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Boston Rock & Roll History: Guided Soundscape Tour
5.0
1 Rating
Boston
Discover the rich rock and roll history of Boston on a guided soundscape tour. Explore legendary venues, learn about pioneering DJs and producers, and trace the impact of Boston on iconic artists.
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
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The Fens - Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the Fens is a treasured greenspace in Boston and features Americas oldest WW II, Victory Gardens. On the Modern Lovers EP, Jonathan Richman sings,
I walk through the ‘Fenway with my heart in my hand. We will stroll through the gardens before heading into Kenmore Square. - Kenmore Square - For decades, Kenmore Square was at the center of Boston’s music scene thanks to the numerous record stores, and venues like Storyville and the legendary rock club, The Rathskeller. Here, we will learn about the numerous garage, punk, and new wave bands that crawled out of “the Rat” in the 70s and 80s. The Police played here 4 times on their first US tour in 1979. This is also the venue where Pixies first shared the same bill as the Throwing Muses. Also, we will stop by “Nuggets” one of the last records stores left in the neighborhood before winding our around Fenway Park
- Fenway Park - Walk down Landsdowne Street in the shadow of Fenway Park and hear tales of venues past and present including the Boston Tea Party, Venus De Milo, Avalon/Axis, Spit, and more! At present, local and national bands load in on Landsdowne street to play at the House of Blues or the new MGM Music Hall.
- Berklee College of Music - An Institution long dedicated to providing a training ground for aspiring musicians & producers, Berklee continues to be a magnet drawing talented artists from around the world to Boston. Here, we will examine Berklee’s significant impact on the city’s music scene and continued influence.
What's Included
- Visit Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory
- Walk through America’s oldest active Victory Gardens
- Stroll down lively Lansdowne Street by Fenway Park
- Explore Boston’s role in the 60s Folk Revival
- Hear tales from the Rat, birthplace of Punk and New Wave bands
What's Not Included
- Food & Drinks not included
Additional Information
Join a local music enthusiast on a stroll through Boston’s Fenway and Backbay districts as we delve into the city’s rock and roll chronicles. We’ll visit sites steeped in musical history such as the Rat, Storyville and the Boston Tea Party, which The Velvet Underground favored above all other venues. Discover how influential DJs, producers and teachers ignited a seismic shift in music distribution, recording and education. Explore the mark Boston left on the lives and careers of renowned artists including B.B King, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, New Edition, Nirvana, Aimee Mann, Pixies, Radiohead, Peter Wolf, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, Jonathan Richman and more. To find out more, scroll down…
Location
The Verb Hotel
Boylston Street
We will meet in the lobby of the Verb Hotel, home to an exclusive collection of Rock and Roll artifacts from the David Beiber Archives including vintage concert posters, album art and tickets to historic shows.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(1 Rating)
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Travelady80
Jun 30, 2024
Insider's view of Boston's Rock & Roll History - What an excellent tour of the rock and roll history of Boston! Matt is uniquely knowledgeable about both the area and the local music scene - mainstream and obscure alike. During various stops along the way, he would play clips of different songs and interviews with artists. He presents a concise and fascinating story of Boston's rock and roll history. As a local musician, Matt provided an insider's view of Boston's musical history.
He was sensitive to our groups needs and found shady spots to stop on the sunny day we took our tour.
The tour route was enjoyable and we got to see spots off the beaten path.
I can't recommend this tour highly enough!
Review provided by Tripadvisor