Feel the Beat of Summer in Boston

Sponsored by Meet Boston

Every Fourth of July, more than half a million people grab blankets and beach chairs and head to the Charles River Esplanade for New England’s most beloved summer concert: the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. The event hits its 50th anniversary this year — and with its thrilling tunes, signature open-air venue, and glorious backdrop of city skyline, it sums up everything Boston has to offer music lovers all summer long.

In a city filled with outdoor venues as eclectic as the performers they host, where you go and what you’ll hear is totally up to you. Cheer for an encore by Noah Kahan or the Foo Fighters from the grandstand at Fenway Park. Catch a rising star from the Berklee College of Music in the Boston Public Library’s elegant courtyard. Kick back on the Harborwalk and let classic blues and soul wash over you as boats glide in the distance.

Check out the list below for concertgoing inspiration, and remember what makes a Boston summer so special. In its few, fleeting, magical months, there’s a sense of adventure and excitement that just can’t be contained. And with great outdoor stages like these, why would anyone want to?

Get Your Game On

There’s a lot more than sports taking place at Fenway Park this summer, since the nation’s oldest ballpark is also one of Boston’s most exciting concert venues. Catch folk-pop superstar (and Watertown resident) Noah Kahan on July 18 and 19; country crooner Kane Brown immediately follows up on July 20. Rock fans, rejoice: Foo Fighters take the Fenway stage on July 21, while Blink-182 performs on July 23. The season goes out on a classic note, as Def Leppard and Journey (Aug. 5), Green Day (Aug. 7), and Pearl Jam (Sept. 15 and 17) finish the summer with a bang. A word to the wise — like game days, concert days are heavy on traffic, so consider taking the T. Or get there early and leave late, to make the most of the Fenway neighborhood’s lively nightlife scene.

Groove by the Water

It’s hard to miss Leader Bank Pavilion’s white tented amphitheater on Boston Harbor. Nicknamed “the Pav,” this waterfront landmark is one of the more intimate outdoor concert venues to see bigger touring acts in Boston (with 5,000 seats compared to nearly 38,000 for Fenway concerts). This summer it welcomes such artists as pop singer-songwriter Jason Mraz (July 6) and folk-rock icons Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls (Aug. 17). The Pav offers VIP Club upgrades, but — since there’s not a bad seat in the house here — you’re also fine just enjoying fancy cocktails and dinner in the Seaport District before the show.

More great tunes and water views await at the Boston Harbor Hotel, whose free “Summer in the City” series offers live music on a floating barge opposite the Harborwalk Terrace and Rowes Wharf Sea Grille. The series — now in its 25th year — runs Tuesday through Friday until the end of August, and the lineup always keeps things fresh: One night it’s Sinatra-esque stylings with songs from the Rat Pack era, the next it’s down-home country music.

Over on the banks of the Charles River, the Hatch Memorial Shell continues to fill the air with music long past the Boston Pops’ pyrotechnics on July 4. This graceful Art Deco amphitheater also hosts a summer concert series by the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, whose shows this season range from the music of George Gershwin and John Williams (July 24) to Mozart (Aug. 14). With its expansive lawn, the Hatch Shell is perfect for bringing a picnic and even your furry four-legged friend; chairs are available to rent on-site for $15 (with $5 back upon return).

Hit a Cultural Note

Tucked into the Boston Public Library’s flagship location on Copley Square is one of the city’s most elegant outdoor oases. Ringed with classic archways and featuring a sculpture-topped fountain amid lush landscaping, the McKim Building Courtyard is always worth lingering in — but even more so during the summer “Concerts in the Courtyard” series. This partnership between the Boston Public Library and Berklee College of Music showcases student musicians and local performers twice a week through the end of August. Friday performances are at 12:30 p.m. while Wednesdays are at 6 p.m., so make an afternoon or evening of it by heading to the boutiques and bistros on nearby Newbury Street for browsing and grazing.

Culture vultures who already have “art appreciation” on their to-do list can double up with a musical interlude at the world-renowned Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Listen to music under the stars at the MFA’s Calderwood Courtyard, a garden space in the heart of the museum that hosts Thursday-night concerts in July and August. Among the talent on tap for this summer: tropical Afro-Latin band Quitapenas (July 18); Patty Larkin (Aug. 15), and Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin (Aug. 22).

Play in the Parks

One of Boston’s newer green spaces is also one of its hippest: The Lawn on D. Opened in the Seaport District in 2014, this all-day hangout next to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center has won fans with its mix of concessions and activities, including pickleball, lawn games, and, of course, live music. While the Lawn on D hadn’t announced its event lineup by the time of this article, keep an eye on the Signature Boston website for live entertainment and other highlights over the next few months. 

In the footprint of the old Central Artery — the elevated highway that once cut through the heart of downtown — the lovely Rose Kennedy Greenway has bloomed. This 1.5-mile stretch of gardens, lawn, fountains, and public art runs from Chinatown to the North End, and there is no place more “Boston-y” to hang out and enjoy the summer weather. On Thursdays, be sure to stick around for one of the top-flight jazz concerts organized by the North End Music & Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC), whose summer series runs from July 11 to Aug. 8.

And speaking of jazz: If you’re in town at the end of August, head down to the Seaport’s Maritime Park to catch the annual Boston Jazz Festival, which will have the crowd grooving under summer skies Aug. 30 and 31.