Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
comfortable, too. Bookings—three or four per night—range from cutting-edge alterna-
tive and roots music to up-and-coming indie-rock acts. New bands predominate early
in the week, with more established artists on weekends. Open until 1am Sunday to
Wednesday, 2am Thursday through Saturday.
10 Brookline St., Cambridge.
&
617/492-0082
or
617/492-BEAR (concert line). www.ttthebears.com. Cover $3-$17. T: Red Line to Central.
The Western Front
A 30-ish friend swears by this legendary reggae club for one
reason: “You're never the oldest one there.” Open since 1968, it's a casual, friendly
spot on a nondescript street south of Central Square. Integrated crowds flock here for
world-beat music, blues, jazz, hip-hop, salsa, and especially reggae. Open Thursday
through Saturday from 8pm to 2am; live entertainment usually begins at 9pm.
343
Western Ave., Cambridge.
&
617/492-7772.
www.thewesternfrontclub.com. Cover $5-$10. T: Red Line
to Central.
FOLK
Boston is one of the only cities where folk musicians consistently sell out large venues
that usually book rock and pop performers. If an artist you want to see is touring,
check ahead for Boston-area dates. The annual
Boston Folk Festival
(
&
617/
287-6911;
www.bostonfolkfestival.org) is a 2-day event in mid-September on the
UMass-Boston campus in Dorchester.
The music listings in the “Sidekick” section of Thursday's
Globe
include informa-
tion about
coffeehouses,
the area's main outlets for folk. Probably the best known of
these, the 4-decade-old
Nameless Coffeehouse
(
&
617/864-1630;
www.nameless
coffeehouse.org), puts on one show a month in the First Parish Church, 3 Church St.,
Harvard Square, Cambridge. The streets around
Harvard Square
are another prom-
ising venue—Tracy Chapman is just one famous graduate of the scene.
Also see the
Lizard Lounge
(p. 231).
Club Passim
Passim has launched more careers than the mass production of
acoustic guitars—Joan Baez, Shawn Colvin, and Tom Rush started out here, and this
is where you'll find Arlo Guthrie and Ellis Paul when they're in town. In a basement
on a Harvard Square side street, the legendary coffeehouse (which doesn't serve alco-
hol) enjoys an international reputation built on 4 decades of nurturing new talent and
showcasing established musicians. Patrons who have been regulars since day one mix
with college students. There's live music nightly, and coffee and vegetarian food until
10:30pm. Tuesday is open-mic night. Open Sunday through Thursday from 11am to
11pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am to midnight. Most shows start at 8pm; on
two-show nights, starting times are 7 and 10pm.
47 Palmer St., Cambridge.
&
617/
492-7679.
www.passimcenter.org. Cover $5-$27; most shows $15 or less. T: Red Line to Harvard.
JAZZ & BLUES
JazzWeek
(www.jazzboston.org) is a 10-day event in late April and early May at mul-
tiple venues. Surf around the JazzBoston website for an introduction to the local scene.
The
Beantown Jazz Festival
(
&
617/267-2244;
www.beantownjazzfestival.com), in
late September, draws tens of thousands of aficionados to Columbus Avenue in the
South End for a full afternoon of free music. Check the website for details.
Restaurants that offer jazz along with excellent food include
Icarus
(p. 122; Fri
only) and
Les Zygomates
(p. 115). The theater at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts
Center (p. 221) becomes the
Real Deal Jazz Club & Cafe
at least a couple of times
a month, year-round.
