Events

25 great concerts coming to Eastern Mass. suburbs in winter 2025-26

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 acts coming to the suburbs of Greater Boston this winter are (clockwise from top left) Alison Brown, Corinne Bailey Rae, Lyle Lovett, Bilal, Paula Cole, and the Robert Cray Band. AP Photo/George Walker IV; Courtesy photos; Turner Cray Inc.

By Peter Chianca

4 minutes to read

There’s no better season than winter to stay close to home, we always say. (And there’s never a bad time of year to avoid Boston traffic.) Check out the links below for the full listings of great concerts coming to the North Shore, South Shore, South Coast, Merrimack Valley, and Metro West, along with 25 we’ve hand-picked for you to add to your local concert-going calendar.

25 worthy concerts outside of Boston for winter 2025-26:

Katharine McPhee, above, will join David Foster at The Cabot on Tuesday, Feb. 3. *– Boston Globe File*

How will it feeeeel when Joan Osborne (“One of Us”) brings her Bob Dylan tribute to TCAN on Thursday, Dec. 4? (Prediction: Pretty good.)

The Lacheys (Nick and Drew, natch) are back when vocal group 98 Degrees (“I Do”) heats up Lynn Memorial Auditorium on Friday, Dec. 5.

The YellowHouse Blues Band, a high-energy, nine-piece blues combo, pays tribute to the “First Ladies of the Blues” at Fallout Shelter on Saturday, Dec. 6.

38 Special (“Caught Up in You”) will get caught up in Lynn when it brings its driving brand of 1980s arena rock to Lynn Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Amie, what you wanna do? See southern rock pioneers Pure Prairie League (“Amie”) when they head to TCAN on Sunday, Dec. 14, that’s what.

Texas country rocker and occasional one-man band Shakey Graves (“Tomorrow”) shuffles his boots into the Shalin Liu on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

You’ve seen her perform with Cardi B at the Grammys, now see Chloe Flower bring her genre-defying piano chops to the Shalin Liu on Friday, Dec. 19.

Get out your Brylcreem (if you have any hair left) and kick the year off in Shirley when The Corvettes Doo Wop Revue hits Bull Run on Saturday, Jan. 3.

Virtuoso banjoist (yes, that’s a thing) and recent Steve Martin collaborator Alison Brown brings her five-string to TCAN on Sunday, Jan. 11.

Beloved troubadour Steve Forbert (“Romeo’s Tune”) will meet you in the middle of the night (OK, 8 p.m.) at The Spire on Friday, Jan. 16.

Can you believe Boston goofballs The Fools (“Psycho Chicken”) have been doing their foolish thing for 50 years now? And they’ve still got it, as you’ll see if you check out their party atmosphere at Indian Ranch on Saturday, Jan. 24.

Masters of hip-hop blues (yes, that’s also a thing) G. Love & Special Sauce (“Sunday Vibe”) will celebrate the 20th anniversary of G. Love’s second solo album, “Lemonade,” when they spice up the Narrows Center on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

Boston-based outlaw country stalwarts Ward Hayden & The Outliers will be touring on the strength of not one but two separate Bruce Springsteen cover albums when they show you who’s boss at the Narrows Center on Friday, Jan. 30.

Songwriting superstar David Foster (“Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire”) and Broadway belter Katharine McPhee (“Terrified”) will bring their unique combination of hit songs, standards, and medleys to The Cabot on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

If you’ve got legs, and you know how to use them, get down to Plymouth to catch ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons and the BFG Band at Plymouth Memorial Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Rockport’s own Paula Cole (“I Don’t Want to Wait”), of Lilith Fair and “Dawson’s Creek” theme song fame, brings her songs and stories to Groton Hill for Valentine’s Day, Saturday, Feb. 14.

Colorado rockers and longtime buds Big Head Todd and the Monsters (“Bittersweet”) will bring both ’90s favorites and new material from their 2024 album “Her Way Out” to The Cabot on Friday, Feb. 20.

You know her country-pop-soul chops from when she was a finalist on “The Voice,” and now Morgan Myles (“Sanctuary”) will be showcasing her sophomore album, “Laced,” when she comes to The Spire on Friday, Feb. 20.

Robert Cray has played with, well, everybody (Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, etc. etc.), and he’ll play for you when The Robert Cray Band (“Don’t Be Afraid of The Dark”) brings its blues and soul to Plymouth Memorial Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

You may not be able to nail her down — she counts jazz, house, indie rock, and punk among her myriad influences — but you’ll be up on your feet if you check out Corinne Bailey Rae (“Put Your Records On”) at The Cabot on Thursday, Feb. 26.

Another multifaceted master of many genres, Bilal (“Soul Sista”) brings his sultry mix of soul, jazz, and hip-hop to Groton Hill on Thursday, Feb. 26.

Acclaimed Americana singer-songwriters Lyle Lovett (“If I Had a Boat”) and John Hiatt (“Have a Little Faith in Me”) are joining forces and will be barnstorming New England with six shows this winter, from Monday, Feb. 23 in Waterville, Maine, to Sunday, March 1 at The Cabot in Beverly. In between, you’ll be able to catch them at Plymouth Memorial Hall on Thursday, Feb. 26, and Groton Hill on Friday, Feb. 27.

She’s been a backup singer to the stars — if you’ve seen the Rolling Stones in the last 30-plus years, you’ve probably heard her tearing up “Gimme Shelter” toe-to-toe with Mick Jagger — but Ms. Lisa Fischer will be displaying her sizable solo talents when she and her band Grand Baton make a return trip to the Shalin Liu on Friday, Feb. 27.

The great Branford Marsalis Quartet (“Mo’ Better Blues”) will bring their full-album reinterpretation of Keith Jarrett’s 1974 ECM album “Belonging” (and, we’re sure, a few other surprises) when they hit Groton Hill on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Americana pioneers the Swinging Steaks have been, well, swinging (and rocking and rolling) for more than 30 years, and their particular brand of Boston-based country rock will be on full display when they show up at The Spire on Saturday, Feb. 28.

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