From rock to jazz, spring is full of sound ideas.
ROCK
The Menzingers, April 1 at Royale
The post-punk rockers tour behind solid, nostalgia-laced new LP After the Party.
Weakened Friends, April 5 at Great Scott
This female-fronted Portland/Boston garage rock trio headline a local bill.
Rock & Roll Rumble Finals, April 21 at ONCE Ballroom
After three weeks of faceoffs with 24 local acts, a final winner is crowned.
Mastodon, May 8 at the House of Blues
The heavy metal behemoths rage into town behind their new conceptual album Emperor of Sand.
Ryan Adams, May 10 at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
The prolific folkie and T-Swift cover pro plays the waterfront with Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis.
POP
Bebe Rexha, March 27 at Royale
The on-the-rise G-Eazy and David Guetta collaborator embarks on her first headlining tour.
John Mayer, April 9 at the TD Garden
The “Your Body is a Wonderland” crooner-turned-able-Jerry-Garcia-fill-in headlines an arena show.
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, April 8 at House of Blues
The Something Corporate/Jack’s Mannequin frontman channels more mature emo sensibilities into this side project.
Betty Who, April 15 at Royale
The Berklee-bred pop princess continues her rise to stardom behind her new album, due out March 24.
Steve Winwood, April 27 at the Orpheum Theatre
The 60-something British hitmaker sees if he can still get high.
HIP-HOP/R&B
Vince Staples, March 28 at the Paradise Rock Club
The Long Beach rap wunderkind and onetime Odd Future protege keeps it weird on his Life
Aquatic tour.
Saba, March 30 at Brighton Music Hall
The Chicago upstart and Chance the Rapper collaborator checks some boxes off his Bucket List Project.
Big Sean, April 4 at the House of Blues
The surprisingly svelte Detroit emcee is finally ready to make his big league leap.
Erykah Badu, April 28 at the House of Blues
The neo-soul queen marks her 20-year anniversary of Baduizm.
Future, May 23 at the Xfinity Center
The Atlanta rhymer and current Billboard dominator takes over Mansfield.
CLASSICAL
A Roomful of Teeth and A Far Cry, April 13 at Sanders Theatre
A Grammy-winning vocal ensemble and a local 17-piece collective team up to perform works by Ted Hearne and Caroline Shaw.
Yo-Yo Ma + Edgar Meyer + Chris Thile, April 21 at Symphony Hall
The acclaimed cellist, bassist and mandolist perform works of J.S. Bach behind their album The Bach Trios, out April 7.
Handel and Haydn Society’s Semele, May 5 and 7 at Symphony Hall
H+H closes its season with a production of Handel’s once-scandalous oratorio.
Queen Latifah and the Boston Pops, May 10-11 at Symphony Hall
The Grammy-winning stage and screen queen lends the Pops her pipes for opening night.
JAZZ
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis: Buddy Rich Centennial, April 9 at Symphony Hall
The venerable trumpeter leads the orchestra in honoring the virtuoso drummer.
Nellie McKay: A Girl Named Bill, April 13 at Regattabar
The vocalist performs a tribute to late transgender jazz legend Billy Tipton.
Cecile McLorin Salvant, April 22 at Scullers
The 2016 Grammy winner for Best Jazz Vocal Album works the room for two shows.
AZIZA, May 6 at Sanders Theatre
The jazz supergroup (Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke and Eric Harland) performs behind their just-dropped eponymous album.
THE IMPROPER’S 2017 SPRING ARTS PREVIEW: COMEDY | THEATER | VISUAL ARTS | DANCE | FILM
Music to Your Ears
Your Spring '17 Concert Preview
By Alexandra Cavallo | Photo Credit: Bebe Rexha: Dennis Leupold | March 10, 2017
Mark Your Calendar
From rock to jazz, spring is full of sound ideas.
ROCK
The Menzingers, April 1 at Royale
The post-punk rockers tour behind solid, nostalgia-laced new LP After the Party.
Weakened Friends, April 5 at Great Scott
This female-fronted Portland/Boston garage rock trio headline a local bill.
Rock & Roll Rumble Finals, April 21 at ONCE Ballroom
After three weeks of faceoffs with 24 local acts, a final winner is crowned.
Mastodon, May 8 at the House of Blues
The heavy metal behemoths rage into town behind their new conceptual album Emperor of Sand.
Ryan Adams, May 10 at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
The prolific folkie and T-Swift cover pro plays the waterfront with Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis.
POP
Bebe Rexha, March 27 at Royale
The on-the-rise G-Eazy and David Guetta collaborator embarks on her first headlining tour.
John Mayer, April 9 at the TD Garden
The “Your Body is a Wonderland” crooner-turned-able-Jerry-Garcia-fill-in headlines an arena show.
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, April 8 at House of Blues
The Something Corporate/Jack’s Mannequin frontman channels more mature emo sensibilities into this side project.
Betty Who, April 15 at Royale
The Berklee-bred pop princess continues her rise to stardom behind her new album, due out March 24.
Steve Winwood, April 27 at the Orpheum Theatre
The 60-something British hitmaker sees if he can still get high.
HIP-HOP/R&B
Vince Staples, March 28 at the Paradise Rock Club
The Long Beach rap wunderkind and onetime Odd Future protege keeps it weird on his Life
Aquatic tour.
Saba, March 30 at Brighton Music Hall
The Chicago upstart and Chance the Rapper collaborator checks some boxes off his Bucket List Project.
Big Sean, April 4 at the House of Blues
The surprisingly svelte Detroit emcee is finally ready to make his big league leap.
Erykah Badu, April 28 at the House of Blues
The neo-soul queen marks her 20-year anniversary of Baduizm.
Future, May 23 at the Xfinity Center
The Atlanta rhymer and current Billboard dominator takes over Mansfield.
CLASSICAL
A Roomful of Teeth and A Far Cry, April 13 at Sanders Theatre
A Grammy-winning vocal ensemble and a local 17-piece collective team up to perform works by Ted Hearne and Caroline Shaw.
Yo-Yo Ma + Edgar Meyer + Chris Thile, April 21 at Symphony Hall
The acclaimed cellist, bassist and mandolist perform works of J.S. Bach behind their album The Bach Trios, out April 7.
Handel and Haydn Society’s Semele, May 5 and 7 at Symphony Hall
H+H closes its season with a production of Handel’s once-scandalous oratorio.
Queen Latifah and the Boston Pops, May 10-11 at Symphony Hall
The Grammy-winning stage and screen queen lends the Pops her pipes for opening night.
JAZZ
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis: Buddy Rich Centennial, April 9 at Symphony Hall
The venerable trumpeter leads the orchestra in honoring the virtuoso drummer.
Nellie McKay: A Girl Named Bill, April 13 at Regattabar
The vocalist performs a tribute to late transgender jazz legend Billy Tipton.
Cecile McLorin Salvant, April 22 at Scullers
The 2016 Grammy winner for Best Jazz Vocal Album works the room for two shows.
AZIZA, May 6 at Sanders Theatre
The jazz supergroup (Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke and Eric Harland) performs behind their just-dropped eponymous album.
THE IMPROPER’S 2017 SPRING ARTS PREVIEW: COMEDY | THEATER | VISUAL ARTS | DANCE | FILM
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