Music Box
A famous, tiny venue where you can take the stage
C
lub Passim gave music big shots like Joan Baez, Tom Rush, and Suzanne Vega their starts and now welcomes performers like Lori McKenna (above), Mary Fahl, and Jake Armerding. But for all its fame, it has a secret: Passim may present only the hippest, most talented artists, but the rest of us can also take to the petite stage and make fools of ourselves. The tiny basement club—its capacity is just 125—hosts an occasional open-mic night and lets local artists perform two songs apiece. If you want to play it safe and be a spectator, the cover charge is only a few bucks and you're bound to see some talent (with a few terrible Beatles covers thrown in). Keep in mind that Passim is vegetarian, so if you have a craving for a burger, stop somewhere on the way. But don't be late. The few seats fill up fast. Penzias
Shhhh! Her father, physicist Albert Baez,
worked at MIT.
worked at MIT.
Shhhh! First called Club 47, after its original
address on Mount Auburn Street, it was renamed
Club Passim in 1969 and now operates as the nonprofit Passim Folk Music and Cultural Center.
address on Mount Auburn Street, it was renamed
Club Passim in 1969 and now operates as the nonprofit Passim Folk Music and Cultural Center.
Shhhh! The sign-up sheet fills even faster,
so if you have the nerve to perform, show up early
and get your name on the list.
so if you have the nerve to perform, show up early
and get your name on the list.
Shhhh! Check the calendar.
Shhh who knew
When Club 47 opened, in 1958, it was shut down for violating an archaic Cambridge law banning more than three string instruments in a venue serving drinks. It reopened as a private club to get around the rule.
These lines serve Club Passim. Click to find more secrets on your route.
1 Bus, 66 Bus, 68 Bus, 69 Bus, 71 Bus, 72 Bus, 73 Bus, 74 Bus, 75 Bus, 77 Bus, 78 Bus, 83 Bus, 86 Bus, 96 Bus, Harvard/Red Line
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Get directions to Club Passim by T.
Dates and times vary. Check the calendar.
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