Boston Roller Derby prepares for Star Wars Night 2024. (Courtesy of Boston Roller Derby)

5 things to do this weekend, including Star Wars Roller Derby and Somerville Open Studios

Plus, artist Elisa Hamilton's "Sightlines" exhibit and Rhythm N’ Spice Hot Sauce Fest.

Duane Eddy, who put the twang in early rock guitar with 'Rebel Rouser', dies at age 86

NPR

May 1, 2024

The West Newton Cinema, pictured in 2020. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Anonymous donor gives over $5 million to effort to save West Newton Cinema

Boston will host its first 'Public Art Triennial' in 2025

Local musician discovered by Fortnite after posting on Reddit

Boston jazz saxophonist Gregory Groover Jr. comes into his own on 'Loveabye'

Sheffield Historical Society celebrates life of Civil War veteran as part of Black history project

Independent Film Festival Boston serves up community and eclectic cinema

10 dance performances to attend this spring

This season, you’ll be able to see Boston Ballet’s fiery “Carmen” light up the stage, as well as the return of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to the city. WBUR contributor Shira Laucharoen highlights thought-provoking events to attend.

Literature writer Katherine Ouellette recommends nine books to read this spring. (Courtesy the publishers)

9 books by New England authors to read this spring

A production image from "Mrs. Krishnan's Party." (Courtesy Nimmy Santhosh)

12 theater productions to see this spring

In-process work by Osman Khan for "Road to Hybridabad" at MASS MoCA. (Courtesy MASS MoCA; photo by PD Rearick)

14 art exhibits to explore this spring

Andris Nelsons conducting the BSO in January 2023. (Courtesy Aram Boghosian)

A comprehensive guide to spring's classical music performances

Top left to right: Black Kat Boppers (Courtesy James Newell); Lisa Bastoni (Courtesy Thomas Lingner); Jennifer Tefft & The Strange (Courtesy John Parrillo); DJ WhySham (OJ Slaughter for WBUR). Center, from left: The Amplifier Heads (Courtesy); Alisa Amador (Courtesy Sasha Pedro). Bottom left to right: Nate Sabat (Courtesy Jules Miranda); Canyons and Locusts (Courtesy); Lauren Henderson (Courtesy Elisabetta Fernanda Cartiere); Sunburned Hand of the Man (Courtesy Arkan Zakharov).

10 albums to listen to this spring

A still from the film "The Queen of My Dreams." (Courtesy Belmont World Film)

9 Greater Boston film festivals to check out this spring

John Minnock (Courtesy Leslie Farinacci)

Remembering jazz singer John Minnock with final album 'A Different Riff'

Instead of introducing the Boston singer to new audiences, the record is coming out as a memorial. Minnock died unexpectedly...

Arts & Culture

Apr 26, 2024

Child's coffin, 1295–1186 B.C. (Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)

Sleuthing leads the MFA to return an Egyptian coffin to Sweden

The MFA and the Gustavianum, Uppsala University Museum In Sweden worked together to correct the record on an ancient object's...

Arts & Culture

Apr 26, 2024

Female singer strumming a guitar on stage in Worcester, Massachusetts. She is wearing a short black dress and a navy blue jacket with bell sleeves.

Singer Cara Brindisi wants to talk

The singer-songwriter is seeking deeper conversation in new concert series called "Life & Lyrics."

Arts & Culture

Apr 24, 2024

"Framing Freedom" at the Boston Athenaeum takes a look at the life of Black activist and abolitionist Harriet Hayden and the anti-slavery movement in Boston. (Courtesy Tony Rinaldo/Boston Athenaeum)

Abolitionist Harriet Hayden's photo albums show 19th-century Black lives

The exhibit "Framing Freedom" at the Boston Athenaeum provides a nuanced look into Hayden's life and the larger anti-slavery movement...

Arts & Culture

Apr 19, 2024

From left, Mike Faist, Zendaya and Josh O'Connor in director Luca Guadagnino's "Challengers." (Courtesy Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures)

'Challengers' is a sexy soap opera about a tennis love triangle

Arts & Culture

Apr 25, 2024

From left, Steve Zahn, Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke and Janeane Garofalo in director Ben Stiller's 1994 film "Reality Bites." (Courtesy Photofest)

Revisiting seminal Gen X film 'Reality Bites' 30 years later

Arts & Culture

Apr 23, 2024

The cover of Elijah Wald's book "Jelly Roll Blues: Censored Songs and Hidden Histories." (Courtesy Hachette Books)

Elijah Wald uncovers the censored world of early jazz in 'Jelly Roll Blues'

Arts & Culture

Apr 18, 2024

Get a peek inside Cambridge’s new community theater space

Arts & Culture

Apr 12, 2024

Editor's Picks

Taylor Swift performs onstage during "The Eras Tour" at Gillette Stadium in 2023. Swift's popularity has launched academic classes devoted to her work. (Scott Eisen/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

Taylor Swift college classes are a thing now

In the name of journalism, the reporter undergoes a sleep treatment with massage therapist Tyler Cousins at the Four Seasons in Boston's Back Bay. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Dreaming of sleep? You could try a 'sleep vacation'

Artist Imo Nse Imeh's portrait of Frederick Douglass at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Portraits of historic Black Americans now grace a Worcester landmark

Gail Jones looks at a 1970 photograph by Stephen Shames of herself with her siblings and two friends, in the MFA Boston's "Comrade Sisters: Women of the Black Panther Party" exhibit. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Finding Boston's 'Comrade Sisters' of the Black Panther Party

Dub Apocalypse (Courtesy Winifred Chane)

9 musical residencies to see in 2024

Rapper, producer, and singer Pink Navel at Roxy's Arcade in Cambridge. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Boston rapper Pink Navel makes a case for playing games

5 things to do this weekend, including Star Wars Roller Derby and Somerville Open Studios

Duane Eddy, who put the twang in early rock guitar with 'Rebel Rouser', dies at age 86

NPR

Anonymous donor gives over $5 million to effort to save West Newton Cinema

Boston will host its first 'Public Art Triennial' in 2025

Local musician discovered by Fortnite after posting on Reddit

Boston jazz saxophonist Gregory Groover Jr. comes into his own on 'Loveabye'

Sheffield Historical Society celebrates life of Civil War veteran as part of Black history project

Independent Film Festival Boston serves up community and eclectic cinema

10 dance performances to attend this spring

9 books by New England authors to read this spring

12 theater productions to see this spring

14 art exhibits to explore this spring

A comprehensive guide to spring's classical music performances

10 albums to listen to this spring

9 Greater Boston film festivals to check out this spring

An eco-art installation that's for the birds — literally

Remembering jazz singer John Minnock with final album 'A Different Riff'

Sleuthing leads the MFA to return an Egyptian coffin to Sweden

Singer Cara Brindisi wants to talk

Abolitionist Harriet Hayden's photo albums show 19th-century Black lives

'Challengers' is a sexy soap opera about a tennis love triangle

Revisiting seminal Gen X film 'Reality Bites' 30 years later

Elijah Wald uncovers the censored world of early jazz in 'Jelly Roll Blues'

Get a peek inside Cambridge’s new community theater space

Taylor Swift college classes are a thing now

Dreaming of sleep? You could try a 'sleep vacation'

Portraits of historic Black Americans now grace a Worcester landmark

Finding Boston's 'Comrade Sisters' of the Black Panther Party

9 musical residencies to see in 2024

Boston rapper Pink Navel makes a case for playing games

WBUR Presents: The 2023 Makers