Events

25 great concerts coming to Eastern Mass. suburbs in fall 2025

You don't have to head to Boston for great rock, soul, jazz, Americana and more at clubs and theaters outside the city.

Among the artists headed to Boston suburbs this fall are: (clockwise from top left) Marshall Crenshaw, Diana Ross, Chris Isaak, Joss Stone, and Renée Elise Goldsberry. Taylor Hill/Getty Images; Matt Sayles/Invision/AP; chrisisaak.com; AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File; Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

By Peter Chianca

3 minutes to read

Hello, homebodies. We’re back with another roundup of concerts that you can check out without running up the mileage on your car, or running down the balance on your Charlie Card. Whether you’re on the North Shore, South Shore, South Coast, Merrimack Valley, or Metro West, you’ll find something to get you out of the house and into one of these fine suburban venues:

As always, we recommend you check out the full calendars for each so you’re sure not to miss your favorite up-and-coming or classic artist when they get close to you. But in the meantime, here are 25 that get the Boston.com stamp of approval.

25 worthy shows outside of Boston for fall 2025:

Actual sisters (and Mass. natives) The Wolff Sisters, some of the greatest modern purveyors of classic Americana, play the Fallout Shelter on Friday, Sept. 5.
Boston ska pioneers Bim Skala Bim, with special guests Chip Rockers and Lense in tow, hit The Cut on Saturday, Sept. 6.
Lori McKenna, one of Boston’s best singer-songwriters, visits the Groton Hill Music Center on Friday, Sept. 12.
Heartbreaker (as in “Tom Petty and the …”) and keyboardist extraordinaire Benmont Tench brings his solo set to Bull Run on Sunday, Sept. 14.
Alt rock pioneer Bob Mould of Hüsker Dü fame hits Bull Run on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
British soul singer Joss Stone (“Right To Be Wrong”) comes to Shalin Liu Performance Center on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Dynamic 2000s folk-pop star KT Tunstall (“Black Horse and the Cherry Tree”) lights up the Narrows Center on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett celebrates the 50th anniversary of “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” at The Cabot on Saturday, Oct. 11.
Naturally 7, who Quincy Jones once declared to be “the future of vocal music,” harmonizes at TCAN on Saturday, Oct. 11.
The multi-lingual Pink Martini brings their blend of classical, Latin, traditional pop, and jazz (whew!) to Cary Hall on Sunday, Oct. 12.
Up-and-coming Austin blues-rock sensation (and Berklee grad) Jackie Venson comes to The Cut on Sunday, Oct. 19.
A Boston native and innovative singer and storyteller (her group was called “The Story,” after all), Jonatha Brooke lights up The Spire on Friday, Oct. 24.
The legendary Cheap Trick (“I Want You to Want Me”) — along with, hopefully, Rick Nielsen’s 5-neck guitar — will rock Lynn Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, Oct. 25.
The one and only Diana Ross (of the Supremes!) will be on stage at Lynn Memorial Auditorium on Thursday, Oct. 30.
Masked surf-rockers (and, of late, Nick Lowe’s backup band) Los Straightjackets twang their way into the Narrows Center on Saturday, Nov. 1.
Melodic alt-rocker Marshall Crenshaw (“Someday, Someway”) jangles over to the Narrows Center on Saturday, Nov. 8. (Also at the TCAN on Thursday, Nov. 20.)
Former 10,000 Maniacs frontwoman and solo superstar Natalie Merchant (“Carnival”) performs a fundraiser for Grateful Friends at The Cabot on Sunday, Nov. 9.
Nine-time Blues Music Awards winner Shemekia Copeland will bring her electric blues to Bull Run on Thursday, Nov. 13.
The original Angelica from “Hamilton,” Renée Elise Goldsberry brings her prodigious vocal talents to Shalin Liu Performance Center on Friday, Nov. 14.
Mexican superstar Alicia Villarreal comes to Lynn Memorial Auditorium on Friday, Nov. 14.
X Factor boy band (now all grown up) Emblem3 (“Chloe”) makes it to Taffeta Music Hall on Friday, Nov. 14.
Folk-roots harmonizers The Wailin’ Jennys take the stage at Groton Hill Music Center on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 20 and 21.
Vonda Shepard — she of “Ally McBeal” soundtrack fame — hits The Spire on Friday, Nov. 21.
Tony-winning Broadway diva Sutton Foster (“Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Anything Goes”) brings songs and stories to Groton Hill Music Center on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Retro rocker Chris Isaak (“Wicked Game”) gets into the spirit of the season with a holiday tour stop at The Cabot on Sunday, Nov. 30.

Note: Some shows may only have tickets available on secondary markets. See our fall concert listings for the top Boston-area venues here, and our picks for small venue shows in and around the city here. Did we miss your favorite suburban venue? Email us at [email protected] and let us know about it.