Live Music on Nantucket This Week (July 27–August 2, 2026)
Nantucket doesn’t slow down in late July, and this week the island’s music scene ranges from free harborside cover bands to a couple of genuinely big-name tickets. Here’s what’s actually on the calendar, venue by venue.
Cisco Brewers: free music, twice a day, every day
Cisco Brewers out on Bartlett Farm Road remains the reliable backbone of Nantucket’s live music week — no cover, no tickets, just a lawn, some picnic tables, and a rotating lineup of local and regional acts. This week’s schedule:
Monday, July 27: Liz Kelley (12–3pm) and Joy Riders (4–7pm)
Tuesday, July 28: Liz Kelley (4–7pm)
Wednesday, July 29: Buckle & Shake (12–3pm) and Autumn Drive (4–7pm)
Thursday, July 30: Autumn Drive (4–7pm)
Friday, July 31: Pet Sounds (4–7pm)
It’s the easiest, lowest-stakes way to catch live music on the island — grab a beer, post up on the lawn, and see what’s playing.
The Muse: two arena-caliber nights back to back
The Muse (44 Surfside Road) is having a serious week. The Head and the Heart bring their 15th Anniversary Tour to the island for two nights, July 28 and 29, performing their self-titled debut album in full alongside their best-known songs. That’s followed by Dope Lemon on July 30 and The Band Camino — fresh off arena dates with 5 Seconds of Summer — on July 31. For a 375-capacity venue, this is a genuinely stacked run; tickets for the Head and the Heart shows in particular are worth grabbing early.
The Chicken Box: funk, soul, and late-night sets
The Box (14 Dave Street) has The California Honeydrops bringing their brass-heavy R&B and soul on July 28 and 29, followed by Pop Disaster on July 30 and 31. Shows typically kick off around 9–10pm and skew 21+, so it’s the pick for anyone wanting a proper night out rather than an early-evening set.
Children’s Beach Bandstand: free and family-friendly
The town’s Sunday/summer bandstand series continues at Children’s Beach, with free concerts running 6–7:15pm. The performer for this week was still listed as TBA at the time of writing — worth a quick check of the Nantucket Culture & Tourism calendar closer to the date, but it’s a solid low-key option for anyone with kids in tow.
The bottom line
If you want zero-commitment, free live music, Cisco Brewers has you covered every single day this week. If you’re looking for a real ticketed show, The Muse’s Head and the Heart run (July 28–29) is the standout booking of the week, with The Chicken Box’s Honeydrops shows a close second for anyone who wants horns and a dance floor. Showtimes and lineups on the island shift fast during peak summer, so it’s worth double-checking each venue’s site the day of.
Sources:
- Cisco Brewers Nantucket Events Feed
- The Muse Nantucket — Shows
- The Chicken Box Calendar
- Children’s Beach Bandstand Concerts — Nantucket Events
