Boston is justly famous for its role in shaping history (shoutout to the American Revolution) and culture (see: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Edgar Allen Poe, Elizabeth Bishop, etc). And hey, the clam chowder, baked beans, and cream pie have legions of fans across the world. But Boston’s music scene is woefully unsung, making it great for visitors who want to see some of the best live music at the coolest venues in the country without waiting in grimly long lines.
Boston boasts more than 70 live music venues, with more than 1,000 concerts planned every year, from tentpole acts at TD Garden and Fenway Park to indie up-and-comers at the Paradise Rock Club.
Obviously, that’s far too many to tackle in a long weekend, so here’s a tasting menu of Boston’s best:
Chow Down
Fancy dinner and a show? The neighborhood of Cambridge (technically outside of the metro area, but in reality part of Boston, and fully accessible via public transit) is the best neighborhood for scratch-made cooking and earworms.
The Lizard Lounge serves up a killer rotation of craft beer and simple-but-tasty burgers and sandwiches, plus a compelling blend of live music, from hip hop and reggae to opera and Moroccan jazz.
The nearby State Park cranks out snacky apps like Pimento cheese dip and a smoked brisket quesadilla, thoughtful cocktails (try the Beetnik, with beet-infused gin, vermouth, watermelon brine, and pickle brine), and a steady stream of live indie music that leans rock/vinyl record parties/dance fest.
Lily P’s Fried Chicken and Oysters serves up fresh oysters, crackling-tender fried chicken, and the best bluegrass in town.
History Lesson
While there will always be new venues to get excited about, Boston has a particularly rich tapestry of landmark music destinations to explore.
For lovers of all things classical, Symphony Hall is a renowned destination, as celebrated for its exceptional acoustics as it is for its peerless Italian Renaissance Revival Architecture. Declared a Historic Landmark in 1999, all types of music lovers flock there to listen to the Boston Pops Orchestra perform jazz, pop, indie rock, and classical music.
The family-owned and operated Wally’s Café Jazz Club was founded in 1947. Not only does it offer some of the best jazz music in the world, but it’s also the first Black-owned jazz club in New England. See where greats like Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday played, and witness who’s making history now.
Paradise Rock Club feels intimate, but the 933-capacity club has hosted legends, like Billy Joel and Tom Petty, who dig the buzzy energy and young spirit. (It hovers on the fringes of the Boston University campus).
Making Headlines
Sure, you can catch live music any time of the year in Boston, but summer is an especially exciting time to be in town, especially if you’re eying tickets to Beantown’s biggest venues.
Forget hockey: TD Garden seats 19,600 and plays host to some of this generation’s biggest music stars. This summer, catch Gracie Abrams (July 23-24), Tate McRae (August 26-27), Benson Boone (September 2), and Dua Lipa (September 9-10) at the West End venue.
Another iconic Boston sports arena that transforms into the ultimate concert venue is the nearly 38,000-seat Fenway Park, where you can see the Jonas Brothers (August 23), The Who (August 26), and My Chemical Romance (September 7).
Now spread throughout the country, the House of Blues opened its first set of doors in Cambridge. More than 30 years later, the iconic venue will play host to Shakey Graves (July 16), The Struts (August 2), and Fitz and the Tantrums (August 18).
Get the Inside Scoop
Want to delve deeper? Music geeks know that the best person to ask about the latest and greatest music is a local musician. Soundscape Tours are hosted by working musicians who dig into Boston’s music history and invariably share tips on where to catch the coolest rock, blues, and jazz shows. Go to soundscape-tours.com to book.
