Gig Watch: August 2025

Shows not to miss in and around Boston for the month of August.

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We’re somehow already approaching summer’s final stretch, and August boasts some strong show options for dodging the heat and the wildfire haze.

8/7-8/9 – Somergloom

Boston’s yearly celebration of heaviness returns for three nights of in-the-red action in Medford and Somerville. Festivities kick off with a Thursday night at Deep Cuts highlighted by local favs Slow Quit and NYC’s Guhts, then move to Crystal Ballroom for a two-day bill spanning funeral doom to grindcore – all topped off by a headlining Saturday set from experimental sludge greats Sumac.

8/13 – MX Lonely / Warmachine / Main Era @ O’Brien’s Pub

It’s Candlepin Records night at OBs, featuring a trio of the shoegaze-extended-universe acts the local tape label is known for.

8/13 – Open Mike Eagle / Oceanator @ Middle East Upstairs

Hip-hop experimentalist Open Mike Eagle and NYC indie rockers Oceanator team up for a fun multi-genre bill in Central Square.

8/14 – The Armed @ The Sinclair

Maximalist punk collective The Armed returned this month with The Future Is Here and Everything Needs to Be Destroyed – one of their most chaotic and gnarly records to date – and they’ll bring their certifiably insane live show to The Sinclair this month (with bonus support from rising Michigan post-punk outfit Prostitute).

8/16 – Rat City Arts Festival

The locally-focused Rat City festival returns this summer with a larger footprint than last year, taking over the Charles River Speedway (home of the Notch beer garden) for a killer bill including Beeef, Oldsoul, Shallow Pools and more. Plus, it’s free!

8/22 – Cave In @ The Sinclair

Local heroes Cave In embrace their space-rock side with a 25th anniversary play through of their 2000 fan-favorite Jupiter.

8/26 – Youth Code @ Sonia

L.A. electro-industrial duo Youth Code have been pretty quiet the past few years, but they’ll come roaring back to town this month for a headlining set at Sonia.

8/28 – Hotline TNT @ The Sinclair

On the heels of June’s great Strawberry Moon, Will Anderson and company bring the noisy and infectiously catchy world of Hotline TNT back to town with local pals Pet Fox on opening duties.

8/31 – Bask @ O’Brien’s Pub

Asheville riff-bringers Bask close out the month with a night of their signature stoner-psych, supporting their forthcoming record The Turning.