Live music: From Boston to The Narrows. From Letters to Cleo to Aldous Collins

Jay N. Miller
Updated ·5 min read
Mac MacAnally and guest arrive on the CMAs red carpet. Singer/songwriter McAnally won musician of the year for a record seventh consecutive time.
Mac MacAnally and guest arrive on the CMAs red carpet. Singer/songwriter McAnally won musician of the year for a record seventh consecutive time.

Lots of music over the weekend and beyond, and we get to that in a bit. But the holiday season always brings on a bunch of benefit concerts, and we have four coming up this weekend. Have a good time and go home with a good feeling that you did a good deed. Most obviously, the C-Note in Hull is turning three-quarters of its weekend over to benefits.  Thursday night it's a comedy showcase topped by Boston-area veteran Bob Niles, with all proceeds going to the Childrens' Museum.  Friday night the popular local band Assisted Living is the headliner, with all proceeds earmarked for the Nantasket-Hull Rotary Club's fund for food assistance. Sunday afternoon, the C-Note hosts a fundraiser for the Porchfest musical event, with about eight different acts appearing, including Seawitch, in a program slated to run 2-7 p.m.

Meanwhile, Sunday afternoon also finds The Narrows Center in Fall River hosting a benefit, its 8th Annual Music of Michael Troy Concert, honoring the memory of the late South Coast songwriter, with a dozen of the area's best folk and Americana performers playing from 1 p.m. on, and all proceeds benefiting the music programs at Durfee High School in Fall River.

Vermont musician Ali McGuirk performs May 19, 2023 at Higher Ground in South Burlington.
Vermont musician Ali McGuirk performs May 19, 2023 at Higher Ground in South Burlington.

THURSDAY, Nov. 16: Aldous Collins Band continues residency

The Aldous Collins Band residency at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke is going strong, and old pal Roger Labier, of Scituate, has sworn to never miss a minute, or a dance. Chelsea Berry, a songwriter from Alaska transplanted to Maine, plays at The Spire Center in Plymouth. Slaughter Beach, Dog is the hard rockers' band at Roadrunner in Allston. Letterkenny's smart sounds at Royale in Boston. Eggy hits the groove at Brighton Music Hall in Boston. Ali McGuirk sings at The Sinclair in Cambridge. The Armed is kind of a Detroit metal supergroup, at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston.

Entrain.
Entrain.

FRIDAY, Nov. 17:  Band with Boston roots continues annual tradition

Letters to Cleo makes their annual return to The Paradise Rock Club in Boston, and they're firing it up Saturday too. Nashville songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman has penned many songs you've heard, it's just that other folks have had the hits with them. Hear Chapman sing them herself at The Spire Center in Plymouth.  Martha's Vineyard rock and funk crew Entrain sure to have Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke hopping. Anders Osborne takes blues and rock into new territory at the Narrows Center in Fall River. Jake La Botz defines Americana at The Fallout Shelter in Norwood. The Smithereens, with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw, is a great show and it is sold out at City Winery in Boston. Jazz fusion with Yussef Dayes at Royale in Boston. English balladeer Puma Blue at The Sinclair in Cambridge. Canadian electronica king Deadmau5 at Big Night Live in Boston all weekend. Botch is a band from Tacoma, Washington, playing what they call "mathcore" at Roadrunner in Allston, so you can start without me.

SATURDAY: British blues guitarist coming to Plymouth

Providence, Rhode Island, folk-rockers Deer Tick headline the House of Blues in Boston. Montreal indie rockers Half Moon Run shake up Royale in Boston. The GroovaLottos get the dancefloor going at The C-Note in Hull. Chris Ballerini and The Drift rock out at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, and you remember Chris from the band Six Fox Whiskey.

Blues guitarist Matt Schofield will perform Feb. 4, 2022, at The Acorn in Three Oaks.
Blues guitarist Matt Schofield will perform Feb. 4, 2022, at The Acorn in Three Oaks.

British blues guitarist Matt Schofield and his band burn up The Spire Center in Plymouth. Geddy Lee, from the band Rush, is at The Orpheum Theater in Boston, but it's a celebration of his new memoir with onstage Q & A. Jazz-rock guitar ace Johnny A at The Fallout Shelter in Norwood. Fantastic Cat – a quartet of accomplished songsmiths – makes its debut at the Narrows Center in Fall River. Billy Raffoul sings at Cafe 939 in Boston. The heavenly harmonies of The Kennedys at The Rose Garden Coffeehouse in Mansfield. Worcester rockers The Hotelier, with their pals from St. Louis in the band Foxing, heat up The Sinclair in Cambridge.  Folkie Seth Glier plays at Franklin's Circle of Friends Coffeehouse. Boston blues-jazz group Bees Deluxe get down at City Winery in Boston. Worakls is the French DJ headlining Big Night Live in Boston.

SUNDAY & BEYOND: Rockland bar plays host to blues jam

On Sunday afternoon, don't forget Shady Roosters at The Spire Center in Plymouth at 2 p.m; and the blues jam at Players in Rockland (4 p.m.) hosted by the Michele Rockwell Band. Sunday night is busy with Canadian indie rockers Men I Trust at Roadrunner in Boston; Jimmy Buffett sideman Mac McAnally at City Winery in Boston; and Blue Star Radiation – a new band with two veterans of the band Moe, one from Ghosts of Jupiter, and one from Lotus – heating up Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke.

Coming attractions

MONDAY: Brooklyn rockers Beach Fossils arrive at House of Blues in Boston, while Scene Queen shakes up The Paradise Rock Club in Boston.

Liz Phair performs at Perez Hilton's 'One Night in Austin' showcase during the SXSW Music Festival on March 19, 2011.
Liz Phair performs at Perez Hilton's 'One Night in Austin' showcase during the SXSW Music Festival on March 19, 2011.

TUESDAY: San Diego power-pop band Pierce the Veil headlines MGM Music Hall in Boston; rock goddess Liz Phair sings at Roadrunner in Boston; Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real rock Royale in Boston; and The English Beat open a two-nighter at City Winery in Boston.

WEDNESDAY: Boston's The Sheila Divine reunites to rock Brighton Music Hall; while Kota the Friend raps at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston.

January 24, 2023: Lil Uzi Vert performs on stage during Drake Live From The Apollo Theater for SiriusXM and Sound 42 at The Apollo Theatre in New York City.
January 24, 2023: Lil Uzi Vert performs on stage during Drake Live From The Apollo Theater for SiriusXM and Sound 42 at The Apollo Theatre in New York City.

NOV. 24: Work off that turkey dinner with The Michael Sweet Band's rockin' 7th Annual Christmas Show at The Spire Center in Plymouth; or get down with Roomful of Blues at the Narrows Center in Fall River; or Pink Talking Fish rocking Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke; or rapper/singer Earl Sweatshirt at Royale in Boston; or the rock-funk fire of The Jen Kearney Band at The Lizard Lounge in Cambridge; or rapper Lil Uzi Vert at MGM Music Hall in Boston; or The Samples opening a weekend stay at City Winery in Boston.

NOV. 25: New England blues legend James Montgomery and his band return to The Spire Center in Plymouth.

South Shore favorites The Swinging Steaks perform a show in February 2018.
South Shore favorites The Swinging Steaks perform a show in February 2018.

DEC. 2: South Shore country-rock pioneers The Swinging Steaks have a new record to unveil at the Narrows Center in Fall River.    

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Where to see live music near Quincy and Boston from Nov. 16-19, 2023