6:30 pm
To purchase tickets, please click here. A bell is ringing, but it’s not the ring bell! The BLOWW roster is going back to school for [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Mar. 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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Café Flamenco
Thu. Mar. 16, 2023    
7:00 pm
Honoring Women History Month, Café Flamenco welcomes flamenco artist Laura Sánchez, Yu-Ling Hu and Sabrina Avilés and to have an open conversation about the importance [...]
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BB Presents: Conner O’Malley
Thu. Mar. 16, 2023    
7:30 pm
Conner O’Malley presents new research on Comedy products. He showcases newly developed Comedy technologies, including sustainable comedy technology that will innovate the global digital comedy [...]
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GET TO THE GIG BOSTON PRESENTS: Charmer, Ogbert The Nerd, Oolong, Pom Tea
Fri. Mar. 17, 2023    
7:00 pm
7PM - ALL AGES - $15 A GET TO THE GIG BOSTON GIG To purchase tickets, please click here.
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Self Roast Battle
Sat. Mar. 18, 2023    
7:00 pm
To purchase tickets, please click here.
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Revels Spring Sing
Sun. Mar. 19, 2023    
3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Raise your voices in song and welcome in the spring at Revels Spring Sing - A Singalong Celebration of the Vernal Equinox. Join Revels at [...]
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First and Last Word Poetry
Tue. Mar. 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. Mar. 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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Crossroads Presents: Magic Giant
Wed. Mar. 22, 2023    
7:00 pm
Join us for Magic Giant's The Die With Zero tour, with Mobley! DOORS: 7:00 PM SHOW: 8:00 PM To purchase tickets, please visit the Eventbrite [...]
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Out Loud - A Very Queer Open Mic
Fri. Mar. 24, 2023    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
For more information, please visit the Facebook page here.
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Cafe Raqs
Sat. Mar. 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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Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents Sweet Honey in the Rock
Sat. Mar. 25, 2023    
7:00 pm
The Center for Arts at the Armory welcomes Grammy Award® nominated Sweet Honey in the Rock to the stage as part of our Spotlight Series [...]
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Kelly Bray, Lucy Little, Anna Abondolo
Sat. Mar. 25, 2023    
8:00 pm
Who: Kelly Bray, trumpet, the leader Anna Abondolo, bass Lucy Little, violin Another adventurous journey into improvisation with a young Boston woman Kelly Bray, yet [...]
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The Moth: Boston StorySLAM
Tue. Mar. 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 [...]
More Info
POP Performance: Louise Bichan: Music and Stories from Scotland
Wed. Mar. 29, 2023    
6:30 pm
Wednesday the 29th March 2023, 7pm (6.30pm doors) Louise Bichan with Conor Hearn (guitar), Brendan Hearn (cello) and Ethan Setiawan (mandolins) live at the Arts [...]
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There's No "I" in Improv
Wed. Mar. 29, 2023    
7:00 pm
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Kali Stoddard-Imari
Thu. Mar. 30, 2023    
7:30 pm
Suggested admission: $10 Kali Stoddard-Imari is a Boston based singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and Looping Artist. He has been placed in front of acts like Adam [...]
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Eventual Cabaret
Fri. Mar. 31, 2023    
7:30 pm
Eventual Dance Company is proud to present Eventual Cabaret, an evening of dance and music created by the musicians and dancers of our company to [...]
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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
Events on Sat. Mar. 04, 2023
Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents iLe
4 Mar 23
Somerville Songwriter Sessions
4 Mar 23
Events on Tue. Mar. 07, 2023
SCES Brown Bag Program
7 Mar 23
Smut Slam
7 Mar 23
Events on Thu. Mar. 09, 2023
Pub Sing
9 Mar 23
Events on Sat. Mar. 11, 2023
Vlada Brofman Performance
11 Mar 23
Events on Sun. Mar. 12, 2023
Boston League of Wicked Wrestlers Presents: Tests of Strength
12 Mar 23
Events on Wed. Mar. 15, 2023
Songwriters in the Round
15 Mar 23
Events on Thu. Mar. 16, 2023
Café Flamenco
16 Mar 23
BB Presents: Conner O’Malley
16 Mar 23
Events on Fri. Mar. 17, 2023
GET TO THE GIG BOSTON PRESENTS: Charmer, Ogbert The Nerd, Oolong, Pom Tea
17 Mar 23
Events on Sat. Mar. 18, 2023
Self Roast Battle
18 Mar 23
Events on Sun. Mar. 19, 2023
Revels Spring Sing
19 Mar 23
Events on Tue. Mar. 21, 2023
First and Last Word Poetry
21 Mar 23
Events on Wed. Mar. 22, 2023
Strummerville Ukulele Club
22 Mar 23
Crossroads Presents: Magic Giant
22 Mar 23
Events on Fri. Mar. 24, 2023
Out Loud - A Very Queer Open Mic
24 Mar 23
Events on Sat. Mar. 25, 2023
Cafe Raqs
25 Mar 23
Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents Sweet Honey in the Rock
25 Mar 23
Kelly Bray, Lucy Little, Anna Abondolo
25 Mar 23
Events on Tue. Mar. 28, 2023
The Moth: Boston StorySLAM
28 Mar 23
Events on Wed. Mar. 29, 2023
POP Performance: Louise Bichan: Music and Stories from Scotland
29 Mar 23
There's No "I" in Improv
29 Mar 23
Events on Thu. Mar. 30, 2023
Kali Stoddard-Imari
30 Mar 23
Events on Fri. Mar. 31, 2023
Eventual Cabaret
31 Mar 23

Upcoming Events

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