Hundreds of outdoor concerts take place throughout Massachusetts in the summer and fall. It’s a tradition that dates back to the 19th century, when each city and town had its own brass band that proudly played in the gazebo on the town square, for holidays and special occasions.

Today you’ll hear music in the town squares, on lake shores, ocean’s edge, in museum and hotel courtyards, or in the middle of the city shopping districts.

The series listed below largely feature jazz, world or blues. Check individual web sites listed for fuller details and updated information.

Boston

Berklee Lunch Sessions at Prudential Center
June 1 - July 27 (Tuesdays)
Prudential Center
Boston Back Bay
prudentialcenter.com

Blues Barge
June 17 - September 2 (Thursdays)
Boston Waterfront
bhh.com

Concerts in the Courtyard
July 7 - August 25 (Wednesdays)
Museum of Fine Arts
Huntington Avenue, Boston
mfa.org

Downtown Crossing Jazz in July
July 2 - 30
Downtown Boston
downtowncrossing.org

Elma Lewis Summer Performing Arts Series
July 13, 20, 27, August 3, 10
Franklin Park Playstead
Dorchester
franklinparkcoalition.org

Harborwalk Sounds: Berklee at the ICA
July 8 - August 26 (Thursdays)
Institute of Contemporary Art
Boston Waterfront
icaboston.org

Harvard Longwood Campus Presents Berklee
June 30 - September 8 (Wednesdays)
Huntington Avenue, Boston
berklee.edu

Music in the Park: Berklee at Spectacle Island
July 11, 18, 24, 25, August 1, 8, 15, 21
Spectacle Island
Boston Harbor
berklee.edu/events/summer/#01

South Station Jazz in July
July 6, 13, 20, 27
south-station.net

Tito Puente Latin Music Series
July 8 - 29 (Thursdays)
O’Day Park & Mozart Park
South End, Boston
berklee.edu

Take No Prisoners Summer Concerts
Berklee at Fort Warren
June 19- August 21 (Saturdays)
Georges Island
Boston Harbor
berklee.edu

Cambridge/Somerville

Courtyard Series: Berklee at Regattabar
July 12 - August 23 (Mondays)
Charles Hotel
Cambridge
berklee.edu

Joe’s Jazz & Blues Fest
June 19-27
Somerville
somervilleartscouncil.org

Kendall Square Concert Series / Berklee
June 17 - September 16 (Thursdays)
Cambridge
berklee.edu

North of Boston

Salem Jazz Soul Festival / Berklee Summer Series
June 12, July 10, August 14 (2nd Saturday of each month)
Derby Square, Salem
salemjazzsoul.org

Marblehead Jazz Festival
June 20 – August 22 (Saturdays)
25th annual
Marblehead
marbleheadjazz.org

Newburyport Summer Concert Series
July 3, 10, 18, 24, August 7, 8, 14 (Saturdays and Sundays)
Maudslay Arts Center
Newburyport
maudslayartscenter.org

Rockport Music Summer Series
July 24, 31, August 6, 7, 8
Shalin Liu Performance Center
Rockport
rockportmusic.org/

Central Mass

Jazz at Sunset Series
June 18 - July 30 (Fridays)
Worcester
ecotarium.org

Cape Cod & Islands

Arts Foundation Summer Series
Brooks Park
Oak Street at Rt 39
Harwich
508 362-0066
artsfoundation.org

Cape Cod Jazz Festival
June 29 – September 1 (Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Wequasset Resort & Golf Club
Chatham
hwequassett.com

Musical Mondays
June 28 – August 16
Featherstone Center for Arts
Oaks Bluff, Martha’s Vineyard
featherstoneart.org

Provincetown Summer Jazz Series
June 30, July 14, August 4, 25 (Wednesdays)
Provincetown, Cape Cod
paam.org

Western Mass

Bang on a Can Music Festival
July 12 - August 1(Mondays through Saturdays)
Williamstown
massmoca.org

Chandlers Summer Concert Series & BBQ
July 1 – September 2
South Deerfield
yankeecandle.com