Roadrunner (venue)

Roadrunner
Tycho performing at the Roadrunner (2022)
Map
Address89 Guest St
Boston, MA
United States
LocationBrighton
Coordinates42°21′24″N 71°08′38″W / 42.356647°N 71.143932°W / 42.356647; -71.143932
Public transitUS Passenger rail transport  Framingham/Worcester Line 
at Boston Landing station
OperatorAnschutz Entertainment Group
Seating typeGeneral admission
Capacity3,500
Construction
Broke groundApril 1, 2019
OpenedMarch 14, 2022
Website
https://roadrunnerboston.com/

The Roadrunner is a concert venue in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Since its opening on March 15, 2022, the Roadrunner has been the largest general admission concert venue in New England, with a capacity of 3,500. The venue is named after Jonathan Richman's song "Roadrunner".

History

In October 1976, American rock band The Modern Lovers released the song "Roadrunner". Written by Jonathan Richman, the song details the freedom he feels while driving alone, specifically in Boston suburbs. Richman has described the song as an ode to Massachusetts Route 128. Elsewhere, it has been described as "one of the most magical songs in existence" and has had a significant influence on the culture of Massachusetts, with it even being proposed as the official rock song of the state.[1][2]

On April 1, 2019, construction began on a new venue at 89 Guest Street.[3] After significant delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the venue was opened on March 15, 2022, with a concert by American bluegrass artist Billy Strings.[4][5][6] It was given the name Roadrunner as a tribute to Jonathan Richman's song.[7][8]

In February 2025, the venue is set to host the Something in the Way Fest, featuring over 25 artists on Run for Cover Records. The event will introduce a temporary second stage.[9]

Size

With a capacity of 3,500, the venue is the largest general admission concert venue in New England.[10][11][5]

The entire venue is 50,000 square feet (approximately 4,645 square meters) in total.[8] Standing at 60 feet wide, the stage itself has been labeled "arena-sized".[10][5]

Transportation and parking

The Roadrunner is located at Boston Landing station, part of the MBTA's Framingham/Worcester Line.[4][12] Alternatively, the Green Line train stops at the Allston Street and Harvard Avenue stations, which, when walking, are approximately 15 minutes away from the venue.[12]

There is no parking area for cars at the Roadrunner, though the venue lists 71, 40, and 80 Guest Street as recommended parking garages.

Concerts

Date Headliner(s) Opening act(s) Event/Tour Ref.
March 15, 2022 Billy Strings — Venue inauguration [6]
March 17, 2022 Khruangbin Nubya Garcia Casa Surreal Tour [13]
March 18, 2022 [14]
March 19, 2022 Tom Misch Joel Culpepper NA Tour 2022 [15]
March 29, 2022 JoJo Tanerélle, Lindsey Lomis JoJo Tour 2022 [16]
March 20, 2022 Dropkick Murphys Jesse Ahern, Jim Lindberg, The Rumjacks St. Patrick's Day Tour 2022 [17]
March 24, 2022 Bleachers Charly Bliss Strange Desire live [18]
March 25, 2022 Gone Now live
July 26, 2022[a] Mitski The Weather Station Laurel Hell Tour [19]
July 27, 2022[a]
September 29, 2022 Japanese Breakfast Yo La Tengo Jubilee Tour [20]
December 2, 2022[b] Rina Sawayama DJ Coleslaw Hold the Girl Tour [21]
December 17, 2022 Foals Glove, Inner Wave Life Is Yours Tour [22]
May 9, 2023 Sabrina Carpenter Blu DeTiger Emails I Can't Send Tour [23]
September 22, 2023 Tegan and Sara Carlie Hanson Crybaby Tour 2023 [24]
February 18, 2024[c] S Club — The Good Times Tour [26]
October 11, 2024 Dayseeker Alpha Wolf, Catch Your Breath, Kingdom of Giants Dark Sun Protocol [27]
October 13, 2024 Fontaines D.C. Been Stellar Romance Tour [28]
October 16, 2024 Declan McKenna Vlad Holiday Live in Concert: USA & CA '24 [29]
October 26, 2024 Okean Elzy — The Lighthouse Tour 2024 [30]
October 28, 2024 Clairo Alice Phoebe Lou Charm Tour [31]
October 29, 2024
October 30, 2024

Notes

  1. ^ a b The concerts on July 26 and July 27, 2022, were originally scheduled for March 21 and March 22, 2022, but were rescheduled due to a run-in with COVID-19.
  2. ^ Rina Sawayama's Hold the Girl Tour was originally scheduled for November 4, 2022, but was postponed when the artist sustained a vocal injury.
  3. ^ The concert on February 18, 2024, was originally scheduled for November 13, 2023,[25] but was rescheduled, due to an unspecified "admin issue".[26]

References

  1. ^ Barton, Laura (2007-07-20). "The car, the radio, the night – and rock's most thrilling song". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  2. ^ Andersen, Travis (2018-04-20). "That proposal to make 'Roadrunner' the official song of Mass.? It's back". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  3. ^ "Roadrunner, Boston's new indoor concert venue, is up and running". GBH. 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  4. ^ a b Buell, Spencer (2022-03-14). "First Look: What to Expect at the Brand-New Roadrunner Music Venue". Boston Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  5. ^ a b c "Boston's newest music venue set to open Tuesday in Brighton". WCVB. 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  6. ^ a b "Billy Strings Opens Roadrunner in Boston with Live Debuts". Jambands. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  7. ^ "Roadrunner's sound and sightlines make it an 'A grade' concert venue". www.wbur.org. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  8. ^ a b Aswad, Jem (2021-05-12). "Roadrunner, Concert Venue With Jonathan Richman-Inspired Name, Opening in Boston". Variety. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  9. ^ www.somethingintheway.net https://www.somethingintheway.net/. Retrieved 2024-10-11. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ a b "Take a peek inside Roadrunner, Boston's newest music venue". www.wbur.org. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  11. ^ "Roadrunner". Boston Landing. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  12. ^ a b "Roadrunner Boston". roadrunnerboston.com. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  13. ^ Onanian, Nora (2022-03-20). "Show Review: Khruangbin at the Roadrunner, Boston | WERS 88.9". WERS 88.9FM. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  14. ^ "Khruangbin @ Roadrunner!". 92.5 the River. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  15. ^ "Jason Landry — Concert Review: Tom Misch at Roadrunner". Jason Landry. 2022-03-21. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  16. ^ "JoJo Tour 2022". www.audacy.com. 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  17. ^ Latta, Chris (2022-04-01). "CONCERT REVIEW: Dropkick Murphys – Jim Lindberg – The Rumjacks – Jesse Ahern Live at Roadrunner". Ghost Cult Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  18. ^ Goldman, Brent (2022-03-28). "Bleachers Performs 2017 LP 'Gone Now' In Full On Second Night At Roadrunner Boston [Photos/Videos]". L4LM. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  19. ^ Muller, Karen Muller (July 27, 2022). "Mitski does it her way in a luminous show at Roadrunner". The Boston Globe. United States. ISSN 0743-1791. OCLC 66652431. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  20. ^ Chung, Samantha H. (October 11, 2022). "Concert Review: Japanese Breakfast Is Jubilant at Roadrunner". The Harvard Crimson. United States. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  21. ^ "Rina Sawayama @ Roadrunner". tastemakers. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  22. ^ "Foals Announce 2022 Tour Dates". 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  23. ^ "Front of the Line: Sabrina Carpenter fans show up for her and one another". GBH. 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  24. ^ "Tegan and Sara Boston Setlist – Roadrunner – Sep 22, 2023". JamBase. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  25. ^ Pop, Retro (September 13, 2023). "S Club taking Good Times Tour to America for first-ever US tour". Retropop. United States. Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  26. ^ a b Pierre, Mekishana; Willis, Jackie (2 November 2023). "British Pop Group S Club 7 Postpones 25th Anniversary Reunion Dates". Entertainment Tonight. United States: Paramount Global. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Dayseeker Announce "Dark Sun Protocol" Fall 2024 Headline Tour". www.spinefarmrecords.com. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  28. ^ Strauss, Matthew (2024-05-07). "Fontaines D.C. Announce 2024 North American Tour Dates". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  29. ^ "Tour". Declan McKenna. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  30. ^ "Okean Elzy (official) Boston Tickets, Roadrunner, October 26, 2024".
  31. ^ "Tour". Clairo. Retrieved 2024-10-11.