Art! Music! Summer! Let’s do them all at once!
While the concert calendars of stadiums and clubs have been filled with the welcome-if-expected summer fare, a few alternative venues are offering more unique musical experiences. This week the Museum of Fine Arts rolls out its Concerts in the Courtyard series. In August, the Institute of Contemporary Art hosts three vinyl Friday events. All summer long, the Museum of Science goes old school on Fridays and Saturdays with a classic laser light show set to Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.”
Maybe skip the $18 beers and nose-bleed seats for a sonic adventure paired with a Mary Cassatt oil painting or exhibit on artificial intelligence.
Thursday through Aug. 24
Tucked into the MFA’s Calderwood Courtyard is one of the city’s coolest, most-intimate concert spaces. Just like in years past, the museum has curated a diverse and delightful line up. The Thursday night sets will include performances from rock & soul powerhouse Bette Smith (July 20), modern-rock-meets-North-African-groove champions Tamikrest (July 27) and Boston bluegrass reinventors Twisted Pine (Aug. 3). mfa.org
Friday and Saturday nights
First choice to celebrate 50 years of this landmark album: sync up an 8-track of “Dark Side of the Moon” and a VHS copy of “The Wizard of Oz.” Second choice: Go to the MoS and immerse yourself in Pink Floyd’s 1973 masterpiece while ticking away the moments of a day at the Charles Hayden Planetarium’s mind-blowing laser show. (Dig this one? Check out MoS’ Bowie laser show.) Mos.org
Most Fridays
The ICA kicks off most summer weekends with DJs spinning vinyl sets for free at the museum’s harborside wine & coffee bar. The ICA will host plenty of talents, but one to note is Saucy Lady (Aug. 18). Boston’s own modern disco queen, Saucy Lady has excellent taste in excellent dance grooves. icaboston.org
Various dates
How about a little trip west to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art? The gem in the Berkshires has a nicely busy schedule including an Ilana Glazer comedy set (Aug 5), experimental soul/rock/electro champ Danielle Ponder, and indie rock one-two-three punch with Pixies, Modest Mouse and Cat Power (Aug. 26). massmoca.org
Thursday through Aug. 24
Yup, this museum has its own courtyard and its own concerts in the courtyard series. Travel up the North Shore for a slew of free concerts featuring rock, reggae, and jazz acts, pop, folk, and folk-pop artists. Capeannmuseum.org