Boston Rock & Roll History: Guided Soundscape Tour

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: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 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…
What's Included
  • Walk through America’s oldest Victory Gardens still in use
  • Stroll down lively Lansdowne Street, home to numerous venues, in the shadow of Fenway Park
  • Examine Boston’s impact on the Folk Revival in the 60s
  • Hear tales from the Rat, the cavernous club where many Punk and New Wave bands got their start
What's Not Included
  • Food & Drinks not included
Additional Information

Guided by a local musician, explore Boston’s rock and roll past, present (and future), on a walking tour through Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. Visit the sites of legendary venues like the Rat, Storyville, and the Boston Tea Party- The Velvet Underground’s favorite place to play in the whole country! Learn how pioneering DJs, producers, and educators…

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
(8 Ratings)
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Greazilla
Oct 21, 2024
Fun way to tour the city for rock music fans - I come from a family of rock/music fans from the Boston area and we all went together to learn a little bit more about what we thought we already knew about the Boston rock scene’s history. We actually learned a lot more than we planned on and had fun hearing stories and seeing memorabilia about Boston’s rock and roll past and present (although it primarily focused on the glory years of WBCN). Matt was a great guide and very friendly and personable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thatgirlfromboston
Sep 25, 2024
A walk through Fenway and Boston’s music history - I have lived in Boston and have been a fan of Jonathan Richman for many years, but it wasn’t until today on this tour that I got to walk through the Fenway with Jonathan Richman serenading me from a boombox. I love that this tour exists. Matt’s passion is wonderful. If you would like to discover some great bands you might not have heard of, or if you want to go deeper into Boston’s influence far beyond its borders, this is a fun and unique tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helene_s
Sep 15, 2024
Fun tour - Enjoyed all the history and interesting facts. Learned something new. Great time and fun. Recommend highly to anyone who likes music.
Review provided by Viator
Sassbrod
Sep 2, 2024
Awesome walking tour - Really enjoyed Matt’s tour! We’ve lived in Boston for 10 years but never knew this side of the city’s history. He was very knowledgable and did a great job weaving audio clips and visuals into the walking tour. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julie_s
Aug 9, 2024
The Best Non-Revolutionary-Related Tour in Boston - Matt is the best tour guide out there! He emailed me and asked if there were any bands, artists, genres, or eras of music we were curious about, AND he included it in the tour. He is a local musician who is knowledgeable about Boston's music scene. His passion is evident. I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Angel_b
Aug 3, 2024
Enjoyed touring with Matt... - Enjoyed touring with Matt and following his passion for bringing awareness to Boston’s roots in the music scene!
Review provided by Viator
P5473cijeffreym
Jul 25, 2024
Fabulous experience - What a great rock tour we had with Matt last week! While in Boston please check him out whether you are a music fan or not. You get a lot of great info about the bands and venues past and present in Boston.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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