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12 must-see concerts at Boston’s smaller venues for winter 2025-26
From Avery Anna and Juliana Hatfield to Del Fuegos and DJ Snake, there's something for everyone at intimate stages in Greater Boston this winter.
Come in from the cold with these shows at The Rockwell, Arts at the Armory, Big Night Live, Royale, The Sinclair, The Burren, City Winery, Brighton Music Hall, Chevalier Theatre, Paradise Rock Club, and Crystal Ballroom this December-February, organized by genre. (Please note, prices noted are face value; some of these shows may only have verified resale tickets available. You can check out our guide to larger venues here and our guide to suburban venues here.)
Best rock, alternative, and indie shows
They are Gutting a Body of Water with Hooky at Arts at the Armory
Kicking off with a track (“the chase”) that unmistakably recalls — in an awesome way — Slint’s monumental 1991 post-rock masterpiece “Spiderland,” TAGABOW’s brand new LP “LOTTO” is another winning entry by a band that has secured itself a comfortable spot within the vanguard of shoegaze revivalists. Clocking in a a mere 29 minutes, this Philly quartet is loath to waste a single note, landing punch after punch with its 10 tracks. TAGABOW will team with fellow Philadelphians Hooky for a winning ticket in Somerville on Dec. 9. Tuesday, Dec. 9, doors at 6/show at 7, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville, $30.37 (price includes fees).
The Dream Syndicate at Crystal Ballroom
The Dream Syndicate were arguably the kings of LA’s Paisley Underground following the release of their 1982 debut, “The Days of Wine and Roses.” The band commemorated the 40th anniversary of that landmark recording by performing it from beginning on a tour that included Somerville’s Crystal Ballroom. On Dec. 10, they will return to that venue to do the same in honor of the four decades that have passed since its follow-up, “Medicine Show,” which received a multi-disc re-release in October. Wednesday, Dec. 10, doors at 7/show at 8, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, $41.45 (price includes fees).
Juliana Hatfield at The Burren
Since 2017, Juliana Hatfield has been alternating between servings of new material and cover albums. Having given Electric Light Orchestra the Hatfield treatment in 2023, she is now set to release her own set of songs, “Lightning Might Strike,” on Dec. 12. The former Blake Baby and Lemonhead will celebrate the unveiling two days later with a performance at Davis Square’s The Burren. Sunday, Dec. 14, doors at 8:30/show at 9 (earlier show is sold-out), 247 Elm St., Somerville, $30 in advance/$35 at the door.
The Del Fuegos at City Winery
The Del Fuegos need no introduction ’round these here parts. Although the Boston quartet’s recording career was brief (four albums in five years), it was impactful, so much that they are still able to draw crowds 36 years after the final LP. Moreover, founders Dan and Warren Zanes have established themselves admirably outside of the band. The former is a prolific creator of children’s music, the latter is a professor and rock biographer whose latest book, “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” is the basis for the recent Bruce Springsteen biopic. The Del Fuegos will present their Home For the Holidays show in two parts on Dec. 20 – one matinee and one in the evening. Saturday, Dec. 20, 3 and 7:30, 80 Beverly St. Boston, $50-$75.
The Felice Brothers at The Sinclair
Ian and James are the Felice siblings who are currently part of the lineup. (Simone was an original member but left the group in 2009.) Natives of the Catskill Mountains region, the band is known and widely admired for its distinctive blend of Americana, folk, and country. Their latest release is titled “Valley of Abandoned Songs” because it comprises 13 songs that were written for the sessions of previous albums but not included on them. “At a certain point, I realized that I had a particular group of tunes that worked really well as an album,” said Ian Felice, “and so I shared it with Conor [Oberst, aka Bright Eyes], along with my idea to post it online, but he immediately texted back that he loved it so much he wanted to start a new record label just to put it out.” Dec. 28, doors at 7/show at 8, The Sinclair, 52 Church St., Cambridge, $40.13 (price includes fees).
Sharp Pins at The Rockwell
Sharp Pins — the moniker of singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kai Slater, a 21-year-old Chicagoan — has had a busy 2025. In addition to Sharp Pins’ March release “Radio DDR,” he is also a member of Lifeguard, whose first full-length “Ripped and Torn” appeared in June. Obviously not one to let his ambition outrun him, Slater treated fans to the 21-track, 43-minute “Balloon Balloon Balloon” in November. This bring Sharp Pins’ discography to four albums, each of which he will presumably draw from at The Rockwell in Davis Square on Jan. 22. Thursday, Jan. 22, doors at 7/show at 8, The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Somerville, $15-$18.
Also of note:
- The Smithereens with special guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw at City Winery, Jan. 10
- Ratboys with Florry at the Sinclair, Feb. 28
Best singer-songwriter and country shows
Avery Anna with Jenna Raine and Dylan Davidson at Royale
Avery Anna is a country artist who has two LPs and one EP to her credit at the ripe old age of 21. All the more impressive is that the two LPs were released in the back-to-back years of 2024 and 2025 and include 17 and 14 songs, respectively, the latter being titled “Let Go Letters.” In addition to her solo work, she has collaborated with fellow country/Christian artists such as Sam Barber (on the huge hit “Indigo”) and Josiah Queen (on “Dusty Bibles”). Genre mates Jenna Raine and Dylan Davidson will accompany Anna to the Royale on Dec. 12. Friday, Dec. 12, doors at 6/show at 7, Royale 279 Tremont St. Boston, $46.78 (price includes fees).
Cate Le Bon with Frances Chang at The Sinclair
Cate Le Bon — née Cate Timothy — assumed her stage surname in honor of the lead singer of Duran Duran. This year’s “Michelangelo Dying” is the Welsh musician’s seventh solo offering. She is also and in-demand producer whose credits include recent recordings by Deerhunter, Kurt Vile, Wilco, Horsegirl (this year’s excellent “Phonetics On and On”), and Dry Cleaning (next year’s “Secret Love”). “Michelangelo Dying,” which features fellow Wales native John Cale, may rightly be considered a new entry in the history of “breakup” records. Le Bon herself said of the decoupling that inspired it, “The breakup was like an amputation that you don’t really want, but you know will save you.” Le Bon will showcase the new songs — among which are the singles “Heaven Is No Feeling,” “Is It Worth It (Happy Birthday),” and “About Time” — at The Sinclair on Jan. 15. Thursday, Jan. 15, doors at 7/show at 8, The Sinclair, 52 Church St., Cambridge, $39.05 (price includes fees).
Also of note:
Best rap/hip-hop, soul, and R&B shows
Curtis Harding at Brighton Music Hall
Curtis is a musical polymath who identifies his genre as “slop ’n’ soul,” which he described to Rolling Stone in 2014 as, “I take the bits and pieces that I have, which in Southern culture they call ‘slop’ — that’s what you give to pigs — and soul is what I grew up on, so that’s the foundation.” He has explored this concept over the course of four studio albums, including this year’s “Departures & Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt.” Before recording as a solo artist, he served as backing singer on the Smokin’ Grooves tour with Outkast, Cypress Hill, Lauryn Hill, and The Roots, collaborated with Cee-Lo Green, and toured with Lenny Kravitz. The Boston stop of his 2026 tour is at Brighton Music Hall on Jan. 24. Saturday, Jan. 24, doors at 7/show at 8, 158 Brighton Ave., Allston, $29.
Monaleo at Royale
Houston-born rapper Monaleo broke through in 2021 with the gold-certified singles “Beating Down Yo Block” and “We Not Humping.” The former later appeared on her 2023 debut LP “Where the Flowers Don’t Grow” and the latter was a stand-alone single that was later released as a remix featuring Flo Milli. After recording an EP in 2024, Monaleo returned with her second LP, “Who Did the Body,” in October. The recent singles “Putting Ya Dine” and “Sexy Soulaan” are sure to be among her selections when she hits up Royale on Feb. 13. Friday, Feb. 13, doors at 6/show at 7, Royale, 279 Tremont St., Boston, $46.78 (price includes fees).
Rob49 at Big Night Live
Although his official debut — “Let Me Fly” — did not appear until this past May, Rob49 has a busy man since 2020. In those five years, the New Orleans native — he grew up in its 4th and 9th wards — has built a discography of six mixtapes and multiple non-album singles. Da Baby, Birdman, Lil Wayne, and Cardi B. are only a few of the many artists who have guested on his songs, while he in turn had featured on songs by Jeezy, French Montana, Travis Scott, and dozens of others. The 2025 single “WTHelly” went viral on TikTok and has been remixed in versions that include Justin Beiber, Big Sean, and Latto. On “Let Me Fly,” he collaborates with — again, among others — Fridayy, Sexxy Red, and G Herbo. Friday, Jan. 30, doors at 7/show at 8, Big Night Live, 110 Causeway St., Boston, $39 (price includes fees).
Also of note:
Best electronic/dance show
DJ Snake with Baauer and Z3lla at Big Night Live
Born William Sami Étienne Grigahcine in Paris, DJ Snake is a two-time Grammy nominee for his work as producer of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and for the video “Turn Down for What” with Lil Jon. His nominations and wins, however, are not limited to the Grammys or American ceremonies. He been a contender or victor for two dozen honors around the world since 2012, and DJ Magazine has ranked him among the top 100 DJs in the world for the past 12 years. As a recording artist, his albums and singles regularly sell in the multimillions and occasionally top worldwide charts. In November, he released “Nomad,” whose countless guest include J. Balvin, Don Toliver, Dillon Francis, and Stray Kids. Monday, Dec. 29, 9:30 pm, Big Night Live, 110 Causeway St., $64.55 (price includes fees).
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