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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


We Black Folk Showcase

March 20, 2026

Celebrate the Boston-based movement to highlight and expand the Black folk genre!


Rufus Wainwright

April 27, 2026

An intimate concert with one of the most distinctive voices of his generation.


Grace Kelly

May 9, 2026

Saxophonist-singer-songwriter Grace Kelly takes the stage in May 2026 at Arts at the Armory!


Tourmaline

May 28, 2026

Artist, filmmaker, and national bestselling author Tourmaline will discuss her new book!


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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Sun. Mar. 31, 2024    
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
ROOTED Armory Café is the place to be for SUNDAY BRUNCH in March! French toast, pancakes, frittata, pulled pork tacos, mimosas, espresso drinks and much [...]
Sun. Mar. 31, 2024    
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Our biggest event of the year is here!! We stepped it up with 40+ vendors, tooth gems, tats, live DJs, free yerba, and more! Free [...]
Tue. Apr. 02, 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
Tue. Apr. 02, 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 [...]
Wed. Apr. 03, 2024    
7:00 pm
Get tickets now! Without doubt or qualification, The Sadies are one of this continent’s greatest extant rock ’n’ roll bands — just as they have [...]
Wed. Apr. 03, 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, [...]
Wed. Apr. 03, 2024    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Come and hear some serious heavyweight champs at Songwriters in the Round at the Center for Arts at the Armory. Susan Cattaneo is a Boston area folk/rock/blues legend. Jonathan Feist is [...]
Thu. Apr. 04, 2024    
7:00 pm
Get tickets now! $25 in advance $30 day-of-show All ages are welcome! Doors open at 7:00PM Event begins at 8:00PM
Sat. Apr. 06, 2024    
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Join us for the Closing Reception for La Titiritera, the art exhibition by Ellen Rounseville on view at Rooted Armory Café.
Sat. Apr. 06, 2024    
7:00 pm
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT! A night of storytelling & standup with Anna Akana Get tickets now! Presale Code: BOSTON Anna Akana can currently be [...]
Sat. Apr. 06, 2024    
7:30 pm
Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe presents an evening with with Terry Kitchen, Ksenia Mack and Thea Hopkins. The evening begins at 7 PM [...]
Sun. Apr. 07, 2024    
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Sun. Apr. 07, 2024    
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
ROOTED Armory Café is the place to be for SUNDAY BRUNCH!
Sun. Apr. 07, 2024    
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Live electronic music event, aiming to connect artists, musicians, students and people interested music technology and live electro-acoustic music.
Sun. Apr. 07, 2024    
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Maybe you knew Charles Daniels as a neighbor in the ‘Ville. Maybe you knew him as the Master Blaster –announcing at the Tea Party or [...]
Wed. Apr. 10, 2024    
6:00 pm
Join us for an evening of community and celebration. Learn about SCC's work and how to get involved. Doors open at 5:30 PM Meeting starts [...]
Wed. Apr. 10, 2024    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tunefoolery Music is a non-profit organization for musicians in mental health recovery.
Thu. Apr. 11, 2024    
7:00 pm
Hotline TNT with Cicada Get tickets now! All ages are welcome! Doors open at 7:00PM Show begins at 8:00PM Hotline TNT on Spotify
Thu. Apr. 11, 2024    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Join in with chorus songs that are easy to learn and fun to sing
Fri. Apr. 12, 2024    
6:30 pm
All Ages are welcome. No previous Music or Art experience necessary! This is a Hands-On demonstration and exchange of ideas on Creative Scoring and Improvisation [...]
Sat. Apr. 13, 2024    
6:30 pm
Join us for an evening of performance by the students of Esh Circus Arts! Get tickets now! Doors open at 6:30 PM Show begins at [...]
Sun. Apr. 14, 2024    
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
ROOTED Armory Café is the place to be for SUNDAY BRUNCH!
Sun. Apr. 14, 2024    
3:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 14 schedule for Blue Heron Okeghem Weekend at Arts at the Armory: Doors open at 3:30 PM. Lecture & Demonstration by Scott Metcalf [...]
Mon. Apr. 15, 2024    
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Arts at the Armory Performance Opportunity (POP) Program presents: Let's Talk About It A show dedicated to addressing themes of mental health, neurodiversity, negative self-talk, [...]
Tue. Apr. 16, 2024    
7:00 pm
ATTENTION ALL LOVERS OF WRESTLING AND BOOKS! On Tuesday, April 16th, New York Times-bestselling author Abraham Josephine “Josie” Riesman will be celebrating the paperback release [...]
Wed. Apr. 17, 2024    
6:30 pm
All ages are welcome. Get tickets now! Doors open at 6:30 PM Show begins at 7:00 PM Earthless Minami Deutsch
Wed. Apr. 17, 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, [...]
Thu. Apr. 18, 2024    
6:30 pm
The Hope Principle Show: Citizens’ Shame and Hope in the Time of Genocide Get tickets now! Puppet show! Puppet show! Bread & Puppet Theater is [...]
Fri. Apr. 19, 2024    
7:00 pm
Bill Blumenreich Presents: Paul Giamatti’s CHINWAG chin-wag: to have a chat, a friendly conversation. Get tickets now! Actor Paul Giamatti and Stephen Asma, author and [...]
Fri. Apr. 19, 2024    
8:00 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 [...]
Sat. Apr. 20, 2024    
9:00 pm
After School Snacks Comedy presents: Two very talented improv groups performing under the influence — one being drunk and the other being high to see [...]
Sun. Apr. 21, 2024    
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
ROOTED Armory Café is the place to be for SUNDAY BRUNCH!
Sun. Apr. 21, 2024    
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Welcome to our new monthly DJ’d dance event! We are a diverse and inclusive community of dancers united by our love of Swing dance. Balboa [...]
Sun. Apr. 21, 2024    
7:00 pm
Sleep Paralysis Tour 2024 Get tickets now! Doors open at 7:00 PM Show begins at 8:00 PM All ages are welcome.
Tue. Apr. 23, 2024    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Listen to true stories or share your own at our open-mic storytelling competition! Tonight's theme… GRUDGE: Prepare a five-minute story about resentment. Warranted or irrational, lifelong [...]
Wed. Apr. 24, 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.
Wed. Apr. 24, 2024    
7:00 pm
Open Up The Songbook Get tickets now! Doors open at 7:00 PM Event Begins at 8:00 PM All ages are welcome. *No fee tickets available [...]
Thu. Apr. 25, 2024    
6:00 pm
Cody makes plays with his friends, and because of his inherent laziness and a convenient interest in the ephemeral, he makes them the day of [...]
Thu. Apr. 25, 2024    
7:00 pm
Get tickets now! All ages are welcome. Doors open at 7:00 PM Show begins at 8:00 PM
Fri. Apr. 26, 2024    
8:00 pm
Learn more about The Nova Comedy Collective
Sat. Apr. 27, 2024    
3:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Learn More
Sat. Apr. 27, 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 [...]
Sun. Apr. 28, 2024    
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
ROOTED Armory Café is the place to be for SUNDAY BRUNCH!
Sun. Apr. 28, 2024    
5:30 pm
Somerville Poets Reading Their Own Poems and Poems They Love This once-in-a-lifetime reading includes the largest array of Somerville poets ever assembled. More than 30 [...]
Tue. Apr. 30, 2024    
5:00 pm
Wed. May. 01, 2024    
7:00 pm
Arts at the Armory is excited to welcome Tracy Kidder and Dr. Jim O'Connell for a book discussion of Rough Sleepers. Get tickets now! Doors [...]
Wed. May. 01, 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, [...]
Wed. May. 01, 2024    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Eagle-eyed music watchers will want to bear witness to our next Songwriters in the Round at the Center for Arts at the Armory. Peter Eldridge makes a rare Somerville appearance [...]
Fri. May. 03, 2024    
7:00 pm
Get To The Gig Boston & MassConcerts present R.A.P. Ferreira with special guests Cavalier Get tickets now! Doors open at 7:00 PM Show begins at [...]
Fri. May. 03, 2024    
7:30 pm
Join us for a night of queer comedy with a spooky twist, where the occult meets hilarity in a Wyrd and wonderful way! Get tickets [...]
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Upcoming Events

The Center for the Arts at the Armory