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Boston Music

Boston music covers a wide range of genres, from opera and symphonies to folk music to rock 'n' roll. Many of these genres have a long history in the city, and they're still popular today, offering regular performances at Boston venues.

Folk Music

Boston has a rich tradition of folk music that continues to this day. The Library of Congress American Folklore Center has recordings of folk songs from Boston and other parts of Massachusetts that date back to 1938, although this musical form dates back much farther. Contemporary folk artists like James Taylor and Joan Baez have their roots in and around Boston, and this musical scene continues today with festivals and concerts in large and small venues. Boston even has a radio station, WUMB, completely devoted to folk music, which sponsors a large annual fest.

The Folk Music Society of Greater Boston, a non-profit group, sponsors group sings, concerts, and folk music workshops, and it also maintains a vast library of folk music recordings. The Boston Area Coffeehouse Association is a network of coffeehouses that offer a venue to local folk music artists. Coffeehouses are a particularly intimate and informal way to experience this Boston music tradition, although better-known artists appear in larger theaters.

Opera

Boston music history includes opera, which still has its own venues today. One early place for opera was the Boston Opera House, which was built in 1909 and which acted as the home of the Boston Opera Company until 1915. It served as a venue for other opera companies until it was demolished in 1958. Today there is another Boston Opera House, which is actually a converted movie theater that housed the Opera Company of Boston in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, opera music lives in the city through the Boston Opera Company, which has a special focus on rarely-performed works.

Orchestral Music

The Boston Symphony Orchestra is one of the five best-known orchestras in America. It dates all the way back to 1881, and its orchestral performances are still popular today. You can see the orchestra perform at its home base, the Symphony Hall, which was built for the musicians in 1900. You can also enjoy its music at the Tanglewood Music Center if you visit Boston in the summer.

Rock Music

Boston may date back to colonial times, but it's also an important part of the contemporary music scene, spawning several popular rock 'n' roll artists. Notable names who originated on the Boston music scene include Aerosmith, The Cars and, of course, the city's namesake group. Boston also spawned alternative rock groups like Volcano Suns, Salem 66, and Mission of Burma. Today, many big-name artists make a stop in Boston on their way to or from New York, performing at venues like the Orpheum, the House of Blues, the Citi Performing Arts Center, and the Paradise Rock Club.

Jazz and Blues

Boston is a hot spot for jazz and blues. The city is the birthplace of The House of Blues, a nightclub chain whose founders include Dan Aykroyd, who played Elwood Blues in the popular movie, “The Blues Brothers.” The club still hosts jazz and blue performances, although it also features mainstream artists. It's easy to find jazz and blues in other clubs throughout Boston, like Scullers Jazz Club, Regattabar, Les Zygomates, and Wally's Cafe. This intimate clubs let you revel in the musical experience while enjoying a drink.

Hardcore Music

Underground bands and punk music had its origins in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with bands like DMZ leading the way. The alternative scene continues today and has shifted somewhat as many bands add incorporate metalcore, which melds punk with heavy metal, into their work. Although some bands perform in mainstream venues, your best bet for tapping into Boston's hardcore music scene is to visit smaller clubs devoted to this genre.

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Boston Music