[Boston-Area Action 5/13/26] Show-Going Plans & New Show Announcements
Posted on May 13, 2026 at 3:31 pm | No Comments
Still recovering from last night’s dream-of-a-show with Come & Silkworm in Somerville, and also neck-deep in the day job, so this “Weekly Boston-area shows” post of imminent & recently-announced events has to be a quick one. There are two lists below: First, shows of note (to me, at least) happening around here within the next week, followed by a run-down of ones that have been announced since I last did this.
Personal about-to-happen highlights: Courtney Barnett & Momma at Roadrunner tonight, and Case Oats at Passim tomorrow, when the rescheduled Joy Formidable show is at the Armory, as well. Friday has Nova One celebrating an LP release at Deep Cuts, and J Po’s 60th is at the Lizard Lounge. There’s an ace lineup at Deep Cuts on Sunday, too, with Happy Just to See You, Bus Crush, Hey I’m Outside, & Hyber, or you can hit the Bentanzaganza benefit at the Midway. Sailor Down plays Warehouse XI that night, too, and Tracy Bonham wraps up her Burren residency. Too many choices for a Sunday. Speaking of choices: I’d love to see Chapterhouse on Tuesday at the Sinclair, or catch the May edition of the Which Side?: A Protest Music Teach-Out series, but I’ll be at the first-of-two Belle and Sebastian album-run-through shows at the Orpheum. My love for “Tigermilk” runs deep.
As far as announcements go, I’m extremely psyched that Swervedriver are coming to the Sinclair in August, and that Plosivs & Hammered Hulls are teaming up at BMH in September. Later that month, Tanya Donelly hits the Cut in Gloucester, and Squirrel flower will be doing a full-band set at Crystal Ballroom with Youbet. October brings the L7 farewell tour to the Wilbur, and November has This Is Lorelei at the Sinclair. Slow Pulp return that month, too, headlining Roadrunner with Her New Knife & Ivy. Should be great.
Also very much of note: A couple excellent multi-band events coming up at Notch Brewing in Brighton, so check the details on those below. Love it when the rock conveniently comes to my very own neighborhood.
Here are the lists. Corrections, additions, complaints in the comments, if you are so inclined. And have a look at the right-hand column over there, where the longer versions live…
First, imminent Boston-area shows of (my/your?) interest…
Wednesday, May 13th
Courtney Barnett
Momma
Truman Sinclair
@ Roadrunner
Wednesday, May 13th
Sluice
Hiding Places
@ Deep Cuts
Thursday, May 14th
Woods
Edsel Axle
@ Deep Cuts
Thursday, May 14th
Case Oats
Henry True
@ Club Passim
Thursday, May 14th
(moved from March 5th)
The Joy Formidable
Rhydian Dafydd
Shy Western
@ the Somerville Armory
Friday, May 15th
Nova One (LP release show!)
Bong Wish
Winkler
@ Deep Cuts
Friday, May 15th
J Po’s 60th B-Day
with Sidewalk Driver
& the Powhida Infirmary
@ the Lizard Lounge
Sunday, May 16th
Happy Just To See You
Bus Crush
Hey I’m Outside
Hyber
@ Deep Cuts
Sunday, May 16th
Bentanzaganza
A benefit for Ben Tan
with
Johnnie & the Foodmasters
Delons, Noah Britton, and
Sound Dream Machine
@ the Midway Cafe
Sunday, May 17th
Wheelwright
Sailor Down
@ Warehouse XI
Sunday, May 17th
Tracy Bonham
Spring Residency night 4
@ the Burren Backroom
Thursday, May 19th
Chapterhouse
She’s Green
@ the Sinclair
Tuesday, May 19th
Which Side?: A Protest Music Teach-Out
with this month’s guests
Joan Anderman, The Bags,
Mark Erelli, Najee Janey,
Brendan Murphy of Autumn Hollow,
Safiya, and The Paid Protesters
@ the Burren Backroom
Tuesday & Wednesday
May 19th & 20th
Belle & Sebastian
play “Tigermilk” (19th) and
“If You’re Feeling Sinister” (20th)
with
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
@ the Orpheum
And now, recently announced Boston-area shows…
Saturday & Sunday
May 23rd & 24th
THE BIG GIG
Spring Music Fest & Market
with 10 bands & 100+ vendors
presented by Allston Pudding
& the Brighton Bizarre
@ the Speedway / Notch Brewing
Saturday, May 30th
The Downhauls
Silver Screams
Bad Idea USA
The Angry-Las
@ Bit Bar Salem
Saturday, June 6th
Notch Brewing presents
Forever Lager ’26
with Black Helicopter,
The Dogmatics, Spiller,
Thalia Zedek Band,
Hilken & Melissa Band,
Andy California, Pledge Pins,
& Whyte Lipstick
@ Notch Brighton, Speedway
Friday, June 19th
Crystal Lizard
(record release show!)
@ the Lilypad
Saturday, June 20th
Neptune (LP release show!)
Lupo Citta
There
@ Deep Cuts
Sunday, July 19th
WU LYF
(rescheduled date)
@ the Sinclair
Tuesday, August 18th
Swervedriver
@ the Sinclair
Tuesday, August 18th
Psychedlic Furs
& Living Colour
@ MGM Music Hall
cancelled due to a
“serious medical issue”
within the Furs camp :-/
Saturday, August 29th
(second show added)
Kacey Musgraves
Flatland Cavalry
@ TD Garden
Monday, September 7th
Nice Strong Arm
Via
Astral
@ Deep Cuts
Thursday, September 10th
Sondre Lerche
@ the Somerville Armory
Thursday, September 10th
Pete Yorn (solo acoustic)
@ the Sinclair
Sunday, September 13th
Plosivs
Hammered Hulls
@ Brighton Music Hall
Wednesday, September 16th
Damien Jurado
St. Yuma
@ the Sinclair
Thursday, September 17th
Tanya Donelly
celebrating the 20th anniversary
of her “This Hungry Life” LP
@ the Cut, Gloucester
Friday, September 18th
Alex Cameron
@ Warehouse XI
Thursday, September 24th
Dutch Interior
@ the Somerville Armory
Saturday, September 26th
Squirrel Flower (full band!)
youbet
@ Crystal Ballroom
Tuesday, September 29th
Jenny Owens Young
@ Club Passim
Tuesday, September 29th
Roger Daltry
@ the Chevalier Theatre
Wednesday, September 30th
Spencer Krug
(of Wolf Parade)
solo piano tour
@ Deep Cuts
Thursday, October 1st
Muna
Hemlocke Springs
@ Roadrunner
Monday, October 5th
Horse Lords
@ Deep Cuts
Monday, October 12th
Tricky
@ the Sinclair
Wednesday, October 14th
Fantastic Cat
@ the Sinclair
Sunday, October 25th
Movements
Balance and Composure
Midrift
Niis
@ Roadrunner
Monday, October 26th
L7
(farewell tour)
@ the Wilbur
Monday, November 2nd
This Is Lorelei
with @ (AT)
@ the Sinclair
Tuesday, November 10th
Journey
@ TD Garden
Tuesday, November 10th
Pokey LaFarge
Cicada Rhythm
@ the Somerville Amory
Friday, November 13th
Basement
Fiddlehead
High Vis
Big Boy
First Day Back
@ Roadrunner
Saturday, November 14th
Slow Pulp
Her New Knife
Ivy
@ Roadrunner
Tuesday, November 17th
Caroline
@ the Sinclair
Friday & Saturday
December 4th & 5th
The Dresden Dolls
@ the Colonial Theatre
Alright, see you out there. I’ll probably be stuck up front. Bring me a non-alcoholic beer if you’re headed my way. I’m good for it.
[Boston-Area Action 5/7/26] Show-Going Plans & New Show Announcements
Posted on May 7, 2026 at 11:38 am | No Comments
And so the weekly Wednesday post has become a Thursday post. I saw too many shows over too few days, and the last thing I wanted to do yesterday was write about seeing more shows. Hell, I didn’t even want to listen to any music. I mean, all the shows were great, every one was worth it, but jeez, the burnout is real.
But I’m back. And it’s past time to do the thing where I run down imminent Boston-area shows along with recent area event announcements.
There are two distinct highlights below: First, freakin’ SILKWORM are playing in Somerville on Tuesday! And with Come! Been looking forward to this one for months. I mean, I traveled to Illinois to see the ‘Worm play four shows in a row last fall, so obviously I’m a little excited to catch them here in my ‘hood. And with an absolutely killer opener. I mean, Come on. It’s embarrassing that it hasn’t sold out yet.
Secondly, I’m pretty proud to be ‘presenting’ (which mostly involves me telling you to go and guaranteeing a good time) a show at Deep Cuts on Friday night, May 22nd with a top-notch lineup of faves: The Whimbrels, Thalia Zedek Band, and Unmade Bed. I’ll leave the details of that one for it’s own proper post. It deserves it.
Other stand-outs in the upcoming seven days: Major Stars at Faces Brewing tomorrow night, and Jon Butcher saying farewell to his Axis band in Gloucester. Saturday is the Somerville Porchfest, which you can cap off with Remember Sports, Cusp, & Jake McKelvie at the Crystal Ballroom. 7-11 Jesus also have their EP release show that night at Fifth Column (ask a punk). The Cribs are at The Sinclair on Sunday, and in the most egregious mismatch of band-vibe & venue I’ve seen in awhile: EMF are at City Winery.
And, of course, on Tuesday: THE ‘WORM RETURNS.
Announcement-wise, my personal highlights from below include… um, Dumptruck is playing?! It’s true. In September with Mary Lou Lord at Deep Cuts. Buy a ticket for that now because it’ll sell out. Aside from that, NICE, a fest announced their ridiculous 2026 lineup, as did the The New England Americana Festival. Allston Pudding also revealed some of the bands playing season 2 of their Spring Concert Series at Zone 3 in Allston. Can’t beat neighborhood shows, especially when they’re free & all ages.
In more national-touring-act news, Squeeze are coming to town with Adam Ant & Haircut 100 in August, The Psychedelic Furs & Living Colour are, too. Interpol & DIIV hit Roadrunner together in October, & Dave Davies (!) will be at City Winery. Also pretty into that Menzingers/Hot Water Music/Weakened Friends lineup in November.
The standard shpiel: If there’s anything I didn’t list coming up this week that you’re psyched about, share your enthusiasm in a comment. Same if there’s a recent announcement you dig. Or if there’s any info I got wrong. Also: Check the right column over there, where there’s a full list of shows on my radar. —>
Alright, here come the (warm) lists…
First, imminent Boston-area shows of (my/your?) interest…
Friday, May 8th
Major Stars
Rope Trick
Strawberry Coffin
@ Faces
Friday, May 8th
Jon Butcher Axis
“The Final Show”
with Johnny A
@ the Cut
Saturday, May 9th
Remember Sports
Cusp
Jake McKelvie
@ Crystal Ballroom
Saturday, May 9th
Blood Feeder
Wire Lines
Silver Screams
@ Pour Farm Tavern
in New Bedford
Saturday, May 9th
7-11 Jesus
LP release show
@ Fifth Column
Saturday, May 9th
Somerville Porchfest
all around Somerville
Sunday, May 10th
The Cribs
@ the Sinclair
Monday, May 11th
EMF
@ City Winery
Tuesday, May 12th
Silkworm
Come
@ Crystal Ballroom
And now, recently announced Boston-area shows…
Tuesday, May 19th
Mike Schur & Joe Posnanski
discussing their book “Big Fan”
@ The Brattle Theatre
Friday, May 22nd
The Whimbrels
Thalia Zedek Band
Unmade Bed
@ Deep Cuts
Wednesday, May 27th
Faces on Film (EP release)
Daniel Donovan
DJ Johnny Allen
@ Lou’s
Saturday, May 30th
David Cross
as part of the
WBUR Festival
@ Tsai Performance Center @ BU
Saturday, May 30th
Senator Chris Murphy
with Heather Cox Richardson
presenting
“Crisis of the Common Good”
@ First Parish Church
Saturday, June 6th
New England American Festival
with
Kier Burns & The Kettle Burners,
Nate Perry & Ragged Company,
Other Brother Darryl, Elisa Smith,
Jennifer Tefft & The Strange,
Tigerman Woah, Berm, Regals,
Dirt Road Souls, Autumn Hollow,
Beware the Dangers of a
Ghost Scorpion, Comanchero,
Consuelo’s Revenge, and
Damian and the Displayers
@ the Bellforge Arts Center
Tuesdays from June 9th
through July 7th
Allston Pudding’s
Spring Concert Series (S2!)
with
Haasan Barclay, Spirit Ghost,
Bowling Shoes, (T-T)b,
Jesus the Dinosaur,
and many more
@ Zone 3, Lower Allston
Thursday, June 11th
Gracie & Rachel
@ the Rockwell
Monday, July 15th
Craig Finn
Patterson Hood
@ Shalin Liu, Rockport
Wednesday, July 22nd
Finn Wolfhard
Sleeper’s Bell
@ the Sinclair
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
July 24th, 25th, & 26th
NICE, a fest
the lineup was announced!
too many bands to list here.
just go take a look.
@ Davis Square, Somerville
Tuesday, July 28th
Baby Rainbow
@ Crystal Ballroom
Tuesday, August 18th
The Psychedelic Furs
Living Colour
@ MGM Music Hall
Wednesday, August 26th
Squeeze
Adam Ant
Haircut 100
@ MGM Music Hall
Friday, August 28th
Kacey Musgraves
Midland
@ TD Garden
Thursday, September 3rd
Dumptruck
Mary Lou Lord
@ Deep Cuts
Sunday, September 13th
Graham Nash
@ Boarding House Park, Lowell
Sunday, October 4th
Interpol
DIIV
@ Roadrunner
Friday, October 9th
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
voice + piano
@ the Somerville Armory
Tuesday, October 13th
Dave Davies
(of the Kinks!)
@ City Winery Boston
Thursday, October 15th
& Saturday, October 17th
Olivia Rodrigo
@ TD Garden
Friday, October 16th
JPEGMAFIA
Redveil
Matt Proxy
@ Roadrunner
Saturday, November 21st
The Menzingers
Hot Water Music
Weakened Friends
@ Roadrunner
That’s it. If you see me out there, please say hello. I’m never not glad when that happens.