Spring brings the sweet sounds of live music to the area. See where you can catch a show
Some notable shows coming up, and time to take a look further ahead to the summer.
Music Circus, Melody Tent tickets on sale
Spring is in the air – at least when it's not raining – and summer can't be far behind. Meanwhile the summer venues have been announcing shows and selling tickets for a while now, and the South Shore Music Circus kicks off its season June 18 when the popular Happy Together tour hosted by The Turtles returns. A quick check of Cohasset's beloved tent venue's schedule reveals a busy slate of shows, with tribute bands continuing to show their strength. Check out Let's Sing Taylor (June 22) for you Swifties; or Voyage, for Journey fans (July 12), or Rumours for Fleetwood Mac devotees (July 20); or even the ever popular The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA (Aug. 3). But there are some really attractive shows by original artists too, such as country/rock/blues singer Elle King (June 28); Southern rockers Needtobreathe (July 24); rocker Grace Potter (July 31); and perennial favorites The Beach Boys (August 9). Check the full schedule at themusiccircus.org
The sister Cape Cod Melody Tent gets started a bit earlier, with country star Brantley Gilbert performing he first show on June 2, followed by Holliston's own Jo Dee Messina on June 8. The Melody Tent's killer couple of weeks in June continues with Bonnie Raitt, with the James Hunter Band opening, on June 11, and then blues and soul man Keb' Mo' on June 14. The Hyannis venue has gone big for comedy this summer too, with Saturday Night Live alumnus Pete Davidson (June 18); Nikki Glaser (July 12); TV's Seth Meyers (July 20); and New England favorite Bob Marley (Aug. 3). And Vermont's Grace Potter is also rocking out at the Cape venue on Aug. 6. Take a look at the full schedule at melodytent.org.
10,000 maniacs in Mass.
Fans may have noticed and been curious about 10,000 Maniacs tour through the area, as they have sold out both their Saturday stop at the Narrows Center in Fall River, and their Sunday night stop at City Winery in Boston. The current lineup is really strong with four of the six original members from the band's early 1980s start still on board. Of course, the focal point is singer Natalie Merchant, who left for a solo career a long time ago. But Mary Ramsey, a musician (violin and viola) who'd been associated with the band for years, has taken over on vocals and does a stellar job. The Maniacs have been enjoying a resurgence, especially with their 40th anniversary in 2022, and naturally, those melodies are as entrancing as ever.
THURSDAY, April 25: Scorpions guitarist coming to Fall River
Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth brings his solo band to the Narrows Center in Fall River, where the walls are sure to be shaking. More rock thunder at MGM Music Hall in Boston where Judas Priest touches down. Alan Doyle, the main man from the beloved Newfoundland band Great Big Sea, brings his solo show to The Wilbur Theater in Boston. Comic Shannon Ford is at City Winery in Boston. Certainly worth a road trip when soul legend Dionne Warwick sings at The Lowell Auditorium. Larsen celebrates its new album, "Club Americana," at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. Blu deTiger rocks The Sinclair in Cambridge. Funktapuss leads the jam at The Music Room in Yarmouth. Country songwriter Adam Doleac performs at Royale in Boston.
FRIDAY, April 26: Folk singer Cheryl Wheeler coming to Plymouth
It's always a charming mix of music and humorous storytelling when folk singer Cheryl Wheeler comes to town, and her opener and cohort Kenny Wheeler is an extraordinary songsmith himself, at the Spire Center in Plymouth. The Freight, with guests Danny C and the East Coast Horns, heat up The C Note in Hull. The Americana artist known as Waxahatchee takes over Boston's Orpheum Theater. The funk and grooves of Magic Beans is at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke all weekend. Jazz pianist Michel Camilo is playing solo at The RegattaBar in Harvard Square all weekend. The roots band all the way from Kootenay, British Columbia, Moontricks, arrives at Brighton Music Hall. The jazz singer known as Savoir Faire performs at The Burren in Somerville. Folk and guitar master Garnet Rogers returns to Club Passim in Cambridge. Jamband Umphrey's McGee is at The House of Blues in Boston through Saturday. Country star-on-the-rise Priscilla Block sure to pack the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. Comedian Drew Lynch at The Wilbur Theater in Boston. One of new England's favorite "party hearty" bands, Steve Smith and the Nakeds, light up The District Center for the Arts in Taunton. Bluegrass/roots music supergroup Barnstar! – their latest album is called "Furious Kindness" – raises heck at the Narrows Center in Fall River. Spacy popster Helado Negro plays at The Sinclair in Cambridge. Kiss the Sky – a Jimi Hendrix tribute – at The Music Room in Yarmouth. DJ duo Two Friends brings their Los Angeles sheen to MGM Music Hall in Boston for two nights.
SATURDAY, April 27: Chris Pahud heading to Needham
Band of Brothers, a group dedicated to performing the music of the Allman Brothers Band and its various offshoots, headlines the Spire Center in Plymouth. Quincy's basso profundo folksinger Chris Pahud joins Tom Pirozzoli and Seth Connelly for some indelible harmonies at Needham's Homegrown Coffeehouse. Falmouth's genre-busting rock quartet Crooked Coast heats up Brighton Music Hall. Returning the scene of some of their first area shows, Suzanne McNeil and Tim Mahoney take the stage at Paddy Barry's in Quincy. Sister Funk headlines a benefit for the TT's Animal Foundation at The C Note in Hull. Siblings Natalie (cello) and Brittany (fiddle) Haas deliver some traditional folk sounds at Club Passim in Cambridge. Glitter Boys – a DJ crew – headlines Roadrunner in Allston. Pianist Joey Alexander delights jazz fans at Scullers in Boston. Disco Dream brings back the music of that era at The District Center for the Arts in Taunton. Electronic popster Wisp is at The Sinclair in Cambridge. Mercy hits the groove at The Next Page Cafe in Weymouth. Boston folk singer Vance Gilbert performs at Lexington's Harmony on the Green Coffeehouse.
SUNDAY, April 28: Shady Roosters spend the afternoon in Plymouth
Sunday's 2 p.m. Shady Roosters sets have become a staple at the Spire Center in Plymouth; while the 4-8 p.m. blues jam at Players in Rockland, helmed by The Michele Rockwell Band, always has surprise guests. Sunday night the biggest show is at MGM Music Hall in Boston where the reunited Black Crowes (with the battling Robinson brothers) take the stage, with local blues-rockers GA-20 opening. The electronic producer/performer known as Oneohtrix Point Never, or just Daniel Lopatin to his friends, crafts a mood at Royale in Boston.
Coming attractions
MONDAY:Lost Dog Street Band is one of the best and fastest-rising Americana outfits out there, so their show at Royale in Boston is not to be missed; meanwhile the oddly-named Rey Royale brings R&B to City Winery in Boston.
TUESDAY:Teenage Fanclub rocks The Paradise in Boston; while EXTC – a band playing the music of XTC and including XTC's drummer – hits City Winery in Boston; and indie rocker Malcolm Todd plays Royale in Boston.
WEDNESDAY: Hanover's bandleader/artist/Energizer rocker Aldous Collins brings his solo work to the Spire Center in Plymouth; while garage-rocker Ty Segall raises a ruckus at Royale in Boston.
MAY 2: A huge night for Americana rock, with The Decemberists at Roadrunner in Boston; while The Jayhawks touch down at Beverly's Cabot Theater.
MAY 4: Folk music rules with the detailed story-songs of Ellis Paul at the Spire Center in Plymouth; while the bluesy sounds of Mark T. Small are at The South Shore Folk Music Club at Duxbury First Parish.
MAY 6: A night for musical legends, as Norah Jones sings at MGM Music Hall in Boston; while blues titan Buddy Guy's Farewell Tour is at The Wilbur Theater in Boston. (Guy also plays Medford's Chevalier Theater May 8).
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Where to see live music near Quincy and Boston from April 25-28
