[Boston-Area Action 1/21/26] Show-Going Plans & New Show Announcements
Posted on January 21, 2026 at 1:11 pm | No Comments
Forgive me, reader, for I have slacked. It’s been over a month since my last Boston-centric Wednesday post of recently-announced rock shows and imminent plans. The holidays, some travel, show prep, and the usual early-January lull give me a solid excuse. As does the general state of the world, which is decidedly… not good. I spend a lot of my mental energy fighting against the spiral. I know many of you can relate.
Speaking of which, going to shows certainly helps in that battle. I’ve only been to a couple so far this year, and don’t have many immediate plans, but the lull is definitely coming to an end. There’s been a non-stop stream of announcements this week, so if I include all the dates that have been shared since I last posted… well, you’re going to be scrolling awhile. You’ll see.
Before that list, some personal Boston-area highlights that have been announced: The Black Heart Procession with Chris Brokaw next month, Some Velvet Sidewalk with Lupo Citta & Minibeast at Deep Cuts, Throwing Muses at the Paradise, The Chameleons with the Veldt, Swirlies & Sharp Pins (who play tomorrow, too) opening for Snail Mail, Mercury Rev opening for the Afghan Whigs, the Tanya Donelly/Chris Brokaw team-up on May 1st, Courtney Barnett at Roadrunner, Robber Robber at Deep Cuts, and as of this morning… Sugar with J. Robbins at Roadrunner, too. YES.
As for the immediate future, the only thing I have right now is seeing the Sharp Pins with Eli Winter and Invisible Rays at the Somerville Armory tomorrow night. If you’ve got any imminent plans or announced shows that you’re super-psyched about (and aren’t listed on the actual Almanac in the right column), leave a comment.
For now, I’ll just stick with shows that have been confirmed since the last time I did this. It’s a lengthy list. Here goes…
Recently announced Boston-area shows…
Saturday, January 24th
The Endorphins
We Are Space Horses
Honey Cassette
Lunch Mother
@ the Loft
Thursday, January 29th
Lily Seabird (solo)
opening for
Dean Johnson
@ The Sinclair
February 3rd
Roddy Bottom
(of Imperial Teen)
presents his book
“The Royal We”
@ Porter Square Books, Cambridge
Saturday, February 7th
The Grownup Noise (album release!)
Happy Little Clouds
& comedian Josh Gondelman
@ Deep Cuts
Saturday, February 7th
Muck and the Mires
White Dynomite
Sonic Bomb
The Humanoids
We Own Land
@ Sonia
Wednesday, February 11th
The Earfull Series
writers reading,
songwriters performing.
with authors
Thomas Beller & John Sayles
and musicians
The Lo-I & Chris Smither
@ the Regattabar
Friday & Saturday
February 13th & 14th
Marcello Hernandez
@ the Wilbur
Sunday, February 15th
The Black Heart Procession
Chris Brokaw (solo electric)
@ Sonia
Tuesday, February 17th
Which Side Are You On?:
A Protest Music Teach Out
This month’s edition includes…
Dennis Brennan, The Dogmatics,
The Flying Vipers ft. Kellee Webb,
Stephen Fredette, Dwayne Haggins,
and Jim Infantino
@ the Burren Backroom
Sunday, February 22nd
Tracy Bonham
Spring Residency night 1
@ the Burren Backroom
Friday, February 27th
Hilken & Melissa Band,
Cujo with Jen Trynin,
and Magen Tracy & the Missed Connections
Early Show @ the Middle East Up
Tuesday, March 10th
Trace Mountains
Coma Cinema
Elvis Depressedly
@ The Rockwell
Saturday, March 14th
Some Velvet Sidewalk
Minibeast
Lupo città
@ Deep Cuts
Sunday, March 22nd
Tracy Bonham
Spring Residency night 2
@ the Burren Backroom
Friday, March 27th
Downtown Boys
Whyte Lipstick
@ Deep Cuts
Friday, March 27th
Mike Gordon (Phish) & his band
@ the Paradise
Friday, March 27th
Old 97’s
Lizzie No
@ the Sinclair
Friday, March 27th
Slomosa
@ Brighton Music Hall
Friday, March 27th
Gwar
Soulfly
King Parrot
@ the House of Blues
Saturday, April 4th
Throwing Muses
@ the Paradise
Friday, April 10th
Band of Horses
@ the Cabot in Beverly
Sunday, April 12th
Holy Fuck
@ the Rockwell
Sunday, April 12th
Bush
Mammoth
James and the Cold Gun
@ MGM Music Hall
Tuesday, April 14th
The Chameleons
The Veldt
@ Crystal Ballroom
Friday, April 17th
Snail Mail
Swirlies
Sharp Pins
@ Big Night Live
Saturday, April 18th
Nick Offerman
“Big Woodchuck” tour
@ the Chevalier Theatre
Sunday, April 19th
Tracy Bonham
Spring Residency night 3
@ the Burren Backroom
Monday, April 20th
The Antlers
Tōth
@ Brighton Music Hall
Tuesday, April 21st
José González
Abby Sage
@ the Royale
Monday, April 27th
The Afghan Whigs
Mercury Rev
@ the Royale
Monday, April 27th
Fishbone
@ the Sinclair
Friday, May 1st
Tanya Donelly & Chris Brokaw
@ First Church, Cambridge
Tuesday, May 5th
Gladie
Noun
@ Deep Cuts
Tuesday, May 5th
The Messthetics
and James Brandon Lewis
@ City Winery Boston
Saturday, May 9th
Remember Sports
Cusp
@ Crystal Ballroom
Wednesday, May 13th
courtney barnett
Momma
Truman Sinclair
@ Roadrunner
Friday, May 15th
Nova One
Bong Wish
Winkler
@ Deep Cuts
Sunday, May 17th
Tracy Bonham
Spring Residency night 4
@ the Burren Backroom
Saturday, May 23rd
Robber Robber
@ Deep Cuts
Sunday, May 24th
David Lee Roth
@ the House of Blues
Saturday, May 30th
Acid Bath, Naplam Death,
Pig Destroyer, Primitive Man,
and Final Gasp
@ Roadrunner
Friday & Saturday
June 5th & 6th
They Might Be Giants
@ the House of Blues
Wednesday, June 10th
The Avett Brothers
and Mike Patton
present AVTT/PTTN
@ the Wang
Wednesday, June 10th
Primus
Les Claypool’s Frog Brigade
The Lennon Delirium
@ the Pavilion
Wednesday, June 24th
Sammy Hagar & his band
Rick Springfield
@ the Xfinity Center
Friday, June 27th
The Human League
Soft Cell
Alison Moyet
@ the Wang
Sunday, July 26th
Men At Work
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Shonen Knife
@ South Shore Music Circus
Friday, July 31st
Tori Amos
@ the Pavilion
Friday, August 14th
Blues Traveler
Gin Blossoms
Spin Doctors
@ the Pavilion
Monday, September 14th
Aldous Harding
@ the Sinclair
Wednesday, September 23rd
Armand Hammer
@ the Somerville Armory
Friday & Saturday
October 9th & 10th
Superdrag
@ Brighton Music Hall
Saturday, October 17th
Sugar
J. Robbins
@ Roadrunner
Stay safe out there. Resist whenever & however you can. Grab on to whatever goodness comes your way and hold tight.
[Boston-Area Action 12/10/25] Show-Going Plans & New Show Announcements
Posted on December 10, 2025 at 5:53 pm | 3 Comments
Believe it or not, here’s a Wednesday “imminent Boston-area shows & recent announcements” post. This is long overdue, by like… three weeks? Just haven’t been feeling it. But I figured I might as well just fire one off, otherwise I may never do another one. Forced momentum.
So here’s a list of shows that strike my fancy within the next seven days here in the greater Boston area. Along with all the announcements that have accumulated since I last did this. Which means, of course, that some of the announcements are not super-new (and there are A LOT. Like Silkworm & Come!!). So cut me some slack there. And missing all those weeks means a couple shows that were announced are already about to happen. So there’s that.
Standard schpiel: There will be mistakes here, so correct me in the comments. There will be omissions of things that you might care about that are off my radar or I totally missed hearing about. Comment with those, too.
Special mention: Don’t miss the The Ladybug Transistor with Giant Day & Gold Dust tomorrow night at Deep Cuts in Medford. And if you’re in Vermont, go see Ladybug on Saturday night at Standing Stone Wines in Winooski. And make sure you say hello to the guy behind the drums in the first band.
First, imminent Boston-area shows of (my/your?) interest…
TONIGHT!
Wednesday, December 10th
The Dream Syndicate
perform “Medicine Show” & more
@ the Crystal Ballroom
ALSO TONIGHT!
Wednesday, December 10th
Fully Celebrated Orchestra
Thalia Zedek
Andy California
@ the Midway Cafe
TONIGHT, TOO!
Wednesday, December 10th
Earfull Series
“Writers reading, songwriters playing”
with authors Stewart O’Nan & Gish Jen
and bands
High Tea & Consuelo Candelaria-Barry
@ Regattabar, Cambridge
TOMORROW!
Thursday, December 11th
The Ladybug Transistor
Giant Day
Gold Dust
@ Deep Cuts
Thursday, December 11th
The Weisstronauts Holiday Jubilee!
MARS (record release)
Girl with a Hawk
@ the Burren Backroom
Friday, December 12th
Let’s Rock Cancer 2025
a benefit for the dana-farber
cancer care access program
hosted by DJ Henry Santoro
with Vapors of Morphine,
the Chelsea Curve,
Muck & the Mires,
The Ray Liriano Experience,
and … go! (+ guests)
@ the Crystal Ballroom
Saturday, December 13th
J. Robbins Band
plays Burning Airlines
with openers Anachronist
@ Deep Cuts
Saturday, December 13th
Will Dailey
@ the Paradise
Sunday, December 14th
Juliana Hatfield (full band)
‘Lightning Might Strike’ LP Release
2 shows @ the Burren Backroom
Sunday, December 14th
Chris Brokaw
Kathy Snax
Kass Richards
@ the Model Cafe
And now, recently announced Boston-area shows…
Tuesday, December 16th
“Which Side Are You On?:
A Protest Music Teach-Out”
a monthly series, this time with…
Abbie Barrett, Chris Cote (Upper Crust),
Good Trouble Brass Band,
Linnea Herzog (Linnea’s Garden),
Linda Twiss-Gioscia (Roxy & the Crisis),
and Paul Willis, all backed by
the Paid Protesters
@ the Burren Backroom
Sunday, December 21st
A Very FUNdraising Christmas
with Jim Buni, Mick & the Mires,
Merrie Amsterberg, Jen Trynin,
Magen Tracy, Fuzzy,
David & Stephen Fredette,
Chris Colbourn, Chris Brokaw,
The Handymen, Mike Gent,
Drew O’Doherty & Family,
The Other Girls, Thalia Zedek,
Brian Sullivan, plus members
of Buffalo Tom & Scruffy the Cat
with MC Angie C.
@ the Burren Backroom
Saturday, January 10th
Strange Pains
single release party
@ Deep Cuts
Thursday, January 22nd
Sharp Pins
(rescheduled from Sept.,
& moved from the Lilypad)
@ the Rockwell
Sunday, January 25th
Racing Mount Pleasant
Charlie Martin (Hovvdy)
@ the Sinclair
Wednesday, January 28th
Wild Pink
Dead Gowns
@ Warehouse XI
Wednesday, February 4th
Antarctigo Vespucci
(Jeff Rosenstock & Chris Farren)
Golden Apples
@ the Sinclair
Thursday, February 19th
Langhorne Slim
@ the Sinclair
Saturday, February 21st
Best Brother Records presents
Jeanines
Creative Writing
Time Thief
@ Ames Chapel, Hingham
Friday, February 27th
Moviola
Sleepyhead
@ the Lilypad
Saturday, February 28th
Pony
@ Cafe 939
Sunday, March 1st
Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt
together on stage
@ the Cabot, Beverly
Wednesday, March 4th
Brass Against
@ the Middle East Down
Tuesday, March 10th
Trace Mountains
Coma Cinema
Elvis Depressedly
@ the Rockwell
Thursday, March 12th
Ben Quad
Riley
Footballhead
Aren’t We Amphibians
@ the Sinclair
Saturday, March 14th
Daniel Romano’s Outfit
Shadow Show
Mod Lang
@ the Middle East
Sunday, March 22nd
FKA twigs
@ MGM Music Hall
Monday, March 23rd
Matt Berninger
(of the National)
Ronboy
@ the Royale
Wednesday, March 25th
Gogol Bordello
@ the Royale
Thursday, April 2nd
Nothing
full body 2
Cryogeyser
Violent Magic Orchestra
@ the Sinclair
Sunday, April 5th
Perfume Genius (duo)
@ the Somerville Armory
Wednesday, April 8th
The Wonder Years
Knuckle Puck
Weakened Friends
@ House of Blues
Wednesday, April 8th
Pile
(added as openers
for Mclusky)
@ the Paradise
Thursday, April 9th
Reporter Matt & friends
@ the Wilbur
Friday, April 10th
Bridget Everett
@ MGM Music Hall
Saturday, April 11th
Lily Allen
performs ‘West End Girl’
@ the Orpheum
Saturday, April 18th
Nick Offerman
“Big Woodchuck” book tour
@ the Chevalier Theatre
Tuesday, April 21st
Matt Pond PA
@ Club Passim
Wednesday, April 22nd
Waxahatchee
MJ Lenderman
Brennan Wedl
@ the Wang
Wednesday, April 22nd
The New Pornographers
Will Sheff (Okkervil River)
@ the Wilbur
Sunday, April 26th
Lambrini Girls
@ the Paradise
Wednesday, April 29th
Amon Amarth
Dethklok
Castle Rat
@ MGM Music Hall
Tuesday, May 5th
Dry Cleaning
YHWH Nailgun
@ the Paradise
Tuesday, May 12th
Silkworm
Come
@ the Crystal Ballroom
Tuesday, May 19th
The Mountain Goats
@ the House of Blues
Saturday, June 6th
Triumph
April Wine
@ the Pavilion
Tuesday, June 9th
Amyl & the Sniffers
@ MGM Music Hall
Friday, June 12th
Mekons
The Sadies
@ the Sinclair
Sunday, June 21st
Evanescence
Spiritbox
Nova Twins
@ the Xfinity Center
Saturday, July 18th
Weird Al Yankovic
@ the Garden
Sunday, July 26th
Styx
Chicago
@ the Xfinity Center
Saturday, August 1st
Mötley Crüe
Tesla
Extreme
@ Xfinity Center
Saturday, August 22nd
Foreigner
@ Xfinity Center
Saturday, September 19th
Mt. Joy
@ TD Garden
Friday & Saturday
October 2nd & 3rd
Zach Bryan
Gregory Alan Isakov
Gabriella Rose
@ Gillette Stadium
Alright. Now let’s see if I can shake these seasonal blues and get myself out to the Dream Syndicate tonight. About to find out.