It’s a big weekend in Boston as the city is taken over by musicians and fans ahead of Boston Calling (more on that below). On the heels of our mini, pre-summer heatwave, it feels right that people will have the opportunity to be outside rocking out to their favorite bands. If I weren’t shipping up to Bos— um, Burlington, where I’ll be running the Vermont City Marathon, I’d definitely seek out live music. If the festival scene isn’t your cup of tea, EXIT Galleries in Allston is hosting a night of improvisational jazz on Friday night featuring Anna Fortuna, Evan Palmer, Francisco Mela and Tony Malaby. For those in the mood to be indoors sans music, I have suggestions for you as well.
Opening Thursday, May 23
The ICA Watershed opens for the season with the North American debut of Hew Locke’s installation titled “The Procession.” The London artist explores British colonialism, the Caribbean and public monuments through various materials, including costume jewelry and cardboard. His work at the Watershed is a collection of around 140 life-size sculptures carrying props or wearing costumes tied to a historical painting, advertisement or photograph. “They’re marching almost as if they’ve marched off a boat, and they’re coming through the watershed and they’re marching into a new future, carrying all their baggage and their history with them,” Locke told WBUR’s Solon Kelleher. Over on the museum mainland, independent curator Pedro Alonzo will be in discussion with Erika Umali, ICA curator of collections, about artist Shepard Fairey’s “Supply and Demand,” which debuted at the museum 15 years ago and was organized by Alonzo. That talk is on Sunday, May 26, at 2 p.m. Tickets are not required for entry to the Watershed, but if you’re interested in checking out both spots, I’d recommend purchasing a Water Shuttle ticket, which includes admission to the museum.
Friday, May 24-Sunday, May 26
Friday, May 24-Saturday, May 25
Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart gives local audiences a preview of the Tanglewood season with a performance of “Jurassic Park” in concert at Symphony Hall. The action-packed dinosaur adventure will be projected in HD and paired with a full symphony orchestra playing composer John Williams’ score live. So, “are you ready to live dangerously?” There is a performance on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and two on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Not able to catch it this weekend? The pops will bring “Jurassic Park” to Tanglewood’s Koussevitzky Music Shed on Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. Lockhart stopped by Radio Boston earlier this month to preview the spring season. Listen to that interview here.
Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s ‘Romeo and Juliet‘
Through June 2
It’s a tale as old as time — or it at least dates back to 1597 when William Shakespeare published his romantic tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet.” Actors’ Shakespeare Project is closing out its 2023-34 season with a production of the show. The group hasn’t staged the play in over a decade, and promises to “thrill even those who fell asleep reading it in sophomore English class.” I’m always a bit in the mindset of “been there, done that” when it comes to Shakespeare, but I’ve never regretted seeing a production of his play. Critic Terry Byrne wrote in her review for the Boston Globe that the production “feels extraordinarily fresh and vibrant.” Directed by Resident Artist Company Member Marianna Bassham, the show stars Chloe McFarlane as Juliet and Evan Taylor as Romeo and runs through June 2 at the Calderwood Pavillion’s Roberts Studio Theatre.
Read a book at a beer garden
If a music festival reads more as “cacophony” to you, I suggest grabbing a book and heading to a beer garden. From the Seaport to Boston Common, beer gardens have sprung forth across the city. Night Shift Brewing has three seasonal locations: the Hatch Shell along the Charles River, South Station in Dewey Square and at Herter Park along the Charles in Allston. (I’m partial to a view of the water and can personally recommend the Allston spot.) Aeronaut Allston at 267 Western Ave. always has a great rotation of food trucks. I would recommend going earlier in the evening if you’re seeking a more low-key vibe. (There is live music most evenings.) Trillium, which claims to be the first beer garden in Boston’s history when it opened in 2017, operates a space on the corner of High Street and Atlantic Avenue on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Leashed dogs are welcome. Now all that’s left to do is to pick out a book, and we have recommendations in this category too in our spring books guide.
