Boston Named a Top Music City in America
BOSTON, MA - MAY 30: Steven Tyler and Aerosmith perform during the Boston Strong: An Evening Of Support And Celebration at TD Garden on May 30, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Live music is taking center stage this month in Massachusetts. Many outdoor venues are opening, and the Boston Calling Festival will take place on Memorial Day weekend. To add to the excitement, Fifty Grande released survey results that named Boston a top music city in America.
Boston Ranked #11
Fifty Grande’s list features the top 20 cities in the country based on a survey released in December. Their criteria centered on music’s importance to the reader when making travel plans. “As a music fan, when you’re considering travel plans, these are the cities that should be high on your list to visit,” the report states.
Boston certainly has a lot to offer if live music is essential in booking travel plans. In addition, there are numerous events coming up that fans might consider for a road trip.
Boston Concert Calendar
In addition to the aforementioned Boston Calling Festival, we have the Levitate Music and Arts Festival right outside the city in July. The Xfinity Center opens next week, and the Leader Bank Pavilion has an incredible four-month lineup starting in June. This shed is right on the scenic and boat-filled Boston Harbor. Furthermore, Taylor Swift is coming to town. Swift is bringing her three-hour, forty plus song, The Eras Tour for three nights, on May 19-21.
What Else?
Concerts aren’t the only thing that make Boston a great music city. Berklee College of Music is situated right in the heart of the city. The Symphony and Boston Pops perform regularly. This includes their free July 4th show along the Charles River at historical Hatch Shell on the Esplanade.
Fifty Grande also mentioned the Verb Hotel, which neighbors Fenway Park. The Verb is a music-themed boutique hotel where each room has a custom rock and roll design. Coming into Beantown to see Guns N’ Roses perform at Fenway and then staying at the Verb Hotel sounds like a pretty rocking adventure.
To read more about Boston being named a top music city in America, check out Fifty Grande’s full report here.
Ranking Massachusetts Best Outdoor Music Venues
Spring is upon us in New England and outdoor live music events will be taking place over the next few months. We have compiled a list of the best outdoor music venues in Massachusetts.
Like many other major markets, the great Boston music scene has a systematic approach to which size venue a particular artist will play when they roll into town. There are not many outdoor spaces that match the exact capacity of another venue in the area. We have a large capacity outdoor venue that come in the form of stadiums and amphitheaters. Deep within the seaport district, there’s a harborside pavilion. Then, adventuring out a bit, there’s a haven within the Berkshire Mountains and a backyard venue (yes, really, a backyard) on the south shore that is booking major national names.
Venturing out
To compile this list, we had certain criteria that would qualify the location to be a potential top outdoor concert venue in Massachusetts. First, it has to be an in-state destination as opposed to in New England. It has to be a venue that is aligned to major tour stops and ticketing platforms. Lastly, it must offer the ability to actually watch the show outside under the open-air sky.
It’s important to note that ground-hosting festivals sites as a one-off weekend or standalone event would not qualify. For example, the Harvard Athletic facilities where Boston Calling weekend takes place once per year.
Those that did rank open for the season starting in late May. Before we get into the list, let’s give an honorable mention to the Cape Cod Melody Tent and South Shore Music Circus (who are sister venues). They were not considered as part of this list due to the fact that although there are open air spaces, you are technically covered under the tent for the duration of the show.
Alas, let’s build some excitement for all of the outdoor concerts coming our way this season and take a look at the best outdoor venues in Massachusetts.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
