Culture of Waltham: Music

If you want Music - you've come to the right place.  Waltham rocks, rolls, sings and swings!

I'm starting with musical performance groups in Waltham and will move to listening to music in Waltham. I begin with the benchmark of playing music in Waltham - the Dot Hill American Legion Band.  

The Waltham Legion Band began performing in 1948 under Dot Slamin Hill and gained international fame when they were the first American band to march in Red Square.  This patriotic veterans band has performed everywhere from Dublin to Honolulu!  You can see them year-round in both concerts and parades.  In May, they'll play in Newton, Somerville, Waltham and Watertown.  After 63 years, they're fundraising for new uniforms - check out their Web site and contribute.  

Next up is the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra. They recently performed in Boston and will be back in Waltham for an Italian Night at the Opera on Thursday, May 19th at the Westin Hotel.  Now, in their 25th year, they have an annual student competition and a local student joins the orchestra for a concert as a soloist.  Talk about giving back to the community!  Visit the Web site for tickets.

Then there are local acts: The McMurphys playing at 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 21 at . Other local bands include, The Moody Street Swing Band, Soft Touch Band, Steve Taddeo and the Swing Senders, musicians Gerry Beaudoin, Gail Rundlett, Julian Rundlett and Michael Williams.

Our local music schools and private instructors - MJ's Music School on Main Street, on Moody Street, LearnQuest Academy of Indian Classical Music -[Hindustani and Carnatic] & the Fine Arts Dept. of Brandeis, and the Waltham Public Schools (each Elementary/Middle/High School has a choir, concert band & orchestra, plus there are Jazz Band, Pep Band, Show Choir/Band, Orchestra and private lessons and small ensembles) - if you want to learn to play an instrument look no further than down the street!

Then, if you just want to listen to great music in Waltham, but not visit an eatery:

- Music Series: the historic mansion has a great summer music series from Sunday, May 15 through Wednesday, June 22.  It also features a museum tour, historic gardens and a farm.

- Waltham Farmers Market  — Sunday, June 11 through Saturday, Nov. 5. A concert is held almost every week at 11 a.m. and you can buy great local, fresh food and products as a bonus!

- Waltham Arts Council Summer Concerts on the Common series. The free concerts run each Tuesday night from Tuesday, July 5 through Tuesday, Aug. 2. Some performances to be featured: the John Penny Band, Waltham Philharmonic, Steve Taddeo and the Swing Senders, Continentals, Legion Band, Soft Touch, Reynolds Band and the Reminisants.

-Waltham Riverfest is an annual arts performance extravaganza that takes Waltham by storm on June 10 and 11. It focuses on local talented artists.  Watch out for more info.

- Brandeis Concert Series. The concerts run October through May. Some concerts are ticketed and some free. World music, new music, and everything in between!

-You can eat and listen to live music at or at and .