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)
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Caitlin_w
Aug 2, 2025
Matt was very great tour... - Matt was very great tour guide. We learned lots of information on famous artists. There also was a Belfast connection with the Oh Ya studio.
Review provided by Viator
Sharonht7758ac
Jul 14, 2025
Informative and fun tour of important Boston music landmarks - The tour was informative and fun! Matt was knowledgeable and friendly. His accessories (photos, music recordings) added to the experience. The places he took us to along the route were all important to the Boston music scene. His stories to match the locations were great to learn. The walk was manageable with a reasonable distance and pace.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Onair24306737627
Jul 14, 2025
Awesome tour - The tour guide was awesome - very knowledgeable and entertaining. I loved the stories - he must've mentioned at least 15 bands I really like. And starting and ending at the Verb Hotel was a real bonus - that place has some amazing rock memorabilia.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marissase4890di
Jul 14, 2025
Rock and Roll Enthusiast! - Having the tour begin at the Verve hotel was so cool! There are so many interesting and notable rock and roll artifacts and memorabilia displayed there! To begin, the tour guide, Matt, takes you into a permanent “tour bus” that lives in the parking lot of the hotel. He uses a boom box as a prop connected to his phone to play clips of different rock and roll songs and groups. He also uses pictures to show and explain different key moments in rock and roll history. Throughout the two mile walk around Kenmore Square, Matt points out different musical landmarks of interest to the early Boston rock and roll scene. Without giving too much away this is an incredible rock and roll experience not too be missed! Matt is super knowledgeable, entertaining and super easy to interact with! Highly recommend this tour for anyone who loves early rock and roll!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
From $35
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).