[Boston-Area Action 10/8/2026] Show-Going Plans & New Show Announcements
Posted on October 8, 2026 at 2:40 pm | No Comments
Dangerously close to punting this week’s edition of the ol’ Weekly Boston-area Shows Post thing, as I’m feeling very much out-of-sorts and a bit overwhelmed with work and the weight of a jammed personal calendar. Starting tonight, I think I’ve got something planned for every one of the next 10 days. I’m already pre-tired. I do it to myself, so I’m not complaining, just statin’ some facts. But writing this thing will help me sort through my own must-go list, so might as well get to it: Boston-area events happening within the next seven days that you/I/we might want to check out, and ones that have been announced since the last time I did this, including my own highlights and longer lists below.
If I had gotten this done yesterday as planned, I’d have mentioned last night’s Modest Mouse show at Roadrunner, and probably the second Phoebe Bridgers stop at the Garden. Lots of friends attended and wrote rapturously, though I think she’s far outgrown my willingness to brave such large spaces. I shall hold on to the fond memories of shows past. Tonight, being Thursday, Piebald’s Travis Shettel is at the Somerville Armory opening for Movielife, and Todd Thibaud will be at the Burren with openers Tinkertown.
Tomorrow brings the final free Friday Hilken & Melissa residency at Notch Brewing in Brighton with guests Highway Hosiery. Those early evening hangs have become a regular end-of-the-work-week ritual for me, and I’ll miss ’em. After Notch, there are too many options, including a do-not-miss screening of URGH! A MUSIC WAR over at MassArt with a post-film discussion featuring hosts “the Professors of URGH!” Chaki & Chris Slusarenko along with special guest (Go4 drummer) Hugo Burnham. You could also cruise up to Beverly to catch Ted Leo solo at Off Cabot, or hit the Basic show at Deep Cuts. And Kyle “Coop” MacLachlan is at the WBUR Cityspace. Oh, the choices. Superdrag plays the first of two nights at the Paradise, too (with the Gravel Pit), though I’ll be catching the second show on Saturday (with the Hilken & Melissa band) given all those Friday conflicts. Bobcat Goldthwaite is at the Comedy Studio on both nights, too. Jeez.
Saturday gives us an appealing afternoon down at the Bellforge Arts Center in Medfield titled “Rock Bottom: A Funny Kind of Recovery”, featuring a wealth of guests (see details below), and the evening brings Kingsley Flood to the Burren, along with a sure-to-be-fun show at State Park with Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion, the Chip Rockers, & DJ Kathy Snax on the turntables. Sunday has Laura Viers & Karl Blau at Passim, Monday is the big Sunn O))) gig with opener David Grubbs (!) at the Paradise, and Tuesday is the very-sold-out Dave Davies show at City Winery. And you’ve already got your tickets for Wednesday’s EARFULL show with Fuzzy (in their original form!), Arto Vaun, & authors Nick Flynn and David Ryan, right?
As far as announcements go, I’m most excited that we finally get a Boston-area stop from Manchester band Westside Cowboy, who I’ve been hoping to see since hearing their debut full-length. The fact that it’s an opening slot for Fontaines D.C. at MGM Music Hall in April made ticket acquisition a bit of a struggle, but persistence paid off. In the more immediate future, Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur will spotlight her book in conversation with Naomi Yang at the ICA on October 17th, Future Teens have been added as openers for all three of the Julien Baker dates at the Middle East later this month, and Ward Hayden & Greg Hall will play together at the Acoustic Den in Dorchester on the 24th (message me for info). November 5th has a killer bill at O’Brien’s with Arto Vaun, Shadow Monster, Dyr Faser, & Unmade Bed, and the 13th brings the OBGMs to Warehouse XI in Somerville, where Star Moles will also play in January. And looking even further into next year, the last-ever edition of DARK SPRING BOSTON has announced a date: Saturday, April 10th at the Middle East. I will patiently await the lineup reveal for that one.
Alright, on to the lists. The regular disclaimer: These aren’t even close to complete Boston-area events run-downs… there are other places for that who do it much better. These are just shows that jump out at me and might be of interest to my circle of show-going friends & venue-centric acquaintances. If there are errors to be found, or shows you’re psyched about that I omitted, feel free to leave a comment. Getting your recommendations is part of the reason I keep doin’ this.
For shows beyond this week, check out the column over there on the right side. See you out there. I’ll probably be up near the front.
First, imminent Boston-area shows of (my/your?) interest…
Thursday, October 8th
The Movielife
Travis Shettel (Piebald)
True Crime
@ the Somerville Armory
Thursday, October 8th
White Denim
Arc Iris
@ Deep Cuts
Thursday, October 8th
Todd Thibaud
Tinkertown
@ the Burren Back Room
Friday, October 9th
The Hilken Mancini &
Melissa Gibbs Residency
Week 10 with guests
Highway Hosiery
free @ Notch Brewing Brighton
Friday, October 9th
Kyle MacLachlan
presents his new book
@ WBUR Cityspace
Friday, October 9th
Revolutions Per Movie
and Culture Saves presents
URGH! A MUSIC WAR
with Chaki, Chris Slusarenko,
and guest Hugo Burnham
@ Tower Auditorium, MassArt
Friday, October 9th
Big Special
@ the Rockwell
Friday, October 9th
Ted Leo
@ Off Cabot, Beverly
Friday, October 9th
Basic
Ohm Foam
@ Deep Cuts
Friday, October 9th
Teddy Swims
@ TD Garden
Friday, October 9th
Ingrid Andress
@ the Sinclair
Friday, October 9th
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
voice + piano
@ the Somerville Armory
Friday & Saturday
October 9th & 10th
Bobcat Goldthwaite
@ The Comedy Studio
Friday & Saturday
October 9th & 10th
Superdrag
The Gravel Pit (Friday)
Hilken & Melissa Band (Sat)
@ Brighton Music Hall
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
October 9th, 10th, & 11th
the HONK Festival
in Somerville & Cambridge
Saturday, October 10th
Studio 52 Powerhouse Matinee
free show with
Execution Style, Mantooth,
Das Muerte, & Blatch
@ O’Brien’s
Saturday, October 10th
“Rock Bottom:
A Funny Kind of Recovery”
featuring
Simon Kirke (Bad Company),
Chris Redd (SNL), Lenny Clarke,
Tony V, Steve Sweeney,
Woody Giessmann (Del Fuegos),
Jim Mayer (Jimmy Buffett),
Dave Herlihy (O Positive),
and more
2pm @ Bellforge Arts Center
Saturday, October 10th
Kingsley Flood
@ the Burren
Saturday, October 10th
Outlander in Concert
Music by Bear McCreary
@ the Shubert Theatre
Sunday, October 11th
Snax on Wax presents…
Beware the Dangers
of a Ghost Scorpion
& the Chip Rockers
with DJ Kathy Snax
@ State Park
Sunday, October 11th
Laura Viers
Karl Blau
@ Club Passim
Sunday, October 11th
gymclassheroes
Lupe Fiasco
B.o.B.
@ House of Blues
Monday, October 12th
Tricky
@ the Sinclair
Monday, October 12th
Sunn O)))
David Grubbs
@ the Paradise
Monday & Tuesday
October 12th & 13th
Fred Armisen
@ the Wilbur
Tuesday, October 13th
Johnny Blue Skies
(Sturgill Simpson)
& the Dark Clouds
@ TD Garden
Tuesday, October 13th
Steve Lacy
@ MGM Music Hall
Tuesday, October 13th
Dave Davies
(of the Kinks!)
@ City Winery Boston
And now, recently announced Boston-area shows…
Saturday, October 17th
Book Talk:
Melissa Auf der Maur
with Naomi Yang
@ the ICA Boston
Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday
October 21st, 22nd, & 23rd
Future Teens added as opener
for Julien Baker & her band’s
three night residency
@ the Middle East Downstairs
Saturday, October 24th
Ward Hayden
& Greg Hall
@ the Acoustic Den
in Dorchester
(dm me for info)
Saturday, October 31st
Halloween Cover Show with
My Chemical Chungus (as MCR)
Tiffy (as Charli XCX)
Makeout Palace (as Cake)
@ Deep Cuts
Thursday, November 5th
Arto Vaun
Shadow Monster
Dyr Faser
Unmade Bed
@ O’Brien’s
Friday, November 13th
The OBGMs
@ Warehouse XI
Friday, December 11th
John Cafferty
& the Beaver Brown Band
@ the Cut, Gloucester
Tuesday & Wednesday
December 30th & 31st
Deer Tick
with Al Olender (30th)
& James Felice (31st)
@ City Winery Boston
Wednesday, December 31st
Cabot Rockin’ New Year’s Eve
with Jon Butcher,
Barrence Whitfield,
and Quinn Sullivan
@ the Cabot
Friday, January 13th
Jess Williamson
@ the Sinclair
Wednesday, January 27th
Star Moles
@ Warehouse XI
Friday, February 13th
Chelsea Cutler
Lamb
@ Roadrunner
Friday, March 5th
Greta Van Fleet
The Kooks
@ TD Garden
Wednesday, March 17th
Def Leppard
Goo Goo Dolls
The Struts
@ TD Garden
Friday & Saturday
April 2nd & 3rd
Gary Gulman
@ the Wilbur
Saturday, April 10th
DARK SPRING BOSTON
The Final Festival
one last gathering!
@ the Middle East
Tuesday, April 13th
Lola Young
Sofia & the Antoinettes
@ Roadrunner
Friday, April 23rd
Fontaines D.C.
Westside Cowboy
@ MGM Music Hall
Wednesday, May 19th
Carly Rae Jepsen
@ MGM Music Hall
[Boston-Area Action 9/30/2026] Show-Going Plans & New Show Announcements
Posted on September 30, 2026 at 12:14 pm | No Comments
Hi. It’s a Wednesday. Again. Meaning I need to crank out ye-olde-weekly-Boston-area-shows post in which I ramble a bit about imminent happenings that I will/might check out (or that you may care about) and then about recent announcements of future ones, followed by fuller lists of each. Not complete lists by any means, just local shows that have piqued my interest.
Tonight in Allston, Megasound’s tour brings them to O’Brien’s with School & Class President, Ringo & his band are at MGM, Spencer Krug from Wolf Parade plays Deep Cuts, and as of this moment, Morrissey is still scheduled to play up in Lowell. Wonders never cease. I’m extremely psyched for tomorrow’s Rocketship stop at The Rockwell, and I’m really hoping I don’t miss any of lightheaded’s opening set, as I’ll be unavoidably late (I’ve got a date with Nibi the beaver!). If you’re there, stall for me, willya? Other options tomorrow night included Ceremony at The Sinclair or Gorillaz at the Garden.
Friday gives us the next-to-last Hilken & Melissa-hosted free weekly residency at Notch Brewing in Brighton, this time featuring Magen Tracy & Andrea Gillis, after which you can head to Deep Cuts for the Strange Pains album release show. And you should totally do that. The record’s great. Also that night: Dave Hill’s band Valley Lodge opens for the Josh Joplin Group at the Haymarket Lounge at City Winery, ONCE Somerville presents an outdoor show with Heysis in Davis Square, Girl With A Hawk is at the Square Root in Rozzie with The Glimmer Stars & Peppermint Kicks, and there’s some supreme heaviness going down in Braintree featuring Greenleaf, Worshipper & more at Widowmaker Brewing.
Friday & Saturday also has this year’s FUZZSTIVAL at the Somerville Armory. The lineups are stacked, check the full list of bands below. Saturday night has Monterey Mountain, Sleepyhead, & Noah Britton at the Square Root, Sera Cahoone at Deep Cuts, and PIL at Big Night Live (oof). I’m looking forward to THE BIG GIG on Sunday at Brighton’s Notch/Charles River Speedway, and hoping we’re gifted with some ideal early-autumn weather. After Notch you could even walk right over to Roadrunner for Interpol & DIIV.
Running out of gas & time, so I’ll just say this: Tuesday’s She’s Green/Witches Exist/Smush show at Deep Cuts is a no-brainer. And I probably don’t need to mention Phoebe Bridgers at the Garden… if you’re going, you’ve already got your tickets.
Announcement-wise, my personal highlight is the return of The Dambuilders, who play two November nights in the Burren Backroom. The reconstituted Boston greats include original members Dave Derby & Kevin March along with violinist Claudia Chopek & (Luna!) guitarist Sean Eden, who will also be joined by OG guitarist Eric Masunaga for these shows. I caught them at last year’s DromFest in Catskill, NY, and couldn’t be more excited that they’ve booked a couple locals dates. The first night has openers Sleepyhead, the second gives us the aforementioned Hilken & Melissa Band. And yeah, I bought tix for both. You should probably get on that.
Lots of other announcements down below (including next month’s Which Side? lineup and the next Shannon, Narducy & friends R.E.M. tribute tour stop), so have a look. And check out the longer lists in the right hand column over there —>
Feel free to comment with additions/corrections/things you’re excited about. See you out there.
First, imminent Boston-area shows of (my/your?) interest…
Wednesday, September 30th
Megasound
School
Class President
@ O’Brien’s
Wednesday, September 30th
Ringo Starr & his All Starr Band
@ MGM Music Hall
Wednesday, September 30th
Pennywise
Circle Jerks
H20
DFL
@ the House of Blues
Wednesday, September 30th
Spencer Krug
(of Wolf Parade)
solo piano tour
@ Deep Cuts
Wednesday, September 30th
Morrissey
@ Lowell Memorial Auditorium
Thursday, October 1st
Muna
Hemlocke Springs
@ Roadrunner
Thursday, October 1st
John Cameron Mitchell
presents a 25th anniversary
screening of the film
“Hedwig & the Angry Inch”
@ the Shubert Theatre
Thursday, October 1st
Russian Circles
Pelican
@ the Royale
Thursday, October 1st
Rocketship
Lightheaded
@ the Rockwell
Thursday, October 1st
Gorillaz
Little Simz
Deltron 3030
@ TD Garden
Thursday, October 1st
Ceremony
Iron Lung
Poison Ruin
@ the Sinclair
Friday, October 2nd
ONCE presents…
“Down in Davis” with
Heysis
@ Statue Park, Somerville
Friday, October 2nd
The Hilken Mancini &
Melissa Gibbs Residency
Week 9 with guests
Magen Tracy & Andrea Gillis
free @ Notch Brewing Brighton
Friday, October 2nd
The Josh Joplin Group
Valley Lodge
@ the Haymarket Lounge
@ City Winer Boston
Friday, October 2nd
Strange Pains
(vinyl release show!)
Ivy Boy
Old Horse
@ Deep Cuts
Friday, October 2nd
Girl With A Hawk
The Glimmer Stars
Peppermint Kicks
@ the Square Root
Friday, October 2nd
Greenleaf
Howling Giant
High Desert Queen
Worshipper
@ Widowmaker Braintree
Friday, October 2nd
Stanley Simmons
@ City Winery
Friday, October 2nd
Eli Paperboy Reed
@ the Regattabar
Friday, October 2nd
Smashing Pumpkins
@ TD Garden
Friday, October 2nd
Muna
Hemlocke Springs
@ Roadrunner
Friday & Saturday
October 2nd & 3rd
The 13th annual
BOSTON FUZZSTIVAL
Friday: Dino Gala, Major Stars,
Babybaby_Explores, Pew Pew,
Helene Barbier, Spirit Ghost,
Intac, and Dinos
Saturday: Deerlady, Main Era,
Winkler, Jean Mignon, Pink Lids,
CS Cleaners, Warmachine,
Animal Piss It’s Everywhere,
Gollylagging, and Jonny Tex
@ the Somerville Armory
Saturday, October 3rd
Artist Hayden Sherman
Legion of Super-Heroes signing!
@ Comicopia, Kenmore Square
Saturday, October 3rd
Monterey Mountain
Sleepyhead
Noah Britton
@ the Square Root
Saturday, October 3rd
Sera Cahoone
@ Deep Cuts
Saturday, October 3rd
KC & the Sunshine Band
@ Lowell Auditorium
Saturday, October 3rd
Public Image Ltd.
@ Big Night Live
Saturday, October 3rd
beabadoobee
@ the TD Garden
Sunday, October 4th
The Brighton Bazaar
& Allston Pudding
present THE BIG GIG
Indie Music Fest & Market
with Happy Just To See You,
Emi McSwain, Slo-Anne,
Mozz, Puppy Problems,
& Ivy Boy
@ Charles River Speedway
Sunday, October 4th
Mirah
Evan Greer
@ Deep Cuts
Sunday, October 4th
Interpol
DIIV
@ Roadrunner
Sunday, October 4th
Set Your Goals
The Warriors
(playing “War Is Hell”)
Restraining Order
Stateside
@ the Sinclair
Monday, October 5th
Chelsea Wolfe
Jonathan Hulten
@ the Shubert Theatre
Monday, October 5th
Horse Lords
@ Deep Cuts
Tuesday, October 6th
Supersuckers
The Rumours
@ the Middle East
Tuesday, October 6th
The Linda Lindas
Deux Visages
@ the Paradise
Tuesday, October 6th
She’s Green
Witches Exist
Smush
@ the Rockwell
Tuesday & Wednesday
October 6th & 7th
Phoebe Bridgers
Alex G
@ TD Garden
And now, recently announced Boston-area shows…
Wednesday, October 7th
Brookline Booksmith presents
Jennifer Welch discussing
her book “Not Today, Fascists”
in conversation with Don Lemon
@ the Wilbur
Sunday, October 11th
Snax on Wax presents…
Beware the Dangers
of a Ghost Scorpion
& the Chip Rockers
with DJ Kathy Snax
@ State Park
Sunday, October 18th
Art For All benefit
pick-your-price art sale
fundraiser for the association
of Haitian Women in Boston
@ LexArt, Lexington
Tuesday, October 20th
author/artist Karl Stevens
“Pepper” book launch!
with Joel Christian Gill
@ Papercuts Bookshop
Friday, October 23rd
Harvard Bookstore presents
Author Neal Stephenson
@ First Parish Church
Saturday, October 24th
Triple Thick
Puke Pisstols
Lithophones
Deuce Club
@ Underbones (Redbones)
Tuesday, October 27th
Which Side Are You On?:
A Protest Music Teach-Out.
this month featuring
Juliana Hatfield, Didi Stewart,
Sweet Petunia, Ann Koplow
(The Singing Therapist),
Angélica Muñoz, Mike Verge,
& the Paid Protesters
@ the Burren Backroom
Friday, October 30th
Halloween show!
with
Fleetwood Macabre
Nirvana (Today Junior)
Sinnet (playing spooky classics)
Queers of the Stoned Age
@ the Loft, Somerville
Friday, October 30th
Halloween show!
with
Bikini Whale (B-52s)
Hey Blondie (duh)
Murdah by Numbahs (Police)
@ the Lizard Lounge
Monday, November 2nd
the Menopunks Podcast
a live taping
with host Alicia J. Rose
& a panel of guests
@ the Rockwell
Wednesday, November 11th
P.E.E.
Gapyear
The Ritornello Form
Summers In Autumn
@ Sonia
Thursday, November 12th
Silver Screams
Black Helicopter
Osis
@ the Square Root
Friday, November 20th
Minibeast
Thalia Zedek Band
Flying Vipers
@ O’Brien’s
Friday & Saturday
November 20th & 21st
The Dambuilders
with Sleepyhead (on the 20th)
& the Hilken & Melissa Band (21st)
@ the Burren
Wednesday, December 9th
Porcelain
My Wife’s An Angel
@ Deep Cuts
Tuesday, February 2nd
La Roux
@ Paradise Rock Club
Wednesday, February 3rd
Tara Clerkin Trio
@ Deep Cuts
Wednesday, March 3rd
Death From Above 1979
@ Brighton Music Hall
Saturday, March 6th
Michael Shannon,
Jason Narducy, & friends
play REM’s “Document”
@ Roadrunner
Sunday, April 11th
Roger Waters presents
(but is not performing in)
“LEGACY – A Pink Floyd Show”
@ the Chevalier
Tuesday, April 27th
A Perfect Circle
The Cult
@ MGM Music Hall
Friday to Sunday
June 18th to 20th
Green River Festival
@ Franklin County
Fairgrounds, Greenfield
Sunday, June 20th
Lizzy McAlpine
Searows
Post Animal
@ Agganis Arena
Saturday, July 31st
Slipknot
Bring Me The Horizon
Lorna Shore
@ Fenway Park
First, imminent Boston-area shows of (my/your?) interest…
Alright, that’s it. Which was a lot. Buy the tickets, tell some friends, go to all the shows, grab some merch. Get the rhythm, there we go.