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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.

Search Events

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Sun. Jul. 27, 2025ย ย ย ย 
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
WEM: Summer Vibes! A fun, family-friendly day of shopping, music & community. July 27, 11โ€“3. Free entryโ€”bring the whole crew! Get tickets now! Get ready [...]
Sun. Jul. 27, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Mon. Jul. 28, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Join us for a Traditional Irish Session sponsored by The Burren withย live music and dancing with Kara Howgate-Mello (dance), Gwen Johnston (fiddle) and Jimmy Kelly [...]
Wed. Jul. 30, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Somerville is a great town for poets and writers, of all levels. This discussion-based workshop aims to provide a forum for poets who have never [...]
Fri. Aug. 01, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Doors 7:00pm Show 8:00pm As the artists featured in the showcase performance perform a story of how feet have been keeping the beat over time, [...]
Sat. Aug. 02, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Deborah Mason Performing Arts Center Presents The Fifth Annual BOSTON TAP PARTY Faculty Showcase The Fifth Annual Boston Tap Party (BTP), the annual celebration of [...]
Sun. Aug. 03, 2025ย ย ย ย 
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
After the Feet Keep the August 1st Beat Showcase Performance inspires you, join us for a series of free Feet Keep the Beat Community Workshops [...]
Sun. Aug. 03, 2025ย ย ย ย 
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Good food, by good people. Come celebrate the unsung heroes of the Boston food scene! BIG BELLY FOOD FEST is bringing food lovers, rising food [...]
Sun. Aug. 03, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Join us for the 2025 T@F Gala A fundraiser for Somervilleโ€™s Theatre@First Suggested donation $20 *CREATIVE ATTIRE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED!* This event is a great way [...]
Tue. Aug. 05, 2025ย 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. Aug. 06, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
This event features an art exhibition, circus show and collaborative/communal artmaking activity. 6PM: Doors Open! Mingle, view the exhibition and create with the artists. 7PM [...]
Wed. Aug. 06, 2025ย 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, [...]
Wed. Aug. 06, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
August is here! Maybe youโ€™ve put off all that summertime enjoyment of life until now. But itโ€™s not too late!ย Songwriters in the Roundย has been waiting [...]
Thu. Aug. 07, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
This event features an art exhibition, circus show and collaborative/communal artmaking activity. 6PM: Doors Open! Mingle, view the exhibition and create with the artists. 7PM [...]
Fri. Aug. 08, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
This event features an art exhibition, circus show and collaborative/communal artmaking activity. 6PM: Doors Open! Mingle, view the exhibition and create with the artists. 7PM [...]
Fri. Aug. 08, 2025ย ย ย ย 
8:00 pm
Nova Comedy Collective presents Nebula Night, featuring local talent from Bostonโ€™s comedy, music, arts scene, and beyond.
Sat. Aug. 09, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:30 pm - 9:15 pm
Join us forย Music Sandwich, a stacked night of original music and improvised comedy at The Armory's Rooted Cafรฉ.ย This edition will feature improvised musicals byย Silly Love [...]
Sun. Aug. 10, 2025ย ย ย ย 
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Attack of the Byrds! a verse play by Gary Duehr adapted from "The Birds" by Aristophanes, will be presented as a reading on Sunday, August [...]
Sun. Aug. 10, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Join your neighbors Dom Roberts and Maya Umemoto Gorman as they share their thoughts (or lack of). Doors 6:30pm Show 7:30pm Get tickets now! On [...]
Tue. Aug. 12, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
An evening showcase of batik craft and an artist talk sharing her journey from corporate to this traditional Southeast Asian craft. Get tickets now!
Wed. Aug. 13, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Get to the Gig Boston and MassConcerts present John R. Miller & Tommy Prine Get tickets now! All ages are welcome. Doors open at 7:00 [...]
Wed. Aug. 13, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tunefoolery Music is a non-profit organization for musicians in mental health recovery.
Thu. Aug. 14, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Join in with chorus songs that are easy to learn and fun to sing
Fri. Aug. 15, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
I know, I know, itโ€™s Indiaโ€™s Independence Day . . . but this year, itโ€™s also the day that Iโ€™m hosting a reading of part [...]
Fri. Aug. 15, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Get To the Gig Boston and MassConcerts Present Michael Cera Palin โ€” the We Could Be Brave Tour! with Oolong, Ogbert the Nerd, and Dear [...]
Sat. Aug. 16, 2025ย ย ย ย 
4:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Boston's premier sapphic arts festival is BACK! Get tickets now! We're bringing together some of the city's best musicians, comedians, visual artists, drag and burlesque [...]
Sun. Aug. 17, 2025ย ย ย ย 
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Wed. Aug. 20, 2025ย 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, [...]
Wed. Aug. 20, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Songwriters in the Roundย has had a thrilling summer season. Mark Stepakoff and Sam Bayer have taken the ball and run with it. Hit a home [...]
Thu. Aug. 21, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:30 pm
An independently-produced, monthly improv show featuring new and veteran local talent. Come see whatโ€™s blowing up!
Fri. Aug. 22, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Big Bang Standup brings together a stellar lineup of comedians ready to fill your night with explosive laughter! Get tickets now!
Sat. Aug. 23, 2025ย ย ย ย 
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Join us for the first-ever Northeast Tea Festival! Get tickets now! This is the perfect place to indulge your love for all things tea. Whether [...]
Sat. Aug. 23, 2025ย ย ย ย 
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Join us at ROOTED Cafรฉ for an Opening Reception for Adonis Deking's "lakes" Exhibition, on display in the Cafรฉ from August 14 through September 29, [...]
Sat. Aug. 23, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Get ready to dance the night away with live music and great vibes at our FREE 20's & 30's BIG SUMMER PARTY! Make Friends After [...]
Sun. Aug. 24, 2025ย ย ย ย 
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
No auditions. No judgment. No need for perfection. Just the joy of singing in harmony with a room full of beautiful humans. Get tickets now! [...]
Sun. Aug. 24, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
High Horse is coming to the Rooted Cafe at Arts at the Armory. Four friends, three bows, and one pick:ย High Horseย is a progressive acoustic string [...]
Tue. Aug. 26, 2025ย 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.
Tue. Aug. 26, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Five-minute stories about bending the truth. From little white lies to epic cover-ups. Tell us about the fibs you told, believed, or exposed. Playing fast [...]
Wed. Aug. 27, 2025ย 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.
Mon. Sep. 01, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
A weekly Training course to help improve dancers in the skills in west coast swing.
Tue. Sep. 02, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Doors 6:00 pm Show 7:00 pm Heart-opening harmonies. Soul-nourishing songs. A night to remember. Beloved folk-soul duo MaMuse - thatโ€™s โ€œMaโ€ like Mamma, โ€œMuseโ€ like [...]
Tue. Sep. 02, 2025ย 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. Sep. 03, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Get to the Gig and MassConcerts Present Oso Oso Get tickets now!   Doors open at 7:00 PM Show begins at 8:00 PM All Ages [...]
Wed. Sep. 03, 2025ย 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. Sep. 05, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Cozy Worldwide makes it's debut in Boston - it's the R&B and HipHop party for everyone! Need more R&B in your life? If you love [...]
Fri. Sep. 05, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
A night full of long form improv comedy performed by a slew of Boston's top talent Get tickets now!
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Upcoming Events

Somerville Winter Farmers Market

Somerville Winter Farmers Market

Sat. Apr. 11, 2026, 9:30 AM
Rick & Friends

Rick & Friends

Sat. Apr. 11, 2026, 10:00 AM
Jamie Dunphy and True North

Jamie Dunphy and True North

Sat. Apr. 11, 2026, 3:00 PM

The Center for the Arts at the Armory