email email email linkedin email email
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 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

Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents We Black Folk Showcase
GET TICKETS

We Black Folk Showcase

March 20, 2026

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

GET TICKETS
Rufus Wainwright returns to Arts at the Armory in Somerville, MA for his 2026 East Coast Solo Shows!
GET TICKETS

Rufus Wainwright

April 27, 2026

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

GET TICKETS
Grace Kelly
GET TICKETS

Grace Kelly

May 9, 2026

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

GET TICKETS
Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series Presents Tourmaline
GET TICKETS

Tourmaline

May 28, 2026

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

GET TICKETS
Tito Puente, Jr. and dancers musicians from MetaMovements
GET TICKETS

Tito Puente Jr. with MetMovements

December 11, 2026

Tito Puente, Jr. and his ensemble brings exhilarating Latin rhythms that will get your feet moving.

GET TICKETS

Search Events

Today
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
31
1
2
7:30 PM - Smut Slam
3
4
5
6
7
4:00 PM - GottaBal! Dance
8
9
10
11
7:00 PM - Pub Sing
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
7:30 PM - Level Up Circus
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
7:00 PM - Cafe Raqs
28
29
30
1
7:00 PM - Damir Imamovic
2
3
4
West Coast Swing Training
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.
More Info
Reciprocity Music Presents: An Evening with MaMuse
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 [...]
More Info
Smut Slam
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 [...]
More Info
Get to the Gig Boston & MassConcerts Presents: Oso Oso
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 [...]
More Info
Songwriters in the Round
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, [...]
More Info
Cozy Worldwide: Throwback Hip Hop/R&B
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 [...]
More Info
WYRD: Improv Comedy Night
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!
More Info
Tom Shillue's Good Time Comedy Show
Sat. Sep. 06, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Doors 6:00 pm Show 7:00 pm Tom Shillue's Good Time Comedy Show comes to the Somerville Armory! Get tickets now! Tom Shillue is a frequent [...]
More Info
Somerville Songwriter Sessions
Sat. Sep. 06, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
A live, in-person concert with featured singer/songwriters. The concert will include a solo set by each artist, followed by a round robin song swap.
More Info
Somerville Fermentation Festival
Sun. Sep. 07, 2025ย ย ย ย 
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
A celebration of food and culture in Somerville, MA The Somerville Fermentation Festival brings together a community of fermented food & beverage vendors, passionate enthusiasts, [...]
More Info
GottaBal! Dance
Sun. Sep. 07, 2025ย ย ย ย 
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Monthly DJโ€™d dance event! We are a diverse and inclusive community of dancers united by our love of Swing dance. Balboa originated in Southern California [...]
More Info
West Coast Swing Training
Mon. Sep. 08, 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.
More Info
POP Presents: Aardvark Jazz Orchestra
Tue. Sep. 09, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
POP Presents: Aardvark Jazz Orchestra - 53rd Season Opener, Music by Mark Harvey and Duke Ellington Get tickets now! Doors open at 7:00 PM Show [...]
More Info
Tunefoolery Coffee House
Wed. Sep. 10, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tunefoolery Music is a non-profit organization for musicians in mental health recovery.
More Info
The Bowery Presents SE SO NEON
Wed. Sep. 10, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Bowery Presents SE SO NEON NOW North American Tour 2025 Get tickets now! Doors open at 7:00 PM Show begins at 8:00 PM SE [...]
More Info
Pub Sing
Thu. Sep. 11, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Join in with chorus songs that are easy to learn and fun to sing
More Info
World Class Music Live Presents: The Arab Blues
Fri. Sep. 12, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Doors 7:00 pm Show 8:00 pm worldclassmusic.live is proud to present The Arab Blues! Get tickets now! The Arab Blues traces an innovative and ecstatic [...]
More Info
The Nova Comedy Collective Presents: Nebula Night
Fri. Sep. 12, 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.
More Info
School of Rock Watertown Presents Summer Season Show 1
Sat. Sep. 13, 2025ย ย ย ย 
1:30 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 [...]
More Info
The Wicked Pickers
Sat. Sep. 13, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
The Wicked Pickers are your spiritual buddies for acousticย folk, jazz, Celtic, Latin, blues, R&B and soul, with bluegrass instrumentation and even some hints of classical [...]
More Info
School of Rock Watertown Summer Show 2
Sun. Sep. 14, 2025ย ย ย ย 
1:30 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 [...]
More Info
Lady Ray and Her Jazz Birds
Sun. Sep. 14, 2025ย ย ย ย 
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Enjoy the sultry voice of Raynel Shepard, aka Lady Ray, with her fabulous troupe of instrumentalists, as she lends a unique interpretation to favorite jazz standards.
More Info
West Coast Swing Training
Mon. Sep. 15, 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.
More Info
City of Somerville 2025 Preliminary Elections
Tue. Sep. 16, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 am - 8:00 pm
Preliminary Election Voting in Somerville is Tuesday, September 16th! The Armory is the voting location for Ward 5 Precinct 2. Check your Somerville voting location [...]
More Info
Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Sep. 17, 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, [...]
More Info
Level Up Circus
Thu. Sep. 18, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:30 pm - 9:15 pm
Now Loading... A New Kind of Game Night! Level Up Circus is bringing you a wide variety of circus acts inspired by video games! From [...]
More Info
Atomic Comedy Indie Improv Night
Thu. Sep. 18, 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!
More Info
Boston Fuzzstival 2025
Fri. Sep. 19, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm - 11:00 pm
BOSTON FUZZSTIVAL returns for its 11th edition with 18 bands over 2 days at Arts at the Armory in Somerville! Get tickets now! Fuzzstival is [...]
More Info
Improv Comedy: An Evening Of
Fri. Sep. 19, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Comedian Jonathan Anderson and his hot funny friends perform their best standup bits with follow up questions from the host and the audience!
More Info
Boston Fuzzstival 2025
Sat. Sep. 20, 2025ย ย ย ย 
5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
BOSTON FUZZSTIVAL returns for its 11th edition with 18 bands over 2 days at Arts at the Armory in Somerville! Get tickets now! Fuzzstival is [...]
More Info
The Nova Comedy Collective's Big Bang Stand-Up
Sat. Sep. 20, 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!
More Info
West Coast Swing Training
Mon. Sep. 22, 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.
More Info
The Moth: Boston StorySLAM: Underdog
Tue. Sep. 23, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Five-minute stories about the slingshot that took down Goliath. Dark horses, Cinderella stories, or miracles on the ice. Tales of when the odds were stacked, [...]
More Info
Strummerville Ukulele Club
Wed. Sep. 24, 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.
More Info
KACL-NE Comedy Night: Stand-Up and Laugh for a Good Cause!
Thu. Sep. 25, 2025ย ย ย ย 
5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Doors 5:30 pm Show 6:00 pm Exclusive Comedy Night: Mystery Headliner! Get ready for a night of laughter and surprises! Weโ€™ve invited some of the [...]
More Info
Polyam Discussion Group
Thu. Sep. 25, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm - 9:15 pm
A Polyamory Discussion in the Arts at the Armory ROOTED Cafรฉ. Presented by Polyam Collaborative Community. Informal group discussion facilitated by Carol Ann. Doors open [...]
More Info
Maฬirtiฬn de Coฬgaฬin Concert
Fri. Sep. 26, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Get ready for a night filled with music, stories, and irresistible Irish charm with Mรกirtรญn de Cรณgรกin! Get tickets now! Come join us for a [...]
More Info
Commonwealth Pen Show
Sat. Sep. 27, 2025ย ย ย ย 
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Thousands of pens. vintage and modern. Inks, paper, pen repairs. The Tenth Annual Commonwealth Pen Show will be two days filled with great pens and [...]
More Info
Cafe Raqs
Sat. Sep. 27, 2025ย 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 [...]
More Info
Commonwealth Pen Show
Sun. Sep. 28, 2025ย ย ย ย 
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thousands of pens. vintage and modern. Inks, paper, pen repairs. The Tenth Annual Commonwealth Pen Show will be two days filled with great pens and [...]
More Info
The Bowery Presents: feeble little horse
Mon. Sep. 29, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Get tickets now! feeble little horse makes thrilling and wildly unpredictable songs that are a reflection of the joys that come with making music with [...]
More Info
West Coast Swing Training
Mon. Sep. 29, 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.
More Info
Cirque Us Stories
Tue. Sep. 30, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Get tickets now! โ€œCirque Us Storiesโ€ is a thoughtfully curated show that flips through the pages of our troupeโ€™s favorite stories to bring you a [...]
More Info
Max Weigert Album Release
Tue. Sep. 30, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Join local singer-songwriter Max Weigert as he showcases the release of his new EP "Colors". In a break from the more nostalgic and contemplative music [...]
More Info
Damir Imamovic
Wed. Oct. 01, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
worldclassmusic.live is proud to present Damir Imamovic, the Bosnian master of the sevdah in his Boston debut! Get tickets now! Damir has dedicated his career [...]
More Info
Songwriters in the Round
Wed. Oct. 01, 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, [...]
More Info
Inside Joke: Standup Comedians Make Art Opening Reception and Comedy Show
Thu. Oct. 02, 2025ย ย ย ย 
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
The Venn diagram of Boston-based visual artists and standup comedians comes full circle with "Inside Joke," a tandem art exhibition and standup comedy series. Get [...]
More Info
Somerville Poetry Workshop
Thu. Oct. 02, 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 [...]
More Info
Get to the Gig Presents Makaya McCraven
Thu. Oct. 02, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Get To The Gig Boston & MassConcerts Present Makaya McCraven Get tickets now! Doors open at 7:00 PM Show begins at 8:00 PM All ages [...]
More Info
Way Underground: Renaissance 001
Fri. Oct. 03, 2025ย ย ย ย 
7:00 pm - 11:30 pm
Excited to announce our new series Way Underground- RENAISSANCE: 001. Get tickets now! This new series is an immersive rave-concert experience from Way Underground. Stepping [...]
More Info
WYRD: Improv Comedy Night
Fri. Oct. 03, 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 Details TBD
More Info
Events on Mon. Sep. 01, 2025
West Coast Swing Training
1 Sep 25
Events on Tue. Sep. 02, 2025
Reciprocity Music Presents: An Evening with MaMuse
2 Sep 25
Smut Slam
2 Sep 25
Events on Wed. Sep. 03, 2025
Get to the Gig Boston & MassConcerts Presents: Oso Oso
3 Sep 25
Songwriters in the Round
3 Sep 25
Events on Fri. Sep. 05, 2025
Cozy Worldwide: Throwback Hip Hop/R&B
5 Sep 25
WYRD: Improv Comedy Night
5 Sep 25
Events on Sat. Sep. 06, 2025
Tom Shillue's Good Time Comedy Show
6 Sep 25
Somerville Songwriter Sessions
6 Sep 25
Events on Sun. Sep. 07, 2025
Somerville Fermentation Festival
7 Sep 25
GottaBal! Dance
7 Sep 25
Events on Mon. Sep. 08, 2025
West Coast Swing Training
8 Sep 25
Events on Tue. Sep. 09, 2025
POP Presents: Aardvark Jazz Orchestra
9 Sep 25
Events on Wed. Sep. 10, 2025
Tunefoolery Coffee House
10 Sep 25
The Bowery Presents SE SO NEON
10 Sep 25
Events on Thu. Sep. 11, 2025
Pub Sing
11 Sep 25
Events on Fri. Sep. 12, 2025
World Class Music Live Presents: The Arab Blues
12 Sep 25
The Nova Comedy Collective Presents: Nebula Night
12 Sep 25
Events on Sat. Sep. 13, 2025
School of Rock Watertown Presents Summer Season Show 1
13 Sep 25
The Wicked Pickers
13 Sep 25
Events on Sun. Sep. 14, 2025
School of Rock Watertown Summer Show 2
14 Sep 25
Lady Ray and Her Jazz Birds
14 Sep 25
Events on Mon. Sep. 15, 2025
West Coast Swing Training
15 Sep 25
Events on Tue. Sep. 16, 2025
City of Somerville 2025 Preliminary Elections
16 Sep 25
Events on Wed. Sep. 17, 2025
Songwriters in the Round
17 Sep 25
Events on Thu. Sep. 18, 2025
Level Up Circus
18 Sep 25
Atomic Comedy Indie Improv Night
18 Sep 25
Events on Fri. Sep. 19, 2025
Boston Fuzzstival 2025
19 Sep 25
Improv Comedy: An Evening Of
19 Sep 25
Events on Sat. Sep. 20, 2025
Boston Fuzzstival 2025
20 Sep 25
The Nova Comedy Collective's Big Bang Stand-Up
20 Sep 25
Events on Mon. Sep. 22, 2025
West Coast Swing Training
22 Sep 25
Events on Tue. Sep. 23, 2025
The Moth: Boston StorySLAM: Underdog
23 Sep 25
Events on Wed. Sep. 24, 2025
Strummerville Ukulele Club
24 Sep 25
Events on Thu. Sep. 25, 2025
KACL-NE Comedy Night: Stand-Up and Laugh for a Good Cause!
25 Sep 25
Polyam Discussion Group
25 Sep 25
Events on Fri. Sep. 26, 2025
Maฬirtiฬn de Coฬgaฬin Concert
26 Sep 25
Events on Sat. Sep. 27, 2025
Commonwealth Pen Show
27 Sep 25
Cafe Raqs
27 Sep 25
Events on Sun. Sep. 28, 2025
Commonwealth Pen Show
28 Sep 25
Events on Mon. Sep. 29, 2025
The Bowery Presents: feeble little horse
29 Sep 25
West Coast Swing Training
29 Sep 25
Events on Tue. Sep. 30, 2025
Cirque Us Stories
30 Sep 25
Max Weigert Album Release
30 Sep 25
Events on Wed. Oct. 01, 2025
Damir Imamovic
1 Oct 25
Songwriters in the Round
1 Oct 25
Events on Thu. Oct. 02, 2025
Inside Joke: Standup Comedians Make Art Opening Reception and Comedy Show
2 Oct 25
Somerville Poetry Workshop
2 Oct 25
Get to the Gig Presents Makaya McCraven
2 Oct 25
Events on Fri. Oct. 03, 2025
Way Underground: Renaissance 001
3 Oct 25
WYRD: Improv Comedy Night
3 Oct 25

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