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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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7:30 PM - Smut Slam
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12:00 AM - Linda Lindas
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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Aug. 29, 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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Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Sep. 05, 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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City of Somerville Voting
Tue. Sep. 06, 2022    
7:00 am - 8:00 pm
Voting in Somerville is this Tuesday, September 6th! The Armory is the voting location for Ward 5 Precinct 2. Check your Somerville voting location here.
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SCES Brown Bag Program
Tue. Sep. 06, 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
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Smut Slam
Tue. Sep. 06, 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. Sep. 07, 2022    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
We have a "back to school" Songwriters in the Round planned for September 7. Thea Hopkins is an award-winning songwriter who weaves together threads of traditional and contemporary Indigenous music [...]
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Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Sep. 07, 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, [...]
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Evicted Exhibit: Opening Reception
Thu. Sep. 08, 2022    
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Join us on September 8th at 6:30pm for the opening of the Evicted exhibit: the immersive exhibition based on Matthew Desmond’s Pulitzer prize-winning book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit [...]
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H(anna)h Power Hour: Late Night Flute Fun
Fri. Sep. 09, 2022    
8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Please join us for the H(anna)h Power Hour- a late night of flute and fun. Two best friends present a program of flute duos in [...]
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Somerville Songwriter Sessions
Sat. Sep. 10, 2022    
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
The Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe present a live, in-person concert with singer/songwriters Sam Babineau, Glimmer and Rachel Marie. The concert will feature [...]
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Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
Mon. Sep. 12, 2022    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
This class is for pre-teens and teens of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques of parkour, [...]
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Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
Mon. Sep. 12, 2022    
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
This class is for children (ages 6 - 13yo) of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques [...]
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Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
Mon. Sep. 12, 2022    
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
A class designed for practitioners with "more life experience" (age 40/50+) that are interested in getting the fitness and agility benefits of parkour training without [...]
More Info
Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Sep. 12, 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. Sep. 13, 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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Red Cross Blood Drive
Wed. Sep. 14, 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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Evicted Panel Discussion
Wed. Sep. 14, 2022    
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
On September 14th, the Evicted Exhibit will host a housing policy panel featuring panelists Representative Mike Connolly, Senator Lydia Edwards, Somerville's Director of the Office [...]
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Boston Security Meetup
Thu. Sep. 15, 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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Joe Trohman: None of this Rocks Book Tour
Thu. Sep. 15, 2022    
7:30 pm
Each ticket includes a copy of Joe Trohman's book "None of this Rocks". Joe Trohman was born in Hollywood, Florida but grew up in Ohio [...]
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Audrey Diallo Exhibition Closing Reception
Sat. Sep. 17, 2022    
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Exhibition by Audrey Diallo Born in the nineteen-seventies in Berlin, Germany to an American mother and German father, Audrey  Diallo spent her entire life immersed [...]
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School of Rock Watertown: Summer Season Show
Sun. Sep. 18, 2022    
12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
School of Rock Watertown presents their Summer Season Show featuring bands from all different age groups through adults.  Admission is free and open to the public. School of Rock is a growing, [...]
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Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
Mon. Sep. 19, 2022    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
This class is for pre-teens and teens of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques of parkour, [...]
More Info
Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
Mon. Sep. 19, 2022    
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
This class is for children (ages 6 - 13yo) of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques [...]
More Info
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
Mon. Sep. 19, 2022    
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
A class designed for practitioners with "more life experience" (age 40/50+) that are interested in getting the fitness and agility benefits of parkour training without [...]
More Info
Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Sep. 19, 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
First and Last Word Poetry
Tue. Sep. 20, 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. Sep. 21, 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
Rahul Subramanian
Wed. Sep. 21, 2022    
7:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Two shows available: 7PM and 9PM To purchase tickets, please click here.
More Info
ONCE Presents Verbal Assault & Soulside
Fri. Sep. 23, 2022    
6:00 pm
Join us in celebrating Soulside & Verbal Assault with guests Bedmaker and Wrong War. To purchase tickets, please click here. This event is all ages, [...]
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CANCELLED - Out Loud - A Very Queer Open Mic
Fri. Sep. 23, 2022    
8:00 pm
UPDATE: This event is CANCELLED. Apologies! Cathartic Care invites everyone to come and share your talents with the community at the Armory Café! Get dressed [...]
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Lady Ray and Her Jazz Birds
Sat. Sep. 24, 2022    
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Suggested donation: $5
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Ninja Brian’s All-Star Variety Spectacular
Sat. Sep. 24, 2022    
7:00 pm
Ninja Brian’s All-Star Variety Spectacular” is a variety show hosted by Brian Wecht, best known as the character “Ninja Brian” from comedy band Ninja Sex [...]
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Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
Mon. Sep. 26, 2022    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
This class is for pre-teens and teens of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques of parkour, [...]
More Info
Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
Mon. Sep. 26, 2022    
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
This class is for children (ages 6 - 13yo) of all ability and fitness levels, and will include instruction in the basic movements and techniques [...]
More Info
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
Mon. Sep. 26, 2022    
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
A class designed for practitioners with "more life experience" (age 40/50+) that are interested in getting the fitness and agility benefits of parkour training without [...]
More Info
Queer Tango Boston
Mon. Sep. 26, 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. Sep. 27, 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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Strummerville Ukulele Club
Wed. Sep. 28, 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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Linda Lindas
Fri. Sep. 30, 2022    
12:00 am
Info TBA.
More Info
Events on Mon. Aug. 29, 2022
Queer Tango Boston
29 Aug 22
Events on Mon. Sep. 05, 2022
Queer Tango Boston
5 Sep 22
Events on Tue. Sep. 06, 2022
City of Somerville Voting
6 Sep 22
SCES Brown Bag Program
6 Sep 22
Smut Slam
6 Sep 22
Events on Wed. Sep. 07, 2022
Songwriters in the Round
7 Sep 22
Songwriters in the Round
7 Sep 22
Events on Thu. Sep. 08, 2022
Evicted Exhibit: Opening Reception
8 Sep 22
Events on Fri. Sep. 09, 2022
H(anna)h Power Hour: Late Night Flute Fun
9 Sep 22
Events on Sat. Sep. 10, 2022
Somerville Songwriter Sessions
10 Sep 22
Events on Mon. Sep. 12, 2022
Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
12 Sep 22
Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
12 Sep 22
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
12 Sep 22
Queer Tango Boston
12 Sep 22
Events on Tue. Sep. 13, 2022
SCES Brown Bag Program
13 Sep 22
Events on Wed. Sep. 14, 2022
Red Cross Blood Drive
14 Sep 22
Evicted Panel Discussion
14 Sep 22
Events on Thu. Sep. 15, 2022
Boston Security Meetup
15 Sep 22
Joe Trohman: None of this Rocks Book Tour
15 Sep 22
Events on Sat. Sep. 17, 2022
Audrey Diallo Exhibition Closing Reception
17 Sep 22
Events on Sun. Sep. 18, 2022
School of Rock Watertown: Summer Season Show
18 Sep 22
Events on Mon. Sep. 19, 2022
Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
19 Sep 22
Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
19 Sep 22
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
19 Sep 22
Queer Tango Boston
19 Sep 22
Events on Tue. Sep. 20, 2022
First and Last Word Poetry
20 Sep 22
Events on Wed. Sep. 21, 2022
Songwriters in the Round
21 Sep 22
Rahul Subramanian
21 Sep 22
Events on Fri. Sep. 23, 2022
ONCE Presents Verbal Assault & Soulside
23 Sep 22
CANCELLED - Out Loud - A Very Queer Open Mic
23 Sep 22
Events on Sat. Sep. 24, 2022
Lady Ray and Her Jazz Birds
24 Sep 22
Ninja Brian’s All-Star Variety Spectacular
24 Sep 22
Events on Mon. Sep. 26, 2022
Parkour: Teen Indoor (11-16yo)
26 Sep 22
Parkour: Kids Indoor (6-13yo)
26 Sep 22
Parkour: Low Impact/50+ Indoor
26 Sep 22
Queer Tango Boston
26 Sep 22
Events on Tue. Sep. 27, 2022
The Moth: Boston StorySLAM
27 Sep 22
Events on Wed. Sep. 28, 2022
Strummerville Ukulele Club
28 Sep 22
Events on Fri. Sep. 30, 2022
Linda Lindas
30 Sep 22

Upcoming Events

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