Music
Thanks to the region’s high concentration of residents boasting Irish roots going back generations, Irish culture sparkles all year round in New England. Add in the vibrant Scottish and Canadian Maritime communities, and you can experience a rich offering of Celtic traditions and sensibilities anywhere you go. That Irish presence reaches a joyous crescendo each…
The 21 cities and towns that comprise the Revolutionary Valley north of Boston are filled with natural beauty, tasty cuisine, vibrant culture and a proud history and multi-ethnic heritage. In 2026, the City of Lowell celebrates the 200th anniversary of its founding and ethnic traditions, which began when Irish immigrants came here in the 1820s…
Celebrate Celtic music, song, and dance on Sunday, March 15 with Groton Hill’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in the magnificent 1000-seat Concert Hall at Groton Hill Music Center, located in beautiful Groton, Massachusetts, just an hour northwest of Boston. A tour-de-force collaboration of some of the finest artists on the scene today, this all-ages…
Two historic theaters – Chevalier Theatre in Medford and The Wilbur Theatre in Downtown Boston – are exquisite settings for experiencing live performances throughout the year. Both theatres are operated by veteran promoter Bill Blumenreich who books an innovative line-up of small and large-scale music and dance, stand-up comedy and theater productions year-round. This St. Patrick’s…
Irish pride, lots of fun and good cheer come together at the 15th Annual Irish Festival at Patriot Place, taking place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026! The daylong celebration features live performances by Irish musicians and step dancers, as well as a full slate of Irish-themed activities for the…
The Boston Irish have always wanted a cultural home they could call their own, a place to gather with family and friends, where they could preserve their culture, strengthen their heritage and have a bit of fun in the process. In the 19th century, they gathered in community centers, parish halls or tenement kitchens, spread…
For 25 years, the Irish Cultural Centre has celebrated some of the world’s finest Irish music and dance, and this season continues that fine tradition. On March 4, ICC presents its prestigious Gradam Dóchas Award to Irish step dancing champion and devoted dance teacher Liam Harney of Walpole. A two-time World Champion who has performed…
The spring season in Ireland has become a sweet spot for intrepid visitors who prefer a slow, gentle experience on this green-laden island which blossoms into color and warmth in April and May. Rural areas, farmlands, small villages and urban centers come alive as birds return to their favorite nesting sites, foals, lambs and calves…
The Fleadh Cheoil (Irish Music Festival) is coming to Belfast, Northern Ireland in August, 2026 and Brack Tours is offering visitors the chance of a lifetime to experience the world’s largest festival of Irish music, dance and song. Organized by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the Fleadh Cheoil attracts the best Irish musicians from around the world, who come for the…
Greater Boston’s acclaimed traditional Irish organization, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, is now accepting students for its 10-week spring semester at its CCÉ Boston Music School, which runs from January 26 through April 1, 2026. Deadline for enrollment is Monday, January 19, 2026. See enrollment form. Every level of musician – including beginners, intermediate and advanced players,…
It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas, to paraphrase the popular lyric, especially here in New England, where holiday shows inspire, comfort and bring joy to listeners, from big concert halls to small churches and cultural venues. It turns out New England has a distinctive connection to holiday music, since many iconic Christmas songs…
Sixteen Shows at the BCA – December 2-7 and December 9-14 The Off-Broadway Irish dance revue, A Celtic Christmas, comes to Boston this holiday season, with 16 shows scheduled at the BCA in the South End. The show features some of the world’s finest Irish dancers and musicians, and bring the sounds of Christmas to…
What began in 1994 as a one-time event to raise funds for an historic church in western Massachusetts is still going strong some three decades later. On July 19, 2025, the beloved Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary. The milestone offers a moment to reflect on why Glasgow is readily hailed as one of the most…
Folk music or roots music, classical or chamber, jazz or world music – everything sounds sublime and inspiring at Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA. Curated by Rockport Music, this acoustically brilliant concert venue offers a stellar schedule of live performance year after year to this scenic fishing town north of Boston. All summer,…
The world’s biggest Irish traditional music gathering is taking place in the Town of Wexford in Ireland on August 3-10 in Wexford Town. The annual Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (Festival of Irish Music) was launched in the 1950s to preserve Irish traditional music, dance, singing, recitation and the spoken Irish language. This year an estimated 700,000…
The Boston Harbor Hotel is bringing back the popular Summer in the City music series at 70 Rowes Wharf along Boston’s waterfront. The free music concerts take place Tuesdays through Fridays, from June 6 to August 28. Organizers say the the series is returning in 2025 “bigger, bolder and more vibrant than ever, with a fresh…
Boston is buzzing all summer and fall with hundreds of amazing events taking place downtown, in Back Bay, and all of the city’s neighborhoods and surrounding cities and towns. This year is a great time to Meet Boston, a city that never gets old. HOZIER IN CONCERT June 23-24 Ireland’s acclaimed artist Hozier performs “Unreal…
As summer sun casts its warmth over the hills and mills of Greater Merrimack Valley, the region pulses with the spirit of Celtic heritage. From Lowell to Lexington, Concord to Westford, this corner of Massachusetts is a vibrant tapestry of music, dance, and celebration. For those of Irish descent—and for anyone captivated by Celtic culture—take…
Getting outside in summer is a pre-requisite in New England, especially after a dreary winter! Check out our schedule of outdoor and indoor festivals throughout New England that offer something for everyone in 2025. Enjoy! September 6-7SEISIÚN FESTIVALThe Stage at Suffolk Downs, East Boston A brand-new festival, featuring some iconic and up-and-coming Irish and American…
MILTON MUSIC FESTIVALJune 28-29Governor Hutchinson’s Field, Adams St., Milton A pleasant, care-free way to welcome the arrival of summer is at the Milton Music Festival, held at Governor Hutchinson’s Field atop Adams Street, looking out at Boston Harbor. The free, family-friendly event brings Milton residents and folks from neighboring Dorchester, Quincy and Canton together. The…
Irish and Celtic music and dance are popular throughout New England not just around St. Patrick’s Day but all year round, thanks in large part to Spectacle Live, the region’s premier music promotion company. Based in Lexington, MA, Spectacle has booked five top-selling Irish and Celtic shows this summer alone, at concert halls in Massachusetts,…
Happy Birthday City of Quincy! The picturesque city of 100,000 residents marks its 400th anniversary in 2025 as one of the most historic and vibrant cities in New England. Located seven miles south of Boston, this bustling urban center is encircled by 27 miles of coastline facing the Atlantic Ocean and 7,000 acres of gently…
The Stage at Suffolk DownsSaturday, September 6 & Sunday, September 7, 2025 Enter here for a chance to win a pair of tickets for both days – 5 lucky winners! Excitement is building throughout New England and beyond for the two-day Seisiún, Irish Music, Arts and Cultural Festival coming to The Stage at Suffolk Downs…
For a true measure of the region’s vibrant Irish cultural scene, visit the Irish Cultural Centre this summer and fall. Operating from its beautiful 61-acre facility in Canton, MA, the Centre has been the cultural, social and sports hub of the region’s Irish community since it opened in 1999. Summer especially shines, with a steady…
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Irish Boston Partners
These organizations promote Irish Culture in New England.
