The Lilypad

We enjoyed this cool little venue, with its funky decor and laid-back vibe. Much of the seating is benches. We wished we glad gotten a seat by the wall for back support. Oh well. The show we saw by solo accordionist Will Holshouser was outstanding. Highly recommended!

crowded feel, I attended a comedy show with 65 people. I only know this cuz I was there while they were counting the chairs out and 65 people plus three comics and bartender. it felt really really congested and really tight on space. it does have really cool artwork though

Great intimate event space. I attended a number of great concerts from local musicians in here. There is beer on tap and other drinks as well. Tricky to find street parking. Lots of great restaurants nearby.

Place was cool. However, be warned, the lines for the drafts beers have not been cleaned in a while. Saw a guy try to return his stale beer and they wouldn’t let him. Not great.

My partner and I were visiting from Indiana and stumbled upon this place, and we were so glad that we did! Such a gem of a venue! Thank you so much for the sweet sounds, kindness and good memories🖤

One of my fave music joint for jazz music in the city! Have many great musicians there as Dave Rempis and Yellowjackets band!

It's crusty and small but it's just right. I had a pleasant time seeing Charlie Martin. They have a bar and bathrooms. Feedback regarding accessibility: It was unfortunate that they put all the chairs away for the show. Even at larger venues with far more pumped up artists, there are chairs placed to either side of the stage for folks with different abilities or health conditions that limit the ability to stand for the duration of a show. A friend in our group had to sit down on a bench due to back pain but couldn't see.

Great music venues, I have been enjoying this club over the decades!! D Patnod, Lic Ac Cambridge

Rude staff and SCAM. Read the other reviews BY MUSICIANS. I highly DO NOT RECOMMEND this place. Good beer is about all. They did not pay a group who had several out of town members and even one from out of the country and asked them to pay full price entry to the show before as well as for drinks. Also charge a ridiculous price to rent the venue after 10p on a weeknight when nobody is there. Pay to play for touring musicians - don't support this place if you care about honorability in music

The Lilypad in the heart of Inman Square Cambridge is in my opinion without doubt the best performance space in the Boston area, with exception of course of the great larger halls like Symphony + Jordan. When it comes to the intimacy of a smaller room, nothing compares to the vibe of this great sounding + visually stunning venue, thanks to Dan Masi for the fantastic wall murals, and to the entire staff for always maintaining a welcoming + energetic atmosphere. The beer + wine selection is superb. Sure the hotel bars bring in some heavy hitters, but the Lilypad consistently features the absolute best of the phenomenal + varied artists we are blessed with in the amazing music scene of greater Boston, as well as talent from NYC + all over the country. The music programming is incredibly varied; some of the best jazz + chamber music performances I have ever enjoyed happened here. The ongoing Sunday-night Jazz Jam session is an awesome scene, always featuring great opening performances by the house-band, followed by convivial jazz jamming, open to players + listeners alike, not to be missed!

This is a great place with a casual, community-centered energy. The inside is cozy and eclectically decorated; the bar serves a limited but decent selection of beer, wine, etc. Seating is somewhat limited, so I'd arrive a little early to ensure you get a spot and aren't stuck standing. I hope to come back here for more shows from local performers in the future!

Incredible venue to see TOP musicians in a very intimate setting. You feel like you in someone's living room with these amazing players friendly casual low key vibe but BY FAR the best jazz venue in the area thanks to Gill the owner and founder and all the musicians !

Great place in Inman Square for live music. We've seen some great performances here. Good vibe. They have a small but nice selection of beer/wine. Good restaurants nearby to grab some food before the show.

Lily Pad, Lily Pad... how I love your simple acoustics and intimate bare bones performance space. It was a Thursday night and I almost passed you on the street, with little more than a light in the window and an unlit piece of lily pad motif stained glass to let me know you were there. The sweet sounds of soulful music slipping out from under your doorway and the small crowd gathered within told me that I was, indeed, in the right place. We arrived at 9 pm for a show that started at 10 pm and were pleasantly surprised to find another set of musicians already playing that were equally intruiging. Once I stepped inside and planted myself in one of the metal folding chairs, I found myself forgetting about the outside world and being absorbed in the world of the musicians before me- no formal stage to separate us and just enough amplification to drown out the sounds of the street but not the sound of the musician's breath. Works of local artists adorn the walls, inviting artistic introspection and conversation starters in between sets. With room for barely more than 50 people, you'll feel like part of a small community discovering something pure and authentic. You won't find drinks or food here (which is good for the under 21 crowd), but feel free to bring your own or grab something at the cafe on the corner, at least there's a bathroom with plenty of interesting reading material. Bring cash for a $10 donation at the door and a little extra in case you want to take some of the performance home with you on CD- what you're likely to hear will be a refreshing change from today's overplayed and overproduced music.

I sometimes go there for underground post-whatever rock music. No one seems to mind the benches as the crowd tends to mill around or simply stand during the music. I could see where the benches are not comfortable for sit-down-listen-carefully music. Last time, half the benches were pushed together and the musicians' cases were piled on them. That's how small this venue is--there's not even enough room to stash all the equipment. But I can't mark them down over the seating, not when every visit is pleasurable, for those of us who enjoy non-mainstream music. Their excellent online calendar includes musician bios and sometimes sound files.

Pros: Pretty decent space, good sound, books some great music that you won't find anywhere else in metro Boston. Cons: The people who run the place are complete incompetents. And the benches they have for seating now are really uncomfortable (I never thought I'd miss folding chairs, but they were way better). Why I say they are incompetent: It is November 13th and they have not yet posted a calendar for November yet. There is no way of knowing what is playing unless they happen to post it on Facebook and you happen to see it, or maybe you luck out and they post something on their website in time for you to see it and make plans to go. To add to the problem, I frequently find that the band and the venue disagree about what time events are occurring, so I'll show up and discover that the concert started half an hour ago, or shows will be cut short because the venue booked another act too soon after the first act. There are also frequent problems with early sets running late and impacting the late set's timing. It's all completely arbitrary and as a concertgoer it is very aggravating. I would be very hesitant to book here if I were a musician - you have to pay a rental fee and then you don't know if the management will list you on the website or not, or when they'll list you (month in advance? day of show?), or whether they'll list an incorrect time for your set, or whether they'll cut your set short or make you start late. I think you would be fine if you are buddies with the guy who is running it, otherwise be careful and keep your expectations low. Definitely don't book here unless you can draw your own crowd via your social media connections etc., or if you can piggyback on a local band with a strong following. Locals will not find out about your show via the venue so it's all on you. And if you do play there I suggest writing a note to tape on the door with the band name and door/set times to help the ill-informed local concertgoers figure out what's going on!

Would not recommend booking with The Lilypad if you're a band. They're extremely rude, unprofessional, and slow to respond. We only dealt with them over email, but whoever is doing their email had a serious attitude, to the point that we were forced to cancel because they were too difficult to work with. Not good customer service, especially since they expect bands to pay to play at their space (which is problematic in itself). Basically a pay to play scam.

Big fan. If you enjoy seeing your shows about as stripped down and hollowed out as possible, this is the place for you. Kind of like a Preservation Jazz Hall for unknown bands. And live music is exactly what Inman Square needs. Go often and support establishments like this one. My two favorite shows there: 1. The Saturday Saints first show 2. Devendra Banhart and the Arcade Fire (c. 2003)

I went here for the first time this Thursday for the Haiti benefit. This place has a lot going for it. It appears that there's ample room for most events even though it was crowded for the benefit. The venue is cozy and has a warm, recital feel to it, perfect for fostering local creativity. Add to this rumors of a liquor license and I'm sold. I definitely plan to attend future events. Some of the acts that night were decidedly B-side, but hey, what else can you expect. Unfortunately, The Lily Pad does have some unsavory elements, as does any venue. Thursday I witnessed one gentleman talking through Jesse Gallagher's performance. He was joking about trying to ascertain the name of the song with an iPhone App. "Take that you mainstream, iPhone-wielding, image-obsessed conformists!" he must have been thinking, ironically unaware of his skin-tight jeans, flannel shirt and black-rimmed glasses among a sea of clones, not to mention the "disheveled" hair which must have taken him upwards of twenty minutes to painstakingly prepare. I didn't actually turn around to see him but in all likelihood that description is accurate.

Very nice location for a small, intimate show. I agree with the previous reviewer about the benches being a bit stiff. if I return I'll remedy that on my own with a seat cushion. Pretty nice little bear selection on tap as well, which is worth 1 star all on its own because it was unexpected.

The Lilypad is a very special space. There is a wide variety of amazing music playing basically every night, including legendary Jazz residencies like The Fringe, Jerry Bergonzi and Joe Hunt as well as the latest in local punk and psyche. The walls are covered in a Swirling Psychedelic Fantasy Land and there is a well curated beer list. For music performances, the room sounds great and is set up to put the main focus on the performers, which makes it a great space to listen deeply. It's a real hidden gem that shouldn't be missed!

The woman working here provided exceptional service. Her warmth and thorough care - two enthusiastic thumbs up. Love it coming back ASAP!!!

Lilypad has terrific potential, but it still needs work. Tickets are inexpensive and the venue's sound manages to be very good despite their rather basic setup. This is undermined somewhat by seating composed of perpendicular angles and unyielding surfaces and the expensive beer. That's all well and good. If tickets are to remain cheap, then a certain number of corners will need to be cut and operating margins made up elsewhere. The real shortcoming of Lilypad,IMO, is the Saturday night twin-bill format. On paper, this is a very promising concept that can offer an evening of great music for very little money. But it never quite works as it should due to poor time management. Invariably, the "headliner" for the first bill finds itself short of time and forced to play a very short set. As that act is typically the whole reason I've found myself at Lilypad on any given evening - I feel a bit shortchanged. This should be a very easy problem to sort out, but it doesn't appear the owner-operator has any inclination to do so.

Saw the group the Other Favorites Friday. Show was great, venue sucked. Website said the doors opened at 7:00PM and show at 7:45. Came down from NH with my wife to be there a bit before the doors opened. Got there and they wouldn't let anyone in until 7:45. Everyone was waiting out in the cold. Everyone rushed in, they didn't put out seats like the website showed. They said it was standing room only, NOT posted on the website. People were sitting on the floor and Standing crowded in the back. Mayhem. Very irritating. Don't think I'll back to this venue. Totally unorganized.

Formerly the Zeitgeist Gallery (which still exists at the Axiom around the corner, confusing, right?) the Lily Pad is an excellent no-frills performance space, catering mostly to lovers of avant-garde and generally adventurous music. There are no refreshments, no decor, no stage, just a piano, some folding chairs, and great music! Shows are $10 usually, and there are typically two a night, one at 8 or so, and another at 10. The legendary free-jazz trio The Fringe is there every Monday, I recommend seeing them at least once.

Boston is home to Berklee Conservatory, and therefore to a surprising amount of great live music. Lilypad is a room, with some good beer, and consistently great performances.

Cambridge's most cutting-edge performance space. A breeding ground for adventurous styles of music, theater, and more. The music ranges from jazz to chamber music to purely avant-garde. Past events have included everything from dance performances to radio dramas. And dont forget Tango Tuesdays. Located in the heart of Inman Square, slightly off the beaten path, this is an excellent place to experience something unexpected.

Stopped in briefly this Saturday when I heard the jazz spilling out onto the street. The line-up looks good... yes, the benches are uncomfortable per the previous reviews and also I wish they had a bigger sign to understand who was playing and if it's free... but it really adds to a nice lazy weekend atmosphere that Inman is growing! Can't wait to come back. (And hope they do a BLUES NIGHT, please!)

Great venue, cool staff and good beers on tap.

Lilypad offers a nice, intimate venue for watching emerging Boston area performers. The accoustics are decent, and the tiny little beer bar is cute. You won't want to hang out here for too long though, as the seating in atrociously uncomfortable. Long wooden benches, old summer camp style, will cause your butt to scream after about 10 minutes. I am glad, though, to see spaces like this pop up in the Cambridge area. Go Cambridge!

I'm so happy this place exists. So discreet, it'd be easy to walk past and miss it entirely, if it weren't for the hum of jazz spilling out onto Cambridge Street. Lots of great shows for $10, some even as cheap as $3. Now serving craft beer, as well.

A discrete gem with great programming, intimate in a good way, classy though far from flashy. Over the years I've seen remarkable performances in diverse styles of dance and/or music (including solo artists and bands with about ten musicians, jazz, funk, rock, "world," various fusions, a lot of original compositions), and also some yoga classes, which were much more pleasant that I would have expected from such a non-yoga space (very little waiting for the bathroom, although there's only one). The grand piano alone is a joy. Shame on me for not Yelping about it earlier. I don't always love the art that's on display, but I absolutely love this place's bones, including the stained glass in window, the beautiful old door, the wood floor, and the front steps. It reminds me of some favorite places in New York and of European cities. I just found out they've started a free monthly film event on Sunday afternoons, which starts with a presenter and opens to discussion after the viewing. To quote their site: "Bar will be open, food for sale from Olecito; bring your own cushions or lawn chair." I'm surprised there seems to be only one review from this year. Check their website for recent info and current schedule. Bonus: lots of great places to eat and drink near Lilypad. Parking can be tricky, but can usually be found on Cambridge street, if you're willing to walk five minutes. Lilypad is definitely worth visiting often, a treasure for the Boston area. And if you do need to walk a bit from the red line or your car, you likely won't feel it after your experience there.

Came here last night for a CD release party for a friend of mine Adam Rich. It was a good time. The Lily Pad offers a very cozy and intimate environment and live music sounds great here!! One thing I would recommend is to work on the seating. I've never been here before so I don't know if the seats were arranged this way for the event I was attending, but the seats aren't comfortable and there aren't enough seats. I would suggest maybe a movie theatre type seat or arm chairs spread throughout the place. Also, the bathroom is wicked quirky!! There was a bookcase in there...and there was a beck-tie on the bookcase. Very quirky.

Simple and pleasant please, where you'll could listen to excellent musicians, have a great time for a cheap ticket price. I highly recommend it!!! Monica Batkis Odonnell

Great, cozy little venue with some great musicians who play for the love of music. Friendly folks who make out-of-towners feel welcome!

So, I was really looking forward to getting to play The Lily Pad in Cambridge, MA this Friday. Amidst all of the factory farm venues that make up the "Boston music scene", it seemed a refreshingly musician friendly venue... by email. The fact that they give two thirds of the door right to the bands is respectable, but it doesn't make up for the lack of respect we received at our show on Friday. We showed up and weren't told a thing, no mention of load-in, sound check, or hospitality. So we carry our gear in to the venue, and the owner and sound guy are just staring at us. We don't know wether to proceed with load-in, or bring everything back to the van, so we continue loading in. The next band finishes a half hour later than scheduled, which is cool because that happens. Especially with jazz heads, they're always a little behind the beat. What is not cool is that we got stuck with paying for the lack of leadership the the venue exhibited, by not being allowed to play our last song. Our family and friends had come a long way in to the city to see our show because I had promised them that this was the venue to come see us at. So when the audience was yelling, "Encore, Encore" the venue owner/runner was saying, "No More, No More". His reasoning? His band wanted to play! The applause quickly died, and some really awkward moments passed. Then since the atmosphere was so weird, everybody just left instead of hanging around the merch table, so we didn't sell anything. As I was loading up, talking with some friends that were too young to leave for the bar next door with the rest of the crowd, the venue operator interrupted us and said,"We didn't collect the cover charge, so if you want any money you had better make an announcement to [your family] that you need money." WTF!?!?!?!?! Really? I just quietly sipped my $3 dollar beer he had made me pay for, and tried to go back to enjoying my friends. After we were all packed up, I decided I didn't want to stick around for the last band, and would just go ask for any money put in the tip jar for us. (NOTE: I always make a point of listening to every band on the bill. This is the only way that any music scene will grow. But this venue had a revolving door attitude, similar to most NYC venues we had experienced like The Living Room and Rockwood. When ever the band changed, so did the audience. And after how we were being treated...) So I went back into the venue, and got a bit of satisfaction when I saw the whole venue empty, except for the bar girl and the band's GF's, but then I lost it. The two guys playing horns in the venue owner's band were the same two guys I had to ask to either be quiet or take there talk outside several times during our set. I don't mind people talking at a bar while we are playing, that's expected. But this was a listening room situation, and everyone else was enjoying listening. So I did the only thing a reasonable human being could do. I started screaming, "WHERES MY MONEY? WHERES MY MONEY?" over and over to some very confused looking jazz players. Finally when most of them had taken their dumb instruments out of their dumb mouths I yelled, "PEACE!", and peaced. The funny thing is the owner/runner/jazzhole had already interrupted my bandmate earlier to awkwardly hand her our tip money, very unprofessionally, in front of guests of the concert. It's embarrassing enough to only get fifty bucks for a show, but can you please not advertise how poor you are making us. The cherry on top was that they illegally recorded our entire performance with out asking our permission, and of course have not sent us any of the recordings. Now I have played a lot of venues in a lot of different places, some worse then this one (i.e. Canceled Bills w/ No Notice, Police Tape Around The Venue, Meth Deals, Triple Homicides...seriously). But none have ever driven me to the point of writing a review of the events. I usually just take them with me, and laugh about them with friends at the next show down the road. But I feel like it's my responsibility, neigh (sp?) civic duty, to tell the world about what transpired this particular night, because it is the perfect microcosm of the music world today. Not in the way that it is biblically un-good, and should therefore be foreclosed upon, deemed unsafe for any musical creation to inhabit. But a microcosm in the sense, that with some careful care, attentive attention, and respectful respect this should-be music scene will flourish into this generation's musical mecca.

My favorite spot in Cambridge! The Lilypad is such a hidden gem and really worth a visit. Excellent service, incredible jazz, and a cute little bar. Highly recommended!

Talk about community! From rock shows to yoga classes this place sends out nothing but positive vibrations. I love what they stand for and how they stand for it. There are very few accessible venues of expression left and this place has seemed to harness that along with a warm fuzzy feeling in the bottom of your soul.

Great space, cool vibe. Need to upgrade the sound system.

Great venue and great music. Points off for their apparent inability to post an updated music calendar on their webpage. It is now May and the April calendar is still up. How are we supposed to know who is playing? A visit?

The Lily Pad was an ideal place for my band's first gig. The acoustics and sound were great and the folks in charge of sound and booking were friendly and professional. Our audience had a great time and we came away with a quality recording of our performance.