Editor’s Note: Welcome to V3 Weekend, Vanyaland‘s guide to help you sort out your weekend entertainment with curated selections and recommendations across our three pillars of Music, Comedy, and Film/TV. It’s what you should know about, where you need to be, and where you’ll be going, with us riding shotgun along the way.
Music: The Ghouls at Thirsty First
What will The Ghouls do for an encore? The rock and roll libertines of Lowell had a spectacular 2024, winning the damn Rock And Roll Rumble, scoring Rock Artist of the Year at the Boston Music Awards (just moments after performing live), and unleashing a string of rippin’ singles like “Pocket of Gold,” “Lovestruck,” and the holiday-wasted “Will We Even Have A Christmas Time?”. Now they post up at Thirsty First for a hometown matinee on Sunday (January 12) that features The Only Things, Ruffian Dick, and Vanyaland faves The Downhauls. We’ve been asking for more afternoon shows, and this one should be a lively affair in Massachusetts’ new rock city.
THE GHOULS + THE ONLY THINGS + THE DOWNHAULS + RUFFIAN DICK :: Sunday, January 12 at Thirsty First, 103 Market St. in Lowell, MA :: noon, all ages, $5 :: Event info
Comedy: Roast Battle Boston at The Rockwell
They say 2025 will be one of the most combative and confrontational years on record, so it makes sense that Boston comedians are taking on each other in an ultimate battle of laughs. Tonight (January 10) in Somerville’s Davis Square, Roast Battle Boston takes over The Rockwell, as hosts Logan O’Brien and Garrett Finn hold court over five ha-ha showdowns pairing up 10 of the city’s finest smile slingers. The rotisserie chickens on the awesome poster below tells us how serious this will be. “Some of Boston’s best up-and-coming comics go head to head in a roast battle,” teases the event description. “One of the most fun shows in the city, come watch friends rib each other for the title of biggest jerk in comedy!” Let’s get it on!…