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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 Mรฉndez, 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. May. 28, 2023ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm
****SOLD OUT**** Get ready for a phenomenal night of jazz as legendary guitarist and composer Bill Frisell takes the stage with Tony Scherr on bass [...]
Tue. May. 30, 2023ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
A creative non-fiction ย writing workshop with ย the scarlet W. ย in this workshop:ย  list essaysย  bring sad or bring happy orย bring a friendย  come as yourselfย or [...]
Fri. Jun. 02, 2023ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm
Friday, June 2, 2023 7pm doors 730pm show All Ages For more information and to purchase tickets, click here. THE ALBUM LEAF has been making [...]
Fri. Jun. 02, 2023ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Friday, June 2nd @ 7:30PM Doors open at 7PM Get your tickets here. Check it out on Facebook. MAMALIGA KLEZMER BAND Mamaliga is a critically [...]
Sat. Jun. 03, 2023ย ย ย ย 
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
  RSVP to the Closing Reception on Facebook. Learn more about Somerville Open Studios here.      
Sat. Jun. 03, 2023ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm
To purchase tickets, please click here. Each ticket includes a copy of โ€œRaw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogsโ€ ($25). JAMIEย LOFTUSย is a comedian, Emmy-nominated [...]
Sun. Jun. 04, 2023ย ย ย ย 
12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Come celebrate with the School of Rock Watertown community as they present their Spring '23 Season Shows at Arts at the Armory! Over the last [...]
Tue. Jun. 06, 2023ย ย ย ย 
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. Jun. 06, 2023ย ย ย ย 
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. Jun. 07, 2023ย ย ย ย 
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. Jun. 08, 2023ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Join in with chorus songs that are easy to learn and fun to sing
Thu. Jun. 08, 2023ย ย ย ย 
7:30 pm
To purchase tickets, please click here. Alison Leiby is a comedian who, most recently, was a producer on season 2 of Huluโ€™s LIFE & BETH. [...]
Fri. Jun. 09, 2023ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm
Learn about Science for the Peopleโ€”what it means, why is it important, and what roles do scientists play in advancing social and environmental justice.
Fri. Jun. 09, 2023ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm
Our first annual showcase will span across genres such as hip hop, jazz, and contemporary.
Sat. Jun. 10, 2023ย ย ย ย 
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Come celebrate with the School of Rock Watertown community as they present their Spring '23 Season Adult Band Showcase!! Over the last 4 months our [...]
Sun. Jun. 11, 2023ย ย ย ย 
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Come celebrate with the School of Rock Watertown community as they present their Spring '23 Season Shows at Arts at the Armory! Over the last [...]
Wed. Jun. 14, 2023ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tunefoolery Music is a non-profit organization for musicians in mental health recovery.
Fri. Jun. 16, 2023ย ย ย ย 
5:00 pm
Americaโ€™s favorite cowboys deliver Grammy Award-winning Comedy & Western in โ€œForty-Five Years the Cowboy Way!โ€ Arts at the Armory's Spotlight Series is delighted to present [...]
Fri. Jun. 16, 2023ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm
We are baobaebee! a multi-lingual pop singer-songwriter duo, and we are incredibly excited to be hosting our first live performance at the Armory Cafรฉ this [...]
Sat. Jun. 17, 2023ย ย ย ย 
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Get ready to dance with the dynamic duo that inspired thousands around the world to love dancehall.
Sat. Jun. 17, 2023ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm - 11:00 pm
BLOWW presents: Pride & Glory BLOWW will battle for the belts and all the pride and glory this June! Happy Pride from BLOWW! We're here [...]
Sat. Jun. 17, 2023ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm
Enjoy the sultry voice of Lady Ray as she lends her unique interpretation to favorite jazz standards. With Ben Broder on piano; Dave Zox on [...]
Sun. Jun. 18, 2023ย ย ย ย 
10:45 am - 1:00 pm
This event has been cancelled.
Sun. Jun. 18, 2023ย ย ย ย 
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Tickets: $10 at the door nepaliclassboston.com  
Wed. Jun. 21, 2023ย ย ย ย 
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, [...]
Fri. Jun. 23, 2023ย ย ย ย 
8:00 pm
Come share your talents with the community! Get dressed up and come show off. Dance, sing, read poetry, tell us a story, or share your stand up. Let us adore you, applaud you and have a good time.
Sat. Jun. 24, 2023ย ย ย ย 
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. Jun. 25, 2023ย ย ย ย 
5:00 pm
ALBA Musik is flamenco, itโ€™s Blues, itโ€™s Jazz, itโ€™s Funk. It swings and makes you want to listen all day and clap and move and [...]
Sun. Jun. 25, 2023ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
PoP by Arts are the Armory presents: A Benefit Concert for the Trans Asylum Seeker Support Network Performances by: Genie Santiago Eph See Eyeney Late [...]
Mon. Jun. 26, 2023ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm
Celebrate the Launch of Stamped from the Beginningย - a graphic novel by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi andย  Joel Christian Gill Stamped from the Beginning: A [...]
Tue. Jun. 27, 2023ย ย ย ย 
6:00 pm
Event details TBA.
Tue. Jun. 27, 2023ย ย ย ย 
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 [...]
Wed. Jun. 28, 2023ย ย ย ย 
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.
Thu. Jun. 29, 2023ย ย ย ย 
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Quando toca oย Forrรณย vocรช sabe diferenciar qual dos ritmos estรก sendo executado? (English bellow) Como identificar elementos musicais como compasso, tempo e andamento? A diferenรงa entre [...]
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Upcoming Events

The Center for the Arts at the Armory