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

September 27
Zoe Lewis
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
September 27
Mick Flannery,  Jeffrey Martin
Somerville Theatre (Small Theater)
Somerville, MA
September 28
Sol y Canto
2nd Shift Concerts at the Charles River Museum (Listening Room)
Waltham, MA
September 28
John Elliott
The Burren (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Somerville, MA
September 28
Town Mountain
The Sinclair (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Cambridge, MA
September 29
Scott Cook
Prairie balladeer, awestruck vagabond, unrepentant dreamer. "He sings his heart and soul, and in doing so lets light flood into your own... Truly one of Woody Guthrie's children." -RnR Magazine
Old Sloop Presents (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Rockport, MA
September 29
Buskin and Batteau
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
September 29
Crystal Bowersox
An American singer-songwriter and actress, who was the runner-up on the ninth season of American Idol
City Winery (Listening Room)
Boston, MA
September 30
Joe Holt
Cafe 939 (College/University)
Boston, MA
September 30
Jess Ray
Brighton Music Hall (Bar/Nightclub)
Allston, MA
October 1
Peter Yarrow
American singer and songwriter who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary.
Cary Hall (Small Theater)
Lexington, MA
October 1
Peter Yarrow
American singer and songwriter who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary.
Cary Memorial Library (Library)
Lexington, MA
October 1
The Twangtown Paramours
Morrill Memorial Library (Library)
Norwood, MA
October 3
Kim Richey
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
October 4
Jim Kweskin
Jim Kweskin's shows radiate charm, humor, sophistication and talent. His endearing sense of good humor and interpretations make his performances a delight. Kweskin is recognized as one of the best interpreters of the great American songbook.
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
October 5
Amythyst Kiah
Narrows Center For the Arts (Small Theater)
Fall River, MA
October 6
The Mallett Brothers Band
Soundcheck Studios (Listening Room)
Pembroke, MA
October 6
Kim Moberg
A concert to present "The Seven Fires Prophecy Suite for Humanity" album release by Kim Moberg featuring Maxfield Anderson, Jon Evans, Julian Loida and Brian Miller. Presented by The Folk Collective. Tix www.passim.org
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
October 7
Dave Dersham
Somerville Songwriter Sessions (Listening Room)
Somerville, MA
October 7
Edwin McCain
Blue Ocean Music Hall (Bar/Nightclub)
Salisbury, MA
October 7
Tom Rush,  Matt Nakoa
The Center for Arts in Natick (Small Theater)
Natick, MA
October 7
Mark Erelli
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
October 7
Adeem The Artist
Adeem Maria is a seventh-generation Carolinian, a makeshift poet, singer-songwriter, storyteller, and blue-collar Artist. They began toiling at their instrument in 2002 when their family relocated to
Cafe 939 (College/University)
Boston, MA
October 8
Goodnight Moonshine
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
October 10
Benjamin Dakota Rogers
Cafe 939 (College/University)
Boston, MA
October 10
Raye Zaragoza
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
October 12
Mark Erelli
The Spire Center for Performing Arts (Small Theater)
Plymouth, MA
October 13
Amy Helm
Narrows Center For the Arts (Small Theater)
Fall River, MA
October 14
Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas
Blackstone River Theater (Small Theater)
Cumberland, RI
October 14
Livin' On Luck
Livin' On Luck returns to the Whale's Jaw Cafe, Rockport playing acoustic classic rock
Whale's Jaw Cafe (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Rockport, MA
October 14
Honeysuckle
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
October 14
Antje Duvekot
Homegrown Coffeehouse (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Needham, MA
October 15
Chappell Roan
House of Blues Boston (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Boston, MA
October 15
Cathy Clasper-Torch,  Ed Sweeney
Blackstone River Theater (Small Theater)
Cumberland, RI
October 15
Grace Pettis
Homegrown House Concerts (House Concert)
Marblehead, MA
October 15
Ed Sweeney
Blackstone River Theater (Small Theater)
Cumberland, RI
October 15
Kim Moberg
Friends of the Middleborough Public Library presents award winning singer/songwriter Kim Moberg accompanied by fiddler Heather Swanson for a concert of original music.
Middleborough Public Library (Library)
Middleborough, MA
October 17
Pierce Pettis
Pierce Pettis returns to Club Passim! >only Boston area appearance this fall, so reserve your seat!
Club Passim (Listening Room)
Cambridge, MA
October 18
Dana Cooper
Dana is a Poetic & Powerful Indie Folk/Americana Songwriter from Nashville known for his storytelling & musicanship. As one critic noted, "he sings like an angel & plays like the devil." Enjoy a Living Legend at the Top of his Game!
The Somerville Armory (Listening Room)
Somerville, MA
October 18
Mark Stepakoff
The Somerville Armory (Listening Room)
Somerville, MA
October 19
Kathy Mattea
Kathleen Alice "Kathy" Mattea is an American country music and bluegrass performer who often brings folk, Celtic, and traditional country sounds to her music.
Shalin Liu Performance Center (Small Theater)
Rockport, MA
October 19
Lisa Bastoni
The Spire Center for Performing Arts (Small Theater)
Plymouth, MA
October 20
Slaid Cleaves
The Spire Center for Performing Arts (Small Theater)
Plymouth, MA
October 20
Chris Smither
Me and Thee Coffeehouse (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Marblehead, MA
October 20
Dave Gunning,  J.P. Cormier
Borrowed House Concerts (House Concert)
Plaistow, NH
October 21
Jason Eady
The Porch Southern Fare and Juke Joint (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Medford, MA
October 21
Monica Rizzio,  Stephen Kellogg
Country/Folk singer-songwriter who grew up in the bible belt of East Texas and has developed a taste for old guitars and smooth tequilas.
Cary Hall (Small Theater)
Lexington, MA
October 21
Greg Klyma
Greg Klyma is a road-tested troubadour and a relentless songwriter. You'll find him weaving lanes between Tom Petty and Merle Haggard on music's highway.
Regent Theatre (Small Theater)
Arlington, MA
October 21
Dana Cooper
Dana is a Poetic & Powerful Indie Folk/Americana Songwriter from Nashville known for his storytelling & musicanship. As one critic noted, "he sings like an angel & plays like the devil." Enjoy a Living Legend at the Top of his Game!
Open Book Coffeehouse (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Canton, MA
October 21
Cathy Clasper-Torch,  Atwater-Donnelly
Not Just Another Coffeehouse (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Sharon, 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)
Fractal House (Medford)
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)
Old South Meetinghouse (Boston)
One Broadway Collaborative (Lawrence)
River Club Music Hall (Scituate)
Sanctuary Maynard (Maynard)
Somerville Songwriter Sessions (Somerville)
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)
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)
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)
Kickstand Cafe (Arlington)
Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub (Cambridge)
The Bull Run Restaurant (Shirley)
The Burren (Somerville)
The Gulu-Gulu Cafe (Salem)
The Haven (Jamaica Plain)
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)
Morrill Memorial Library (Norwood)
Plymouth Public Library (Plymouth)
Red Ink Community Library (Providence)
Robbins Library (Arlington)
Walpole Public Library (Walpole)

Small Theaters

Amazing Things Art Center (Framingham)
Blackstone River Theater (Cumberland)
Cary Hall (Lexington)
Firehouse Center for the Arts (Newburyport)
Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center (Foxborough)
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)
Bridgewater Music Alley (Bridgewater)
Herter Park Ampitheater (Boston)

Bars & Nightclubs

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