New Bedford, MA

With an up-and-coming music scene emerging in this whaling city, New Bedford's intimate venues offer bands a chance to get up close and personal with club-goers. Located 51 miles south of Boston and 28 miles southeast of Providence, R.I., New Bedford is quickly becoming a hub of musical substance. After the formation of The AHA! Project in 1999, New Bedford has opened its arms to budding talent of all types. While the city's art galleries offer a wealth of cultural experiences, New Bedford music clubs bring in acts from surrounding areas year round.

Guide to Gigging in New Bedford

Venues

Café Arpeggio
800 Purchase St.
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 999-2233
www.cafearpeggio.com
Home of Open Mic nights every Thursday, Café Arpeggio is the perfect venue for aspiring troubadours and poets of the area. The Open Mic is first come first serve, so those who wish to perform should show up early. Send booking questions to

Art Tebbetts at DrJazzT@comcast.net

New Wave Café
143 N. Front St
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 984-0080
www.newwavecafe.net
New Wave Cafe has been around for more than a decade, offering up a space for bands of all genres. From folk to reggae, the New Wave Cafe is a venue that doesn’t discriminate. To book, email Paul at newwavecafe1@verizon.net

Bridge Street Station
122 Main St
Fairhaven, MA 02719
(508) 996-8749
myspace.com/bridgeststation
Voted the best venue of 2007 by southcoast247.com, the area’s online lifestyle site, Bridge Street Station offers a great space for local and touring bands.

The Garage
75 N. Water St.
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 992-9395
myspace.com/thegaragenb
“The Man” may have forced The Garage to shut its doors, but the small space will reportedly reopen sometime this summer. Owner Kerri Cox says that “The Garage is open to just about anything,” and she means it. The all-ages venue has hosted everything from hardcore bands to classical pianists.

Media

southcoast247.com
The area’s web guide to arts and entertainment keeps readers informed with music news from all over. The site keeps an eye on local acts and the music scene that is happening in their own backyard.

WUMD 89.3 FM
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
(508)999-8149
www.893wumd.org
U-Mass Dartmouth’s radio station is the place to go for non-commercial radio, for those who want a departure from derivative mainstream music and love to listen left of the dial.

Gear/Repair

Daddy’s Junky Music
127 Faunce Corner Rd.
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
(508) 992-3377
www.daddys.com
Daddy’s is a store that can be found all over New England, and musicians shouldn’t be deterred from checking out the gear Daddy’s has to offer just because it’s a chain. If you do, you’ll be missing out on a store that offers everything needed for an upcoming show, including gear rentals.

Symphony Music Shop
94 State Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
(508) 996-3301
symphonymusicshop.com
Symphony Music Shop has been selling musical instruments since 1962. They offer tons of gear, music lessons and repairs for string instruments.