Legends of Mary: All Star Tribute to Legion of Mary
2025-05-19 20:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Lizard Lounge, 1667 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
Legends of Mary return to the Lizard Lounge May 19th!

Event is 21+$15/$20 door
Doors 7
Legends of Mary is an all-star tribute to the Jerry Garcia side project: legion of Mary. The group brings together some of the foremost Grateful Dead musicians in the Boston music scene to pay tribute to the fiery spiritual predecessor of the Jerry Garcia Band. Legends of Mary features: David Rubin of Diamond Blues, Dan Crea of the Garcia Project, Justin Lopes formally of Bearly Dead, Kade Parkin of Bella’s Bartok and Chris Belden of Diamond Blues. With a deep love of the repertoire and many years of experience under their belt this crew will deliver an incredible night of music for fans of the Grateful Dead and Legion of Mary!

No Event Tonight-Check Our Calendar For Upcoming Events
2025-05-20 - 2025-05-21, 2025-05-26 - 2025-05-27, 2025-05-27 - 2025-05-28, 2025-06-02 - 2025-06-03, 2025-06-03 - 2025-06-04, 2025-06-09 - 2025-06-10, 2025-06-10 - 2025-06-11

Fran McConville Trio/Gregg Perry & The Strange Berries
2025-05-21 20:00 - 23:30
Fran McConville Trio & Gregg Perry & The Strange Berries ive at the Lizard Lounge May 21st!

Event is 21+
$12/$15 door
Doors at 7

The Fran McConville Trio plays an eclectic, cosmic blend of instrumental rock, groove & reggae music. We like to get weird and play in odd time signatures, go to outer space, and come back again. Members of the FMT have played with Lions At The Gate, Lady Lupine, Ethan Rossiter Band, Sonya Rae Taylor, and others!

Some artists that have had a big influence are The Beatles, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, John Scofield, Jeff Beck, Jerry Garcia, Bela Fleck, & MMW.

Gregg Perry, a Boston area musician and Berklee School of Music alumni has been playing guitar professionally for over 20 years, sharing stages with legendary musicians such as The Nighthawks, Bob Margolin, Jimmy Thackery and Canned Heat among others. Gregg originally formed The Strange Berries— a classic psychedelic rock and blues power trio— in 2018 with bassist Bob Abruzese and drummer Garik Bagdagyulyan. While The Strange Berries now features a rotating cast of talented musicians, both their original tunes and tributes to favorite artists of the past never fail to take their fans on a uniquely positive and spiritual musical journey.
https://www.facebook.com/GreggPerryandtheStrangeberries/

Ward Hayden & The Outliers-"Little By Little" Release feat Charlie Marie
2025-05-22 20:00 - 23:30
Ward Hayden & The Outliers celebrate “Little By Little” a tribute to Bruce Springsteen at the Lizard special guest Charile Marie

$25 adv/$32 door
Doors at 7
This album has been two years in the making and was born with the idea of balancing the scale. Following one of Massachusetts most notable Country artists directing their audience NOT to listen to Bruce Springsteen….Ward Hayden & the Outliers decided the best way to offset that negativity was to do something positive and delve into Springsteen’s epic catalog. Taking that journey with all its nostalgia, appreciation, and creativity is unequivocally positive. This album plays like a thank you note to The Boss, one that will resonate with Springsteen and Outliers fans alike.
This collection of songs was chosen from the soundtrack to many people’s lives who grew up in the 70s, 80s, & 90s. These are the songs that played while you hung out in your friend’s kitchen, watched TV in your living room, drove your car home from school, or when you partied on the weekends. These songs earned their place in our lives, they’ve been there for us, they’ve been along for the ride.
Ward Hayden & the Outliers NEW album “Little by Little” has taken the songwriting of Bruce Springsteen, channeled it through their country music filled hearts and minds, resulting in something extraordinary and unique. It’s The Boss done Outliers-style. It’s the music that’s been our crutch to lean on, our shoulder to cry on, and the words that we sing out with joy at the top of our lungs. It’s the music that taught us to love music, the music that makes us want to keep making more music, and it’s meant to be shared. May 22nd & 23rd come celebrate the album release of “Little By Little” by Ward Hayden & The Outliers.

Ward Hayden & The Outliers

Charlie Marie makes classic country music for the modern world. It’s a sound that bridges the gap between Nashville and her native Rhode Island — a blend of old-school traditions and fresh perspectives, fused together by a trailblazer who’s been writing songs since her teenage years.
Raised in Providence, Charlie Marie fell in love with country music at ten years old, after a music teacher compared her voice to the timeless croon of Patsy Cline. She began riding horses at the same time, and the two disciplines went hand-in-hand. While heading to a local horse farm every week, a wide-eyed Charlie would listen to country songs in the car, absorbing the sounds of 1990s hit-makers like Alan Jackson one minute and mid-century icons like Loretta Lynn the next.
Charlie Marie

Ward Hayden & The Outliers-"Little By Little" Release w/Brady Dallas Jones
2025-05-23 20:00 - 23:30
Ward Hayden & The Outliers celebrate their release “Little By Little” a tribute to Bruce Springsteen at the Lizard w/Brady Dallas Jones!

$25 adv/$32 door
Doors at 7
This album has been two years in the making and was born with the idea of balancing the scale. Following one of Massachusetts most notable Country artists directing their audience NOT to listen to Bruce Springsteen….Ward Hayden & the Outliers decided the best way to offset that negativity was to do something positive and delve into Springsteen’s epic catalog. Taking that journey with all its nostalgia, appreciation, and creativity is unequivocally positive. This album plays like a thank you note to The Boss, one that will resonate with Springsteen and Outliers fans alike.
This collection of songs was chosen from the soundtrack to many people’s lives who grew up in the 70s, 80s, & 90s. These are the songs that played while you hung out in your friend’s kitchen, watched TV in your living room, drove your car home from school, or when you partied on the weekends. These songs earned their place in our lives, they’ve been there for us, they’ve been along for the ride.
Ward Hayden & the Outliers NEW album “Little by Little” has taken the songwriting of Bruce Springsteen, channeled it through their country music filled hearts and minds, resulting in something extraordinary and unique. It’s The Boss done Outliers-style. It’s the music that’s been our crutch to lean on, our shoulder to cry on, and the words that we sing out with joy at the top of our lungs. It’s the music that taught us to love music, the music that makes us want to keep making more music, and it’s meant to be shared. May 22nd & 23rd come celebrate the album release of “Little By Little” by Ward Hayden & The Outliers.

Ward Hayden & The Outliers

“Brady Dallas Jones blends an introspective and musing lyrical style with the dramatic folk rock sound he was raised on to create a Boston-brewed mixture capable of bringing an audience to their knees, whether it be in sadness or ecstasy.” – Arlo Matthews
Brady Dallas Jones

Pressure Cooker at the Lizard Lounge!
2025-05-24 21:00 - 2025-05-25 00:00
Pressure Cooker bring a mix of reggae and ska to the Lizard stage.

$15 adv/$20 door

Pressure Cooker is a nine piece reggae/ska/rocksteady band from Boston. The group writes, records, and performs original songs in the styles of 1960s and 1970s Jamaican music. The group formed in 1997.
Pressure Cooker has released seven full-length CDs. Fronted by lead singer Craig Akira Fujita and backed by a core of Boston-area musicians, the band has played to audiences at clubs and festivals spanning from New England to Chicago. Over the years, Pressure Cooker has opened locally for notable artists of roots reggae music including Toots & the Maytals, Burning Spear, Gregory Isaacs, The Wailers, Prince Buster, Derrick Morgan, The Skatalites, Culture, Laurel Aitken, Eek-A-Mouse, Julian Marley, and Sister Carol.

Pressure Cooker

Speak Easy Drag Brunch
2025-05-25 13:00 - 15:00
Speak Easy Drag brunch with Host Lu Lu Levity, Silva, Mx Mingle, Lilly Rose and Angel Rivers May 25th at 1 pm!

Doors 12
Show 1
What do wigs, eggs benedict, pop mixes & mimosas have in common? They’ll all be in the Lizard Lounge the last Sunday of every month! We’re hosting our very own Drag Brunch, an iconic afternoon of performances from some of our favorite local drag queens scrumptious brunch favorites & fun cocktails!

21+
Doors lock once show starts
General Admission $20, with bar stools first come first serve
Tables for $45, comfortably seats 2 guests

Poetry Jam-VCR
2025-05-25 19:00 - 22:30
Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam with featured poet VCR Vernon C Robinson May 25th!

Doors 7
VCR (Vernon C. Robinson) is a Dorchester native born and raised in Boston. He has been writing, reciting and performing poetry/spoken word for nearly 20 years and has performed at several local spots as a feature and participant. He has poetically graced the same stage and opened up for such acts as Dead Prez, S.O.S. Band, Amiri Baraka, Pharoahe Monch, Suheir Hammad, Lakeside, New Birth, Last Poets, Les Nubians, Saul Williams, Jessica Care Moore, Georgia ME, Michel’le and other well-known artists. Besides Massachusetts, he has taken his poetry at cities and states such as New York (including the famous Nuyorican Poets Café), Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Cleveland, Baltimore, Los Angeles and surprisingly Cuba where he met the legendary Assata Shakur. VCR is also the founder and cultural event organizer of BloodSkinLand Productions. From that umbrella, he has created many annual gatherings which include Devotion, Afro-Cinema, Young Gifted & Black and the popular ongoing gathering called VerBaLizAtiOn, which is currently the longest-running open mic spot in the Boston area of 25 years. VCR’s debut CD entitled “Poetic Insanity”, released in 2003. VCR has been nominated for Best Male Spoken Word Artist at the 2006 New England Urban Music Awards, twice for Best Spoken Word Artist at the 2006 & 2007 M.I.C. Hip-Hop Awards and for Spoken Word Artist of the Year at the 2023 Boston Music Awards. In 2011, he became one of many awardees of the NAACP Image Awards of the Boston chapter. In 2014, VCR was awarded the Ralph F. Browne Jr. Juneteenth Incentive Award by the Boston Juneteenth Committee and the National Center of Afro-American Artists for creating and sustaining VerBaLizAtiOn. In 2024, he was awarded the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Senate Official Citation for the recognition of VerBaLizAtiOn’s 25 years of dedication. VCR’s “Kangaroo Joy” became the official poem for then Boston City Councilor At-Large and current Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s annually “Jump Into Peace” event. In addition to that, he has also performed at the Congresswoman’s cultural arts swearing-in fundraiser with a poem entitled “Change Can’t Wait” – named after the slogan used by Pressley during her campaign. VCR has currently been inducted into the Lizard Lounge Hall of Fame in 2025.In 2022, he has released his long-awaited poetry book entitled “Obsoletes & Upgrades”.

Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam

Ohm Foam/Dead Flowers/Dolata
2025-05-29 20:00 - 23:30
Ohm Foam, The Dead Flowers and Dolata at the Lizard Lounge May 29th!

Doors 7
$15/$20 door
Ohm foam is psych rock from the cosmos, fed through three humans from Boston, MA.“Their music ranges from heavy progressive rock to chill, groovy psychedelic, and they list Khruangbin, early Pink Floyd, and Radiohead as influences. With hard rock-inspired riffs and expansive soundscapes constructed from guitar loops, Ohm Foam’s music invites you to climb aboard and hang on for the journey.” – Jeff Williams, Sound of Boston

Ohm Foam

Hailing from Somerville, MA, The Dead Flowers sow a sonic crossbreed of 70s rock ‘n’ roll and 90s indie. A three-vocal attack adorns their Stones-esque swagger, shifting their tone from the soulful twang of CCR to the slacker angst of Pavement. The Flowers’ rollicking strut harkens back to rock’s days of old, yet reminds us to party right now.
The Dead Flowers

Dolata plays laid-back, riff-based indie rock tunes downloaded directly from the void via The Great Chisel. Formed by Madi Donlan (Hubie Halloween) and Joe Froeber (The Drunk Monkeys) in 2024, Amelia Allison (Mollie Guac) and Reilly Somach (The Rupert Selection) soon followed, and the rest as they say is still unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield). Heralded as “a band on the rise” by internal pool, they seek to find the cosmic traitor Ali Dolat and bring him to justice one day. Their debut EP drops May 30th at midnight.
Dolata

Itay Dayan and His Band/KDF Big Band
2025-05-30 21:00 - 23:30
Itay Dayan and His Band & the KDF Big Band share the stage at the Lizard Lounge May 30th!

$15 adv/$20 door
Doors at 8
Itay Dayan and his Band are a Boston based group that has been performing around the East Coast for the last few years, pretty much wherever you can think of. From nightclubs to synagogues – they’ve played there. With a combination of klezmer (traditional Jewish music) and Middle Eastern Pop music, their shows are energetic parties with lots of humor and dancing.
Itay Dayan

Directed by Kira Daglio Fine, the KDF Big Band is a jazz ensemble comprised of some of the best young emerging artists in the Northeast. The KDF Big Band offers a fresh and exciting approach to the big band style. Their repertoire draws heavily from the swing tradition and Kira’s Latina heritage, as well as a wide selection of influences— from Ellington to D’Angelo to Jorge Drexler and beyond.Captained by their ambitious leader, The KDF Big Band is certainly a group to watch out for; this diverse collective of up-and-coming musicians is dedicated to illuminating musical perspectives previously unheard.

Girl With A Hawk/Happy Little Clouds/Kathy Snax Band
2025-05-31 21:00 - 23:30
Girl With a Hawk returns with Happy Little Clouds and Kathy Snax Band May 31st hosted by Kristin Eck from Bumble Bee Radio May 31st!

$20/$25
Doors 8
“The Pretenders are an apt starting point for the band Girl with a Hawk, as they play a similarnbrand of punk influenced, melody-heavy, pretension-free rock ‘n’ roll.” – New Noise Magazine
With a catalog that ranges from punk influenced, new wave pop to alt-country grit, and with influences as varied as The Pixies, Wilco, Tom Petty, Velvet Underground, The Pretenders, and Johnny Cash, Rum Bar Record alums Girl with a Hawk are a Boston-area favorite known for emotional story telling in their songs and exciting live performances.
Led by longtime Boston songwriter & guitarist, (and recent New England Music Hall of Fame Inductee), Linda Viens, the band includes Boston luminaries Richard Lamphear on keys, Daniel Coughlin on guitar, Nancy Delaney on drums, and Dan Bernfeld on bass. GWAH’s 2023 five- song EP, ‘keep ‘er lit,’ has been described as “a fun mix of modern rock and Americana with engaging storytelling. Girl with a Hawk’s mix of modern rock, new wave, and early 90’s rock influences is engaging, and the band’s musical career will be a fun one to keep listening to.” -I’m Music Magazine. Girl with a Hawk is currently working on a full length LP to be released in late 2025.

“Step into the mesmerizing realm of “Girl with a Hawk”, which weaves not just melodies but enchanting tapestries of sound and emotion. Their story is a captivating odyssey, an exploration of music’s very soul.”
– The Up and Up
Girl With a Hawk

Boston-based rainbow rust, power pop band with songs that stick, rain or shine, blending 90s nostalgia with modern indie sound.
Unfiltered, heartfelt lyrics entwine with bluesy vocals and catchy-AF melodies, like frosting on a post-grunge cake oozing with authenticity, creamy bass riffs, and chunky guitar. Unique, expressive drums is the cherry on top. The best slice of heaven you’ve ever heard.
Happy Little Clouds

Kathy Snax is the solo project of Kathleen Mahoney, a Boston-based musician who describes her music as “haunted electropop.” The dreaminess of her ethereal vocals and lushly textured synths is juxtaposed with spacey tape feedback and moments of eerie distortion and noise, infusing her pop melodies with the surreal. Save for the minimalist drum machine beats, her compositions are entirely synthesizer-based: each synth line is recorded individually and meticulously layered, a sound that she achieves live by playing and looping in real time. The “Changeling/A Winter’s Day” 7″ was recorded and produced by Caufield Schnug of Sweeping Promises (Schnug also provides live drums on “A Winter’s Day”). Both songs are meditations on loneliness and longing—both the dream-like memory of what used to be and making sense of a new, strange reality. The 7″ follows her debut EP “The Spooks” which she self-released on cassette tape in 2018 and was also recorded and produced by Schnug.
Kathy Snax

Canyon Lights/AJ Fullerton
2025-06-01 13:00 - 15:00
Canyon Lights and AJ Fullerton live at the Lizard Lounge for an afternoon matinee performance June 1st at 1 o’clock!

$15 adv/$20 door
Doors 12

FRONTED BY TIM CARMAN AND PAT FAHERTY, FORMERLY OF GA-20, CANYON LIGHTS ARE A BLEND OF THROWBACK ROCK N’ ROLL, SWAMPY AMERICANA, AND HEAVY BLUES. FRIENDS AND BANDMATES SINCE 2018, PAT AND TIM HAVE RACKED UP THOUSANDS OF HOURS TOURING AND PERFORMING ON STAGES ALL OVER THE WORLD. THEIR LOVE OF BLUES MUSIC FUELED THEIR EXPLOSIVE PERFORMANCES WITH GA-20, A THREE-TIME #1 BILLBOARD CHARTING BLUES BAND FROM BOSTON, MA. IN 2023, PAT AND TIM BEGAN CONNECTING OVER THEIR MUTUAL LOVE OF 70S ROCK N’ ROLL BANDS LIKE MOUNTAIN, THIN LIZZY, AND JAMES GANG. INSPIRED BY THIS ERA, PAT PROPOSED THE TWO WORK OUT SOME SONG IDEAS HE HAD BEEN PLAYING WITH. AT THE SAME TIME, TIM REVEALED TO PAT SOME PERSONAL LYRICS HE HAD HELD ONTO FOR YEARS. THE SONGWRITING CONNECTION WAS INSTANT AND UNIQUE. PAT AND TIM REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A NEW VENTURE, NOT STRICTLY BLUES AND NOT CONFINED TO ANY LANE OF CREATIVITY. THE TWO FLEW TO DENVER IN EARLY 2024 TO PUT THESE SOUNDS ON TAPE WITH FRIEND DYLAN BROWN AT THE HELM AS ENGINEER AND CO-PRODUCER. FROM THIS SESSION, CANYON LIGHTS WAS BORN.
Canyon Lights

A.J. Fullerton, a Roots-Rock luminary hailing from Colorado, has spent the past decade crafting his identity as a virtuosic finger-style and slide guitarist, while also earning acclaim as a prolific producer and songwriter. Whether commanding the stage solo or backed by his dynamic band, Fullerton’s sound effortlessly merges classic influences with a contemporary edge.
His latest album, “CLOSER,” produced by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds, soared to #7 on the Blues Billboard Charts in June 2024, cementing Fullerton’s status as one of the genre’s fastest-rising stars. Recognized as one of the “75 Modern Blues & Blues Rock Artists You Must Hear 2021” by Blues Muse Magazine, he has shared stages with blues legends such as Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughan, and Samantha Fish. Fullerton’s accolades include an impressive array of 24 Colorado Blues Society Members’ Choice Awards, spanning categories from Best Guitarist to Best Songwriter. Notable among his honors are repeated wins for Best Solo/Duo, Best Slide Guitarist, and Best Male Vocals, showcasing his multifaceted talent and enduring impact on the music scene.
AJ Fullerton

Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam- Jibril Haynes; A Sonic Surgery For The Soul
2025-06-01 19:00 - 23:30
The Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam Presents Jibril Haynes’ StageCraft: Rhythm Meets Remedy June 1st!

$10
Jibril Haynes
A sonic surgery of the soul.
Jibril carves soundscapes live, stitched with the haunting vocals of Kalee Burrows.Dr. Zaid prescribes rhythm where wellness meets wonder—where beats align with breath.A poet bleeds verses over basslines, an emcee translates pulse into prophecy.On stage, the artists become canvas—painted live, bodies turned testimony.This isn’t just a show. It’s a treatment in frequency.Come witness the therapy.StageCraft: Rhythm, meet RemedyMusic and libretto by Jibril Haynes
Live Theatrical Presentation.
Conduits: Kalee Burrows as Resonance, Rausan Battle as Rebel Tre5, Art Collins as the Griot, and Zaid Haynes as the Doctor of 5 forces.

Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam

Blaque Dynamite
2025-06-03 20:00 - 23:30
Blaque Dynamite returns to the Lizard Lounge on June 3rd!

$25 GA/$30 Door
Doors at 7
Blaque Dynamite, a.k.a. Mike Mitchell, has given validity to the cliche that age is nothing more than a number. He began drumming at age 2, played in his first live recording session at the ripe young age of 7, and had acquired a roster of drum company endorsements by the time he turned 11 years old.
Young Dynamite gained his early development and exposure to music in a church setting. At an early age, he began to create his own music which in turn fueled his relentless passion and respect for the drums. Inevitably, he had become very interested in the pursuit of expanding his knowledge of music and honing his craft. At twelve, he embarked upon the study of music theory. At fourteen, he found himself in the hallways of the renowned Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas in 2009. The school also fostered the amazing talents of Norah Jones, Erykah Badu, and the late Roy Hargrove. Simultaneously, Dynamite took full advantage of attending workshops, master classes, and clinics at colleges and universities all over the country during the summer breaks between tours.
Being gifted to play all genres, Dynamite has been the recipient of a host of accolades and prestigious awards. He has received 14 DownBeat Music Awards and his impressive performance credits include Grammy award-winning artists Christian McBride, Erykah Badu, Thundercat, Michael McDonald, Bob Mintzer, Chrisette Michele, Kamasi Washington, and the legendary Clark Sisters. In 2012, he was selected to perform on a global stage at the inaugural International Jazz Day Celebration with one of the most influential artist of all time, the iconic Herbie Hancock. Shortly after, Dynamite was reigning the drum throne for the living legend, virtuoso bassist, composer, Stanley Clarke. Then, he graduated high school! (Class of 2013)
Fast forwarding, the Grammy nominated artist Blaque Dynamite has toured five of the seven continents of the world. In 2015, he released his debut album entitled “WiFi” with Dallas-bred band, Raché. His collaborations with artists such as Christian Scott, Derrick Hodge, Doobie Powell, Kierra Sheard, Willow Smith, Talib Kweli, and Jon Bap have been the catalyst in the making of a new band leader.
On April 10th, 2020, Blaque Dynamite released his third album, “Time Out” on Dolfin Records, an independent record label out of Dallas.

Blaque Dynamite

The Duppy Conquerors
2025-06-04 20:00 - 23:00
The Duppy Conquerors bring their celebration of the music of Bob Marley to the Lizard Lounge June 4th!

EVENT IS 21+
$12/$15 DOOR
The quintessential Bob Marley tribute band – the Duppy Conquerors – is a rich collection of high-caliber musicians playing in tribute to the music of Bob Marley. Nominated for a Boston Music Award, this 10-piece ensemble of veteran musicians embodies a soulful authenticity that honors the artist and his timeless collection. With nearly 80% of Marley’s repertoire under their belts, the Duppy Conquerors are equipped to provide hours of entertainment and positive vibrations.

Featuring:
Errol Strength
Jonas Kahn
Tariq Nicholsan
Jake Pardee
Mark Ferranti
Kit Holliday
Sarah Mendelsohn
Jeff Robinson
Dave Szebeda
Clayton De Walt

https://duppyconquerors.band/
https://www.instagram.com/duppy.conquerors/

Brian Dunne/Ken Yates
2025-06-05 20:00 - 23:00
Ken Yates and Brian Dunne, two longtime friends and standout voices in the indie music scene, are teaming up at the Lizard Lounge June 5th!

$20/$25 GA
Reserved Tables $50
Doors 7
Known for his laugh-to-keep-from-crying, darkly humorous lyrics, Brian Dunne has toured the world over, releasing records at a furious clip. His most recent solo album “Loser On The Ropes” saw Dunne is bending the sounds of American rock into masterfully composed, existentially poignant, wildly catchy renderings of being alive. He made his network TV debut on CBS Saturday Morning and Rolling Stone called the LP “one of the sleeper albums of the year.” He is currently touring the deluxe edition of the record, and he is also a full time member of folk-rock supergroup, Fantastic Cat and his new LP is due out in September 2025. Ken is his best friend.
Brian Dunne

Ken Yates is an award-winning singer-songwriter known for his introspective storytelling and his signature blend of folk, indie, and rock influences. His 2022 album, Cerulean, earned him a Contemporary Album of the Year nomination at the Canadian Folk Music Awards and critical praise. Recently selected as an Official Showcasing Artist at SXSW and Americanafest 2024, Yates continues to grow his audience, opening for artists including Madison Cunningham, Passenger, and Kathleen Edwards, and collaborating with respected songwriters Katie Pruitt, Lori McKenna, and Tiny Habits. His new music is already garnering attention, with NPR’s Ann Powers declaring, “I’m obsessed with this song by Canadian troubadour Ken Yates, ‘Cataclysmic End.'”
Yates’ forthcoming album “Total Cinema” marks a defining evolution in his sound—an immersive, dynamic collection that builds upon the atmospheric foundation of Cerulean. Working with producer Dan Ledwell in Halifax, Yates expands his sonic palette with rich textures and versatile arrangements while exploring themes of gratitude and self-awareness with characteristic precision and emotional depth. “Total Cinema” showcases an artist who has found clarity in making “the exact record I wanted to make,” embracing both the shadows and light of human experience through eleven tracks that celebrate his artistic journey in real-time.
Ken Yates

Ali McGuirk
2025-06-06 20:00 - 23:30
Soulful influenced singer songwriter Ali McGuirk returns to the Lizard Lounge June 6th

$20 adv/$25 door

Blending classic soul power with a folk songwriter lyricism, New England’s Ali McGuirk has the rare ability to silence a room with just a few words of a song. With a voice that is raw and sultry and a style rooted in improvisation, her sets are a hypnotic and intimate journey.
On her Signature Sounds Recordings debut ’Til It’s Gone, McGuirk delivers a sublime set of songs that pairs her trademark soul sound with rootsy turns and raw rock ‘n’ roll detours. The album landed on the Boston Globe’s Top 50 Albums list for 2022. Consequence of Sound raved, “‘All Back’ feels like it could exist somewhere outside of space and time– it could be on a record in the background of a party in a 1970s bungalow, or it could be on your Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. Either way, it’s a great listen.”
McGuirk co-produced ‘Til It’s Gone with Jonah Tolchin (a star singer-songwriter in his own right) and a set of session legends: Little Feat guitarist/mandolinist Fred Tackett, organist Larry Goldings (James Taylor, Norah Jones), singer Valerie Pinkston (Ray Charles, Luther Vandross), percussionist Lenny Castro (Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder). They provided the astounding chops, but the true magic of the album comes from McGuirk’s singular voice as both singer and songwriter. The nine tracks run from intimate introspection to wider meditations on oppression and justice, from tough r&b and tender soul to big rock guitar and twangy folk. And McGuirk’s voice – bold, buttery, spellbinding – carries each song to the next til they’re gone.
Ali McGuirk

MC Kabir with Krush Factory
2025-06-07 21:00 - 23:30
MC Kabir and Krush Factory continue their monthly residency June 7th!

$15/$20
Doors 8
Emcee, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Kabir Sen is a veteran musician, hip hop artist, producer, and music teacher who has released songs with a wide range of established artists (Blackalicious, J-Live, Esoteric, Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, Lyrics Born, EDO G, Ryan Montbleau and many others).
Originally from London, he has been a staples of Boston’s music scene, and, with the steady releases of new songs each month his momentum is currently stronger than ever. Listen to his new songs here:
KABIR SEN – MUSICIAN/PRODUCER | Instagram, YouTube, Spotify | Linktree
Kabir will be joined by members of the Krush Factory – a talented group of musicians from the Boston area featuring members of Morphine, Vapors of Morphine, The Slip, Pressure Cooker, Pop into the Chemist and Duppy Conquerors. This night will be a continuation of a long-running monthly show on the first Saturday of every month! http://www.kabirsen.com

Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam-Featured Poet Michael "Warrior" Bonds
2025-06-08 19:00 - 23:30
The Lizard Lounge Poet Jam with featured poet Michael “Warrior” Bonds June 8th!

$10
Door 7

Michael Warrior Bonds is an internationally respected spoken word artist, award-winning poet, educator, motivational speaker, author, and revered elder statesman in his Roxbury, Boston community. Known for his electrifying presence and deeply resonant performances, Michael’s work has been described as “passionate,” “moving,” “captivating,” and “powerful.” His unique style—often stepping off the stage to engage directly with his audience—has earned him the nickname “the poet with Hyperactive Attention Deficit Disorder.”
Michael holds an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Kaplan University/Bauder and has facilitated spoken word and empowerment workshops across the U.S. and internationally. In 2008, he received the Best Spoken Word Album award at the New England Urban Music Awards. He has twice been honored as a Boston Community Warrior by the Institute for Pan African Cultural Education Inc. (P.A.C.E)/Defensive Arts Training (D.A.T.) and the Nation of Islam, in 2003 and 2011.
In 2023, Michael served as Artist-in-Residence at the West End Boys & Girls Club in Allston-Brighton, MA, and led a transformative three-month workshop at Brockton High School’s Promise College, teaching 37 students the art of spoken word poetry.
A self-published author, Michael has released two acclaimed poetry collections: “Gunz, Poems & Rosez” and “The Write.” He has also mentored youth and adults in publishing their own works. His poetry has been featured in numerous anthologies and magazines, including Bandana Republic, edited by the late literary icon Louis Reyes Rivera and HBO Def Poetry co-founder Bruce George. His film appearances include the award-winning documentary The 2006 Red Bull Word Clash Film.
Michael has shared stages with legendary figures such as Askia Touré (co-founder of the Black Arts Movement), Reggie Gibson (inspiration for the film Love Jones), gospel icon Tramaine Hawkins, and R&B star CeCe Peniston. In 2019, he was named Most Valuable Poet and Grand Champion at the Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam, and in 2023, he was inducted into its Hall of Fame.
His media appearances include Chronicle (ABC News Channel 5 WCVB), Good Mornin’ Barbados, and a performance at Cricket Legends in Barbados. Michael also founded and curated a celebration of National Black Poetry Day in honor of Jupiter Hammon, America’s first published Black poet.
In 2025, Michael continued to expand his reach and impact:

He performed at the San Francisco Public Library, sponsored by the SPUC (Spoken Word Poets United Collective).
He delivered a powerful performance for MathWorks and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).
He served as Keynote Speaker at Nowell Academy in Providence, Rhode Island.
He became the host of The Cipher: Art of Poetry, a dynamic platform celebrating poetic expression and community dialogue.

Michael also hosts Just Spit, a biweekly open mic in downtown Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and is the founder and creative director of POEMS Boston, a vibrant social media platform dedicated to booking, promoting, and celebrating poets and the art of spoken word across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Threads.
In addition to his artistic pursuits, Michael is passionate about strength training and boxing, disciplines that reflect his commitment to personal growth, discipline, and resilience—qualities that also shine through in his poetry and mentorship.
Michael Warrior Bonds continues to inspire, uplift, and empower through his words, his presence, and his unwavering dedication to community and culture.

Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam

Clamb/Coulibaly Trio
2025-06-11 20:00 - 23:30
Clamb live at the Lizard Lounge June 11th with the Coulibaly Trio at 8 oclock!

Event is 21+$15/$20

CLAMB was born out of a Dadaist desire to create music free from societal norms of perfection. They dig deep into the groove of soulful American music from the infinite James Brown and Alice Coltrane to the aether of seventies European krautrock pioneers like Cluster and Harmonia to patiently sketch foreign landscapes from the ground up. Clamb are devoted to keeping an attitude of acceptance in their largely-improvised songs, choosing a direction and exploring its corners and nuances to tell stories without words.
Clamb’s tonal palette features Peter Danilchuk’s synths blissfully wiggling through the air, Jameson Stewart’s mythical gold-glitter-encrusted fretless bass sending terrestrial energy rippling through a rogue’s gallery of cheap pedals, Joshua Merhar’s playful drumming that constantly eggs the band onward to new hemispheres of groove, and in 2022 Clamb introduced guitar hero and best friend Sam Crawford whose tonal character and improvisational voice have propelled the band’s ensemble playing further into the fever-dream-realm than ever expected. Clamb hopes they have cornered the market on the Venn diagram intersection of 60s psych nerds raised on Soft Machine Volume 2 and their kids who have spent the past decade gorging on Brainfeeder and Meshuggah. It is Clamb’s distinct wish that each performance function as a Polaroid of the exact moment of its creation, never to be repeated quite the same way ever again, remaining both pensive yet hard-grooving all the same.

Imad Coulibaly is an independent artist hailing from Boston, Massachusetts. He started playing drums at the age of 4 years old. Being surrounded by music at home and in church, Imad became passionate about music. He kick started his music career after winning the Umass Amherst Jazz Festival for “ Best Jazz Trio” and opening for the Chris Potter Quartet. Imad Coulibaly currently plays in his jazz/fusion hip hop group Soul Space. He is also a live/session and touring drummer working with artists such as Rugawd, Martin Gonzalez, David Mrakpor, King Chino, Dave Powell, Rob Araujo and Vooo. Imad’s primary focus is on live/session and touring gigs as well as education in music to inspire drummers of all ages and background

The Lo-I (Formerly Morning is Rising) Album Release/Justice Cow/Field Day
2025-06-12 20:00 - 23:30
The Lo-I (Formerly Morning is Rising) clebrate the release of “Live at the Burren and Lizard Lounge” with Field Day & Justice Cow June 12th

$15 adv/$20 door
Doors at 7
Morning Is Rising are Chloe V. Green (Vocals, Bass, Guitar) and Iarla Ó hAllmhuráin (Vocals, Guitar, Bass). Their songs comprise tight vocal harmonies atop driving rhythms, drawing inspiration from alternative guitar/new wave, classic folk-rock, and electro-pop. Longtime songwriters and performers with deep individual catalogs to draw on, they decided to join forces and songbooks in 2021 and start a band.This is their second Lizard Lounge show, and will serve as a release party for their new live record “Live at The Burren & Lizard Lounge”. They will be joined by Chuck Hargreaves of Field Day on drums.
Morning is Rising

Justice Cow, the musical alias of Jessica Kion, is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter whose latest album delves deeply into personal loss and emotional vulnerability. Growing up surrounded by a musical family, Jessica’s early exposure to music laid the foundation for her artistic journey. Her identity as an artist started taking shape during her time at Berklee College of Music when she was exposed to and inspired by artists like Regina Spektor and Sufjan Stevens.
Her latest album, “my dad died” is a poignant exploration of her father’s death. The writing process began as memories of her father flooded back, prompting her to capture these fleeting moments as musical vignettes. Drawing inspiration from Madi Diaz’s “History of a Feeling”, Sufjan Stevens’ “Carrie & Lowell” and Mount Eerie’s “A Crow Looked at Me,” Jessica’s album is a raw and honest reflection of her grief and memories.
Justice Cow’s music blends acoustic foundations with rich, full-band arrangements, creating a sound that is both intimate and expansive. Her ability to transform deeply personal experiences into universally resonant art makes her a compelling and authentic voice in contemporary music.
Justice Cow

Field Day formed proverbially, in a basement, and unexpectedly, when its members were well into middle age. Joan Anderman was a neophyte, having left her longtime post as rock critic at The Boston Globe and set out to become a songwriter. Her former Globe colleague Dan Zedek, veteran of numerous college bands, was sitting on a stash of songs written in his head while riding the train to work. The band’s original drummer John Kehe offered his gear-filled basement for weekend song circles. The chemistry was potent. These songs and these songwriters belonged together. With the addition of bassist Iarla Ó hAllmhuráin and drummer Chuck Hargreaves, Field Day has become an unlikely upstart on the Boston club scene, playing rock music with scrappy hooks, dreamy harmonies, and irrepressible spirit.

Field Day

Daniel Miller & The High Life/Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners
2025-06-13 21:00 - 23:30
Daniel Miller & The High Life and Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners live at the Lizard Lounge June 13th!

$20/$25 Door
Doors 8
Daniel Miller is a singer-songwriter with a penchant for centering his music on locales that inspire him. “My goal is to take a region that I love and write songs about that place. My focus isn’t on limiting a record to fit into a specific bin on a store shelf; it’s to tell a story.” Born and raised in Knoxville, TN and currently living outside of Boston, MA, Daniel has been writing songs based off of his experiences on the road for the past twenty years. Those songs have provided Daniel and his country-rock touring band, The High Life, the opportunity to open for various national touring acts in some of America’s most beloved performance venues.

Daniel Miller and the High Life

Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners are a high-octane blend of face-melting accordion and chicken pickin’ electric guitar. Winners of a New England Music Award for “Americana Act of the Year”, the Kettle Burners have performed at multiple festivals and even shared some bills with a few national acts (Willie Nelson, Old Crow Medicine Show, Hank Williams Jr., John Mellencamp, The Mavericks and Fastball).
Kier Byrnes, frontman of the group, has been all over the globe thanks to music; touring in over 17 countries. He has performed in the Middle East for the troops, at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, and a Johnny Cash-style gig at a Belgian prison. At a private show for Jim Beam Whiskeys in Clermont, Kentucky, Byrnes and his band were rewarded with a personal tour of the distillery by none other than the great grandson (and Master Distiller) of Jim Beam.
Kier Byrnes is joined by The Kettle Burners (Jason McGorty, Monica Sager, Joe Miller, Dan DiBacco & Brian Lilienthal); a spirited country band that effortlessly merges the rootsy sounds of traditional country music with the enchanting melodies of Irish folk. Their heartfelt performances weave stories of love, loss, and life’s trials with an irresistible blend of twangy guitars, lively bass, driving drums and the soulful warmth of accordion. With their infectious energy and undeniable chemistry on stage, these musicians create an immersive musical experience of whiskey-soaked ballads and foot-stomping jigs.
Kier Byrnes and the Kettle Burners

An Evening With The Gravel Project - Album Release, "Find What You Need"
2025-06-14 21:00 - 23:30
The Gravel Project returns to the Lizard Lounge June 14 for the release of their latest album “Find What You Need’.

$20 adv/$25 door
Doors at 8

Originally created by Andrew Gravel (vocals, guitar), The Gravel Project is an all star band of Boston music veterans including brother, Jordan Gravel (organ, keys), Dave Fox (drums), Jen Kearney (vocals) and Eguie Castrillo (percussion). The Gravel Project’s live show blends rock, world music and jazz with power and soul. Carrying the tradition of 70’s blues and psychedelic rock music, The Gravel Project embodies the spirit of Santana combined with the classic raw energy and moving songwriting of The Allman Brothers and Tedeschi Trucks Band.The release of their fourth album, “Find What You Need” is a deeply personal exploration of the complexities of growing, maintaining and putting the work into preserving healthy relationships. The way they shape us, challenge us, and ultimately teach us about ourselves. Every song is woven together with a common thread, capturing the highs and lows through the themes of love, personal growth, trust, remorse, frustration and reconciliation.Come celebrate the release of “Find What You Need”.

The Gravel Project

Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam- Featured Poet Tim Hall
2025-06-15 19:00 - 23:30
The Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam with featured poet Tim Hall June 15th!

$10
Tim Hall is an award-winning musician, poet, and producer from Detroit, MI, while honoring Boston as his current home. His poetry draws inspiration from his lived experiences – charting the nuances of blackness, masculinity, and the beauties of life. Writings of his have been published in: Proud Flesh – Afrikan Journal of Culture, Politics, & Consciousness; Mass Poetry – Hard Work of Hope; Vagabond Publishing; Indie Earth Publishing – Self Care Anthology; Whisper & Roar Publishing; and currently Tim’s poetry lives in City Hall as his work was selected to be part of Mayor Wu’s Poetry project.
Tim is an Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music, was honored as “Session Musician of the Year ” by the 2020 Boston Music Awards, and nominated for Spoken Word Artist of the Year for 2022. He was also recognized by WBUR’s Artery 25 as 1 of 25 millennials of color impacting Arts and Culture in Boston. His spoken word can be experienced through his new project – Trust the Process EP, as well as Colors Of My Soul EP, and self-published book – Trust The Process.
Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam
