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: 1 day learn more
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 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.
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 sparked a revolution in how music was transmitted, recorded and taught. And trace Boston’s impact on the careers of iconic artists like 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. Scroll below to learn more….

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
(4 Ratings)
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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
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up to 15 guests
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September 2024
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