Somerville, Massachusetts, is getting a fall night of live music, local food and community gathering as the Start Where We Are Earth Music Festival takes over Bow Market on Wednesday, September 23.
The free, all ages event runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Upstairs at Bow, with live performances, local businesses, eco-friendly vendors and a courtyard designed for visitors to hang out between sets.
A Free Night of Live Music
The festival features performances from several local and emerging acts, including SWWA Collective, Dimitris Terpizis Quartet, Sofia Almeida & Yujin Han, Rita Valldeperas, Jade Faria and LAVAGXRL.
The event is free for attendees, although organizers suggest a $15 donation to support the festival and its local environmental efforts. Organizers say 75% of proceeds will benefit environmental organizations.
Bow Market Sets the Scene
The festival is taking place at Bow Market, a popular Somerville destination filled with food, art and small businesses.
The main performances will be held at Upstairs at Bow, an indoor space that allows the event to continue rain or shine. The market’s courtyard will also offer a place for attendees to gather around fires, grab food and drinks, and spend time between performances.
The combination of an indoor music venue and an outdoor courtyard gives the event a distinctly fall feel without requiring attendees to deal with a traditional outdoor festival setup.
Music Meets Sustainability
The Earth Music Festival was founded in 2023 by local Berklee musicians who wanted to explore how live music could help create conversations around environmental issues.
That idea remains central to the 2026 event.
Along with music, attendees can connect with environmental organizations and eco-friendly vendors. The festival also offers opportunities for visitors to learn about ways to get involved in local environmental efforts.
A Local Festival With a Community Feel
Unlike large music festivals that can draw massive crowds and require extensive travel, Start Where We Are is built around a smaller community setting.
Visitors can listen to live music, explore Bow Market’s shops and eateries, and spend the evening with friends without leaving the Somerville neighborhood.
The festival’s organizers describe the event as a way to bring together independent artists, local businesses and community organizations while supporting environmental groups.
What to Know Before You Go
The Start Where We Are Earth Music Festival takes place Wednesday, September 23, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Upstairs at Bow inside Bow Market in Somerville.
The event is free and open to all ages, with RSVP encouraged. Organizers say the festival will take place rain or shine because the primary music venue is indoors.
Doors open at 5 p.m., according to the event listing. Free parking is also listed among the event details.
A Different Kind of Fall Music Night
For Somerville residents looking for something different on September 23, the Earth Music Festival offers a mix of live music, food, local businesses and community activities in one compact setting.
With no general admission charge and performances from six featured acts, the event is shaping up as a low-key way to spend a fall evening while supporting local artists and environmental organizations.