After typing the phrase “will not reopen following the COVID-19 pandemic” more times that we’d like to acknowledge over the past two years, it feels like a breath of fresh spring air to report that more greater Boston venues are welcoming back live music. Three spaces — Toad, Charlie’s Kitchen, and Atwood’s Tavern — have recently announced their plans to host regular performances again, reawakening the beat of three different Cambridge neighborhoods and joining the likes of The Cantab, Lilypad and elsewhere.
We can’t say that the pandemic is over — but we can say nature is healing. Read the details below, and then mark your calendar accordingly.
Toad
Live music at Toad sprang into action earlier this month. “It had been a Covid casualty for two years, but it came alive last night with the Baker Thomas Band jamming before a capacity crowd,” longtime music writer Steve Morse shared via Facebook on February 4. The Porter Square space currently has shows booked every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday through the end of March; artists on the calendar for the remainder of February include Marc Pinansky & the Bored of Health, Wood and Bone, Lenny Lashley and Cody Nilse, Fandango with Chris Cote, Abbie Barrett, and Ship of the Sun.
Check out the full calendar here.
Charlie’s Kitchen
Six months after we reported that shows at Charlie’s Kitchen were “off the table” for the foreseeable future, talent agent Daniel Carswell has announced that shows will return to Charlie’s next month. The second floor of the Harvard Square eatery and venue will once again host three-band bills on Monday nights (a.k.a. Carswell’s signature “Mondays Don’t Have To Suck” programming), starting March 21.
No schedule has been announced as of print time, but artists interested in performing can reach out to Carswell at daniel@refuserethinkrebuild.com.
Atwood’s Tavern
It’s not an April Fools prank: Shows at Atwood’s Tavern will return on April 1. The Inman Square restaurant will welcome Vermont artist Kat Wright on the first Saturday of April to kick things off, followed by performances from Tim Gearan, McNeill, Jennifer O’Connor, Skyfoot, The Suitcase Junket, and Jonah Tolchin later this spring. It seems the inside of the bar and live music space has received some upgrades as well, with a new stage, new sound booth, and other amenities for both patrons and performers.
Tickets for all shows are available now; view the full calendar here.