HipStoric Cambridge KiOSK Nites

HipStoric Cambridge KiOSK Nites is a free outdoor performance series produced by HipStory in partnership with We Black Folk that transforms the Cambridge KiOSK in Harvard Square into an intimate space for live music, storytelling, poetry, and creative collaboration. Each evening brings together artists across disciplines to experiment, perform, and build something unique in real time, highlighting the depth and diversity of Greater Boston’s creative community. Rooted in the idea that folk traditions continue to evolve through the stories, sounds, and experiences of each generation, KiOSK Nites invites artists and audiences to experience what can happen when different creative practices meet in one shared space.

Harvard Square

Flowers: A Tribute to J Dilla

Event Description: Flowers - a tribute to J Dilla is a celebration of hip-hop, culture, and artistic innovation. Honoring his legacy is Detroit's own Saxappeal + the Cru transporting you into a world of neck breaking grooves and soul nourishing sounds. Saxappeal is a 2x GRAMMY Nominated artist, and former touring saxophonist for 12x GRAMMY Nominated Charlie Wilson (former lead singer for The GAP Band). Supported by Boston poet and artivist Amanda Shae, and Detroit born/Boston rooted poet and saxophonist Tim Hall. Marking the 20th anniversary of the album Donuts, this celebration bridges generational divides and legendary production into a high-energy concert experience and ultimate live party that will have the whole crowd moving from the first beat to the last.  This program is presented by HipStory in partnership with BAMSFest - Momentum, Mass Hip Hop Archive, and FreeVerse. Special thanks to the J Dilla Foundation. Learn more about HipStory at <a href="http://www.thehipstory.com">www.thehipstory.com</a>.  Learn more about BAMSFest Play Playe and Momentum events - <a href="https://www.bamsfest.org/momentum">here </a> Event Details: <ul><li>Wednesday, June 24th </li><li>5:30 doors | 7:30 show </li></ul>Featured Artists: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/saxappealmusic/">Saxappeal </a> Saxappeal's mission is to rekindle the flame between people and good music. His hopes are to connect with his audience in a way they’ve never experienced. With a passion deeper than anything he can explain, he uses his horn to tell stories and celebrate the gift of love through music. Saxappeal: The name itself brings a new sensation to the art form of music. Comfortably known as “Sax,” this Detroit born and bred saxophonist has been playing since the tender age of 7. After a mere 6 months of playing, this young bird was encouraged to spread his wings and fly and has been soaring ever since. Now, the extraordinary 40 year old musician brings love, pain &amp; every emotion in between each time he sets foot on stage. His 2012 &amp; 2022 Grammy nominations are a testament to this fact.  Saxophonist/educator/producer/multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Saxappeal continues to build his brand, as well as his style of music. Most recently. Saxappeal has toured with 12-time Grammy nominated vocalist, (and former lead singer of The GAP Band) Charlie Wilson, who opened for Bruno Mars’ XXIVK (24 karat) Magic World Tour, and also toured with The Culture Tour with Jodeci &amp; New Edition. He also lends his talents to Zo! &amp; Tall Black Guy, w/Deborah Bond as their Musical Director. In 2026, Saxappeal also began touring his very first solo show, entitled “FLOWERS: a Tribute Series”, paying homage to Sade, Prince, J. Dilla, Whitney Houston, and Rick James this year. To create his own style, which he calls 'SaxSoul', Saxappeal blends jazz, hip-hop, soul, and R &amp; B. This young artist has truly been humbled by his opportunities and eagerly awaits more. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ketchp313/">Ketch P</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mizkorona/">Miz Korona</a> Opening Acts:   <a href="https://www.amandashea.com/gallery">Amanda Sh</a>ea Three-time Boston Music Award-winning Spoken Word artist Amanda Shea is a Black, queer creative at the intersection of poetry, music, social justice, and culture. WBUR lauds her EP God, Again as “bridging the gap between poetry and music,” seamlessly blending spoken word with genres like hip-hop, rap, rock, opera, jazz, R&amp;B, and contemporary sounds. With work featured in the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, The Boston Globe, TEDx, Netflix, Prime Video, BBC News, and GBH, Shea’s voice honors African and Puerto Rican oral traditions, while pushing the boundaries of what poetry can be—and who can access it. Her art reflects her personal life, explores social justice issues, and serves as a tool for healing through trauma. <a href="https://www.timvhall.com/">Tim Hall </a> Of all the ways that Tim Hall serves the Boston arts community – as a musician, poet, and educator – perhaps no title sums up his presence better than “facilitator.” Sometimes, he’s all of those things at once, interweaving his warmth, storytelling chops, and sense of rhythm into spoken word performances. Raised in Detroit in a home where music always “set the mood,” Hall picked up the saxophone at age 10, gleaning grooves from artists like Kirk Whalum, John Coltrane, Braxton Cook, and Terrace Martin. Known for his inviting blend of jazz, neo-soul, and hip-hop, Hall has become a central component of countless artists’ recordings. His debut spoken word project Colors of My Soul released in 2016, followed by the 2022 EP Trust the Process, an extension of his poetry book of the same name. Hall’s welcoming and tender words reveal his lived experiences, mapping the nuances of Blackness, masculinity, and life’s many beauties. Tim is currently an Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music and Co-Owner of HipStory.  Event Host:  <a href="https://www.thehipstory.com/">HipStory: </a> HipStory is a digital media production company responsible for creating unique, innovative, and inspiring art. We are redefining the future history of media by creating products, events and educational experiences that cultivate stories through professional audio/ visual media creation and event production/curation. We are dedicated to fostering a creative environment where clients can explore their vision and receive quality service. Event Partners:<ul><li><a href="https://openarchives.umb.edu/digital/collection/p15774coll30">Mass Hip Hop Archive</a></li><li><a href="https://www.freeversecollective.us/">FreeVerse</a></li><li><a href="https://www.bamsfest.org/momentum">BAMSFest - Momentum</a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdyanceyfoundation.org/">J Dilla Foundation </a></li></ul>

City Winery Boston 

HipStory Presents: Body Language; Through Lines II

Through Lines is a free dance workshop series produced by HipStory and Co-Curated by Stiggity Stacks, exploring the foundational techniques, historical context, and modern evolutions of Black dance traditions. This workshop will focus on several dance styles including jazz, house, vogue, and hip hop in conversation with each other. After engaging in demonstrations from instructors specializing in each style, participants will be guided through open sessions to explore and move between styles!

Boston Public Library

HipStory Presents: Body Language; Through Lines I

Cliff Notez & Grace Givertz Presented by We Black Folk Showcase

Sat, Jun 7, 7:30pm. Grace Givertz joins Cliff Notez for a night of jazz fusion, combining jazz with traditional Black folk music and urban vibes to create a unique sound. Grace Givertz captivates audiences with her indie folk compositions, blending earworm melodies with heartfelt storytelling. As a multi-instrumentalist, she infuses her music with a diverse array of sounds, weaving folk, Americana, and indie rock into a tapestry uniquely her own. Drawing inspiration from her personal journey living with chronic illness, Givertz's music resonates with raw emotion and introspection. Her experiences infuse her songs with depth and authenticity, inviting listeners to explore themes of resilience and vulnerability. Cliff Notez is a collaborator and award-winning multimedia artist, who seamlessly manifests a mix of hip hop, jazz, folk, soul, and R&amp;B that’s been likened to “Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, blended with the paranoia of Radiohead’s Kid A.” Their music reveals the repercussions of trauma, exposes the realities of the Black experience, and shares an intimate journey toward healing. Heavy lyrical themes are often juxtaposed with uplifting sounds: bright horns, sparkling keys, snappy percussion, and glowing guitar riffs. Cliff’s art is the perfect visual accompaniment for all of these themes, creating work that is both emotionally challenging while layered with colorful, playful imagery. $25 Members, $30 Not-Yet-Members. For tickets visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cultural-center.org/">www.cultural-center.org</a>&nbsp;or call 508-394-7100. Cultural Center of Cape Cod, 307 Old Main St., South Yarmouth.&nbsp;

Cape Cod Culutural Center

We Black Folk Presents Cultural Crossroads (Feat Alisa Amador & Sanba Zoo)

Cultural Crossroads is a vibrant, community-focused event that celebrates the shared heritage of Afro-American and Afro-Latino and the multiple intersection of afro-diasporic cultures through music, dialogue, and cuisine. By featuring live performances, artist discussions, and curated culinary experiences, the event fosters a sense of family and togetherness. Additionally, the inclusion of local businesses—from caterers to vendors—ensures that the economic impact extends beyond the arts, amplifying the voices and success of small businesses within the community. Saturday, May 24th, 2025 at 6:30PM Cultural Crossroads ft. Alisa Amador &amp; Sanba Zao CROMA Space at Arlington St. Church  Public Alley 438, Boston, MA 02116 Price: Free (Optional donation to We Black Folk at checkout) Why Donate to We Black Folk? Yes this is a free event. If you'd like us to continue to do free events please know that your donation directly supports Black artists, cultural workers, and storytellers who are preserving and reimagining folk traditions across the African diaspora. Donations help us pay artists, produce high-quality programming, and keep our events free and accessible to the community. Every dollar makes it possible for us to continue celebrating and sustaining Black folk culture—thank you for helping us build something lasting. Info:

Croma Space

We Black Folk Presents Rhythm & Roots featuring Stephanie Mckay & Tim Hall

Rhythm &amp; Roots is a bi-weekly celebration of Black movement, rhythm, and sound presented at Uncommon Corner on Boston Common. Rooted in the traditions of the African diaspora, this free concert and community series brings together live music, dance, and interactive jams that connect generations. From blues to hip hop, Afrobeat to house, each event honors the past while celebrating the ever-evolving expressions of Black folk culture. Genre-expansive and boundary-pushing, Rhythm &amp; Roots showcases how Black musical traditions are forever expanding, intersecting, and reshaping global sound. Come move, connect, and experience the living rhythms that continue to shape our world

Uncommon Corner

We Black Folk Presents Sinners in 70mm

Join us for a rare and powerful cinematic experience as We Black Folk partners with Coolidge Corner Theatre to present Sinners, screened in stunning 70mm — a format historically reserved for Hollywood spectacle, now reclaimed for a story rooted in Black life, folk-lore and resistance. At We Black Folk, we celebrate and elevate the multiplicity of Black expression — from traditional folk music and oral histories to contemporary narratives that shape our collective memory. Sinners resonates deeply within that mission. The film confronts the generational echoes of Black spirituality, music, joy, and survival with artistry and complexity rarely seen on screen, let alone in large-format cinema. By presenting Sinners in 70mm, we center Black stories at the scale they deserve — immersive, grand, and unflinchingly human. This format allows us not only to witness, but to feel the textures of Black existence: the sacred and the profane, the quiet moments of communion, and the visceral ruptures of history. Following the screening, join us for a panel discussion featuring filmmakers, scholars, and cultural workers exploring the film’s layered narrative, its role in redefining cinematic representation, and the enduring ties between Black folk culture and contemporary Black art

Coolidge Corner Theatre

We Black Folk Presents Cultural Crossroads (Feat Fabiola Méndez & Kina Zoré)

Join us for the second installment of Cultural Crossroads, a vibrant celebration of Black and Afro-diasporic folk arts, music, and storytelling, presented by We Black Folk in partnership with Ágora Cultural Architects at CROMA. This month, we’re honored to welcome the soul-stirring talents of Fabiola Méndez, a trailblazing Puerto Rican cuatrista redefining tradition through classical and folkloric fusion, and Kina Zoré, the powerful Afro-pop ensemble led by Mozambican artist Helder Tsinine, known for electrifying rhythms and messages of liberation and joy. 🎟 This event is Pay What You Can — which truly means if you can’t pay, you don’t have to. These events are made possible by community support, so if you’re able, please consider making a donation to help us keep the series accessible and alive. Come experience the intersection of culture, movement, and music as we continue building bridges across the African diaspora. This is more than a concert — it’s a gathering of kinfolk, rhythms, and resistance. 🌍✨ See you at the Crossroads.

We Black Folk Presents Cultural Crossroads (Feat Zili Misik & Jorge Arce)

We’re thrilled to announce our next series, Cultural Crossroads, happening March 22nd in partnership with Ágora Cultural Architects at their beautiful space, Croma. Cultural Crossroads is all about exploring the intersections of Afro-diasporic culture through music, storytelling, and movement. This is a space where traditions meet contemporary artistry, where rhythm and roots collide, and where Black folk music in all its forms is uplifted. For our March 22nd event, we are proud to feature an incredible lineup: 🎶 Zili Misik – A powerful blend of Afro-Caribbean and African-American musical traditions, bringing high-energy, soul-stirring performances. 🥁 Jorge Arce – A legendary Afro-Caribbean percussionist, storyteller, and educator sharing rhythms that bridge past and present. 🎤 Tyler Donkoh-Halm – Our talented Berklee opener, representing the next generation of Black folk storytellers. Learn more at Weblackfolk.com

Croma

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

hipstory

Experiences

HipStoric Cambridge KiOSK Nites

HipStoric Cambridge KiOSK Nites

HipStoric Cambridge KiOSK Nites

Flowers: A Tribute to J Dilla

HipStory Presents: Body Language; Through Lines II

HipStory Presents: Body Language; Through Lines I

Cliff Notez & Grace Givertz Presented by We Black Folk Showcase

We Black Folk Presents Cultural Crossroads (Feat Alisa Amador & Sanba Zoo)

We Black Folk Presents Rhythm & Roots featuring Stephanie Mckay & Tim Hall

We Black Folk Presents Sinners in 70mm

We Black Folk Presents Sinners in 70mm

We Black Folk Presents Cultural Crossroads (Feat Fabiola Méndez & Kina Zoré)

We Black Folk Presents Cultural Crossroads (Feat Zili Misik & Jorge Arce)