The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is the biggest free summer concert (Lainey Wilson! Chance The Rapper! Trombone Shorty!). But is it the best? And why doesn’t it come with a free showing of “Hamilton?” Great questions, let’s try to answer them in our guide to free summer music, movies, and theater.
Berklee’s Summer in the City concert series
Berklee College of Music presents hundreds of free concerts this summer. Yes, you read that right, students, faculty, and alumni will put on literally hundreds of shows at the Boston Public Library, on the Boston Harbor Islands, and across the city. You can take in every iteration of Latin jazz on half a dozen Tuesdays with the Tito Puente Latin Music Series. You can dine and dance (or just listen) at the Tiny Stage Series at Time Out Market. Come see some stars before that are stars (past students who have played include Esperanza Spalding, Betty Who and Sierra Hull). Full schedule at berklee.edu/events/summer.
Boston Landmarks Orchestra at the Hatch Shell
If you need more symphonic music on the Esplanade than the Pops can provide, head to the Hatch Shell on Wednesday nights between July 22 and Aug. 12. The always awesome Landmarks Orchestra will be doing a range of new and old classics — Verdi’s “Requiem,” selections from “West Side Story,” Max Richter’s reimagining of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” and more. landmarksorchestra.org
Lilypad at lunchtime
Don’t want big? Don’t need an orchestra? The Lilypad in Inman Square invites you to come by for lunch (byob but they have drinks). The intimate and wonderful jazz/rock/outsider music club recently launched a free noon concert series. Sit inside, hang outside, whatever works. The club just wants to put a little more music in your life. lilypadinman.com
But what about “Hamilton?”
Right, summer features loads of free movie screenings too. The Coolidge is doing a series at the Charles River Speedway in Brighton. The Brattle is curating a series on MIT’s campus. To see the filmed version of “Hamilton,” head to the Esplanade on July 10. The showing is part of the Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Movies in the Parks program. For a score more films in and around the city, go to mass.gov/info-details/dcr-movies-in-the-parks
Free theater in person!
If a taped version of “Hamilton” doesn’t satisfy your theater fix, go see “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Shakespeare’s ultimate summer crowd pleaser will be put on by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company July 22 – Aug. 9 on, well, the Common. commshakes.org.
For music and theater all at once, Boston Lyric Opera is rolling out its custom-built mobile Street Stage at six locations this summer. Dates and details at blo.org/streetstage/
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.bostonherald.com ’
