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By : Kevin Dacey
7 min read
**We strongly encourage all to take careful precautions when going out to public events! Follow the venue’s requirements regarding vaccination/negative Covid tests! Always double check the event online just in case they need to cancel!**
Chosen Happenings curated by Creatives of Color Boston
6/3-5 Salem Arts Festival Celebrate the arts, culture, creativity, and community at the 14th annual fest. This free and popular family-friendly event will feature a variety of art, music, dance, and theatre performances throughout downtown Salem @32 Derby Square FREE
6/10 Bridgeside Cypher a unique Hip-Hop experience @North Point Park, Boston 7PM-11PM FREE @bridgecyph
6/16 Black Owned Bos. Presents A Juneteenth Celebration featuring retail bazaar, DJs, live performances, live art showcase, and food/drink specials @Bow Market 4PM-9PM FREE
6/25 Third Annual Trans Resistance March & Festival from Nubian Square in Roxbury to Franklin Park Playstead with performances & celebration to follow www.transresistancema.com
6/25 ONCE at Boynton Yards Summerville Solstice a celebration of long days and warm nights featuring Genie Santiago, Tigerman WOAH, Black Helicopter, Grace Givertz, Assasi, Borboleta, Nectarine Girl, The Dripp, plus Matt Heaton and the Outside Toys starting with a kids set. @0 Windsor Place, Somerville 12PM-10PM $18
MUSIC + AUDIO
6/3 Sheer Terror, Restraining Order, End It, Violent Way, Neighborhood Shit, C4 @Brockton VFW 7PM All Ages $20
6/3 Illegally Blind Presents: Leopard Print Taser (first show in 2 years!) + Birthday Ass @Lilypad 7PM All Ages $12
6/3 Palestine Solidarity Concert featuring Dino Gala, Puppy Problems, Sweet Petunia, Senseless Optimism, The C.O.M.P. @24 Eliot St (JP) 5PM All Ages $ome Cost
6/3 Lydia Lunch: Murderous...Again w/Tim Dahl @Satanic Temple Salem TWO SETS 6:30-7:30PM and 8-9PM 18+ $25
6/4 Sonorium is back featuring Housefire, Bonnie Jones, Mary Staubitz, Ross Wightman @Salem Access Television 8:15PM All Ages $10 donation
6/4 Dorchester’s Inaugural Porchfest Celebration 45 bands performing on 25 porches around the Ashmont Adams neighborhood. Dorchfest is free, walkable, and open to all. 11:30AM-4PM
6/4 I Heart Noise Presents: Mei Semones, Skyjelly, Solilians @Somerville Theatre 8PM All Ages $ome Cost
6/4 Yoni Gordon, Kathy Snax, OrangePeelMystic, Evelyn Pope @Midway Cafe 3PM All Ages $5
6/4 Emily Reo, Lane, Nadine @Lilypad 10PM All Ages $10
6/5 Eliot Schoolyard Concert Series Presents: Shaw Pong Liu & Brian Friedland (violin & keyboard, improvisation & new compositions) @24 Eliot Street, JP 4PM All Ages $uggested Donation Bring your own chair!
6/5 Corner Art Room Presents: Common Concerts featuring Vibe Check, Douglas, Minkey, Be Released, SADHA, DJ Jacob Schwartz @Brighton Common 2:30PM All Ages FREE (donate to the artists!)
6/6 FEEP, Betty Moody, Dyr Faser @Charlie’s Kitchen 9PM 21+ $5
6/7 Bars Over Bars Hip Hop Showcase featuring local artists! Every first Tuesday of the month @Midway Cafe 7:30PM 21+ $10
6/8 Fully Celebrated Orchestra w/ Arugula Olgethorpe and Jaded Ravins @Midway Cafe 8pm 21+ $5
6/8 Get to the Gig Presents: Carpool, handwriting!, Perfect Saturday, Pregame Rituals @The Rockwell 7PM All Ages $13/15
6/9 New England Synth Fest Presents Violet Nox with Debstep, Jade Rose & James Coyne, Metal Tiger with Anagram @Musem of Science Planetarium 7:30PM All Ages $ome Cost
6/9 Mock Execution, Cartridge, Fraud, Black Dog @Brighton Elks Lodge 7PM All Ages $15
6/9 Ezra Furman @Crystal Ballroom 8PM All Ages $15-20
6/9 Talk Chalk, Beautiful Headquarters @Lilypad 8PM All Ages $10
6/9 Tuxis Giant, Ronda Spectacular, Jacquelyn R @Lilypad 10:30PM All Ages $10
6/10 DRIFF Records Presents: Driff Fest featuring ANNA ABONDOLO TRIO, TONY MALABY’S KIRI-KIRI, and performances by Jeb Bishop, Pandelis Karayorgis, Luther Gray, and many more @Lilypad 7:30PM All Ages $20-25
6/11 BOSTON ART & MUSIC SOUL (BAMS) Festival celebrates Afro-centric identity and Black artistry, all while amplifying the voices and creative contributions from local, regional and national entertainers of color. Come for performances by Miranda Rae, SeeFour, SWV, Jazzmyn Red, Sympli Whitney, Naomi Westwater, D SMOKE, Phoenixx and so many more! Come for activities like group dance classes and live art making! @Franklin Park, Playstead Field All Day All Ages $ome Cost www.bamsfest.org
6/10 Kill Lincoln, JER, Secret Spirit, The Best of the Worst @Crystal Ballroom (Somerville) 7PM All Ages $15
6/11 SomerPride Fest featuring performances by Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys, DJ WhySham with Cakeswagg and Brandie Blaze, Muzzins, drag from Redd Haring and more + food trucks and art vendors @ONCE Boynton Yards 12PM All Ages $15-20
6/11 Zaira Meneses’ Latin American Music Showcase @Starlight Square 7PM All Ages FREE
6/12 Eliot Schoolyard Concert Series Presents: Niu Raza (Malagasy singer-songwriter + band) @24 Eliot Street, JP 4PM All Ages $uggested Donation Bring your own chair!
6/12 Mega Mass Presents: Artist Showcase! Every second Sunday of the month! Sign up to perform! @The Jungle 9PM-12AM All Ages FREE
6/12 NonEvent Presents Kristina Warren @Laconia Gallery 2PM All Ages FREE (donations welcome)
6/13 Torn in Half, Bed of Razors, Death Strider @Charlie’s Kitchen 9PM 21+ $5
6/16 M.O.B Presents “3rd Thursdays” at Kay’s Oasis! Live Band, After work Jam and Entertainment @1125 Blue HIll Ave 5-10PM 21+ $10
6/16 FIND OUT Event series for musicians & artists to try out new ideas every 3rd Thursday of the month. Every show is a partial benefit for radical community orgs @First Church, JP 8PM All Ages $10 @f_i_n_d___o_u_t
6/18 Tiny Trap Concerts Juneteenth Edition ft. DJ Alcide, Al Divino, Nyeusi Loe, Estee Nack hosted by Henny Kravits & Jah-di @Apothca, Lynn 6:30PM-9PM 21+ $30-50
6/18 Foreside Music Festival featuring Bad History Month, Blake Seale, Hello Shark, Mint Green, Rick Rude, Paper Castles, Squitch, Wren Kitz and more! @Black Birch, Kittery, Maine Starts at 12PM All Ages $ome Cost
6/18 We Are Still Here featuring Jenny Herzog, Luke Concannon, Eleanor Shnarr, Nate Devarie, Morgan Johnston, Nora Woofenden @Swendenborg Chapel (Cambridge) 4PM All Ages $ome Cost
6/19 Eliot Schoolyard Concert Series Presents: Dis N Dat Band (neo-reggae) @24 Eliot Street, JP 4PM All Ages $uggested Donation Bring your own chair!
6/19 A Band Called E w/ Dyr Faser @The Jungle (Somerville) 5PM 21+ $10
6/19 Mystra OOze Fest 2022! Featuring Gary Higgins, 10 Gallon Hat, Gracious Calamity, Sunburned, Karen Zanes, Editrix, Allysen Callery, Stella Kola, Tomatoverse, Jeff Gallagher, Anthony Pasquarosa, Future Couch @Peskeumskut Park (Turners Falls) 12pm All Ages FREE!!
6/20 Pet Fox, Floatie, Spirits Having Fun, Squitch, Kevin Wynd @Midway Cafe 7:30PM 21+ $10
6/20 Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight, Motel Black, Paper Tigers @Charlie’s Kitchen 9PM 21+ $5
6/22 Dear Rabbit, Noah Britton, The Big Lonesome, Three Mandareens @O’Briens 8PM 21+ $10
6/23 Summer Splash ft. DJ Shawnski, Cory Gunz and more! Cool off with a dunk tank, water balloon fight, soaker squirt, grillin’ and vendors!! @Castle Island 4PM-11PM $25
6/23 Mostly Fast Shit Vol. 10 featuring Strictly Hip Hop, Horrible Earth, Shitbrains (LA), Sepsistic, Blast Shield @O’Briens 7PM 21+ $7-10
6/25 NonEvent Presents: Glenn Jones (record release show), Brittany Karlson @The Goethe-Institut Boston 8PM All Ages $15/$10 for students
6/25 Illegally Blind Presents: Nova One, The Cherry Tree @Lilypad 7PM All ages $12
6/26 Eliot Schoolyard Concert Series Presents: Schoolyard Quartet ft. Lihi Haruvi, Brian Friedland, Keala Keala Kaumeheiwa & Jorge Perez-Albela (globally-inspired jazz) @24 Eliot Street, JP 4PM All Ages $uggested Donation Bring your own chair!
6/26 Weatherday, Michael Cera Palin, Oolong, Cheem @The Rockwell 7PM $13-15
6/27 Kids Like You & Me Presents Rong, PCP & the Knives, Pledge Pins @Charlie’s Kitchen 9PM 21+ $5
TheMUSEUM TV + The Soundlab present The Testing Lab a bi-weekly event where local musicians can perform their original music and get feedback from a panel of experts! Spots fill up fast so make sure to stay in tune @thesoundlabma or email thetestinglabma@gmail.com
ItsLitBoston Podcast has a dope new Spotify playlist called “ItsLitBoston Presents: VIBES FROM THE STATE” updated weekly with local new music you need to check out!! I hear they take submissions too! @itslitboston Also on Youtube and SoundCloud
New England Mic Check Radio is our region’s top dawg for uplifting urban music! Local musician spotlights every Sunday with artists such as Monaveli and Nelly Protoolz. www.nemiccheck.com for podcasts, swag and further updates! @newenglandmiccheck
VIDEO + FILM
6/10 Make A Distinction film screening. A work which implores its viewers to focus their political economic analysis and make the crucial distinctions that not only define the field of class struggle around them, but also place every single individual, whether they know it or not, on a clear and certain side of that line. Created by filmmakers Kera Mackenzie & Andrew Mausert-Mooney @Lucy Parsons Center 7PM
The DocYard is an award-winning film and discussion series. Catch a screening before it goes on hiatus in the Fall!
Farenheight TV has a monthly variety show that celebrates people's greatness through exclusive interviews, performances & more. Last season is airing soon! www.farenheighttv.com @farenheighttv
VISUAL ART
6/4 June Open Studios @Western Avenue Studios & Lofts 12-5pm Free
6/5 Exhibition Opening: Mindscapes / Bodyscapes @Cutter Gallery (Arlington) Upcoming joint exhibition “Mindscapes / Bodyscapes,” a contemplative journey exploring the balance between imagination and the perception of mind and body. Opening event 2-6pm
Cliff Notez & Jaypix Present Wiild Negro is Love [This is Therapy For Us] on view until June 27th @Cultural Equity Incubator www.culturalequityincubator.org/gallery
10b is not a 'gallery' in a traditional sense. There is no selling of work here, or any commodification of work as revenue. The value in this space is in providing opportunity for experimentation with community witness and participation. 10b is establishing space for conversation, non-traditional exhibitions, and performances where 'artists' can experiment, play, fail, and connect. @10b Brookley Rd, JP Open Sun 12PM-5PM by appt. www.10bprojects.com
DeGlassification features work by Siena Hancock & Lindsy Marshall. It is a culmination of experimentation with glass as a material from the past five years. @Beacon St Gallery on view until July 10th Mon-Sat 10AM-7:45PM / Sun 12PM-5:45PM
Collective Futures Fund Collective supports visual artists and artist-run activity in the Greater Boston area through grants between $2,000 and $6,000. SUBMIT BY JUNE 15TH www.collectivefuturesfund.org
Support the Nubian Square Public Art Initiative, a newly launched initiative spearheaded by Black Market Nubian to develop a series of public murals and installations as a catalyst for neighborhood economic empowerment by the community, for the community. Support the cause and donate to their gofundme! www.blackmarketnubian.com/nspai
PERFORMANCE ART
6/1 Open Armory is an open mic for all performance practices. Sign up at 7PM. Every first Wednesday of the month @Arts at the Armory 7PM-10PM All Ages Free
6/4 Ben Wasserman: Life After Death. Part catharsis, part circus, total chaos: an hour of interactive comedy about grief + loss that's actually funny. Also on the bill are Tooky Kavanagh and Alex Ptak @Lilypad 8PM All Ages $15 Advance Tickets
5/31-7/3 The Orchard Needham’s Arlekin Players Theatre is taking digital theatre to a new level. Streaming live and in person from NYC with Mikhail Baryshnikov! Tix at theorchardoffbroadway.com $29
Goofs Underground: Comedy Under the Cantab Every Thursday enjoy local comedians, live music openers, and drink specials all brought to you by Duck Duck Goofs @Cantab Lounge Basement 8PM 21+ $10
Midway or the Highway Ever wondered what hilarious comedians from big fancy TV shows do the rest of the week? Sometimes they appear at your neighborhood bar! The funniest in New England and beyond can now be found in the wilds of JP on every single Sunday night at 9PM FOR FREE. Open mic at 10PM @Midway Cafe 21+
ZINES
Moral Crema is an art collective and quarterly magazine created by Luc Miglin that has what we’ve been missing: sensuous, grimy textures. Issue #7 out now! Check their Patreon to get really affordable subscriptions to their zine! www.moralcrema.com
Gut Bust a weirdo comedy zine to keep laughing even in isolation! Issue #1 out now www.etsy.com/shop/GUTBUST
“Can We Talk With Spirit Friends?” is a series of digital collage zines, compositions of images and text found in books from the 19th-Century to the present, sequenced to create surreal interpretive narratives. There are currently 24 zines in this ongoing series. Buy them online at www.horskyprojects.com/store.
Gay Ghost stories seeks anything queer, spooky, and printable for a full color Halloween zine. Trans ghosts? Queer campfire tales? Haunted gay clubs? Anything spooky goes! Email submissions to Lavendermenacepress@gmail.com
Penny Magazine was created as a means to discuss how different areas of the music industry have been affected and changed in lieu of the coronavirus pandemic. Read this beautifully colorful zine at www.penny-mag.com and follow @pennythemag
Zinesters Club NEW TIME AND LOCATION All ages and experience levels are welcome every first Friday of the month 7PM to come down to Hatch Makerspace and make zines! Supplies provided!
The Negro Flowers Series An online zine of writings, poetry, art and photography by various local BIPOC authors compiled by BCN contributor Qadir Shabazz. ‘People & Places’ Issue #3 is now available! Read online at www.linktr.ee/qadir__shabazz
Pleasure Pie is a grassroots sex-positive organization in Boston, MA. They make zines, illustrations, publications, events, and conversations on sexual empowerment and consent. They now distribute sex-positive zines by others outside their org! Check this link to SUBMIT YOUR ZINES! www.pleasurepie.org/submit
COMMUNITY
6/4 Celebrating Pride Month with author readings and self-publishing discussion @Western Avenue Studios 5pm All Ages FREE
6/10 Lesbian Night Life Presents ROOFTOP DJ JamilaAfrika, La Nena and TBA battle it out as you dance, sip and celebrate Pride @Revere Hotel 21+ ~$30
6/11 Big Gay Dance Party celebrate Pride with this super awesome event featuring DJ Live, drag performances, a photoboot, LGBTQ+ organizations and craft vendors! @Union Square Plaza, Somerville 5:30PM-8:30PM All Ages FREE
6/11 The Esme Women’s Block Party 1000's of LGBTQ+women (non-binary & trans fold) partying in the Streets with DJ Frenchy! We hear there is an after party too! @Edgar Allen Poe Alley off Boylston St 2PM-7PM $20
6/12 JP Block Party All ages community block party in the heart of JP with DJ, dancing and live performances by Ray Liriano Experience, The Lisa Bello Band, Drag Show, kid zone, local vendors, Sam Adams brewery and more! @2 Perkins St 12PM-7PM All Ages $10/20
6/19 CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH in Boston! Flip back a page to Rory Lambert Wright’s coverage and suggestions for this year’s community celebrations!
6/25 Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts a great evening of Cultural pride, Fun, Dancing and Music. Come celebrate their 55th Anniversary Reinado. @Florian Hall 6PM @prfestivalma
6/26 Black Owned Boston Outdoor Market 30+ vendors and DJs all day long! @Seaport Common 12PM-6PM @blackownedbos
Egleston Farmers Market is back at the Community Servings parking lot in JP! Every Saturday 10AM-2PM The market is expanding to include a bunch of low waste living resources like textile recycling, DIY workshops, bicycle repair, live tailors and lots more! @eglestonfarmersmarket
Central Square Farmer’s Market open every Monday 12PM-6PM from May 16th through November 21st. Their footprint, like last year, includes Norfolk Street and Starlight to increase space for vendors and distancing for shoppers.
Melanin Owned Business Vendors Flea Market: Every Saturday at Kay’s Oasis 1125 Blue Hill Ave from 12-5pm. Open Mic 1st and 4th Saturdays. Contact 585-237-8487 for vending opportunities. Vendors of color please reach out!
Launchpad Business Accelerator presented by Fairmount Innovation Lab Take your small business to the next level with the expertise of Hakim Cunningham! APPLY NOW @fairmount_lab www.filboston.org
Love Your Block Mini Grant The Mayor’s Office of Civic Organizing is excited to announce the return of this program! Do you have an idea for a project to bring your community together and improve your neighborhood? Love Your Block invites you to propose a community project with the chance to win up to $3,500 in grant funding and supplemental city services. SUBMIT BY JUNE 10TH Google search: LOVE YOUR BLOCK MINI-GRANTS BOSTON
Hatch Makerspace Workshops Tons of free with registration workshops all month long. From programming to sewing to making paper flowers, Hatch is a really cool community spot you have to check out! www.watertownlib.org/hatch
Boston LGBTQIA+ Artists Association is revamping with a new director and a new website! They just released a survey asking what LGBTQIA+ artists in Boston would like to see happen with this new organization. Find it at www.blaa.us
Community Fridges! There’s a bunch of these popping up all around the city and beyond! They provide food for all and are totally volunteer-run! @southbostoncommunityfridge needs help starting up! Email southbostoncommunityfridge@gmail.com to find how to get involved. @dotcommunityfridge is not open but does regular food drives. The following are now open! @watertowncommunityfridge @bostoncommunityfridge @allstonbrightonfridges @matcommunityfridge @cambridgefridge @cambridgecitygrowers @roslindalecommunityfridge @somervillecommunityfridge @newtoncommunityfreedge @numutualaid @southendfridge @brooklinecommunityfridge
ADVOCACY
Sisters Unchained is a prison abolitionist non-profit organization dedicated to supporting young women and girls with incarcerated or formerly incarcerated parents. It is a refuge space where young women of color can focus on loving and improving themselves and their communities in the way they see fit. Summer programming open for application now! @sistersunchained www.sistersunchained.com
HAWC (Healing Abuse Working for Change) strives to help abused women, children, men, and nonbinary people live free from violence and fear. As a leading domestic violence agency in Massachusetts, HAWC provides a domestic violence helpline, emergency shelter, legal services, advocacy and counseling services to more than 2,500 families in the North Shore area each year. @hawcnorthshore www.hawcdv.org
Be Heard Initiative A racially diverse group of artists pushing the Boston community to start talking about racial inequities. With a host of local partners, dancers, poets and filmmakers from Mattapan to Chelsea have created a myriad of events across the city in June and July, 2022, to have conversations about racism. www.beheard.world
Sista Creatives Rising helps marginalized women/femme creatives gain accessibility and visibility in the arts to facilitate personal healing @sistacreativesrising www.sistacreativesrising.com
Dunamis drops a weekly Resource Roundup for artists straight to your inbox! Stay up to date with all this locally curated list of artist opportunities. Go to their website now and sign up for the newsletter! www.dunamisboston.org
DeeDee’s Cry provides resources and education on the importance of mental health and wellness within communities of color. They collaborate with organizations and agencies to create events, programs, projects and activities within communities of color that are centered on family, mental health and wellness. Find out about upcoming events at www.deedeescry.com
Building Audacity is a non-profit organization that seeks to support youth-led change-making and to provide resources for adults looking to create inclusive, youth-focused learning environments. They are running several programs right now that prioritize community needs during the pandemic, including a GOTVac campaign, hydroponic produce farm, and grocery delivery services. Learn more at www.buildingaudacity.org and @buildingaudacity
Creatives of Color Boston is a collective dedicated to the creation of intersectional safe spaces for BIPOC artists to connect and create together, while also celebrating and uplifting the voices and work of BIPOC artists from around the Boston area. They plan three main events each year including concerts, workshops, and exhibitions. More at www.creativesofcolorboston.com
Greater Boston Artist Collective strengthens our artist community with their many programs. From filming music videos to artist interviews…from monthly artist features to their yearly art event they strive to keep artists thriving! Check out their very active IG at @greaterbostonartistcollective and website www.greaterbostonartistcollective.com
Originally published in-print in Boston Compass Newspaper #147 June 2022
Check out all the art and columns of May's Boston Compass at www.issuu.com/bostoncccompass