The church of rock

A church might seem like an unlikely setting for a rock concert. But at last Saturday's "Goatstock 4" benefit, three local acts plugged in their amps and cranked up their guitars, playing everything from psychedelic rock to goth trip-hop on the altar of the Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church. (Proceeds from the annual show are donated to a nonprofit that sends livestock to poor families to raise.)

The church is home to the Nave Gallery, which holds art shows and all-ages concerts - though on this night, the small but attentive crowd had long since retired their fake IDs. It's definitely an unusual experience: You watch concerts from the pews with a slight smell of incense lingering in the air.

The Nave hosts a "more experimental sort of music that doesn't go over well in bars and clubs," according to event coordinator Randy Winchester, but it has also featured popular New Hampshire singer-songwriter Jason Anderson, and Allison Crowe, a contemporary chanteuse who has toured with Diana Krall, will perform a holiday-themed show Dec 5.

The art gallery features a variety of work, from the traditional to the offbeat, in an intimate space. From Oct. 17 to Nov. 15, artists will explore kitchen space from political, social, and economic perspectives in the exhibit "Kitchen Stories." On Oct. 18, the Nave is hosting a flea market with books, clothes, and household items.

If you're looking for raucous dance parties or artwork that makes your head spin, this isn't the place for you. But if you like the idea of rocking out in church, the Nave Gallery is worth checking out.

The Nave Gallery, Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, 155 Powder House Blvd., Somerville. 617-625-4823. www.artsomerville.org

Jeff Miranda is a fourth-year student at Northeastern University. He can be reached at mrjeffmiranda@gmail.com.