Live Acoustic Music Near Boston, Massachusetts

If you've never experienced hearing talented musicians perform in a small, intimate environment, you are in for a treat.

House concerts are a growing trend across the country, where people invite friends and neighbors into their homes for an up-close concert experience. And there are many house concerts being held in and around the Boston area that you can check out - you just need to contact the host and ask to be invited.

Churches and non-profit community groups around Boston host occasional coffeehouses that feature traditional folk musicians and other acoustic artists as a way of bringing the community together. Local libraries also host free concerts that are open to the general public.

In addition, live acoustic music can be heard in several listening rooms and small theaters in Boston. Local restaurants and cafes in the area sometimes host nationally touring musicians as well.

Below you can find a listing of upcoming shows in these smaller venues by nationally and internationally touring artists.

Upcoming Acoustic Shows

June 11
Iris DeMent
City Winery (Listening Room)
Boston, MA
June 11
Livingston Taylor,  Ash & Eric
The Bull Run Restaurant (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Shirley, MA
June 14
Matt and Shannon Heaton
Medford Brewing Company (Brewery)
Medford, MA
June 14
Tim Gearan
Toad (Bar/Nightclub)
Cambridge, MA
June 14
Alanna Royale
Brighton Music Hall (Bar/Nightclub)
Allston, MA
June 15
Jackie Venson
Narrows Center For the Arts (Small Theater)
Fall River, MA
June 16
Ric Allendorf
Mayflower Brewing Company (Brewery)
Plymouth, MA
June 16
Abigail Washburn
If American old-time music is about taking earlier, simpler ways of life and music-making as one's model, Abigail Washburn has proven herself to be a bracing revelation to that tradition.
Narrows Center For the Arts (Small Theater)
Fall River, MA
June 16
Goodnight Moonshine
Homegrown House Concerts (House Concert)
Marblehead, MA
June 16
Chris Smither
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
June 16
Jesse Dayton
The Cabot (Small Theater)
Beverly, MA
June 17
Chris Smither
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
June 17
John John Brown
Kerrville New Folk winner John John Brown is bringing giant comics, iconic photographs, and moving panoramas to the stage; weaving together storytelling songs and the visual arts in a live performance. His new show is titled "Songs, Stories &Art".
Open Book Coffeehouse (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Canton, MA
June 17
Jimmy Ryan
Lizard Lounge (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
June 18
Jackie Venson
The Bull Run Restaurant (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Shirley, MA
June 18
Eliot Bronson
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
June 19
Bayonne
The Sinclair (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Cambridge, MA
June 20
Aine Minogue
Cary Memorial Library (Library)
Lexington, MA
June 22
Cold Chocolate
The Spire Center for Performing Arts (Small Theater)
Plymouth, MA
June 22
Larry & Joe
Venezuelan-Appalachian fusion by Llanera master and asylum-seeking migrant Larry Bellorín & GRAMMY-nominated bluegrass superstar Joe Troop (Che Apalache). Latingrass: Banjo, cuatro, fiddle, guitar, maracas, upright bass, vocals.
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
June 23
Mike Block
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
June 23
Josh Taerk
Wilbur Fiske Haven House (Listening Room)
Malden, MA
June 24
Mark Stepakoff
One Broadway Collaborative (Listening Room)
Lawrence, MA
June 24
Dana Cooper,  Jeff Black
Dana Cooper has logged millions of miles as a renowned songwriter and story teller. This song poet engages and inspires audiences around the world with his quick wit, insightful stories & lyrics.
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
June 25
Crowes Pasture
Monique Byrne and Andy Rogovin perform original music and eye-opening covers that reflect a mutual passion, sense of discovery and celebration of life.
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
June 25
Cold Chocolate
Homegrown House Concerts (House Concert)
Marblehead, MA
June 29
Eilen Jewell
American Songwriter describes Eilen Jewell as “one of America’s most intriguing, creative and idiosyncratic voices.”
The Sinclair (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Cambridge, MA
June 29
Heather Aubrey Lloyd
Half of Baltimore’s ilyAIMY. Her lush voice and storytelling have earnedTelluride Troubadour Top 4, Falcon Ridge Most Wanted, No Depression Award Finalist and Grand Prize Bernard Ebb Award.
Bridgewater Music Alley (Outdoor Music Series)
Bridgewater, MA
June 30
Low Lily
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
June 30
J2B2 (John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band)
The Spire Center for Performing Arts (Small Theater)
Plymouth, MA
June 30
Eilen Jewell
American Songwriter describes Eilen Jewell as “one of America’s most intriguing, creative and idiosyncratic voices.”
Narrows Center For the Arts (Small Theater)
Fall River, MA
June 30
Josh Taerk
Wilbur Fiske Haven House (Listening Room)
Malden, MA
June 30
Josh Taerk
Whale's Jaw Cafe (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Rockport, MA
July 1
Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
July 5
Jacob Jolliff
Shalin Liu Performance Center (Small Theater)
Rockport, MA
July 6
Ricky Stein
Austin-born, NYC-based singer, guitarist, and writer of songs such as "I'm a Stone," "Night Shines On," and "American Dreaming."
Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Cambridge, MA
July 8
Rebecca Loebe
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
July 8
Claudia Schmidt
The Bull Run Restaurant (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Shirley, MA
July 12
Tab Benoit
An American blues guitarist, musician, and singer. His playing combines a number of blues styles, primarily Delta blues.
Narrows Center For the Arts (Small Theater)
Fall River, MA
July 12
Matt and Shannon Heaton
Medford Brewing Company (Brewery)
Medford, MA
July 13
Pete Mancini
Narrows Center For the Arts (Small Theater)
Fall River, MA
July 13
Willy Mason
Boston Harbor Distillery (Brewery)
Boston, MA
July 13
Alastair Moock
Robbins Library (Library)
Arlington, MA
July 14
Chris O'Brien
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
July 16
Erin Ash Sullivan
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
July 16
Roy Book Binder
The Bull Run Restaurant (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Shirley, MA
July 16
Grace Morrison
If folk, roots, and Americana were on a Venn diagram, Grace Morrison would be squarely in the center. With a career that began as a backup singer for rock icons like Eddie Money and Joey Molland (of
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
July 18
Ash & Eric
Ash & Eric will tour the East Coast in May 2022 to promote their new album "Sure". Get info & tickets at www.ashandericmusic.com/tour
Duxbury Free Library (Library)
Duxbury, MA
July 20
Rodney Crowell,  Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley
Shalin Liu Performance Center (Small Theater)
Rockport, MA
July 21
Martin Sexton
Shalin Liu Performance Center (Small Theater)
Rockport, MA
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Places to see live acoustic music in and around Boston, Massachusetts

House Concerts

Borrowed House Concerts (Plaistow)
Cranberry County House Concerts (Carver)
Homegrown House Concerts (Marblehead)
Lakeview House Concerts (Sharon)
Studio 84 House Concerts (Middleborough)
The Music Porch (Reading)
The Rec Room House Concerts (Belmont)
Whale Cove House Concerts (Rockport)

Listening Rooms

2nd Shift Concerts at the Charles River Museum (Waltham)
City Winery (Boston)
Club Passim (Cambridge)
Fallout Shelter (Norwood)
First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church- Medfield, MA (Medfield)
Groton Hill Music Center (Littleton)
Lizard Lounge (Cambridge)
Niagara Coffee Haus (Millis)
One Broadway Collaborative (Lawrence)
River Club Music Hall (Scituate)
Sanctuary Maynard (Maynard)
Soule Homestead Summer Concert Series (Middleborough)
Soundcheck Studios (Pembroke)
The Lilypad (Cambridge)
The Somerville Armory (Somerville)
Wilbur Fiske Haven House (Malden)

Folk Music Coffeehouses

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse (Franklin)
Crossroads Music Series (North Andover)
Homegrown Coffeehouse (Needham)
Javawocky Coffeehouse (Brockton)
Linden Tree Coffeehouse (Wakefield)
Maple Street Congregational Church (Danvers)
Me and Thee Coffeehouse (Marblehead)
Music on Centre (Boston)
New Moon Coffeehouse (Haverhill)
New Revival Coffeehouse (Stow)
Not Just Another Coffeehouse (Sharon)
Old Sloop Presents (Rockport)
Open Book Coffeehouse (Canton)
Open Road Coffeehouse (Rockland)
Rose Garden Coffeehouse (Mansfield)
Second Friday Coffeehouse (Belmont)
Temple Isaiah Coffeehouse (Lexington)
The Church Hill Coffeehouse (Norwell)
Westford Parish Center For The Arts (Westford)

Cafes, Restaurants & Coffee Shops

Atwoods Tavern (Cambridge)
Avalena's Bar and Grill (Millis)
House of Blues Boston (Boston)
Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub (Cambridge)
Murphy’s Law Irish Pub (Pawtucket)
Serendipity Cafe (Maynard)
The Bull Run Restaurant (Shirley)
The Burren (Somerville)
The Gulu-Gulu Cafe (Salem)
The Porch Southern Fare and Juke Joint (Medford)
The Sinclair (Cambridge)
Walnut Street Coffee Cafe (Lynn)
Whale's Jaw Cafe (Rockport)

Libraries

Cary Memorial Library (Lexington)
Concerts in the Courtyard at Boston Public Library (Boston)
Duxbury Free Library (Duxbury)
Middleborough Public Library (Middleborough)
Plymouth Public Library (Plymouth)
Robbins Library (Arlington)
Walpole Public Library (Walpole)

Small Theaters

Amazing Things Art Center (Framingham)
Blackstone River Theater (Cumberland)
Firehouse Center for the Arts (Newburyport)
Narrows Center For the Arts (Fall River)
Regent Theatre (Arlington)
Shalin Liu Performance Center (Rockport)
Somerville Theatre (Somerville)
The Cabot (Beverly)
The Center for Arts in Natick (Natick)
The Spire Center for Performing Arts (Plymouth)
Tupelo Music Hall (Londonderry)

Outdoor Music Series

Maudslay Arts Center (Newburyport)
Bellforge Arts Center (Medfield)
Bridgewater Music Alley (Bridgewater)

Bars & Nightclubs

Blue Ocean Music Hall (Salisbury)
Brighton Music Hall (Allston)
Cantab Lounge (Cambridge)
Green Dragon Tavern (Boston)
The Met (Pawtucket)
Toad (Cambridge)