In and out of the city, all across the country, many tend to celebrate summer by going big. When it comes to music, it’s no different.
Festivals like Lollapalooza in Chicago and Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn., draw enormous crowds with enormous names: Radiohead, Kanye West, Mark Ronson and Gnarls Barkley. And in Boston, through August, spacious venues like the Bank of America Pavillion and the TD Banknorth Garden will stage pop legends like George Michael, Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw and Devo.
But for those who’d rather keep their music experiences quaint – and wallets intact – there are plenty of local options that won’t require a bag lunch and sunscreen, or squinting from nosebleed seats to make out what you think is probably the guitar player.
At the Museum of Fine Arts, the definition of “fine art” extends to music. The Elaine and Jerome Rosenfeld ‘Concerts in the Courtyard’ series will host quiet indie acts like J’oacute;se Gonz’aacute;lez and Grizzly Bear, and an African tribute to James Brown called “Still Black, Still Proud.” Back inside the museum, you can catch the introspective Bon Iver and Mark Kozelek, of the Red House Painters. For dates, check out mfa.org/calendar.
For something a little louder, scour The Middle East in Cambridge’s Central Square. Next week, Boston-bred hip-hop duo 7L and Esoteric is hosting a CD release party in the intimate room upstairs, where they’ll play from a fan-chosen set list. They’ll be joined by another of 7L’s projects, The Bladerunners, and Outerspace. For a full list of events, visit mideastclub.com.
On July 19, at American Legion Marsh Post #442 in Cambridge, catch the Bladerunners again, headlining “Fuzzy Coconuts,” an outdoor dance party for people 18 years and older. A handful of other local DJs, like Ghost Dad, a regular at The Milky Way and Zuzu, will be spinning from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
For those who’d rather go unplugged, celebrate all things acoustic at T.T. the Bear’s Place, an intimate room tucked next to The Middle East. Their “Other Side of the Bear” series happens every Monday and starts between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., with acts that run the gamut from punk and classic rock to pop and jazz. During the rest of the week, expect to see bands amplified, like Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin July 14. To see the calendar, visit ttthebears.com.
At the heart of Inman Square, a few streets away from T.T.’s, is the Lily Pad, a gallery and performance space where the typical rules don’t apply: At the no-frills venue, shows don’t have fixed prices, but suggested donations of $10. Swing by almost any night of the week for cutting-edge jazz, classical quartets, vocal groups, yoga sessions, dance lessons or piano performances by owner Gill Aharon. For more information, visit lily-pad.net.
Back in Boston, Berklee’s Caf’eacute; 939 opened earlier this year. Located on Boylston Street, it’s a quick walk from Northeastern’s campus. The venue holds at least a couple of shows each week and guests slated for summer include seven-piece reggae troupe Spiritual Rez and Matt Wertz, a soul rocker from Nashville. In June, you can catch acoustic singer-songwriter Cas Haley, from season two of the NBC TV show America’s Got Talent. For ticket prices and dates, check berklee.edu.
Since summertime is about unwinding, Bill’s Bar, by Fenway Park, has appropriately instituted “Summer School,” a weekly dance party for those 18 years and older that includes live bands. “Summer School” starts every Thursday around 9 p.m. and lasts into the wee hours; but don’t fret – it’s just a short walk or cab ride back to campus.
Meanwhile, 21-year-olds can spend Thursday nights across town at The Milky Way in Jamaica Plain, where they ring in the weekends early with some of Boston’s best DJs. Those not in the mood to dance can check out their bowling lanes, and Mondays, starting at 9 p.m., bowling is free.
