Tufts Blogs

Boston is home to some of the best live music in the world. Beyond having amazing venues for touring artists playing traditional concerts, it has really amazing local performers—and if you know where to look, you can find something incredible every night. Boston is a city of young people and students, and as a result, the local music scene is dominated by music students who creatively push and explore different styles constantly. This is by no means an exhaustive list of Boston music venues—just some of my personal favorites where I’ve gotten the chance to see shows.

The Big:

TD Garden, or just “the Garden,” is located conveniently at North Station, just a 25-minute T ride on the Green Line from Tufts. Here, you can see the Boston Celtics, the Bruins, and the biggest names in music. I was lucky enough to see Dua Lipa here at a sold-out concert. This is the spot for big-time touring acts and is sure to be a spectacle no matter who you see.

Fenway is home to the Boston Red Sox, but you can certainly catch a summer show there. The first concert I attended after coming to Tufts was the Jonas Brothers at a sold-out Fenway, and it remains a favorite. Noah Kahan played several shows there that later became an iconic live album. If you have the chance to see music at this historic stadium, it’ll be worth it.

The Medium:

Symphony Hall houses the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, and so much more. One thing I wish I had taken advantage of more as an underclassman is the College Card, which can be purchased for just $30 once a season and allows college students to attend as many shows as they want by signing up for free tickets the week of a performance.

House of Blues and MGM Music Hall at Fenway I’ll lump together. They are similar in size and vibe and are right across the street from each other. I’ve seen touring acts such as Lil Nas X, Jacob Collier, Cory Wong, Goose, and many others at these two venues. Both are great places to see big-name performers.

Roadrunner is a fairly new venue and feels like a big, open warehouse space. The sound quality is high and the environment is really fun for midsize shows. My favorite show I saw here was the jazz fusion group Snarky Puppy.

Paradise Rock Club is a smaller venue that fits about 1,000 people and is located conveniently on the Green Line. There’s a great view of the stage from most places, tickets are usually affordable, and some really fun midsize bands come through.

Brighton Music Hall is a bit smaller—think 400-person capacity—which makes for a super personal show experience. It’s one of those spots where you’ll catch an artist right before they blow up. The vibe is low-key, the sound is great, and it’s a local favorite for a reason.

Royale serves as both a nightclub and a concert space. It’s right off of Park Street in downtown Boston and has a very open floor plan—great for dancing to your favorite band.

The Sinclair is probably my favorite of any of these midsize venues. It’s a small, intimate space in Harvard Square with a great stage and an amazing lineup of bands that come through. Every Friday, it also doubles as a nightclub for a DJ pair known as “The Glitter Boys,” who play classic funk and soul music all from vinyl. It’s one of the most fun crowds and dance experiences in Boston on any given week.

The Small:

This is the kind of space where Boston really shines. There are simply too many underground venues, bars, and concert spots for one person to explore. Here are just a few of my favorites—places where you might catch a college band one night and your favorite niche indie artist the next.

The Middle East is not just one venue but a whole complex in Central Square. There are multiple stages, floors, restaurants, and bars, each with their own events. There’s always great music to be heard here—from moshing at a metal show to a seated jazz set.

The Cantab Lounge, also in Central, has a rotating schedule of house bands playing everything from classic rock to funk and soul. They also have a lounge downstairs that local bands can book out.

The Lilypad is my favorite of this entire list. It’s a tiny room in Inman Square that hosts everything from jazz to country karaoke to yoga meditations. My bands have played here several times, and the staff are always so friendly. The sound in the space is consistently amazing.

The Burren is one of the most classic spots for Tufts students and Bostonians alike. Tufts students usually attend College Night on Thursdays, but many don’t take advantage of the live music that happens here seven nights a week. The Burren is best known for its traditional Irish jams—which will have you dancing a jig on the table before you know it. They also host comedy nights, indie bands, classical music, and more.

Wally’s Jazz Café is a tiny hole-in-the-wall jazz club in downtown Boston and is consistently an incredible night out. They’re open seven days a week with a rotating lineup of student groups, professional bands, and touring jazz artists. You never know exactly what you’ll get, but it’ll definitely blow you away.

It would be nearly impossible to capture every venue in the city—this is just a small taste of some of the places I’ve seen and played amazing music. Boston is truly special in the sheer amount of students, artists, and fans who keep its music scene vibrant and constantly evolving. So whether you're catching a stadium tour or stumbling into a basement jazz jam, there's always something to hear.