MASSACHUSETTS MINUTE

Nay $peaks Finds Power in Her Words

Every few years, Massachusetts is hit with an album that grasps the mind of everyone within the local music circuit. Whether it be Cousin Stizz’s Suffolk County, Vintage Lee’s PiMP, Connis’ Conn(is), or BIA’s FOR CERTAIN, time and time again fans of the Bay State’s music scene have had a prominent body of work to rally around. Despite there not being that “one” standout thus far in 2023, local MC Nay $peaks has hopes of shifting this narrative and directing the limelight her way. She raps as part of the Words Speak Life collective, which is composed of both FUNERAL Ant Bell and AVENUEBLVD and has swiftly established a reputation as an exciting team of rappers in Boston. Last month, she delivered her very first album, Nayborhood Healer, and in the process of doing so, has captivated audiences from both within and outside of the confines of Massachusetts.

Nayborhood Healer is a 15 track offering that features fellow MA talents such as FUNERAL Ant Bell, AVENUEBLVD, Yanna G, and Reem Skully. Much of what one hears across this project is based in HipHop music, as Nay injects an immense level of soul into the music that she creates. Nay $peaks’ journey in music is one that derives from her youth. Growing up, she was profoundly moved and shaped by HipHop and R&B music. Some of her earliest influences in life were the likes of Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, and Erykah Badu, with these notable acts influencing Nay to eventually head down the path of creating music of her own. Though music now lies at the roots of Nay $peaks’ current creative trajectory, she’s honed her skills as an artist through the medium of spoken word. Over the years, Nay has developed an affinity for expressing her unique identity and viewpoint on life through words. Following her first release in 2021, Nay managed to bridge the gap between spoken word and Hip-Hop music, and hasn’t looked back since.

This album serves as the first one to be released by Nay $peaks up through this point in her career. Much of her catalog until now has been composed of singles, so to finally have a cohesive collection of songs under her name is certainly a monumental moment for the Boston rapper. There are an abundance of profound moments prevalent across this project, with each song possessing something unique to bring to the table. Delving into anecdotes surrounding life in and around Blue Hill Ave, placing emphasis on her burning desire to succeed, and shining a light on what it means to be a young Black woman from Boston, Nay offers an unabashed peak into what it’s like to take a walk in her shoes. Each song features a grand combination of playful wordplay, deepened meaning, and refined instrumentation as Nayborhood Healer ultimately rounds out as an unforgettable listen. Despite being a prolific album that’s meant to be digested in the order presented by Nay, some of its standouts are “Just Be You,” “Good In My City,” and “Buckle Up.”

There are plenty of shining moments for Nay $peaks across the entirety of this album. For many, Nayborhood Healer has served as the point of discovery for the Boston artist. In that same breath, this project marks the beginning of their unrelenting support. As Massachusetts continues to become a hotbed for creativity, it’s artists such as Nay who are giving the area a great rep. Find out why by giving a listen to Nayborhood Healer.

------------------------------------------------ SHAMUS HILL

**We strongly encourage all to take careful precautions when going out to public events! Follow the venue’s requirements regarding vaccination/negative Covid tests and masking instructions! Always double check the event online just in case they need to cancel!** music & audio

8/3 The Bride Price Tournament, with CalvinKleinCaterpillar do not miss a night of MUSIC and FANTASY in celebration of ‘cellsexual’. In this live rendition of THE BRIDE PRICE TOURNAMENT, you will enjoy a PLAY/THEATRICAL experience performed by a cast of beautiful, talented, and familiar faces. The performance will also feature live arrangements of songs from ‘cellsexual’, CalvinKleinCaterpillar's second album!

@The Lyric Stage

7PM 18+ $30-$50

8/3 Pulse Boston w/ Deevo Da Genius, Valid, Suriel, Swooli, Maye Star, Cashus Knight, Clark D, and kei A brilliant and beautiful night filled with rap performances

@Middle East Upstairs

7PM 18+

8/3 Jay Pluss Presents End of Summer Showcase ft. Shawn Mics, Solmaria, Gio Mage, Trackfeen + more!

@The Jungle 8PM 21+ $10

8/4 Boon, Denzil Leach, Puppy Problems, Ribbon

@O'Briens Pub

8PM 21+ $12/15

8/4 EXIT Galleries Presents

$ean Wire + Kadeem

@EXIT Galleries

7PM All Ages $15-20

8/4 Treebeard Media +

ONCE Somerville Presents

Somergloom Day 1 ft. Marissa

Nadler, Infinity Ring, Kira McSpice

@The Rockwell

7:30PM 21+ $21.43

8/5 Starlight Dance Party

Join DJ Tagoe and Pearl Movement for a free Saturday evening of music, dance, and community; at 7PM, learn original choreography by Pearl Young, a Boston-based performer, dance educator, and choreographer.

@Starlight Square

6PM All Ages FREE

8/5 Bridgeside Cypher another legendary freestyle performance this month!

@Lynch Family Skatepark

9PM All Ages FREE

8/5 Final Squitch show! Come say farewell! Also ft. RONG, Pink Navel + Kind Being

@ Crystal Ballroom

7PM All Ages $15/18

8/5 Treebeard Media +

ONCE Somerville Presents Somergloom Day 2 ft. Ashen Veil, Cradle of Judah, Still Life Sounds + Tears from a Grieving Heart @Bone Up Brewing 3PM All Ages $6.70

8/5 Sanye, Jo Saza, Ishafromthe978 w/ food, drinks, games + vendors @Thrill Studios

8PM 21+ $5-15

8/5 Vloro, scarecrow, Lifeless Dark, Chainsaw @Deep Cuts Deli

7PM All Ages $15/20

8/6 Jay Pluss + the Square Root Present The Square Root of Summer 2023 ft. Leelyi, Amanda Shea, Ju$t Jill, Bloodfire, Lomel, Noza Rez, Paula Feris, Karim

@The Square Root Cafe

7:30PM All Ages $10

8/6 Get To The Gig Presents Kal Marks, Gouge Away, No Model

@Deep Cuts Deli

7PM All Ages $17-20

8/6 Treebeard Media + ONCE Somerville Presents Somergloom Day 3 ft. Elizabeth Colour Wheel, Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean, SEED @Charles River Speedway

8PM 18+ $21.43

8/8 Clamb, Targus Targus, FEEP

@O’Briens Pub

8PM 21+ $12

8/8 Cliff Notez as part of the Passim Summer Series

@Danehy Park, Cambridge

6PM All Ages FREE

8/11 Skrrt! ft. Amadeezy, DJ Knife, Tommy Chronic, Deep Voice Jojo, Maddog

@Chinatown Country Club

10PM 21+ $10

8/11 Classical jazz fusion with Arina Fujiwara with Noah Harrington + Gen Yoshimura

@Lilypad 8PM All Ages $10

8/11 EXIT Galleries Presents ETHEREAL VISIONS

@EXIT Galleries

7PM All Ages $15-20

8/12 IBOOKTHINGS Presens, Depressors, Mall Cops, Kerosene Heights, Elephant Jake, Please 2003

@O'Briens Pub

8PM 21+ $10

8/12 Get To The Gig Presents

Superviolet + Trace Mountains

@Deep Cuts Deli

7PM All Ages $15/18

8/12 Queenality Cares Presents Queen Fest A Concert Celebration of Queens from Cambridge and surrounding Cities featuring acts from their Queen Mentorship Program, CRLS Students + more!

@Starlight Square

7PM All Ages FREE

8/12 Illegally Blind 10 Year Anniversary ft. Sweeping Promises, baby;baby: explores, Strange Passage, Pleaser

@Crystal Ballroom

7PM All Ages $17/19

8/12 GLD FESTVL ft. STL GLD, Oompa, Van Buren, Latrell James, Billy Dean Thomas, DJ Why Sham + more!

@City Hall Plaza

12PM-10PM All Ages $ome Cost

8/12 Non-Event Presents

Magdalena Abrego + Olivia

W-B, A. Campbell Payne outside in a park!

@ isher Hill Reservoir Park, Brookline 5PM All Ages

$uggested Donation

8/12 Northeast Noise Fest 40+ experimental/noise artists back to back to back allllll day, kiddo!

@The Firehouse

12PM All Ages $ome Cost

8/13 Ruby Grove, Miss Geo, Mau, Aznjujube

@The Jungle

5PM 21+ FREE

8/13 TotoRobyn, Pain Chain, Andrew Wayne x Edith Snugglenut Collab, Farrah Faucet

@O'Briens Pub

8PM 18+ $10

8/14 IBOOKTHINGS Presents

Former Critics, Riot Course, Twelveyes, BIKETHRASHER

@The Silhouette Lounge

8PM 21+ $10

8/15 Lydia Harrell as part of the Passim Summer Series

@Danehy Park, Cambridge

6PM-9PM All Ages FREE

8/16 Raavi, Mei Semones, Walk Me Home

@O'Briens Pub

8PM 18+ $15

8/16 Brittle Brian, Nino, Potion Seller

@The Firehouse

8PM All Ages $5-15

8/17 IBOOKTHINGS Presents Andy Caifornia + Lupo Citta

@Notch Brewing Brighton

7PM 21+ FREE

8/17 Hustle Killer House Party Pajama Jam ft. Supreme Boyz, Cyph GTTB, Camarie Jones, O.K.K.O., KEITHWRITESMUSIC, + more!

@The Jungle

8PM 21+ $10 w/ pajamas/$15 without

8/18 Men & Volts, Real Mahouts, Ryan Lee Crosby Band

@The Square Root Cafe

8:30PM All Ages $ome Cost

8/19 JP Porch Fest

For this year’s festival Dunamis will continue their mission of showcasing the amazing Jamaica Plain community with a specific lens of highlighting BIPOC performers and community organizations. Music + performances from porches + parks all over JP!

12PM-6PM All Ages FREE

8/19 Bridgeside Hot Girl Cypher ft. Amanda Shea, Eva Davenport, Kay Wattz, Nancia + more!

@Multicultural Arts Center

7PMAll Ages $10

8/19 Boynton Yards Block Party + Show ft. Haasan Barclay, Moxie, The Far Out, Lonely Leesa + the Lost Cowboys, Trespasser @Boynton Yards

4PM All Ages FREE

8/19 Levyosn Yiddish song/ klezmer ensemble

@Lilypad 10PM All Ages $10

8/20 Wonder & Awe Productions presents Songwriter Sunday ft. Brenda Carsey, Isaiah Solares, Kaylub, Kid Lightning

@Lilypad 10:30PM All Ages $10

8/21 IBOOKTHINGS Presents Winkler, Dino Gala, Sweet Petunia

@The Silhouette Lounge

8PM 21+ $10

8/24 Melcocha Trío ft. Anita Quinto, Manolo Mairena, + Wilson Vera

@The Square Root Cafe

8PM All Ages $ome Cost

8/24 Brother Moses, Stay outside, Layzi

@O'Briens Pub 8PM 21+ $12

8/26 Verdegree, Lady Lupine, Knock Over City, Three Weeks Notice

@The Jungle 7PM 21+ $10

8/26 EXIT Galleries Presents Connis, Gogo, Soap.wav, DJ Slick Vick

@EXIT Galleries

7PM All Ages $15-20

8/27 Mobius Trip: A Sonic Adventure

2 Tribute w/ Magnificent Danger and Battlemode

@The Rockwell

5PM-9PM All Ages $15

8/29 Kids Like You And Me (ur fave janky rock curators) DJ tunes for you to groove to!

@State Park Bar 8PM 21+ FREE

9/1 Get To The Gig Presents Notebook P + Malik Elijah

@Deep Cuts Deli

7PM All Ages $15-18

9/2 IBOOKTHINGS Presents Hope Fest ft. Pink Navel, Rilla Force, Mallcops, Zaafir, Perennial, Circus Trees, Daphne Blue Underworld + many more! 39 bands, 4 stages. A benefit for NAGLY

@Old Town Hall, Salem

12PM All Ages $25-45

Eliot Schoolyard Summer Concerts! Every Sunday ft. Cliff Notez, Grooversity + more! Find more info at www.eliotschool.org

Black Cotton Club Jam

Session: The Clearing Inspired by Toni Morrison's Beloved. Look out for dates in August + September on their IG

Pink World Episode 40 out now! Nicolerds from Sound Lab talks team dynamics, career, anxiety, networking & more! New episodes drop every Monday! Available on most popular platforms.

8/1-8/6 Pack a picnic for Boston’s best summer tradition with Shakespeare on the Common, transforming the park at sunset into Macbeth this year.

@Boston Common Parkman Bandstand

8PM-10PM All Ages FREE

8/1-8/12 Idris Goodwin’s new play, The Boy Who Kisses the Sky, is an inspiring coming-ofage story, premiering @Strand Theatre 7:30PM

All Ages $ome Cost

8/5 The Roxbury Poetry Festival is a biennial event centering poetry in Roxbury, MA. Many many folks will be leading sessions and workshops. Cristela Guerra, senior arts and culture reporter at WBUR, will be speaking on journalism; literary performer, Educator, and former National Poetry Slam Champion Regie Gibson will be leading a workshop on craft. Hanif Abdurraqib, famed essayist and poet, will be giving the evening's keynote address! @Bolling Building

10AM-9PM All Ages FREE

8/6 Common Circus at Roslindale Square!

Join Company One all throughout Roslindale Square for a walking tour of Luminarium Dance's current work: COMMON CIRCUS a three-ring exploration of the mundane. From doing the laundry to existential dread, workplace "norms" to putting a toddler to bed, join us as we visit some familiar sites while making great spectacle out of our day-today. From co-working space to coffee shop, dumpster to busy sidewalk, join us as we take this FUN performance to the streets and businesses of Roslindale Square. This roving performance utilizes dance, theatre, comedy, spoken word, and sport as the performers guide audience members from site to site.

@Roslindale Square 4pm

All Ages Pay What You Choose

8/13 Show Me Your Bits video game burlesque ft. music by Minusworld, Sam Mulligan + more!

@ONCE Somerville

7PM-11PM 18+ $25-35 @oncesomerville

8/13 Bogosplit Fashion

Extravaganza Experience the glamour and uniqueness of local fashion and art! Be captivated by stunning runway collections…all from local designers. Get inspired by the fusion of art, culture, and style as models grace the catwalk with elegance and grace.

Fashion Show 12PM-3PM. Vendor Market 3PM-5PM @Starlight Square

12PM-6PM All Ages FREE

8/18 GOBLIN HOLE: a drag show celebrating unhinged queer excellence Expect low key interactive activities, video art, digital drag, live performances, and chaotic pole dancers – as a treat.

@Crystal Ballroom

9PM 21+ $20-30

8/23 Good Luck Comedy Presents Rallo Boykins w/ DJ after party @ Middlesex

8PM-10PM 21+ FREE

8/31 Lili Latin Dance Presents: Summer Bachata Bash

Celebrate the summer with an Intro to Bachata lesson, and then dance the night away to your favorite Bachata and Salsa music! No partner required, just bring yourself and have an amazing night! @Starlight

Square 6PM-9PM All Ages FREE

video & film

8/1-8/29 Happy Birthday,

Mr Hitchcock! celebrates the masters birthday with some of his most brilliant thrillers including The Man Who Knew Too Much 8/1, Rear Window 8/8, Rope 8/22, and The Lady Vanishes 8/29

@Kendall Square Cinema

All Ages $ome Cost

8/5-8/13 Japan’s beloved director Yasujiro Ozu’s entire career hits the Harvard Film Archive screens this summer at Ozu 120. This month’s must-sees include his charming comedy Equinox Flowers 8/5, Early Spring 8/7, Tokyo Story

8/12 and Late Autumn 8/13

@Harvard Film Archive

All Ages FREE

8/6 Wim Wenders’ Tokyo-Ga is his love letter to the poetic film master Yasujiro Ozu, screening with Ozu’s 120

@Harvard Film Archive

7PM All Ages FREE

8/11-8/13 A Hitchcock double feature with his favorite leading men, Rear Window and North By Northwest

@Brattle Theater 8PM

All Ages $ome Cost

8/15 Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest is a behind the scenes look at the influential hip-hop group from Queens as part of the Coolidge’s series Hip Hop at 50

@Coolidge Corner Theater

7PM All Ages $ome Cost

8/14-8/15 Bette Davis’ full range hits the screen with her iconic roles from the ‘40s including Dark Victory and Jezebel in two double features

@Brattle Theater

All Ages $ome Cost

8/16 Pack a picnic and catch the B-movie classic, It Came

From Outer Space

@Greenway's Wharf District Park

8PM All Ages FREE

8/21 Pedro Almodóvar’s risqué love story about queer creatives was way ahead of its time. Law of Desire screens

@Coolidge Corner Theater

7PM All Ages $ome Cost

8/27 NYC drug overlords go up against streetwise cops in Mario van Peebles’ New Jack City at Coolidge After Midnight

@Coolidge Corner Theater

12AM-2AM All Ages $ome Cost

Visual Art

8/15-8/26 20 Years on the Edge celebrating the 20th Year Anniversary of Atlantic Works Gallery. Not only will current and past artists members be showing their work but they will also be officially opening their brand new ground floor gallery.

@Atlantic Works Gallery

5PM-9PM

Drawing on the Gay Experience. A Retrospective of a Life in Art. Jameson and Thompson Picture Framers are thrilled to announce an exclusive retrospective art show dedicated to the extraordinary talent and unique artistic vision of Gerard P. Donelan, a trailblazing LGBT cartoonist whose work has left an indelible mark on the art world and LGBTQ+ community. This exhibition showcases his iconic creations and a collection of rarely before-seen drawings and paintings. On view until 8/31

Elevated Spaces is a public art initiative consisting of mixed-media installations and programming designed to uplift Lawrence youth and local artists. On 8/17 is the Rising Artist Panel: Alternate Realities & Processes hosted by Rixy and on 8/18 there will be a final celebration of the initiative at El Taller Cafe.

Open Air Gallery Central + Charles A public art walk and Open Air museum experience. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, this public art walk is transformed by the nestled murals of Central Square and booming artwork residing in East Cambridge neighborhoods, along the Charles River, and all the way to MIT. More info and map at www.boston.aiga.org

Viltality | Alison Judd, Andrea Luper, + Elizabeth King Stanton. The show explores the concept of growth, adaptation, and cyclical change - whether it manifests through visuals of motherhood, self-reflection, or seasonal shifts. The cold months of winter are over; the city fills with excitement, color, and vibrancy to embrace change and new beginnings. These three painters explore the intimacy and the everyday of being a woman through different levels of figuration and abstraction. Vitality is the inaugural exhibition of Abigail Ogilvy Gallery’s brand-new Boston location, to see the show visit 450 Harrison Avenue #29. On view until 8/20

Yesterday's Gesture focuses on the ways in which artists consider landscape, nature, and their intertwined relationship with humanity across space and time. Featuring four artists Alchemyverse, Gohar Dashti, Katherine Mitchell DiRico, and Sue Yang, this exhibition houses a collection of places and glimpses of memories, emphasizing the symbiosis between people and land. With a selection of sitespecific installation, ceramics, photography, and drawing, the artists have imagined what landscape means for our livelihood within a grander scale of time. On view until 8/25

@Praise Shadows Gallery www.newenglandopenmarkets.com

8/1-10/29 Harvard Square Open Market Every Sunday from June through October, come explore the eclectic and carefully curated selection of over 50 artists, makers, and vintage dealers.

@ Nubian Square Open Studio for the Arts (NOSA)

11AM-5PM All Ages FREE

8/5 + 8/19 Caribbean Street Market music, food, art, desserts, apparel and more!

Every 1st + 3rd Saturday!

@715 River Street, Boston

11AM-5PM All Ages FREE

8/6-8/27 Morning Yoga at Jamaica Pond w/ Marlene Boyette every Sunday!

@ 11:30AM-12:30PM

All Ages Donation $uggested

8/10 Teens In Print End of the Summer Showcase!

Save the date! Join Teens In Print, a youth journalism organization, for an unforgettable multimedia experience that will challenge perspectives and ignite curiosity.

@100 High Street, Boston; 12th Floor 1PM-4PM

All Ages FREE

8/12 Allston Rat Race

It's the race that's not a race! Gather in Lower Allston at the Charles River Speedway to celebrate 11 years of CommonWheels

DIY bike collective! Lunch + dinner included!

@Charles River Speedway

10AM-8PM All Ages $20

8/15 4th Annual Summer Art Healing Project Come for a night of guided art, food, and fun! Right in East Boston!

@Maverick Landing Community Services 6PM-8PM All Ages FREE

8/17 + 8/24 + 8/31 Activating

ART: a movement in social justice formerly known as Activating ARTivism is a festival to amplify our community's voices through art, activism, and resistance. Follow @activating. artivism on IG for info drops and the final September event.

@City Hall Plaza

5:30PM-8PM All Ages

8/18 - 8/20 ZaZ Afro-Caribbean Fest celebrating the culture of the diaspora with food, music, art and fashion. 3 days, 2 different venues. www.zazfest.com

6PM-10PM All Ages

8/19 Anti-Robot Club's Marketplace Packed with a large variety of creatives doing everything from ceramics to vintage clothing, handmade objects and more. Stop in to shop, browse and grab a bite or drink! @ Farm Fresh 4PM-7PM

SUBMIT NOW! Boston GLASS (GLBTQ+ Adolescent Social Services) is looking for BIPOC + LGBTQIA+ artists to paint a memorial. Contact gjonas@jri.org to apply for this paid opportunity!

Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance offers opportunities and coaching for organizations, groups and individuals to assess anti-oppression within their community. Sign up now for programming ending in August and get in early for their Fall programming. Check out all the programs at www.linktr.ee/aortacoop

ART BY BARRINGTON EDWARDS @STUDIOVEXER