Free Summer Concerts Around Boston and Cambridge, MA

The Boston area, including Cambridge and Somerville has many opportunities this Summer to experience live music performances. Below is a list of Free Concert Series schedules for the remainder of the 2010 Summer Season.

For information on other free stuff to do in the Boston area or events in Massachusetts in general, check out Remarkable Boston Events Blog.

Here is the music schedule:

Free Concert in Franklin Park
Every Tuesday from July 13 to August 10 the 2010 Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park presents a free concert in Franklin Park. The live music performances are free and open to the public; lawn chairs, blankets and picnics are encouraged. There will be two concerts for each Tuesday event; one at 11am that is youth oriented and another performance geared more toward adults at 6pm. Franklin Park is located at 1 Franklin Park Road, Dorchester, MA 02121. For more information call 617-442-4141.

Here is the lineup through August 10th:

July 13-Opening Night
11am- Drums: Stephen O'Neal & IntaAfrika/Marcus Santos & Batukaxé
6pm- Jazz: Elán Trotman

July 20
11am- Stajez Dance Company
6pm- Latin Jazz: Mango Blue w/ Alex Alvear

July 27
11am- Hip Hop: OrigiNation
6pm- Boston Soul Revue

August 3
11am- Batons: Estrellas Tropicales
6pm- World Music: Zili Misik

August 10
11am- Dance: BalletRox
6pm- Kendrick Oliver & the New Life Jazz Orchestra

Free Orchestra Concerts at the Hatch Shell
On Wednesdays at 7pm during the summer months, the Boston Landmarks Orchestra will be performing Beethoven's works for a free concert at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. The DCR Memorial Hatch Shell is located on the Charles River Esplanade, 10 Storrow Dr., Boston 02114. For more information on BLO or the free summer orchestra concerts click here.

Oldies 103.3 Free Summer Concert Series
103.3 WODS presents a series of free concerts at the DCR Memorial Hatch Shell this summer, free of charge. The concerts will take place rain or shine on Saturday evenings at 7pm. Blankets, chairs and picnics are permitted; alcohol and grilling is not. The Hatch Shell is located on the Charles River Esplanade, 10 Storrow Dr., Boston 02114.

Here's the artist lineup:

June 19th- WAR w/ Special Guests Paisley Project
July 17th- Eddie Money w/ Special Guests John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band
July 31st- Peter Cetera w/ Special Guests Ernie & the Automatics

Central Square Arts Outdoors
Central Square Arts Outdoors free performance series is a collaborative effort among several Cambridge businesses and organizations to recognize and further promote the diversity of culture and arts that makeup Central Square. Contributors include The Cambridge Symphony, Central Square Theater, Dance Complex, The Middle East, and ImprovBoston. The free outdoor summer performance events are supported by The Central Square Business Association, The Cambridge Arts Council, and Cambridge Savings Bank.

The free performances and entertainment will take place through September 3rd:

*Thursdays, 4-6pm @ Lafayette Plaza (Jill Brown Park, 401 Mass Ave, Columbia St. Intersection)
*Fridays, 4-6pm @ Barron Plaza (632 Mass. Ave, where Magazine meets River St.)

Here's the schedule for the rest of July. August has not yet been posted but check back here for updates.

Thursday, July 22-TT The Bear presents Grown Up Noise & Marc Pinansky (Rock)
Friday, July 23- Middle East presents The Macrotones (Rock)
Thursday, July 29- Bad Habit Productions (Theater)
Friday, July 30- TT The Bear presents Swaggerin Growlers and Jason Bennett & The Resistance (Rock)

Club Passim Summer Concert Series
Club Passim presents the Summer Concert Series 2010 The program offers free live music entertainment every Wednesday from Noon to 1pm in Kendall Square and every Thursday from Noon to 1pm in Harvard Square. The free outdoor performances will run from June 16th to September 9th and the artist lineup is below:

In Kendall Square @ Cambridge Center Plaza (courtyard)
June 16- Brendan Hogan
June 23- Rose Polenzani
June 30- Margaret Glaspy
July 7- Chris O'Brien
July 14-Jason Myles Goss (Cancelled)
July 21-Emily Elbert
July 28- Kate Klim
August 4- David Wax Museum
August 11-Todd Thibaud
August 18- Jay Nash
August 25- Julia Easterlin

In Harvard Square on Palmer Street (Next to the Coop and Club Passim):
June 17- John Gerard
June 24- Chris O'Brien
July 1- Hanneke Cassel
July 8- Liz Longley
July 15- Jake Armerding
July 22- Lloyd Thayer
July 29- Kimber Ludiker & Andy Cambria
August 5- Royer's One Man Band
August 12- Carsie Blanton
Auguts 19-David Wax Museum
August 26- Margaret Glaspy
September 2- Emily Elbert
September 9- The Whiskey Boys

The free live music performances in Cambridge this summer are brought to you by Club Passim Summer Concert Series in Partnership with Cambridge Center. The events are sponsored by Boston Properties, Cambridge Marriott and Cambridge Redevelopment Authority.

First Mondays at the CAC Gallery
On the first Monday of every month the CAC Gallery hosts a free reception to celebrate the current art exhibition. The events are open to the public from 6-8pm and will also feature live performances, food and more.

CAC Gallery is located in the City Hall Annex at 344 Broadway, 2nd floor.

Berklee Summer Concerts
The Berklee 2010 Summer Concert Series offers endless opportunities to experience live music performances this Summer. The free shows, presented by Berklee College of Music, will take place in multiple locations throughout the Boston Metro Area and (way) beyond. See the full schedule here. Some of the concerts do cost money but most of them are free.

Listed below are details for the free concerts around Cambridge and Boston.

Kendall Square Concerts
300 Athenaeum Street, Cambridge
Thursdays @ Noon

June 17- Dear Havanah
June 24- Hailey Niswanger
July 1- Emily Elbert
July 8- Sierra Hull
July 15- Tais
July 22- Pinchback Blues
July 29- Nini & Ben
August 5- Berklee Global Jazz Institute Septet
August 12- Tubby Love
August 19- Eric Robertson and the Boston Boys
August 26- Liz Longley
September 2- Lihi Haruvi
September 9- Panamerican Quartet
September 16- Julia Easterlin

Courtyard Series: Berklee at the Regattabar
the Charles Hotel (Upper Courtyard Area), One Bennett Street, Cambridge
Mondays @ 5pm

July 12- Enrico de Trizio Treeo
July 19- Italo Cunha Group
July 26- The Chicken Thieves
August 2-Tom Kain
August 9- Nadia Washington Quartet
August 16- Annette Philip Group
August 23- Christian Li Trio

Berklee Lunch Sessions at The Prudential Center
Prudential Center
800 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02215
Tuesdays @ Noon

June 1- Dear Havanah
June 8- Zac Zinger Group
June 15- Tubby Love
June 22- Keppie Coutts
June 29- Emily Elbert
July 6- Alicia Lemke
July 13- Patrik Gochez
July 20- Kelly Bartley
July 27- Russell Lacy

Berklee at Jamaica Pond
Jamaica Pond
Pinebank Promontory, Jamaica Plain MA 02130
Sunday @ 6pm

August 1- Buffalo Soul

Harvard Longwood Campus Presents Berklee
Harvard Longwood Campus
25 Shattuck Street, Boston MA 02115
Wednesdays @ 12:30pm

June 30- Women of the World
July 7- Paulo Stagnaro Quartet
July 14- Rachel Borovik
July 21- The Rajdulari Jazz Project
July 28- Eric Robertson and the Boston Boys
August 4- MGB
August 11- Folk Arts Quartet
August 18- Buffalo Soul
August 25- Kelly Bartley and Up Yonder
September 1- Jordan Tarrant
September 8- Ryan Dragon and the Kamora Quartet

Harborwalk Sounds: Berklee at the ICA
Institute of Contemporary Art
Putnam Investment Plaza, 100 Northern Avenue
Boston MA 02210
Thursdays @ 6pm

July 8- Sierra Hull
July 15- Tais
July 22- Pinchback Blues
July 29- Nini & Ben
August 5- Berklee Global Jazz Institute Septet
August 12- Tubby Love
August 19- Eric Robertson and the Boston Boys
August 26- Liz Longley

Tito Puente Latin Music Series
The Tito Puente Latin Music Series offers free live music performances at various Boston parks and open spaces. The program is presented by Berklee College of Music, Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, ParkArts, and Mayor Thomas M. Menino's Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events.

The Latin concert schedule is as follows:

Thursday, July 8 @ 7pm
La TimbiscaMozart Park
10 Mozart Street
Boston MA 02130

Thursday, July 15 @ 7pm
Son De Madre
O'Day Park
85 West Newton Street
Boston MA 02118

Thursday, July 22 @ 7pm
Fausto Cuevas y su Orquesta
O'Day Park
85 West Newton Street
Boston MA 02118

Thursday, July 29 @ 7pm
William Cepeda
O'Day Park
85 West Newton Street
Boston MA 02118

Saturday, July 31 @ 7pm
Jerry Rivera/Eguie Castrillo y su Orquestra
City Hall Plaza
100 City Hall Plaza
Boston MA 02109

Thursday, August 5 @ 7pm
Gregorio Uribe
East Boston Greenway - Caboose
144 Marginal Street
Boston MA 02128

Swingin' In Mother's Rest
This free concert, with Christiane Karam and ZilZALA, is part of the Berklee 2010 Summer Concert Series and will take place on Wednesday, July 21st at 6pm at Mother's Rest in the Back Bay Fens, Boston. The show will open with a performance by Gian Aurelio and Berklee's Swingers Quartet.

Jazz at the Fort
Berklee College of Music and ParkArts present Jazz at the Fort, a free concert featuring Ron Reid & the Sunsteel Sextet and Jazz Robertson. The show will take place Sunday, August 1st at 5pm in Roxbury's Highland Park, which is located on Fort Avenue.

Free Concerts at South Station
The Summer & Atlantic Concert Series is sponsored by the Retailers at South Station, in Boston. The program offers free concerts every Tuesday from 11:30am to 1:30pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The performances take place on the Grand Concourse in South Station. South Station is located at Atlantic Ave. and Summer Street in Boston, 02110.

The upcoming Summer & Atlantic Concert Series musician schedule is below:

July 20- John Funkhouser Trio (jazz)
July 27- Eric Hofbauer & the Infrared Band (jazz)
August 3- Ariel Quintet (Chamber Music)
August 10- Azalea Chamber Music
August 17- The Gilded Harps (Chamber Music)
August 24- Tres (Chamber Music)
August 31- Copley Chamber Players (Chamber Music)