Events in Cambridge and Somerville: NICE, a Fest, Cambridge Jazz Festival and percussive dance

For a searchable calendar of events with your choice of list or map view, or to submit an event of your own, go to the main calendar.

Thursday, July 23

7 p.m.
Porter Square Books, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square.

Friday, July 24

4 p.m.
Davis Square, Somerville.

Nice, a Fest
$45 or $120 for 3-day event. NICE, a fest is a celebration of the Boston and New England indie music scene presented by Get To The Gig Boston. More than 80+ indie artists across three venues and a massive outdoor record, art and vintage market, after parties, kickoff event and more through Sunday. 

8 p.m.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave.

MIT Summer Philharmonic Orchestra: Celebrating Hope & Optimism
Free. Under the direction of Music Director and Conductor George Ogata, accomplished musicians from MIT perform two masterpieces: Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.”

Saturday, July 25

Noon to 6 p.m.
Danehy Park, 99 Sherman St., in Neighborhood 9 just east of Fresh Pond.

11th Annual Cambridge Jazz Festival
Free to $20. Relax on the grass and enjoy world-class musicians, food and merchandise vendors and a children’s area. Runs through Sunday. 

4 p.m.
Davis Square, Somerville.

Nice, a Fest
$45 or $120 for 3-day event. NICE, a fest is a celebration of the Boston and New England indie music scene presented by Get To The Gig Boston. More than 80+ indie artists across three venues and a massive outdoor record, art and vintage market, after parties, kickoff event and more through Sunday. 

Sunday, July 26

Noon to 6 p.m.
Danehy Park, 99 Sherman St., in Neighborhood 9 just east of Fresh Pond.

11th Annual Cambridge Jazz Festival
Free to $20. Relax on the grass and enjoy world-class musicians, food and merchandise vendors and a children’s area. 

4 p.m.
Davis Square, Somerville.

Nice, a Fest
$45 or $120 for 3-day event. NICE, a fest is a celebration of the Boston and New England indie music scene presented by Get To The Gig Boston. More than 80+ indie artists across three venues and a massive outdoor record, art and vintage market, after parties, kickoff event and more. 

Monday, July 27

7 p.m.
Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge.

Meg Richardson reads from “Paradise Pawn”
Free. Translator and cartoonist Richardson’s debut novel, “Paradise Pawn” is based on her own experiences working behind the counter of a pawn shop. This story follows teens working in a pawn shop in Cherry Beach, Florida, handling everything from Cartier jewelry to chainsaws to cars. Translator Hannah Kauders joins.

8 p.m.
Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square.

Eleni Mandell performs
$30 to $35. With over 10 solo albums, Mandell has carved out a singular lane blending folk, noir jazz, roots rock and literate pop music. 

Tuesday, July 28

5 to 7 p.m.
Urban Park Roof Garden at Kendall Center, 325 Main St., Kendall Square.

Summer in the City: Brooklynn
Free. The singer, songwriter, producer, and DJ’s sound is an eclectic mix, heavily inspired by opera, psychedelic, indie/alternative and neo-soul. Brooklynn performs as part of Berklee’s Summer in the City 2026 concert series.

8 p.m.
Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square.

The Babe Rainbow with Sam Blasucci
$38. These Aussie psychedelic rockers are known for their “throw-back” style of 1960s psychedelic rock.

Wednesday, July 29

Noon
Urban Park Roof Garden at Kendall Center, 325 Main St., Kendall Square.

Lunchtime concert: Ella McDonald
Free. McDonald came of age as a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter in the New York City folk scene, connecting with audiences regularly at coffeehouses, outdoor festivals and NYC venues including SideWalk Cafe, Union Square, Fringe Festival Benefit and The Bitter End as a member of the NY Songwriters Circle.  

12:15 to 1 p.m.
Kendall/MIT Open Space at 292 Main St., Kendall Square.

Midday Music: Angel Subero & Latin Logic
Free, but register. Venezuelan trombone virtuoso and bandleader Subero has shared the stage with Aretha Franklin, Slide Hampton, Jim McNeely, Claudio Roditi, Danilo Pérez and Chris Botti. With Latin Logic, he mixes old-school salsa, Latin jazz and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, drawing on the diverse backgrounds of its members.

Thursday, July 30

5 to 9 p.m.
Harvard Art Museums, 32 Quincy St., near Harvard Square.

Harvard Art Museums at Night
Free. Gather with friends and mingle inside the Italian-inspired courtyard. DJ C-Zone sets the mood with smooth, curated sounds as you chat, snack, sip and catch up over bites and drinks available for purchase from local vendors.

7 to 8:30 p.m.
The Mad Monkfish, 524 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square.

Stephanie Nakasian with the Greg Wardson Trio
$10. Jazz artist Stephanie Nakasian has released 17 CDs and has been a respected artist for more than 40 years, performing with Jon Hendricks, Phil Woods, Harry Allen and many others. Performing with her are Greg Wardson on piano and Karl Kimmel on bass (drums to be announced).

Friday, July 31

Noon
Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square.

Lunchtime Concerts: R. G. Gallagher
Free. R. G. Gallagher plays various American hits through the decades. Drinks available for purchase including coffee, tea, sodas, wine and beer. You are welcome to bring your lunch. 

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Kendall/MIT Open Space at 292 Main St., Kendall Square.

Outdoor Movie: “It Happened One Night”
Free. A reporter trailing a runaway heiress for a big story joins her on a bus heading from Florida to New York and they end up stuck with each other when the bus leaves them behind.

8 to 10 p.m.
Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Spring Hill.

Feet Keep the Beat Festival Showcase
$35. The fourth annual “Feet Keep the Beat” brings together diverse percussive dance communities of West African, kathak, flamenco, step and tap. 

Saturday, Aug. 1

2 to 5 p.m.
Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square in Ward 2.

Patiopalooza
Free and 21-plus. Enjoy the music of Makeout Palace and other Boston bands at this summer series.

7 p.m.
Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square.

Billy Novick & Guy Van Duser perform
$35. A musical duo for more than 40 years, Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser have performed in concerts, clubs and festivals all over North America and Europe. They have been frequent guests of the “Prairie Home Companion” show and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” 

Sunday, Aug. 2

7 p.m.
Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square.

Henhouse Prowlers perform
$30. Ben Wright (banjo, vocals), Chris Dollar (guitar, vocals), Jon Goldfine (bass, vocals) and Jake Howard (mandolin, vocals) have been performing bluegrass together for 20 years. 

7:30 p.m.
The Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square.

Tiger Moan First Sunday Blues featuring Jondra Harmon
$25. Tiger Moan is in the fourth year of their residency playing first Sundays every month at the Burren Backroom. Tiger Moan has entertained blues and swing dancers at events such as Sweet Molasses Blues, Blues Union, Yale Swing & Blues and MIT’s Bread & Bones fusion dance. Vocalist Jondra Harmon’s work centers the stories of Black and queer ancestors, shared through voice, memory and sound.

Monday, Aug. 3

8 p.m.
The Sinclair, 52 Church St., Harvard Square.

Elliott in concert
$25. Elliott is an American emo band from Louisville, Kentucky. They released three albums: the most recent, “Song in the Air” released in 2002. 

Tuesday, Aug. 4

5 to 7 p.m.
Urban Park Roof Garden at Kendall Center, 325 Main St., Kendall Square.

Berklee Summer in the City: Júlia Aronovich
Free. Rooted in folk, Júlia Aronovich’s sound is colored by elements of rock, pop and the nuances of her Brazilian upbringing.

6 p.m.
Danehy Park, 99 Sherman St., in Neighborhood 9 just east of Fresh Pond.

Ezra Rudel
Free. The trumpet player and composer from Cambridge plays music inspired by folk traditions. 

Wednesday, Aug. 5

Noon
Urban Park Roof Garden at Kendall Center, 325 Main St., Kendall Square.

Lunchtime Concert: Ivy Boy
Free. Ivy Boy is the indie folk project of Boston-based singer-songwriter Perry Eaton. Its self-titled debut album was released in October. 

8 p.m.
Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square.

Tray Wellington
$30. Banjo innovator Tray Wellington combines folk, bluegrass, jazz and contemporary roots music.

Thursday, Aug. 6

4:15 and 8 p.m.
Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square.

Film: “The Bakery Girl of Monceau”
$13.50 to $17.50. This 1963 French language film tells the story of a law student who stuffs himself full of pastries daily to garner the attentions of the pretty brunette who works in a quaint Paris bakery.

7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Spring Hill.

Poly Poly Oxen Free
$25. This live dating show features eligible contestants completing a series of challenges to woo The Catch. The Catch already has at least one love and is looking for more.

A stronger

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