WannaGoSee — Live Music in New England

new england's live music guide

SPRINGFIELD

Springfield is western Massachusetts' largest city and the Pioneer Valley's commercial center. The arrival of MGM Springfield in 2018 injected a casino-entertainment complex into downtown, adding multiple performance spaces to a city that already had Symphony Hall (Springfield) and MassMutual Center on its roster.

The MGM complex alone offers several rooms: The Armory at MGM Springfield, Aria Ballroom at MGM Springfield, and The Plaza at MGM Springfield, which hosts the popular Free Music Fridays summer series drawing thousands downtown. MassMutual Center handles arena-scale tours and sporting events. Symphony Hall (Springfield) programs classical, jazz, and touring acts. Theodore's is the city's blues and roots anchor. The bar scene runs deep — Nathan Bill's Bar & Restaurant, White Lion Brewing, Rustic Brewing Company, Student Prince Cafe & Tap Room, Paddy's Irish Pub, and 52 Sumner all book live acts regularly. Hope Center for the Arts adds a community venue for diverse programming.

Springfield's music scene benefits from the MGM investment but stays grounded in the neighborhood bars and brewpubs that have hosted local bands for decades. Cover charges are low, audiences are loyal, and you can bar-hop between several live music spots on any given weekend.

Tip: Downtown clusters around MGM and the Main Street corridor. Free Music Fridays at The Plaza run through summer and are worth planning around. Theodore's is a must-visit for blues and BBQ.

Neighborhoods: Downtown • Metro Center • South End • Mason Square • Forest Park

WEEK OF MAY 25, 2026

WEDNESDAY - 5/27

Theodore's
  • Acoustic Wednesdays with Tom Whalen at 8:00pm tune in

THURSDAY - 5/28

Hope Center for the Arts

FRIDAY - 5/29

Theodore's

SATURDAY - 5/30

Student Prince Cafe & Tap Room
  • Kevin Howard at 6:00pm, 8:00pm get loud
Theodore's

WEDNESDAY - 6/3

Theodore's
  • Jazz Series with Jason Schwartz at 8:00pm smooth jazz

THURSDAY - 6/4

MassMutual Center
Theodore's

FRIDAY - 6/5

Theodore's

SATURDAY - 6/6

Student Prince Cafe & Tap Room
  • Jay Bernard at 6:00pm, 8:00pm rock out
Theodore's

THURSDAY - 6/11

52 Sumner
MassMutual Center
  • The Savage Brothers at 4:30pm rock out

FRIDAY - 6/12

Theodore's

SATURDAY - 6/13

Student Prince Cafe & Tap Room
  • Moonlight Saints and The 413s at 6:00pm, 10:00pm let's go
Theodore's

WEDNESDAY - 6/17

Theodore's
  • Justin “jabbo” Martin at 8:00pm swing by

THURSDAY - 6/18

MassMutual Center
Theodore's
  • Danielle Miraglia at 8:00pm join us

FRIDAY - 6/19

Hope Center for the Arts
Theodore's
  • Shokazoba- New World Funk at 9:00pm get down

SATURDAY - 6/20

MassMutual Center
  • Rock The Landing at 3:00pm party time
  • Yellowcard: The Up Up Down Down Tour at 6:00pm get tix
Student Prince Cafe & Tap Room

THURSDAY - 6/25

52 Sumner
MassMutual Center
  • Ethel Lee & The Eric Bascom Quintet at 4:30pm jazz vibes

FRIDAY - 6/26

52 Sumner

SATURDAY - 6/27

52 Sumner
Student Prince Cafe & Tap Room

THURSDAY - 7/2

MassMutual Center
  • Carol Divine & The Mighty Fine at 4:30pm swing by

THURSDAY - 7/9

MassMutual Center

SATURDAY - 7/11

Student Prince Cafe & Tap Room
  • Andrew Henshon at 6:00pm, 8:00pm get loud

SATURDAY - 7/18

Student Prince Cafe & Tap Room
  • One: Tribute to Creed and Nothingman- Pearl Jam Tribute at 6:00pm, 10:00pm rock out

FRIDAY - 7/31

Hope Center for the Arts

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