Boston Rock & Roll History: Guided Soundscape Tour

Discover the rich rock and roll history of Boston on a guided soundscape tour. Explore legendary venues, learn about pioneering DJs and producers, and trace the impact of Boston on iconic artists.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • The Fens - Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the Fens is a treasured greenspace in Boston and features Americas oldest WW II, Victory Gardens. On the Modern Lovers EP, Jonathan Richman sings, “I walk through the ‘Fenway with my heart in my hand”. We will stroll through the gardens before heading into Kenmore Square.
  • Kenmore Square - For…
What's Included
  • Walk through America’s oldest Victory Gardens still in use
  • Stroll down lively Lansdowne Street, home to numerous venues, in the shadow of Fenway Park
  • Examine Boston’s impact on the Folk Revival in the 60s
  • Hear tales from the Rat, the cavernous club where many Punk and New Wave bands got their start
What's Not Included
  • Food & Drinks not included
Additional Information

Guided by a local musician, explore Boston’s rock and roll past, present (and future), on a walking tour through Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. Visit the sites of legendary venues like the Rat, Storyville, and the Boston Tea Party- The Velvet Underground’s favorite place to play in the whole country! Learn how pioneering DJs, producers, and educators…

Location
The Verb Hotel
Boylston Street
We will meet in the lobby of the Verb Hotel, home to an exclusive collection of Rock and Roll artifacts from the David Beiber Archives including vintage concert posters, album art and tickets to historic shows.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(23 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Jessica_d
Jun 18, 2025
Matt was awesome and made... - Matt was awesome and made sure to include bands that we were interested in. He even made accommodations for including my elderly father-in-law who moves at a slower pace. My only critique would be to schedule the tours around the Red Sox games since we got tangled up in the crowds coming out of the game at Fenway.
Review provided by Viator
Scottgs9205dw
Jun 13, 2025
Music and More... - Long-time Massachusetts resident and music fan and was glad to learn this tour existed. Thought I had good knowledge of Boston's music history but learned so much more from Matt. His passion, enthusiasm and knowledge were on clear display. Enjoyed learning how the music connects with Boston's culture, history and even some of its architecture. Matt engages and makes a genuine connection with folks. Take the tour and you will appreciate you did.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nancyjf673jd
Jun 10, 2025
Fun Boston rock and roll tour - I have a pretty good knowledge of Boston rock history but I learned a lot of new things on this tour. Matt is a really fun and engaging tour guide and his enthusiasm for the city's musical history was infectious. It really hit home how underrated and maybe unappreciated the influence Boston has had on jazz, the blues and folk music, not just rock. A well worthwhile tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cecilia_n
Jun 7, 2025
Family Fun near Fenway - Matt guided our family (including our 11 year old) through the Fens and showed us the sites of the neighborhood. He was an engaging and knowledgeable presenter and told us about all the amazing Boston music connections. I would recommend this tour to anyone that loves music or wants to learn something different.
Review provided by Viator
B9707lmandreas
Jun 1, 2025
Awesome tour!! - This tour is awesome! Matt is a great tour guide and I learned so many cool things about the Boston music scene. I would definitely recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F2228afchrisp
Jun 1, 2025
Take This Tour - Matt is an encyclopedia of Boston’s music history. It was very cool to learn about all of the iconic venues that helped shape the scene in Boston, as well as the influence of WBCN. On a personal note, he was incredibly accommodating of my pregnant wife during the tour. He made sure she didn’t get left behind while walking and ensured she was comfortable when we stopped.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joanne
May 17, 2025
Fun and interesting walking tour around Fenway area. - We throughly enjoyed this tour . Matt was very knowledgeable and provided lots of fun and interesting facts about music and singers related to Boston . Enjoyed the walking tour around Fenway area
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jkmoobs
May 9, 2025
Interesting tour with great guide - Brilliant tour, really engaging and interesting. Matt is a really personable and knowledgeable guide and we really appreciated his commitment to run the tour despite terrible weather.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
946timothyb
May 5, 2025
Matt Rocks! - Great tour. Tons of knowledge and insight and cool Boston Rock facts. If you like rock or music in general and love Boston then check it out!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D3244bvheidil
Apr 28, 2025
Magical Music Tour - Loved this tour! Matt’s knowledge of music, his enthusiasm and the creativity of his presentation made this a unique experience. It was fun to revisit the Kenmore/Fenway area and to view it in a broader musical perspective. Highly recommend this tour. Thank you, Matt! 🎼
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $35
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).