Thea Hopkins
2025-06-01 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Thea Hopkins

A member of Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe of Martha’s Vineyard MA, performing songwriter Thea Hopkins calls her music Red Roots Americana. She has been described as a “standout writer” by the Washington Post. Her new album, “Blossom & Ghosts”, is scheduled to be released in September 2025. In 2024, Thea attended the ISPA Congress in Perth (AUS) and WOMEX in Manchester (UK) as a Western Arts Alliance artist delegate. She was an official showcase artist at the International Indigenous Music Summit in June 2023. Her song, “The Ghost Of Emmett Till” was the grand prize winner of the Great American Song Contest in 2021.

Venues where Thea has performed include Massey Hall (CN), Banff Centre For The Arts (CN) Kennedy Center (DC), Woody Guthrie Festival (OK), the Moseley Folk Festival (UK), the Summertyne Americana Festival (UK) and the Bluebird Cafe (TN). Her new album, “Here In Our World” is scheduled to be released in September 2024. She first came to wider public notice when Peter, Paul & Mary recorded her song “Jesus Is On The Wire” in 2004, and then again in 2010 with the Prague Symphony Orchestra. It is considered one of their later signature songs.

@theahopkinssongs

@theahopkinssongsall

@theahopkins

www.theahopkins.com

Jasmine Rochelle Goodspeed
2025-06-01 16:00 - 17:00
Acoustic and Soulful Sundays featuring Jasmine Rochelle Goodspeed

UnCommon Corner is located on Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Jasmine Rochelle Goodspeed[She/They](Nipmuc) is a Massachusetts based actor, singer/songwriter, playwright and director. Coming up in a musical family, Jasmine first stepped on stage at 3 years old. Her music stylings are heavily influenced by her love for musical theater, and historic ballads. As an actress, Jasmine has performed on several stages. Among her favorite performances is a collaboration with the Wampanoag Nation and Theatre Royal Plymouth in the UK where she also performed in a music showcase. Her most frequented of stages is not a stage at all, but rather various locations at faires, SCA events, and flea markets. She does not currently have a Spotify or way to stream her music, and instead sings and performs where she feels called to, simply for the fun of it.

@jasminerochellegoodspeed

@Starlenia

@Starlenia

www.jasminerochellegoodspeed.online

Ben McGee
2025-06-03 14:00 - 15:00
Ben McGee

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Check back for more information soon!

@Instagram

@Facebook

www.websiteexample.com

@Twitter

Catherine Bent and Ian Coury
2025-06-03 18:00 - 20:00
Catherine Bent and Ian Coury

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Local multi-style cellist Catherine Bent and Brazilian mandolin prodigy Ian Coury dazzle and charm listeners with their unique take on Brazilian instrumental music. The duo will play a set before inviting other musicians to join for a “roda de choro”. Audiences may find themselves on a journey into the rootsy dance rhythms of forró, or lifting their voices in a cathartic samba. Choro musicians, bring your instruments!

Catherine Bent, an alumna of Cirque du Soleil, has performed and recorded with Joe Jackson, Lee Konitz, Donna Summer, and many others. She is regarded in Brazil as the leading cellist in choro. Ian Coury is an award-winning 10-string bandolim player and composer from Brazil who has shared stages with Brazilian legends like Toninho Horta and Hamilton de Holanda.

The two have a musical connection that transcends their backgrounds and crystallizes around their passion for Brazilian choro music. Choro (pronounced “shoh-roh”) is an instrumental music that has its origins in late 1800s Rio de Janeiro. It’s been likened to New Orleans jazz, and shares that tradition’s improvisation, soulfulness, and often irrepressible joyfulness.

@CatherineBentMusic

@CatherineBentMusic

https://catherinebent.com

Soulelujah
2025-06-04 16:00 - 18:00
Formed in 2003 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Soulelujah is an all-vinyl DJ collective and dance party that has been spinning the finest soul, funk, and R&B 45s, along with other slabs of wax, for the past two decades. Playing freshly-unearthed gems to solid favorites, this award-winning dance party has become a Boston-area staple, captivating dance-ready crowds with sweet soul grooves and infectious funk that gets bodies moving.

What began as a modest gathering at ZuZu in Central Square quickly transformed into a weekly, line-down-the-block beloved Cambridge nightlife institution you had to experience up close and personal. Soulelujah’s room-packing popularity led to its expansion, adding a second space at The Middle East Upstairs. After 15 years of resounding success, earning accolades from the Boston Music Awards, the party moved to The Sinclair in Harvard Square, establishing a vibrant weekly Saturday night residency for five years. Soulelujah has currently set up shop at State Park in Kendall Square, hosting its smooth, pulsating grooves on the third Saturday of each month.

Led by a rotating crew of seasoned resident soul DJs, including Raligh Fingers, IPL, DJ Rad Joy, Sean Marquand, Johnny Stevens, Claude Money, Ty Jesso, and John Funke as well as a variety of guests from around the world, Soulelujah thrives on an endless collection of records carefully curated to create an uplifting party like no other. Their deep crate-digging, musical knowledge, and passion for bringing vinyl rarities to light fuel their performances, inviting you to experience a dance night of musical soul bliss that will keep your own soul happy.

www.soulelujah.com

@soulelujah on Instagram / www.facebook.com/Soulelujah

Johnny Instagram: @jhnystvns

S.O.U.L.stice
2025-06-05 16:00 - 20:00
S.O.U.L.stice featuring Toki Wright and Kapatid Kud

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Every Thursday, join Toki Wright and BAMS Fest at UnCommon for the S.O.U.L.stice series. Check back for artist details!

Brooke Annibale
2025-06-06 12:00 - 14:00
Brooke Annibale

Broor, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Not confined by any one genre, Brooke Annibale’s expressive and beautifully thoughtful songwriting creates a dreamy, dark, and enticing sonic landscape. Her songs have been placed on many TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Pretty Little Liars, and One Tree Hill. Brooke has recently performed on SiriusXM The Coffee House, AudioTree Live, Paste and more. ​Brooke’s new album Better By Now is out now.

Zion Rodman
2025-06-06 15:00 - 17:00
Zion Rodman

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Zion Rodman is a multi-instrumental singer-songwriter. He grew up in Cape Cod where he played around since the age of 15 and eventually received a B.A. in music from the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

In 2017, Zion teamed up with producer Alex Katz and released his debut full-length record You’re Invited. The folk-rock album received praise and local media attention following its anticipated release. Crossfader Magazine wrote that in an era of “lo-fi bedroom projects, it’s refreshing to hear a young creative voice this professionally produced, fully realized, and cohesively structured around a distinct personality and energy.”

Less than a year later, Zion released an EP titled “Did Not Wake up Today” on January 20th, 2018. This project features heavier topics and harder rock than his debut album. Even before its release, the title track was recognized by AFROPUNK: “Rodman turns up the volume of his melodic indie pop, with his stunning voice just barely masking his anger beneath the hook.”

His most recent album “Whatever Happens” was recorded in Chicago and released in 2020. Zion currently lives in Boston with his fiancé and their cats. Check the calendar for upcoming shows, or catch the full band every Fourth Friday at Ford Tavern or at the Melodies On Tap open mic every First Thursday at Medford Brewing.

¡Baila Boston! Salsa Night
2025-06-06 18:00 - 21:00
Barbára Zamora at UnCommon’s ¡Baila Boston! Salsa Night in 2024

¡Baila Boston! Salsa Night

Featuring Ágora Cultural Architects and Salsa y Control

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

In partnership with our community curator Ágora Cultural Architects, the premiere Latinae cultural presenting organization greater Boston, and Hernan Choque of beloved Salsa studio Salsa y Control, UnCommon’s Salsa Nights feature a live Salsa band featuring the inimitable Barbára Zamora, DJ Hernan Choque, free community Salsa dance lessons from Salsa y Control, professional performances, and open dance. The Common comes to life with Salsa beats and UnCommon provides an unforgettable opportunity for shared, cultural experiences.

To make the evening even more delicious, El Jefe’s Taqueria will be serving an UnCommon Salsa Flight (three salsas and chips) for $9.95 and will be featuring a salsa tasting!

Eduardo Betancourt
2025-06-07 13:00 - 15:00
Eduardo Betancourt

This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Considered “one of the iconic harpists of this new age,” ​Eduardo Betancourt​ is a Grammy-award winning Venezuelan musician, producer, arranger, composer, instructor, and multi-instrumentalist with 30 years of experience in traditional and fusion Venezuelan music. In 2010, Betancourt won a Latin Grammy Award for his participation on the album ​“​Tesoros de la música Venezolana” by Ilan Chester​, and in 2016, he was nominated on the ​album ​”​Pa’ Tío Simón” with Rafael “Pollo” Brito​.​ At the 2016 Pepsi Music Awards in Venezuela, Betancourt’s personal album, ​AD LIBITUM​, was nominated three times for “Best Artist,” “Best Song,” and “Best Album.” His many accomplishments include more than 100 recordings, and performances with renowned international artists such as: Simon Diaz, Oscar D León, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Danny Rivera, Luis Salinas, Jorge Celedón, and artists from Venezuela.

@EduardoProject

https://www.eduardobetancourt.com/bio.html

Bárbara Zamora Bolero & Filin Trío
2025-06-07 16:00 - 18:00
Bárbara Zamora Bolero & Filin Trío

This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Bárbara Zamora Vargas graduated from the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana, Cuba, with a specialty in Choral Conducting, in which she studied with national renown teachers such as Linda Mirabal, Zenaida Castro Romeu, and María Felicia Pérez.In 1992, she was recruited by the number one Cuban female orchestra of Cuba, Anacaona,

where she has remained until this day as a lead singer. With Anacaona, Barbara has toured worldwide, and participated in numerous international festivals. Among them are, Nuits D’Afrique, in Montreal Canada, the Sunfest, in London, Canada, Aruba’s International Jazz Festival, Salsa al Parque in Bogota, Colombia, and many more. Also with Anacaona, she participated in a musical theater play, El Burgués Gentilhombre, which was featured at the famous Chaillot theater in Paris, the Metropolitan Hall in Mexico City, and the prestigious Cabaret at the Monte Carlo Casino, in Monaco.

Barbara’s extensive career spans beyond the high esteemed Orquesta Anacaona. She has

participated in various productions as a back – up singer, including “La Rumba Soy Yo” which obtained a Latin Grammy in 2001, “Versos en el Cielo” by Isaac Delgado, and “Control” by Manolito y su Trabuco. As a soloist, she has graced the stages of the prestigious Adolfo Guzmán and the OTI contests, as well as the Beny Moré Festival.

In 2011, Barbara made her debut as a solo artist. Her album entitled “Mi Entrega” brings to

light her unique songwriting skills, which spans the genres of bolero, son, blues, salsa, cha cha cha, danzón, and fusion.

HipStory Presents: Rhythm and Roots
2025-06-07 19:00 - 21:00
HipStory Presents: Rhythm and Roots featuring Tim Hall

This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Tim Hall is an award winning musician, performance poet, and producer from Detroit, MI, while honoring Boston as his current home. His poetry draws inspiration from his lived experiences – charting the nuances of blackness, masculinity, and the beauties of life. Tim has shared stages and recordings with artists such as The Nappy Roots, Carolyn Malachi, Bilal, Chris Turner, Aloe Blacc, Maria Fenklemeier, The Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Diana Oh, among others. Additionally, Tim is faculty at Berklee College of Music, a member of the award winning band STL GLD, and a principal collaborator with Cliff Notez, Oompa, and Will Dailey. He was honored as “Session Musician of the Year” by the 2020 Boston Music Awards, and recognized by WBUR’s Artery 25 as 1 of 25 millennials of color impacting Arts and Culture in Boston. His work can be experienced through his new project – Trust the Process EP, as well as Colors Of My Soul, and self-published book – Trust The Process.

https://www.timvhall.com/

https://www.timvhall.com/

The Tripps
2025-06-08 12:00 - 14:00
The Tripps

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

The Tripps are a Berklee-bred psychedelic improv band that cannot be defined by one genre. They have a new album out, entitled “What It Is.”

@the._.tripps

Devon Gates
2025-06-08 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-06-13 15:00 - 17:00
Devon Gates

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Devon Gates is a bassist, vocalist, and composer from Atlanta, Georgia, now based in Brooklyn, NY. After studying anthropology and jazz performance at Harvard University, Berklee College of Music, and the Royal Academy of Music (London, UK) she has emerged in the contemporary jazz scene, working with esteemed artists including Terri Lyne Carrington, Vijay Iyer, Jen Shyu, and Nicole Mitchell, and performing at venues such as The Kennedy Center, SFJazz, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, and the London Jazz Festival. Recently named one of 2024’s Up and Comers of the Year (The New York City Jazz Record), she also leads her own projects as a bandleader, collaborator, and composer, bringing her unique blend of jazz, chamber, and soul influences to New York, Japan, Italy, Mongolia, India, the UK, and more in recent years.

In 2022, her original composition “Don’t Wait” was published in the Berklee Press New Standards collection of 101 lead sheets by female jazz composers curated by Terri Lyne Carrington, and since then she has been the recipient of the inaugural Marion Brown Prize (Bowdoin College), Composers Now First Commission Award 2024, and HerVoice Prize (Chicago Acapella) for her choral and chamber compositions.

Creating across boundaries of discipline and genre, Gates has written original music in collaboration with playwright Phillip Howze for theatrical work, “Self Portraits” (Bushwick Starr, Brooklyn), worked as a curatorial assistant for the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice’s New Standards touring gallery exhibition, garnered viral attention for her arrangement and live performance of H.E.R.’s “Hard Place” with the Harvard Opportunes acapella ensemble, and has contributed original music for the audio edition of Tricia Hersey (The Nap Ministry)’s newest book We Will Rest! The Art of Escape (released November 2024).

Devon is also a passionate educator and facilitator, who has held teaching positions at Harvard College (Music Department Teaching Fellow to Prof. Vijay Iyer), the Berklee Bass Department Summer Workshop, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and Hilton Head Jazz Camp, and organizes carceral education work as a founding member of Freedom Classroom, a continuation of the Prison Studies Project. As part of her honors thesis for the Harvard Anthropology Department, she developed the SOL, or Sounds of Liberation Collective, a community-engaged initiative to provide commissions and build community among other non-male-identifying peers in the Boston jazz/creative music scene.

@devongatesmusic

www.devongatesmusic.com

BAMS Fest presents S.O.U.L.stice featuring Toki Wright and Tricia Reed
2025-06-12 16:00 - 20:00
BAMS Fest presents S.O.U.L.stice featuring Toki Wright and Tricia Reed

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Every Thursday, join Toki Wright and BAMS Fest at UnCommon for the S.O.U.L.stice series. This week’s performance will feature Tricia Reed.

Itay Dayan
2025-06-13 12:00 - 14:00
Itay Dayan and his band are a Boston based group that has been performing in and around Boston for the last few years, pretty much wherever you can think of. From nightclubs to synagogues – they’ve played there. With a combination of klezmer (traditional Jewish music) and Middle Eastern Pop music, their shows are energetic parties with lots of humor and dancing.

Members:Itay Dayan- clarinet, vocalsNadav Brenner- guitar, vocalsGeorge Maclaurin- keysBen Friedland- bassPaul July Joseph- drums

Instagram: @itayclarinetTiktok: @itayclarinetYoutube: @itayclarinetFacebook: Itay Dayan

PRIDE: Divas Night with The Femmes
2025-06-13 18:00 - 20:00
PRIDE: Divas Night with The Femmes

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Kick off the Pride Parade weekend with The Femmes, the all-woman and non-binary band specializing in songs by female and non-binary artists! They’ll perform hits from Divas both new and legendary as we come together to celebrate Pride!

The Femmes are an all-woman and non-binary wedding band specializing in songs by female and non-binary artists. When you’re at a Femmes show, you’re at a high energy concert experience. Epic sing alongs, expertly crafted harmonies, and musicians who absolutely LOVE to interact with the audience, the Femmes are Boston’s go-to women’s party band!

The Femmes have been booked solid since their sold-out debut showcase at Club Cafe in February 2023. Finding quick success in the MA market and all across New England, The Femmes have become one of Boston’s top bands, performing for the Human Rights Campaign, Boston Pride, Martha’s Vineyard Pride, Harley Davidson’s Women’s Rider Day, and have been featured on CBS News and the Boston Globe.

And to make tonight even more delicious, our friends at El Jefe’s will be serving up Pride Rainbow Churros!

@thefemmesband

www.thefemmesband.com

Marilyn Simone
2025-06-14 13:00 - 15:00
Marilyn Simone

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

An enigmatic songwriter and DJ with a voice dripping in reverb and delay, Marilyn Simone blends the soulful echoes of R&B with the limitless creation of sound design. Raised in Oakland’s vibrant pulse and guided by the spirits of artists like Stevie Wonder and Erykah Badu, their music whispers stories of identity, rebirth, and the shadowcorners of the mind. Each layered harmony and haunting melody invite the listeners into a space both grounded and unearthly, where sound becomes a medium for metamorphosis.

@marilynsimonee

https://marilynsimone.my.canva.site/#home

PRIDE: An Evening with Patty Bourrée
2025-06-14 18:00 - 20:00
Patty Bourrée

PRIDE: An Evening with Patty Bourrée featuring Doriann Blonch and Lucy Diamonds

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Join Patty Bourrée, Emerson alum and the Definitive Boston-based Singing Blonde Comedy Queen for an evening of family-friendly drag fun at UnCommon!

Patty has delighted audiences near and far. Patty and friends Doriann Blonch and Lucy Diamonds will be the perfect way to cap off your parade weekend in the city!

Patty Bourrée is a Boston-based drag and cabaret artist known for her big voice, vintage style, and bad attitude. With a Theater BFA from NYU and MFA from Emerson College, she’s not only overqualified for this gig, she desperately needs the money to pay back her student loans. A fixture of the local drag scene, she heads the Boston branch of Drag Story Hour and show directs at Boston’s historic drag bar Jacque’s Cabaret in addition to being featured on national television programs and on stages around the country. Follow Patty @pattybourree on all platforms for more.

And to make tonight even more delicious, our friends at El Jefe’s will be serving up Pride Rainbow Churros!

@pattybourree

@pattybourree

Ben Cosgrove
2025-06-15 12:00 - 14:00
Ben Cosgrove

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Ben Cosgrove is a traveling composer-performer whose music explores themes of landscape, place, and environment. Described by the Boston Globe as “a sonic plein-air painter… [using] his piano as a paintbrush,” Ben has performed in every U.S. state except for Delaware, collaborated with groups ranging from rock bands to research scientists, contributed music to several radio and film projects (including the recent Ken Burns documentary The American Buffalo), and held residencies and fellowships with institutions including NASA, the National Park Service, the National Forest Service, Harvard University, Middlebury College, the Schmidt Ocean Institute, and the Sitka Center for Art & Ecology.

Ben’s music has been called “beautiful and fascinating” (The Maine Edge), “deeply impressive” (Independent Clauses), and “immediately evocative and fully arresting… brim[ming] with technical mastery and emotional capital” (Seven Days). His latest record, Bearings, a collection of improvisation-based music that reflects upon the relationship between movement and place, was named one of the top albums of 2023 by Sound of Boston, who in their review described Ben as “an expert at painting sonic portraits of curious, unexpected places.”For more about Ben Cosgrove and his work, please visit bencosgrove.com.

@bencosgrovemusic

@bencosgrovemusic

bencosgrove.com

Dan DeCristofaro
2025-06-15 15:00 - 17:00
Dan DeCristofaro

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Dan DeCristofaro is a soulful singer, songwriter, producer and arranger based in Massachusetts. He is a founding member of Blue Light Bandits, an award winning, 4-piece independent groove rock band from Worcester, MA that has amassed over 3 million streams on Spotify over the course of 3 full length albums, 2 EP’s, and an array of singles. In 2022 he formed quiet thrill, a singer / songwriter super duo along with long time friend and collaborator Joel Ansett and Dan DeCristofaro. They released their debut self-titled album in July ‘22 and are currently on a nationwide house tour, directly engaging with their fans in an intimate setting. Whether he is performing with a band or as a solo artist, Dan has been a staple of the New England music scene for 10 years.

WERS 617 Day
2025-06-17 12:00 - 21:00
WERS 617 Day

Join Boston’s uncommon radio station for 617 Day! Stop by UnCommon to see some of WERS’ favorite local talent, fun games and activities from sponsors, and as always great beer from Harpoon and elevated Mexican street food from El Jefe’s!

Featured Artists

Jules Grace

Jules Grace is an independent artist from Boston who just released her debut album “Diaries & Daydreams.” She has been playing guitar since she was nine and grew up playing in cover bands. Jules enjoys making a variety of music, ranging from dreamy indie-pop to heavier rock. Performing on radio station WERS, Musicians Wanted, and local venues around Boston, Jules has been gaining momentum in her music career.

@musicbyjulesgrace

Dave Herlihy

Dave Herlihy’s first single “This Life” from the upcoming album “now” will be available on streaming services everywhere on June 17.

“This Life” features Dave’s one-of-a-kind voice and the O Positive rhythm section of Dave Ingham and Ken Hickey along with local guitar legend Kevin Barry and background vocalist Jenna Shorey.

All the songs on “now” focus on the experience being in the moment amid the transience of everything.

Stay tuned for more Dave Herlihy songs from “now” throughout 2025.

www.herlihymusic.com

Kristin Cifelli

Boston Music Award Nominee, Kristin Cifelli has been singing in and around the Boston music scene for the better part of 25 years. She has toured the country, sharing the stage with artists such as Jeffrey Gaines, Chris Trapper, Marshall Crenshaw, and Rita Wilson. Kristin’s 2011 release, Middle of Nowhere, attracted the attention of folks from hipsters to hippies, with its earthy, yet modern sound. Check out her latest releases on all streaming platforms. “Kristin Cifelli’s voice is a practiced instrument; she is in full control while singing with thrilling emotion – striking, tender at one moment – then powerful, soaring, carrying us along to a musical and lyrical peak.” (WCUW 91.3 FM, Worcester) “…She’s got the voice, the talent and the originality while she breaks from the pack of local songwriters with the best of devices: realness.” (Northeast Performer). “The music has a twangy dreaminess about it that would make Chris Isaak sit up and take notice.” (indie-music.com). “…I think there’s no justice if she doesn’t become really successful…” (Brad Delp of BOSTON); and simply, “Stunning” (Cape Cod Journal).

@kristincifellimusic

www.kristincifelli.com

Will Dailey

Will Dailey’s seventh album BOYS TALKING is the one he’s not releasing.

Oh, you’ll get to hear it, if you buy a vinyl copy, CD, or download it directly from him. But it won’t be a matter of opening up a streaming platform and pressing play on a chosen date with thousands of other releases. With a record he considers his best work, Will wanted to find another way to celebrate and enjoy the process of sharing the album for more than a day or week. “Music is supposed to be a joyful expression of self that connects us to other people,” Will says. “I want to instill a more personal, joyful process of sharing my work.”

Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Dailey has spent the last decade-and-a-half mastering a twisted, Americana psychedelia that evokes underground legends like Cass McCombs, Kevin Morby, and Jeff Tweedy. Like these beloved, offbeat icons, there’s no bending to the music industry machine in his catalog. Rather than try to slot himself into a single genre, era, or sound, Will has always let the songs do what they want—marketing plans and genre programming be damned. Independent but not really indie, the strains of the blues, rock, funk and folk continue to permeate his sound across the years. Rather than a brand of sound, Dailey is a student of the American roots songbook, and a champion of masterful pop hooks.

In fact, the most consistent through line of his career is recognition from artists of a certain caliber. He’s repeatedly performed with Eddie Vedder, played alongside Peter Buck of R.E.M., spent 2023 opening for Jakob Dylan and The Wallflowers, and was tapped to pay tribute to Richie Havens at the 2024 Folk, Americana, Roots Hall of Fame induction. In that sense, BOYS TALKING is a culmination of sorts. Not just concerning the idiosyncratic methods of an artist who’s routinely gone the long way around, but as a mountaintop release from a musician, writer, and performer who is a visionary artist in every sense of the word. On this album, which was funded in part by a local arts grant, Will insisted on getting a murderer’s row of studio musicians in one room, together, to record live: Dave Brophy, Fabiola Mend​​éz, Cody Nilsen, Juliana Hatfield, Jeremy Moses Curtis, Andrew Stern, Abie Barrett, Kevin Barry, Alisa Amador and James Rohr. That sense of camaraderie and fellowship, across ten days of playing music together, you might say it was… boys talking (even though the presence of women on this record is essential to the DNA).

@willdaileyofficial

@willdailey

www.willdailey.com

Air Traffic Controller

Air Traffic Controller have created a place all their own in the indie pop world.

Serving in the US Navy as an air traffic controller, singer/songwriter Dave Munro sent home demos written during deployment. These early songs circulated through family, friends, and beyond, sparking an initial fanbase. This was chapter one for ATC.In the decade that followed, Dave built a legacy for crafting heartfelt, luscious and genuine indie-folk-pop songs that are timeless and classic. Since emerging from the Boston scene in 2009, the group, which also includes drummer Adam Salameh, bassist Joe Campbell, guitarist Bobby Borenstein, vocalist/keytarist Emi McSwain, and multi-instrumentalist Steve Scott, has released 5 critically applauded albums and toured the U.S. + U.K.ATC took their time writing and demoing their latest album and their audience has not left their side. While streaming to over 400 thousand monthly listeners on Spotify alone, they recorded “DASH” throughout the pandemic, where they met several delays and hardships, but stayed the course, bringing the next chapter of ATC to its debut. On the new album the band is heard together in Dimension Sound Studios with Boston producer/ engineer Dan Cardinal (Darlingside, Henry Jamison, Josh Ritter, Ballroom Thieves) along with longtime ATC collaborators Seth Kasper and Adrian Aiello. The goal was not to match up with previous albums, or meet some expectation, in fact, ATC’s formulas were often set aside, allowing further exploration among the group. Loyal fans of ATC’s stories, charm, nostalgia, hooks, will be drawn in from the very first line “It was chapter one”, and surely stick around for the journey.Air Traffic Controller have achieved a lot over their career. Their category-defying organic/electronic sound, and knack for connecting with all ages and types of listeners, has kept them on everyone’s radar. They were Billboard Hot 100 Fest performers with The Weeknd and Justin Bieber, placed on the NPR Hot 100 List for SXSW, named Guardian UK Band of the Day, won Best Indie Alternative Song for “You Know Me” in the Independent Music Awards, and have multiple songs achieving millions of streams on Spotify. ATC’s music has been licensed by Bose, MTV, NBC, ABC, Disney, Verizon, Toyota, and many more. They’ve played Sundance with ASCAP, Sixthman Rock Boat cruise with bands like NEEDTOBREATHE, Michael Franti, Jukebox The Ghost, and Bronze Radio Return. The band played SXSW showcases for McDonalds, the Grammy Museum, and was featured on Jeff Regan’s Alt Nation playlist of bands to watch. Their music video for “The House” earned rotation on MTVU, MTV2, was featured by Funny Or Die, won a Boston Music Award, New England Music Award, was Improper Bostonian’s “Boston’s Best” Music Video, and was named Best Video by Boston Magazine. Vanyaland calls ATC an evolution forward featuring “crafty alt-pop, an expansion of depth and sound, catchy hooks”. One Stop Record Shop in the UK states “equal parts fascinating and brilliant”. Songs from ATC have been featured by Gary Vaynerchuk in the Daily Vee, EA Sports NHL, UK top reality show Made In Chelsea. At radio, WERS and WXRV have been constant supporters, as well as Top 40 Mix 93.3 in KC, KX 93.5 Laguna CA, KCSN & KXLU Los Angeles, WLCA IL, WHSN ME, KXTE LV, KTCL CO and more. CLIF Bar, Quiznos, and Boston Harbor Distillery have worked with ATC, as well as MyMusicRX out of Portland, OR. On the road ATC has hit Summerfest, Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Denver’s Beaver Creek Music Experience and will continue to play shows throughout the year in support of DASH. Air Traffic Controller is from Boston and features:Dave Munro, Adam Salameh, Joe Campbell, Bobby Borenstein, Emi McSwain, & Steve Scott

@ATCmusic

@ATCmusic

www.AirTrafficControllerMusic.com

Samuel Batista
2025-06-18 16:00 - 18:00
Samuel Batista

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Panamanian saxophonist, composer, and educator Samuel Batista mixes Panamanian folkloric and urban music with jazz. His latest album, Panama United, featuring Anthony Fung (drums), Eunjeong Hwong (piano) and James Dale (bass) covers traditional Panamanian rhythms within his original compositions, aiming to preserve Panamanian folklore while documenting his firsts travels in the United States.

In 2012, he was admitted with a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music, where he earned a double degree in Performance and Jazz Composition. During these years of study, Batista had the honor of learning from some of the world’s most notable musicians such as Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Ben Street, Joe Lovano and Marco Pignataro.

While completing his studies at Berklee, Samuel worked as coordinator of international auditions at the Panama Jazz Festival, and collaborated in educational activities as musical director, arranger and orchestrator for American vibraphonist Stefon Harris and Spanish singer Miguel Bosé. Similarly, he experienced his first international exhibitions in places such as Carnegie Hall, Small Jazz Club, Outside The Box Music Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and the Kriol Jazz Festival, together with artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Zahili Gonzales Zamora, Ron Savage, Neal Smith and Antonio Hart.

While working with bassist Oscar Stagnaro and pianist and producer Alain Mallet, and drummer Mark Walker, Batista was appointed to teach at The New England Conservatory for The Preparatory Jazz School and the Continuing Education Program. His 2018 debut album, Panama United, was produced by Alain Mallet and premiered during the 19th edition of the Panama Jazz Festival along with his “Panamanian Sextet”.

In 2018, Batista returned to Panama and toured with Panamanian singer Ruben Blades while working as an educator at the Danilo Perez Foundation. After four years as a piano teacher for children ages three to five, Batista was granted a full scholarship for the graduate program at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute.

Batista currently lives in Boston, where he is working on his upcoming album Rising to Love.

Tolieth
2025-06-18 18:00 - 20:00
Tolieth is a contemporary soul singer fusing elements of reggae, Afrobeats, and pop into an upbeat live performance. Good vibes and smooth grooves are guaranteed with Tolieth on the mic.

BAMS Presents: S.O.U.L.STICE - Toki Wright x Andrew Sue Wing
2025-06-19 16:00 - 20:00
BAMS Presents: S.O.U.L.STICE – Toki Wright x Andrew Sue Wing

Every Thursday, join Toki Wright and BAMS Fest at UnCommon for the S.O.U.L.stice series. This week’s performance will feature Andrew Sue Wing.

Toki Wright

Toki Wright is a two-time Emmy Award-winning MC, poet, producer, and cultural diplomat. He has received two CLIO Award for advertising with General Mills for the number one worldwide Twitter trending project “Watch the Stove” which was also nominated for a Cannes Lion Award. Wright is currently the chair of the Professional Music Department at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Before relocating he was the Department Head of the United States’ first fully accredited Hip-Hop Studies program at McNally Smith College of Music. The program was awarded the “Best Transformative Higher Learning Model” from the Hip-Hop Education Center at NYU. Toki also facilitated seven Twin Cities Celebration of Hip-Hop Festivals and helped establish “Hip-Hop at H.E.A.L.S,” a program for former child soldiers in Gulu, Northern Uganda.

Toki’s worked with the US State Department, delivered a TED Talk, and ran the youth-led nonprofit YO! The Movement, helping to build community through the arts. Toki is a freelance writer, radio host and has been a judge for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, and a community organizer. He’s released albums and film through his media company Soul Tools Entertainment that have charted top 50 on MTV, iTunes, and more. Wright has performed at events like Coachella, Rock The Bells and more while sharing stages with the likes of Lizzo, Terri Lyne Carrington, Atmosphere, the late Sean Price, and J-Live. Toki has released recordings with Talib Kweli, BJ The Chicago Kid, and G Yamazawa to name a few.

@tokiwright

@tokiwright

Andrew Sue Wing

Emily Nawrocki
2025-06-20 12:00 - 14:00
Emily Nawrocki

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Emily Nawrocki is proving to be a rising star in the pop-soul world, blending powerhouse vocals, heartfelt storytelling, and undeniable stage presence. The Boston, MA native has been making waves with her debut single, Blue Eyed Baby, which earned her two nominations at the 2025 International Portuguese Music Awards (IPMAs)—one for Best Pop Song and another for the People’s Choice Award.

​Her debut album, Evolving, produced by multi Grammy-nominated John Mailloux at Bongo Beach Productions has been praised for its fusion of pop, soul, and Motown influences. Wavy Magazine describes it as “a journey of self-discovery and artistry, blending rhythmic energy with lyrical introspection.” Nawrocki worked alongside Grammy-level musicians—who have played with legends like Michael Bublé and Jackson Browne—to craft an album that’s both polished and deeply personal.

As double graduate of Berklee College of Music with a master’s in Songwriting, Nawrocki’s music draws inspiration from Amy Winehouse, Carole King, and James Brown, fusing vintage soul with modern pop hooks. The Herald News praised Blue Eyed Baby for its “infectious energy and playful charm.”

Her album release show at The Narrows Center for the Arts was a full-house, sold-out success, proving that her music resonates deeply with audiences. Wavy Magazine notes, “Live performances are where Nawrocki’s passion shines brightest, creating an energy that’s both spontaneous and electric.”

With an ever-growing fanbase, Emily Nawrocki is just getting started—and the world is taking notice.

@emily.nawrocki

@emilynawrockimusic

https://www.emilynawrockimusic.com

Farayi Malek
2025-06-20 15:00 - 17:00
Farayi Malek

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

With her warm, soulful voice, Farayi Malek has captivated audiences around the globe as a Grammy-nominated vocalist with Danilo Pérez’s Global Messengers. Now, she’s returning to her musical roots, embarking on a new chapter of her journey.

The child of a Zimbabwean immigrant and a white American mother, Farayi grew up in a small, rural town in Southern Idaho, playing the fiddle and absorbing the culture of seemingly conflicting communities. Her goal is to bring all of the diverse sounds and experiences of her life into her music: the Gospel of the church she grew up in, the American folk music and hymns of her childhood, and the blues and jazz she studied, all woven into pure, resonant songs that allow her effortless vocals to shine.

Now a Salt Lick Incubator award-winner, Farayi is stepping out as a solo artist on her much anticipated debut recording project produced by Alain Mallet [Phil Woods, Paul Simon, Paquito D’Rivera, Marc Johnson, and Madeleine Peyroux.] Her writing showcases very accessible themes with a unique compositional intelligence, demonstrated in songs like “Tonight”.

When she is not performing and recording, Farayi shares her vast musical knowledge as a professor at various esteemed institutions including Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory. In an interview with The Boston Globe, Farayi says, “Seeing my students be so brave and confident, so artistic and free…they’re the ones who actually inspired me to pursue my artistic career.”

Whether she is engaging with her audience through performance or education, Farayi is driven by the desire to make people feel seen and at home in their otherness.

She will be releasing her debut EP March 27th, 2025.

@farayi.malek

@farayi.malek

www.farayimalek.com

HipStory Presents Rhythm and Roots
2025-06-20 18:00 - 20:00
HipStory Presents Rhythm and Roots featuring Zion Rodman and Gogo Norales

Join HipStory for their bi-weekly series, “Rhythm and Roots,” a live music and dance event that celebrates the deep-rooted traditions of Black music and movement. Rhythm & Roots will feature a rotating lineup of live bands, dance performances, and open jam sessions where musicians and dancers can exchange rhythms and movement. This event will focus on blending Afro-diasporic music styles, jazz, blues, hip-hop, and house music.

Artist Bios

Gogo Norales

Gogo Norales is a Garifuna musician and ambassador for the culture. Providing world music to the public and expressing how culture is also an identity.

@noralesgogo

@gomany.norales

Zion Rodman

Zion Rodman is a multi-instrumental singer-songwriter known for his soulful voice, intricate guitar playing, and poignant lyrics. With a melodic style that blends folk and rock influences, Zion’s performances are heartfelt and captivating. Based in Boston, he brings a mix of introspection and energy to the stage, both as a solo act and with his band, making each show a memorable experience. Fans of Dawes, Steely Dan, The Band, and Pinegrove are often drawn to Zion’s music.

Zion’s latest EP “The Lives I’ve Kept” was met with a sold-out release show and praise in the Boston Globe: “Boston artist Zion Rodman forges a brief respite from the forthcoming winter gloom with this fireplace-cozy EP.”

Past released projects include “Whatever Happens” (2020), “Did Not Wake Up Today” (2018), and “You’re Invited” (2017). Zion is currently recording another full-length record that will be titled “The Acquisition Of All Things” at Rusty’s Recording Studio with the full band.

Outside of recording and performing his own music, Zion is a sound engineer for The Burren and SoFar Sounds. Zion is also a proponent of boosting the local music scene and cohosts a monthly open mic with Christian Colegrove at Medford Brewing Co and a weekly open mic at McCarthys and Toad.

@zion_rodman

@zionrodmanmusic

www.zionrodmanmusic.com

Iris Luis-Gomez
2025-06-21 13:00 - 15:00
Iris Luis Gomez

UnCommon Corner, Boylston St &, Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Iris is a Cuban multi-instrumentalist, artist, and educator based in Boston. Passionate about Afro-Latin rhythms, vibrant cultures, and the classical repertoire, she seamlessly blends these influences into her music. As a composer and arranger, her greatest inspirations include Bach, Leo Brouwer, Villa-Lobos, Tom Jobim, Los Van Van, and João Gilberto, shaping her sound with a wide spectrum of textures and styles.With a rich performance history, Iris has played with numerous bands and at prestigious venues such as the Amadeo Roldán Theater in Havana, the University of Guadalajara in Mexico, and Jordan Hall in Boston, as well as at various festivals along the East Coast. Sharing the stage with amazing artists like Clave & Blues, Manolo Mairena, Juan de Marcos, Los Adolescentes, Jeremy Bosch, Frankie Ruiz Jr., and many others as the bass player in these wonderful bands, and now producing her debut album with Rosewood & Strings, her latest project as a songwriter and bandleader. This new production brings together her Cuban and Latin roots with her classical training, creating a distinctive and evocative musical fusion.
