Dust off your cowboy boots, country is coming to Cambridge. McCarthy’s in Porter Square transforms into a rural roadhouse with line dancing nights hosted by Molly Albert and Vicky Falso of Line Dancing Queens. For this country-music-loving pair, line dancing is more than an infectious trend, it’s a mission to bring people together.
Since they began their line dancing journey five years ago, the trend has taken off. Spots around the city, including Loretta’s Last Call, The Harp and Ned Devine’s draw regular crowds, and the atmosphere in some of the higher-capacity bars became overwhelming for Albert and Falso.
“I just didn’t personally enjoy it anymore,” Falso said. “It was so packed, I didn’t want to be dancing like sardines.”
The friends decided to lead their own line dancing nights. The epiphany occurred two weeks after the long-dormant Christopher’s and Toad in Porter Square reopened as McCarthy’s & Toad. When Falso and Albert saw the hardwood floors upstairs at McCarthy’s, the vision was complete. They reached out to the pub and have been bringing their charm and cowboy boots every Wednesday since.
Attendance was low at first, starting with groups of five to seven dancers in May 2025. These days eager dancers crowd the floor nearly wall to wall, with skills ranging from beginner to advanced. You may have to squeeze your way past a bachelorette party to do “Pieces to the Puzzle.” While the atmosphere is different each week, the energetic vibes remain constant.
“The girls and the gays, that’s all we need to have a successful night,” Falso said.
The evening begins with a half-hour of beginner lessons, which is later bookended with another half-hour of advanced dances, a dedicated stretch they call their “power half hour.” If you’ve mastered “Casanova Cowboy” or finally nailed the turns in “Rude Dude,” this is your chance to show off.
Playlists range from pop to country with the occasional slow dance. Whether you just learned “3 Tequila Floor,” or want to refresh your memory on “Fake I.D.,” the hosts craft a well-rounded night to keep attendees happy.
Scott LeBlanc, a Cambridge resident, began attending McCarthy’s in November. The encouragement from Falso and Albert allowed him to grow.
“When I first started, I didn’t even want to go by myself because I was so nervous,” LeBlanc said. “But the more I met people, and the more I learned, it made me more comfortable.”
LeBlanc has passed along that encouragement and assistance to other dancers, demonstrating how these nights are about more than just the steps. He paid forward that help a few months ago when a new line dancer wanted to learn “Out Out,” a more intermediate dance.
“She asked me to learn it as well to do it together next time, so she wasn’t doing it by herself,” LeBlanc said. “That was a nice aspect of the community piece that does happen.”
Albert and Falso, who have since formed an LLC under the name Line Dancing Queens, balance friendship with business. A tough combination to navigate, but the two make it seem effortless as they continue to develop theme nights such as Oktoberfest, Y2K and Pitbull. They saw an opportunity and were not afraid to take it. The growing crowds and positive feedback demonstrate how far they have come.
Because of them, if you want to stomp your boots – or just grab a drink and watch the action – McCarthy’s is the place to be.
“You don’t have to take yourself too seriously,” Albert said. “It’s very fun. You’ll become obsessed if you go once.”
Line dancing with the Line Dancing Queens happens every Wednesday upstairs at McCarthy’s (1912 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge) in Porter Square from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
