Plenty of great musical acts are coming to town this weekend. Start planning your schedule
Jazz is back in Boston
As noted before, Boston's two premier jazz clubs, Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, and Harvard Square's RegattaBar at the Charles Hotel, have both swung back into action in a big way. The RegattaBar had been dark for a couple years following the pandemic, but reopened this fall, while Scullers had been back earlier, but took its usual summer hiatus. Both clubs are hopping this weekend, as Scullers welcomes two-time Grammy nominee pianist Benito Gonzalez and his group Friday, and then trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and his combo on Saturday (check scullersjazz.com for details). Meanwhile, The RegattaBar offers Brazilian bassist Michael Pipoquinha's quintet on Thursday, the Devon Gates Octet on Friday, and guitarist Mary Halvorson's sextet on Saturday. The RegattaBar (regattabarjazz.com) even has a Monday show, with the Ken Schaphorst Big Band in concert with special guests including the esteemed pianist Ran Blake, and vocalist Dominique Eade.
New name for vaunted venue
Not sure how long ago, but apparently the Providence Civic Center, previously known as the Dunkin' Donuts Center, has become the AMP, or Amica Mutual Pavilion. Nonetheless, the venue has always been a convenient and reasonably close alternative for area concert fans, and parking in Providence, Rhode Island, tends to be much cheaper than with Beantown's robber barons. This is notable now especially for fans of 1980s rock, as the AMP welcomes Journey, with opening act Toto, on Feb. 21.
THURSDAY, Feb. 1: Valerie Barretto coming to Pembroke
The Baker Thomas Band, with special guest Sarah Borges, brings roots rock to The Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. Dillon Francis gets down at Big Night Live in Boston. Folk singer Pamela Means at Club Passim in Harvard Square. Constantine Maroulis and his band rock City Winery in Boston. Valerie Barretto sings at Tolson's Tap & Tavern in Pembroke.
FRIDAY, Feb. 2: A taste of the Vineyard with Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish in Fall River
One of the region's hidden treasures, Martha's Vineyard rockers Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish come ashore this weekend, with a show at the Narrows Center in Fall River tonight, and at The Fallout Shelter in Norwood on Saturday. It's a night of Grateful Dub, when Roots of Creation takes over Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. The C Note in Hull hosts a benefit night for the area Humane Society, with six rock bands topped by Arkarna, and the wonderfully named Dirty Water Boulevard. Rhythm and blues star Raheem DeVaughn heats up City Winery in Boston. Karen Morgan headlines the comedy night at the Spire Center in Plymouth. Greensky Bluegrass shakes up MGM Music Hall in Boston. The sweet harmonies of Lucius at the House of Blues in Boston. Valerie Barretto sings at The Artisan Pig in Plymouth. Caligula's Horse – a metal band from Australia – thunders into Brighton Music Hall in Boston. Folk/country/rock with songsmith Briston Maroney at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston for two nights. Note: that TD Garden show by rapper Playboi Carti scheduled for tonight has been postponed.
SATURDAY, Feb 3: Teen phenom Taz Niederauer coming to Pembroke
Teen prodigy guitarist Taz Niederauer and the band Telula should keep Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke jumping all night. Comic Chance Langton at Cubist Circle in Weymouth. Atlanta guitarist Eddie 9V has played with all those Capricorn Records stars you love, and he's at the Narrows Center in Fall River with his own band. Boston reggae star Mighty Mystic brings his Winter Reggae Splash to Brighton Music Hall. A Band of Killers – the veritable Boston-area all-star group featuring ace guitarists Johnny Trama and Tim Gearan – hits the Spire Center in Plymouth. The Sub Flies and Elbow Room warm up The C Note in Hull. Hopkinton's Center for Performing Arts hosts its third annual Winter Bluesfest, with blazing guitarist Chris Fitz, singer Diane Blue, and the Ken Clark Organ Trio comprising a monster triple-bill.
Songwriter Stephen Kellogg's show at City Winery in Boston is sold out. Roadrunner in Allston is having its first "Prom Night," with Booty Vortex and The Glitter Boys promising a hot disco night. Valerie Barretto's South Shore tour touches down at Brewery 44 in Carver. One of the most exciting new rock 'n' soul bands anywhere, Detroit's Mac Saturn has just released their debut album, so catch them at The Sinclair in Cambridge before they become really big.
SUNDAY, Feb 4.: Weekly blues jam in Rockland continues
That Sunday afternoon (4-8 p.m.) blues jam at Players in Rockland hosted by the Michele Rockwell Band continues to draw, with weekly special guests. Catch topical folk-rocker Crys Matthews at City Winery in Boston; while Brazilian country singer Zeze Di Camargo takes over the House of Blues in Boston.
Coming attractions
MONDAY: Turkish pop star Haluk Levent opens a two-night stand at City Winery in Boston.
TUESDAY: Alt-country rising star Jaime Wyatt sings at The Sinclair in Cambridge; while the Danish pop singer known only as Christopher (actually Christopher Nissen) arrives at Brighton Music Hall.
WEDNESDAY: Beats Antique, the electronic/world/fusion trio, performs at Royale in Boston; while Boston songsmith Ryan Montbleau opens a three-night skein of solo dates at Club Passim in Cambridge.
FEB. 9: New England jazz treasure, saxophonist Greg Abate and his quartet, headline the Narrows Center in Fall River; while Boyz II Men groove at MGM Music Hall in Boston.
FEB. 10: A big night for music: That Swinging Steaks show at the Spire Center in Plymouth is headed for a sellout; while country-rock hits the MGM Music Hall in Boston with Cody Jinks and the Turnpike Troubadours; and Scullers Jazz Club in Boston hosts the Yale and Harvard Battle of the Big Bands.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Where to see live music near Quincy and Boston from Feb. 1-4
