On the bandstand
Local musicians turn market mornings into a neighborhood happening. Grab a snack and stay a while.
Every market day, 11:30 AM–1:00 PM
Every market Saturday, weather permitting.
Playing this week
Sat, Oct 31
Performer pageA rotating cast of local blues, folk, jazz, and Americana acts — many of them Berklee faculty and longtime Waltham neighbors.
BluesSat, Jun 6
Cheryl Arena & Mike DiBari are both seasoned veterans of the Boston blues scene and have been playing together for over 30 years. You can catch them playing as a duo or in the 4 piece combo, The Cheryl Arena Band. Mike’s guitar expertise is the perfect compliment Cheryl’s blowin’ like there’s no tomorrow harmonica playing. Add in vocals with harmonies and it’s a match made in Heaven.
FolkSat, Jun 13
Sarah Jane Nelson is an author, folklorist and multi-instrumentalist who loves to entertain and educate audiences about the music she performs. Her book “Ballad Hunting with Max Hunter: Stories of an Ozark Folk Song Collector” is a publication of the University of Illinois Press, and most recently she published an indepth story on balalaika player Sasha Polinoff in the Voices of New York Folklore. journal. When she’s not writing and researching, she performs old-time fiddle tunes and ballads for contra dances, libraries, festivals and other venues. She is an oral historian and accompanist for the Lowell Banjo & Fiddle Contest which takes place each year in September.
AmericanaSat, Jun 20
Hailing from Newton and Waltham, Knotted Pine serves up “grass fed Americana” with three part harmonies and rollicking rhythms.
Singer-SongwriterSat, Jun 27
Davey is a Waltham-based singer/songwriter who believes strongly in the healing power of music, using lyrics and melody to explore the mess that makes us human.
JazzSat, Jul 11
“Jazz in the Air” led by a keyboardist, Shinichi Otsu plays a unique blend of jazz, swing, gospel, New Orleans, and pop. The band consists of Shinichi Otsu on keys, Mike Williams on guitar, Matthew Berlin on bass and Steve Langone on drums. Shinichi, Mike and Steve are professors at Berklee College of Music. “Jazz in the Air” performs at restaurants, hotels and special events as well as has been honored to perform for a former President and First Lady. Breaking news: Annie Linders on trumpet joins the lineup .
Instrumental GuitarSat, Jul 18
Lyle Brewer is a guitarist and songwriter from Massachusetts. He has released several instrumental guitar albums and has performed all over the country with such artists as Neighbor, Ryan Montbleau and Lori McKenna. For the last decade Brewer has been a professor of guitar at The Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has released three transcription books and maintains a hearty teaching schedule through his Patreon site.
Indie FolkSat, Jul 25
Sean Lemkey is a Boston-based singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Best known for his recent involvement as vocalist and cofounder of the folk-rock band “Among The Acres”, other noteworthy projects include indie-folk group “King Mulhacen” and alt-rock outfit “GreenHouse”. Lemkey touts an eclectic and versatile sound, fusing an ethereal, yearning energy with evocative and energetic indie-folk-pop sensibility. With strong roots in New England, Lemkey grew up nurturing a love of music, grooving along to Michael Jackson music videos and Talking Heads “Stop Making Sense” on VHS while still in diapers. Taking up the drums at age 5, he would go on to study the instrument for 13 years before later “secretly” teaching himself guitar during high school. He has always been an avid singer, performing in select choirs and doing musical theater as a child. While spending a college semester abroad in Spain, he co-founded the folk-rock project “King Mulhacen” and began to find his voice as a songwriter. As a drummer, guitarist, songwriter and producer, Lemkey has been involved in dozens of projects over the past decade, ever-seeking out new outlets for musical expression and spanning a breadth of genres and styles. During the isolating pandemic winter of 2022, Lemkey decided to finally embark on the journey of writing and recording his first ever full length solo LP, set to release April of 2023. He continues to tour, write, and perform as both a soloist and collaborator.
Ambient JazzSat, Aug 1
Jim Folino plays instrumental jazz and ambient guitar, and is a seasoned performer at Boston and Providence area markets. Come and enjoy the relaxing vibes!
Soul-JazzSat, Aug 15
Myanna organ trio playing funky soul-jazz and R&B
Classic Rock & FolkSat, Aug 22
Sweeter Than Ice Cream is Junko Ogawa (vocal, keyboard, acoustic guitar) teamed up with Frank Albani (vocal, electric guitar). They play well known classic rock and folk tunes, and a few pops and original songs.
JazzSat, Aug 29
Guitarist/composer Jim Kelly has been teaching at Berklee College for over four decades, performing around the globe . Bassist Fernando Huergo and Drummer Mike Connors are highly active and in demand rhythm section. Playing original material the band displays diverse influences rooted in guitar traditions, a fun listen! Recordings “Jim Kelly workshop Dave’s Kitchen sessions volume 1&2” available on Apple music and Spotify
Sat, Sep 5
Mike Williams guitar, Shinichi Otsu Keyboard, Ed Scheer drums and vocals, Steve Monahan bass and vocals
Celtic & Old-TimeSat, Sep 12
The Moody Street String Band plays a lively mix of Celtic, old time, and American tunes. We have been playing in the Waltham area for over 30 years.
Fingerstyle GuitarSat, Sep 26
Award winning Fingerstyle guitarist Brooks Robertson just doesn’t need much more than two thumbs, eight fingers and six strings on a wooden box to carry his listeners away. “I was completely knocked out with the acoustic guitar virtuosity of Brooks Robertson! Brooks has a very original touch and sound plus monster chops. He’s always making great music with his guitar. ” – Lee Ritenour
PopSat, Oct 3
Come dance to your favorite pop songs from the last five or six decades mixed with upbeat original tunes! Liz Reed’s music is more than just sound, it’s the authentic expression of a compassionate, fiercely dedicated human being. Known for her soulful voice, sharp wit, Liz is a Connecticut mother, public school music educator, community leader, and a seasoned singer-songwriter whose artistry is inseparable from the life she leads. Listening to Liz is to witness a rare alchemy of honesty, empathy, and artistry.
Folk-Pop & BluesSat, Oct 10
Singer songwriter performing originals and covers in styles ranging from classical to folk pop, blues and rock on harmonica and guitar
RockSat, Oct 31
School of Rock is a performance-based music school for kids aged 8-18, located in Watertown. Our School of Rock House Band, representing the best of our students, plays throughout the city at numerous street festivals, block parties, and charity events, and provides tour support for national and regional acts at local rock venues. Our students must audition to be selected for the exclusive House Band, which performs a mix of great family-friendly rock songs from a variety of eras and styles. A School of Rock set is an amazing thing to watch. Our students bring the rock harder than most “pro” bands they share the stage with, and we have become a fixture at many local events, including Faire on the Square, Milwaukee Summerfest, SomerStreets, Rock in Rio Lisboa, and more. We have also played many Massachusetts rock clubs, such as Arts at the Armory, Crystal Ballroom, The Burren, Premiere on Broadway to name a few. The School of Rock House Band students enchant older rock fans with their musical skill, and mesmerize younger audiences with their infectious exuberance.