680 Huron Ave, Cambridge, MA
We have this large, beautiful, and well air conditioned space for every main dance! Bring out your best for our live music in this venue on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible (ramps and elevators)
Parking: Some parking available in the lot across from the venue. Street parking available on Huron Ave.
Transit Advice: Buses available from Harvard Square.
Shortest walk: #72 bus stop (Aberdeen Ave at Huron Ave) is an 8 minute walk from the venue. The last inbound bus each night is: Friday at approximately 11:25pm, Saturday at approximately 1:20am, and Sunday at approximately 10pm.
Most frequent bus: #71 and #73 bus stops (Mt. Auburn St at Aberdeen Ave) are a 13 minute walk from the venue. The last inbound buses each night are at approximately 1am.
Food: Limited retail options nearby and in Harvard Square.
Bathrooms: Two bathrooms, one with stalls, the other with stalls and urinals
We welcome Luther on his 80th Birthday Tour!
Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson is a legendary American Chicago blues singer and guitarist! Johnson moved to Chicago with his family in 1955. During the 1960s, he performed with Magic Sam. He performed in Muddy Water's band from 1972 to 1980. In 1980, four of his songs were included in an anthology released by Alligator Records. That same year he appeared as a member of the Legendary Blues Band, backing John Lee Hooker in the movie The Blues Brothers. Johnson moved to the East Coast and began fronting his own band, the Magic Rockers. His "Walkin' the Dog" was recorded live at the Montreux Festival's Blues Night. He won a Grammy Award in 1985 for Best Traditional Blues Album for his part in Blues Explosion. He recorded three albums released by Telarc Records: Slammin' on the West Side (1996), Got to Find a Way (1998), and Talkin' About Soul (2001). He also performed on three albums by the Nighthawks.
Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson on guitar/vocals, Otis Doncaster on harmonica, Paul Nadeau on piano, Kenny B on bass, Ethraim Lowell on drums, Howard Randall on guitar, and Pat Herlehy on saxophone.
23 Bay State Rd, Cambridge, MA
Parking: Some parking available in the lots on Bay State Road, New Street (next to Q Ballroom/Extreme Dancesport). Street parking available on Bay State Road and New Street. PARKING MAP
Transit Advice: Best to carpool between the main dance and the late night. Bus #74 is available but runs infrequently. Early morning bus service starts between 5-6am on the weekends. Best to carpool or use a ride share app to get home from the late night.
Please keep quiet outside and respect the neighborhood.
Food: Free late night snacks during the dance (fruits, vegetables, bagels, cookies, crackers, cheese, etc.). Gluten free options available. No nuts served. Lemonade and Iced tea.
Accessibility: This venue is not wheelchair accessible.
Bathrooms: Three bathrooms with multiple stalls
MIT Stratton Student Center (84 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA) and Kresge building W16 (48 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA)
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Ramps, elevators.
Parking: The usual parking garage was torn down. Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early for parking or use rideshare apps. On Saturday we recommend the Albany St parking garage ($9 for the day). Saturday parking meters are $1/hour, move your car every 2 hours. On Sunday we recommend parking meters because they are free on Sundays. PARKING MAP
Transit Advice: Closest bus lines are #1 and CT1. Subway Red Line stations Central (15 min walk) and Kendall/MIT (13 min walk) are nearby.
Food: Many retail options. 1st floor has Anna Taqueria, La Verde's (comprehensive mini mart with good grab-and-go food), Dunkin Donuts. 2nd floor has food court cafeteria.
Live Music Ballroomin Blues night co-sponsored with Swing City
Comprised of some of the most sought after musicians in the world, Taryn Newborne and the Real Deal strive to keep bodies on the dance floor!
Amy Kucharik [/kuh-CHAR-ick/] is an award-winning songwriter who has been singing and playing for dancers since 2009. Drawing from blues, folk and Vaudeville traditions and with a street-smart stagecraft honed in the subways of Boston, Amy tours and performs as a one-woman band with ukulele, foot percussion, mouth trumpet and harmonica, or with her Boston-based bands. Her Friends With Benefits played at Sweet Molasses Blues 2013 and Montreal Bagel & Blues in 2015. Amy’s songs “Dance Crush Blues” and “Like a Boss” have since been DJed at dance events from coast to coast and internationally. She released her debut full-length CD in 2014 and has just finished making her follow-up, "Until the Words Are Gone." Tiger Moan was formed in 2015 as a dance-specific band and inspired by the great blues women of the 20th century such as Victoria Spivey, Sippie Wallace, and Bonnie Raitt. With their diverse repertoire and versatile instrumentation, Amy and Tiger Moan tap into a broad variety of styles and influences to keep your dance floor extra hot and extra sweet.
Amy Kucharik on vocals/ukulele/guitar/harmonica, Michael Valdez on keys, Ariel Bernstein on percussion, Greg Toro on upright bass, Tim Lewandowski on trombone, Jeremy Valadez (of the Chicken Slacks) on sax and clarinet.
626 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA
Accessibility: Wheelchair available (ramp), handicapped parking, venue on 1st floor.
Parking: Venue has a parking lot. Street parking on Somerville Ave. Metered parking off at night. Note signage.
Transit Advice: Best to carpool between the main dance and the late night. Best to carpool or use a ride share app to get home at the end of the late night. Bus #83 and subway begin Monday morning service between 5-6am. Note that Somerville is experiencing heavy construction during 2019 for the green line extension. Check detour routes ahead of time.
Please keep quiet outside and respect the neighborhood.
Food: Free late night snacks during the dance (fruits, vegetables, bagels, cookies, crackers, cheese, etc.). Gluten free options available. No nuts served. Lemonade and Iced tea.
Bathrooms: Two bathrooms, one with 2 stalls, the other with one stall and a urinal