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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

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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Search Events

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CANCELED -- Cafe Raqs
Sun. Jun. 26, 2022    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
UPDATE: This event is CANCELED in June, but will be back in July! Cafe Raqs is a place for New England's belly dancers of all [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Jun. 27, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join queer folk and their allies for Monday night tango classes with Boston Tango teachers! Learn the social dance connecting queers around the world! No [...]
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The Moth: Boston StorySLAM
Tue. Jun. 28, 2022    
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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Dana Cooper
Wed. Jun. 29, 2022    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dana Cooper CD Release Show with opener Local Band "The Secret Sauce"- Janet Feld, Esther Friedman & Jackie Damsky June 29, 2022 - 7PM $20 [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Jul. 04, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join queer folk and their allies for Monday night tango classes with Boston Tango teachers! Learn the social dance connecting queers around the world! No [...]
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SCES Brown Bag Program
Tue. Jul. 05, 2022    
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
More Info
Smut Slam
Tue. Jul. 05, 2022    
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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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Jul. 06, 2022    
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
Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Jul. 06, 2022    
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
SCES Brown Bag Program
Thu. Jul. 07, 2022    
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
First Tuesday of every month.  Somerville-Cambridge Elder services (SCES) along with the Greater Boston Food Bank, provide older people and younger people with disabilities living [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Jul. 11, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join queer folk and their allies for Monday night tango classes with Boston Tango teachers! Learn the social dance connecting queers around the world! No [...]
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Red Cross Blood Drive
Wed. Jul. 13, 2022    
2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
The Red Cross’s regular blood drive returns to the Armory. Please consider donating!
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Been Out Here: Teen Open Mic Night
Wed. Jul. 13, 2022    
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
The Been Out Here Teen Open Mic is holding it down at the Armory every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Bring your poems, your verses, [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Jul. 18, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join queer folk and their allies for Monday night tango classes with Boston Tango teachers! Learn the social dance connecting queers around the world! No [...]
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First and Last Word Poetry
Tue. Jul. 19, 2022    
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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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Jul. 20, 2022    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
1st & 3rd Wednesdays at ROOTED Cafe at 7 PM Songwriters in the Round at the Armory on July 20! Host David Thorne Scott will be swapping [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Jul. 20, 2022    
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
Boston Security Meetup
Thu. Jul. 21, 2022    
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
The Boston area has one of the most diverse information security ecosystems in the world. Over the past several years our local community has been [...]
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Hannah Einbinder
Thu. Jul. 21, 2022    
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
7PM show -- SOLD OUT 9PM show -- recently added To purchase tickets, please click here. HANNAH EINBINDER has quickly established herself as a highly sought-after [...]
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Out Loud - A Very Queer Open Mic (Virtual)
Fri. Jul. 22, 2022    
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Cathartic Care invites everyone to come and share your talents with the community at the Armory Café! Get dressed up and come show off. Dance, [...]
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Launch Party for Joe the Salamander
Sat. Jul. 23, 2022    
4:00 pm
Launch party for the long awaited release of Timothy Gager's third novel, and bestseller, Joe the Salamander. Timothy has invited friends and special guests, renowned [...]
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Valleyheart Album Release Show with A Will Away & Ski Club
Sat. Jul. 23, 2022    
6:00 pm
Presented by ONCE, please join us in celebrating Valleyheart's album release, with special guests A Will Away and Ski Club. Doors open 6PM, event starts [...]
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Jul. 25, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join queer folk and their allies for Monday night tango classes with Boston Tango teachers! Learn the social dance connecting queers around the world! No [...]
More Info
The Moth: Boston StorySLAM
Tue. Jul. 26, 2022    
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
Strummerville Ukulele Club
Wed. Jul. 27, 2022    
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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SAC Musical Theater Program Presents: Madagascar Jr. Show 1
Fri. Jul. 29, 2022    
7:00 pm
Madagascar Jr. July 29 at 7pm July 30 at 10am Donation at the door Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria [...]
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SAC Musical Theater Program Presents: Madagascar Jr. Show 2
Sat. Jul. 30, 2022    
10:00 am
Madagascar Jr. July 29 at 7pm July 30 at 10am Donation at the door Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria [...]
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The Legacy Ball
Sat. Jul. 30, 2022    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Doors open 6:30PM. The Legacy Ball will be a celebratory experience gathering ordinary young people who aim and do exceptional things. Within the realms of [...]
More Info
The Legacy Ball
Sat. Jul. 30, 2022    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Doors Open at 6:30pm The Legacy Ball will be a celebratory experience gathering ordinary young people who aim and do exceptional things. Within the realms [...]
More Info
Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Aug. 01, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join queer folk and their allies for Monday night tango classes with Boston Tango teachers! Learn the social dance connecting queers around the world! No [...]
More Info
SCES Brown Bag Program
Tue. Aug. 02, 2022    
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
More Info
Smut Slam
Tue. Aug. 02, 2022    
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 [...]
More Info
Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Aug. 03, 2022    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
1st & 3rd Wednesdays at ROOTED Cafe at 7 PM We have a very special Songwriters in the Round planned for August 3. Thea Hopkins is a nationally recognized songwriter [...]
More Info
Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Aug. 03, 2022    
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
Boar's Tooth Fencing Tournament 2022
Fri. Aug. 05, 2022 - Sun. Aug. 07, 2022    
All Day
Boston Armizare is bringing back their annual competitive historical fencing event. This time it will be bigger and better than ever with classes, games, and [...]
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Events on Sun. Jun. 26, 2022
CANCELED -- Cafe Raqs
26 Jun 22
Events on Mon. Jun. 27, 2022
Queer Tango Boston
27 Jun 22
Events on Tue. Jun. 28, 2022
The Moth: Boston StorySLAM
28 Jun 22
Events on Wed. Jun. 29, 2022
Dana Cooper
29 Jun 22
Events on Mon. Jul. 04, 2022
Queer Tango Boston
4 Jul 22
Events on Tue. Jul. 05, 2022
SCES Brown Bag Program
5 Jul 22
Smut Slam
5 Jul 22
Events on Wed. Jul. 06, 2022
Songwriters in the Round
6 Jul 22
Songwriters in the Round
6 Jul 22
Events on Thu. Jul. 07, 2022
SCES Brown Bag Program
7 Jul 22
Events on Mon. Jul. 11, 2022
Queer Tango Boston
11 Jul 22
Events on Wed. Jul. 13, 2022
Red Cross Blood Drive
13 Jul 22
Been Out Here: Teen Open Mic Night
13 Jul 22
Events on Mon. Jul. 18, 2022
Queer Tango Boston
18 Jul 22
Events on Tue. Jul. 19, 2022
First and Last Word Poetry
19 Jul 22
Events on Wed. Jul. 20, 2022
Songwriters in the Round
20 Jul 22
Songwriters in the Round
20 Jul 22
Events on Thu. Jul. 21, 2022
Boston Security Meetup
21 Jul 22
Hannah Einbinder
21 Jul 22
Events on Fri. Jul. 22, 2022
Out Loud - A Very Queer Open Mic (Virtual)
22 Jul 22
Events on Sat. Jul. 23, 2022
Launch Party for Joe the Salamander
23 Jul 22
Valleyheart Album Release Show with A Will Away & Ski Club
23 Jul 22
Events on Mon. Jul. 25, 2022
Queer Tango Boston
25 Jul 22
Events on Tue. Jul. 26, 2022
The Moth: Boston StorySLAM
26 Jul 22
Events on Wed. Jul. 27, 2022
Strummerville Ukulele Club
27 Jul 22
Events on Fri. Jul. 29, 2022
SAC Musical Theater Program Presents: Madagascar Jr. Show 1
29 Jul 22
Events on Sat. Jul. 30, 2022
SAC Musical Theater Program Presents: Madagascar Jr. Show 2
30 Jul 22
The Legacy Ball
30 Jul 22
The Legacy Ball
30 Jul 22
Events on Mon. Aug. 01, 2022
Queer Tango Boston
1 Aug 22
Events on Tue. Aug. 02, 2022
SCES Brown Bag Program
2 Aug 22
Smut Slam
2 Aug 22
Events on Wed. Aug. 03, 2022
Songwriters in the Round
3 Aug 22
Songwriters in the Round
3 Aug 22
Events on Fri. Aug. 05, 2022
Boar's Tooth Fencing Tournament 2022
5 Aug 22
Events on Sat. Aug. 06, 2022
Boar's Tooth Fencing Tournament 2022
5 Aug 22

Upcoming Events

The Center for the Arts at the Armory