Live music in Essex County, MA

Cahill teams up with Matt Rich at a historic venue for a joint appearance, sharing the stage for a collaborative experience.

At Bada Bing Bada Boom in Methuen, DJ Bingo swaps standard bingo numbers for song titles. Players mark the tunes they recognize on a paper card or on their smartphone while the music plays. The pace invites sing-along moments, toe tapping, and sometimes a quick dance. It is a music-centered spin on a classic game that blends bingo with a shared playlist.

At Gametime Northshore Mall, Music Bingo with Pink Pony Bar Games features familiar songs, card-marking play, and chances to win prizes and gift cards. Attendees can enjoy food and drinks with friends during a fun night of music and games.

Gulu-Gulu Café & Bar hosts an open mic that welcomes musicians and listeners of all ages. Expect live music, creative expression, and the occasional surprise in a relaxed setting. Signups take place before the performances begin, and there is no cover charge. This gathering is dedicated to music and is not a comedy open mic.

Radioactive takes the stage at Muddy Waters Irish Pub in Methuen, offering lively music alongside food from the pub.

Villains, a tribute to Queens of the Stone Age, teams up with Falling To Pieces, New England’s tribute to Faith No More, for a night of high energy desert rock and alt metal at Rapscallion Music Hall in Lawrence, MA. Expect deep cuts and fan favorite singles, with faithful takes on the riffs, grooves, and vocal fireworks that built both bands’ cult followings. The performance happens up close in a 200 person room made for loud live music. Brick oven pizza and craft beer are available downstairs, then the Music Hall hosts a full length double tribute set that suits longtime devotees and curious rock listeners alike.

Neko Case offers an evening of indie folk shaped by a commanding voice, lyrical storytelling, and finely wrought melodies. Each song is steeped in feeling and craft, creating a close and memorable atmosphere. Heartfelt performances and enduring songwriting sit at the center of this concert experience.

At Blue Ocean Music Hall, DDXS celebrates the music of Duran Duran and INXS, channeling the vibe of the 80s and 90s with tight arrangements and standout vocals. The show brings together hits from both catalogs in one set, featuring favorites like Need You Tonight, Never Tear Us Apart, New Sensation, Rio, and Hungry Like the Wolf. It offers a high-energy tribute that lets fans relive these classics performed live with care and excitement.

Experience live music at The Goat Newburyport.

This event features Craig performing an acoustic set at North End Boat Club in Newburyport.

Experience an evening of sacred sound at Apollo Sunrise Center in Newburyport, a holistic wellness and spiritual retreat space that hosts energy healing, intuitive readings, guided meditations, Reiki, transformational hypnosis, workshops, retreats, and community gatherings. Nada Brahma Kirtan offers devotional call and response chanting that blends music and meditation, often described as Bhakti Yoga or Nada Yoga, with roots in Eastern Indian and Buddhist traditions. The practice invites participants to echo simple mantras with a lead singer, building a resonant vibration that can quiet the mind and open inner energy pathways. No prior experience is required and people of all spiritual backgrounds are welcome. The band is a three member ensemble founded in 2018 by Kāmpa Vashi Deva and Lisa Kawski with origins on the North Shore and to the west of Boston. Kāmpa lends lead vocals along with harmonium, mridangam, slaptop cajon and kartals, while Lisa adds lead vocals, harmonium, an indigenous drum and kartals. Steve Sherman contributes tablas, lead vocals, chimes and additional rhythms, and special guest musician Paul Bourgelais enriches the sound with sitar, bass and acoustic guitar. Tickets are $30 in advance online and $35 at the door. A free parking lot is available.

Boxty showcases a distinct mix of Irish and American songs and tunes, complemented by energetic original pieces rooted in both traditions. The group is known to attract a crowd.

John Britton teams up with Chris Hawk of Radioactive for a live performance at The Dolphin at Salisbury Beach. The venue is a restaurant that features live music.

Ellis Paul returns to the New Moon Coffeehouse stage at the Universalist Unitarian Church. Known for songwriting that intertwines personal stories with the issues of the day, he has earned numerous acoustic music awards and his songs have been featured in several major films. Influenced by Woodie Guthrie and supported early on by Bill Morrisey, he first appeared at New Moon in 1995 while still holding a day job, and his career has grown steadily since. Admission is $30, with a $10 price for attendees 21 and under. Tickets can be reserved through the New Moon Coffeehouse website, and they are also available at the door for cash. Please bring cash for tickets and for extras such as desserts and artist merchandise.

Presented by Carmen Iuvara, Into the Floyd performs a live tribute to Pink Floyd in an easygoing, immersive atmosphere. This in-person concert welcomes longtime listeners as well as those new to classic rock, bringing fans together to experience the band’s signature sound and share the music with a like-minded crowd.

Sunday Funday at Brodie’s Seaport brings a lively blues session as One Dime Band, featuring Jeff Majeau on bass, teams up with Chris Fitz and Steve Peabody for high-energy jams and a fun atmosphere.

Poets and other creative voices find a welcoming home at this recurring open mic at the Neal Rantoul Vault Theatre. The evening centers on community, originality, and mutual support, inviting rappers, singers, poets, musicians, comedians, and storytellers to share new pieces or step up for a first performance. Hosted by Michelle La Poetica with support from the Lynn Music Foundation, it brings together emerging and seasoned artists from Lynn and the North Shore to build connections and grow their craft. The program features a Soul Writers creative writing workshop, a Light House Stories guest conversation, and an international open mic, creating a full night that moves from reflection to dialogue to the stage.

Expect an upbeat night of music, laughter, and good-natured competition at The Spot. Musical Bingo adds a playful twist to the classic game by swapping numbers for songs.

Don't Think Twice returns to Newburyport Brewing Company for a relaxed night featuring music, an upbeat atmosphere, good company, and chilled beer.