OCT. 29 – NOV. 2: PETER MULVEY 15th ANNUAL LAMPLIIGHTER SESSIONS
Club Passim at 47 Palmer St. in Cambridge brings the return of this veteran singer-songwriter who will curate and perform across six distinct shows over the five-night series. The shows are supported by an eclectic mix of regional talent, including Mark Ereli, Vance Gilbert, Tim Gearan, Dinty Child, and more. Highlights of this year’s celebration include All Hallows’ Xmas Eve, a Christmas-themed Halloween show on October 31, and Rain Dogs, the annual live performance of Tom Waits’ seminal 1985 album on November 1. The Lamplighter Sessions at Club Passim began fifteen years ago and have evolved into an annual multi-night, single-room festival of improvisational art, music, spoken word, visual art, theater, and Halloween revelry. Founded by Mulvey, the series is co-organized alongside Barry Rothman in tandem with Passim’s Matt Smith, Abby Altman, and the venue staff, who offer up the firebox while assembled musicians provide the fuel. Over the years, the Sessions have featured luthier expositions, string music extravaganzas, costume parties, “In-the-Round” swaps between veteran and emerging musicians, readings of Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, tributes to artists like Greg Brown, The Rolling Stones, and Los Lobos, and various permutations of Tom Waits’ classic record, Rain Dogs. “I’ve been holding my guitar in front of me like a security blanket for decades. Tonight, I’m gonna do something that scares me: stand up and sing into a microphone, completely alone, while James Rohr plays piano,” said Peter Mulvey regarding the opening night performance. “Jenna Nicholls will do the same (though I bet she’s more used to it) and also the one and only Vance Gilbert, who appears to be scared of nothing. Also, at some point in the evening, we’ll make James do the same thing, only I’ll be playing guitar.” For a complete schedule and to obtain tickets, visit www.passim.org/peter-mulvey-presents-the-lamplighter-sessions
NOV. 1: THE BORROMEO STRING QUARTET
(L-R) Kristofer Tong, Melissa Reardon, Yeesun Kim, Nicholas Kitchen The Spire Center for Performing Arts, located at 25 ½ Court Street in Plymouth, presents this award-winning Quartet as part of their Classical Serenades Series presenting world-class chamber music throughout the year. The Borromeo Quartet has been admired and sought after for both its fresh interpretations of the classical music canon and its championing of works by contemporary composers. They have been the ensemble-in- residence at New England Conservatory for over three decades as well as have been hailed by audiences and critics around the globe with their inspirational performances. The quartet has performed on major concert stages across the globe, including appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonie, Wigmore Hall, Suntory Hall, the Concertgebouw, Seoul Arts Center, the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, and performed for many years with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. November 1st program opens with Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2. That will be followed by The Demons and Humans of Siyah-Kalem by Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol, and Caroline Shaw’s Entre’act. Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 10 in E-flat Major, Op. 74, “Harp,” will conclude the concert. The Greater Plymouth Performing Arts Center, Inc. (GPPAC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2010, dedicated to performing arts and educational programs, supporting the vibrant arts community in the greater South Shore region. The organization founded The Spire Center for Performing Arts, a town-owned venue to serve as a mecca for the arts, dedicated to showcasing music, theatre and dance performances, and arts education appealing to all generations from across the Southeastern Massachusetts region. For Tickets may be obtained here at www.spirecenter.org
NOV. 1: PATRICK DRONEY’S “MADE YOU LOOK” TOUR
The Boch Center Shubert Theatre at 265 Tremont Street hosts Singer-songwriter/producer, Patrick Droney’s third full-length project created with Warner Records. The album, titled Made You Look, comes after three defining years away. He took a meaningful pause in a career that has spanned three acclaimed records . The 2018’s self-titled EP, 2021’s State of the Heart, and 2023’s Subtitles for Feelings. Appearances on late night TV (Seth Meyers, Colbert), and hundreds of millions of streams, “Made You Look” now is uniquely both an instruction and an admission. The record is about paying attention in an era that forces us to always be somewhere else. In a culture built for speed, Droney slowed down, and the music is braver for it, both sonically and emotionally. He created the music across New York and Nashville, while boasting an impressive list of collaborations, including a stunning feature from Kelsea Ballerini (“Math of Us”) and a co-write with Stephen Wilson, Jr. (“Cigarette Break”). Plus, key contributions also came from Konrad Snyder (Kacey Musgraves, Noah Kahan), mixing engineer Jonathan Low (Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams), drummer Bryan Devendorf (The National), string arranger Davide Rossi (Coldplay, Alicia Keys, The Verve), and more. Folding “Made You Look” into his growing songbook., he has already played a sold-out three-city run through Nashville, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn this year. This fall tour ahead will see him take on storied rooms like the Ryman Auditorium, Brooklyn Steel, and the Belasco Theatre. Tickets may be obtaines at www.bochcenter.org
NOV 5 – 8: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Boston Lyric Opera brings to the stage of of the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theater at 219 Tremont Street in Boston André Previn’s adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize winning class play. The libretto is by Philip Littell and is sung in English with English supertitles. This opera is a lyrical and intimate work that explores class conflict as well as the collision that can occur between illusion and harsh reality as sensitive, delicate souls are crushed by the brutal forces of modern society. The opera is in three acts and takes place at the home of Stanley and Stella Kowalski at Elysian Fields, New Orleans. The sweltering heat of a New Orleans summer sets the tone for the simmering tensions that crackle and spark between the unforgettable characters. The self-deluded Blanche DuBois has been forced from her ancestral home in Mississippi and arrives in New Orleans seeking shelter with her sister Stella and her husband Stanley. Blanche tenaciously clings to her romanticized images that have been embedded in her from her past life. She has “always depended on the kindness of strangers.” This quickly brings her at odds with the domineering Stanley, whose brutal realism, often times physical, clashes ruthlessly with the imaginary worldview she clings to. Everyone quickly cascades into destruction as Stanley’s cruelty preys on Blanche’s fragile state as well as the revealing of Blanche’s loose behavior in her hometown. The cast includes Brittany Renee as Blanche, Thomas Glass (Stanley), Angela Yam (Stella) and Brenton Ryan (Mitch). The opera is conducted by Daniela Candillari and is directed by New Hampshire native Patricia Racette, who had an early-career highlight singing all the lead female characters in BLO’s 1992 The Tales of Hoffman. This production boasts a compelling new staging and was Coproduced with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Its June 2026 debut received strong critical acclaim. The Wall Street Journal stated the opera to be, “A winner! Candillari breathed new life into [it]. André Previn’s music adds serious depth and dimension to the characters.” Tickets for this outstanding production may be obtained at www.blo.org
NOV. 6: BEAT
King Crimson members Adrian Belew and Tony Levin, alongside Steve Val and Terry Bozzio approach the next chapter of BEAT stoppin at the Boch Center Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont Street in Boston. The global audience has celebrated the existence of BEAT, responding to the music, chemistry, spirit and also respect this collective of esteemed musicians that has recorded one of the most remarkable catalogs in progressive rock. BEAT continues to evolve whole remaining true to the music and the spirit that inspired it. When the ensemble’s existence was first made public on April 2, 2024, the vision was simply to present a creative reinterpretation of the three iconic 80s KING CRIMSON albums – Discipline, Beat, and Three Of A Perfect Pair. Just over forty appearances were announced across the U.S., triggering a majority of those planned appearances reaching sold-out status in days. Additional performances were added, creating an inaugural run which staged 65 concerts across the U.S. Appearances in Mexico, South America and Tokyo’s legendary Budokan followed, most recently staging an extensive run of the U.K. and Europe performing in 31 cities this year. With this 2026 fall tour, fans should anticipate some exciting additions to the repertoire being performed, with several songs rotating out while other classic King Crimson pieces are emerging in to the set. In front of the 2024 tour, guitarist Adrian Belew reflected, “The 1981 through 1984 King Crimson created a music all its own. Timeless. Beautiful. Complex. Fierce. For the fans who lived through it then, and the ones who never got to witness it, our aim is to bring it to life again. A monumental task but we’re going for it! There are not enough exclamation points to express my excitement!”Guitarist Steve Vai stated, “Being a part of this ensemble is an extraordinary privilege and opportunity to perform some of the most beloved, timeless, and monumental music of the 80’s (and beyond) with truly inspired musicians. This music resonates deeply with me. Father Robert Fripp is one of our historical geniuses. His highly specific and exceptionally brilliant guitar technique is studied and revered. His contribution to the quality of my musical life, and so many others is supreme.”Bassist Tony Levin offered, “Revisiting some of my favorite music is a treat in itself. It’s also great that we’re not just playing a few shows, we’re hitting it hard. So, Road Dogs are coming to your area soon.” Drummer Terry Bozzio shares, “All of these guys are my friends and excellent musicians who I’ve played with before! When l was asked to join this tour, l was honored & very grateful to do it!”. Tickets area available at www.bochcenter.org
NOV. 8 (3pm): THE BOSTON CIVIC SYMPHONY
Under the leadership of Music Director Francisco Noya, known for his versatility in symphonic and operatic repertoire and has conducted noted orchestras around the world, including the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops. He is also a member of the conducting faculty at Berklee College of Music since 2001. This noted orchestra opens its 102nd season at the New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough Street in Boston. Noya states, “The season opens with a program that goes from the profound emotional gravity of Brahms’ Tragic Overture to the rhythmic brilliance of Petrushka. Balancing these emotional poles we have Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, a work that captures the collaborative intimacy of chamber music within the power of a full symphony. And, we are very fortunate to have a world class trio of soloists.” These include the world class violinist Alexander Kerr.
He is now the concert master of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as well as the Linda and Jack Gill Chair in Music at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.
The Cellist is the prolifically noted Emmanuel Feldman, a co-founder of the cello-double bass duo Cello e Basso and a member of the performance faculty of Tufts University.
Joy Cline Phinney, a member of the Boston Public Quartet who has appeared in solo and chamber music recitals across the United States and in Europe will be the pianist. Boston Civic Symphony stands as one of the city’s most respected musical institutions. Founded in 1924 by educator and composer Joseph Wagner, the orchestra has long championed a unique model that brings together exceptionally skilled student musicians and dedicated amateur performers. Alumni who performed with the orchestra early in their careers include Leonard Bernstein and Yo-Yo Ma. Tickets for this marvelous concert are available at www.bostoncivicsymphony.orgThis noted orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Francisco Noya brings to the New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough Street in Boston performing Brahmas’ Tragic Overture, Stravinsky’s Petrushka; and Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C Major. “The season opens with a program that goes from the profound emotional gravity of Brahms’ Tragic Overture to the rhythmic brilliance of Petrushka,” said Noya. “Balancing these emotional poles we have Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, a work that captures the collaborative intimacy of chamber music within the power of a full symphony. And we are very fortunate to have a world class trio of soloists” These soloists are Alexander Kerr, violin (concert master of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Linda and Jack Gill Chair in Music at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University); cellist Emmanuel Feldman (co-founder of the cello-double bass duo Cello e Basso and on the faculty of New England Conservatory); and pianist Joy Cline Phinney (Boston Public Quartet and the Cremona International Music Academy and Festival in Italy). The performance is in collaboration with Chorus pro Musica, under Music Director Jamie Kirsch. Now in its 102nd season, the Boston Civic Symphony stands as one of the city’s most respected musical institutions. Founded in 1924 by educator and composer Joseph Wagner, the orchestra has long championed a unique model that brings together exceptionally skilled student musicians and dedicated amateur performers. Alumni who performed with the orchestra early in their careers include Leonard Bernstein and Yo-Yo Ma. Tickets and information are available at bostoncivicsymphony.org
NOV. 13 (7:30) and NOV. 15 (3pm):“IT TAKES TWO SERIES“
American Classics opens their 30th Concert Season with featured singers Sarah Kornfeld, Davron Monroe, Julia Nelson, Marcus Schenck, Michelle Deluise, Bradford Conner, and Benjamin Sears, with piano accompaniment by Steve Sussman and Catherine Stornetta. All their 2026/27 season programs are dedicated to some of the most legendary musical partnerships. November’s concert surrounds the music of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Ashman & Menkin and Warren & Dubin. Friday’s concert (Nov. 13) is held at at the First Church Congregational, 11 Garden Street in Cambridge, and Sunday’s concert (Nov. 15) is at the First Parish Church, 75 Great Road in Bedford. Both are wheelchair accessible.
American Classics is led by Artistic and Producing Directors Bradford Conner and Benjamin Sears who stated, “Celebrating our 30th season is a profound milestone that honors our musical journey, audiences, and the performing arts community.” They added, “Over the course of 150 memorable performances, including six commissions, American Classics has had the immense privilege of spotlighting more than 200 of the Boston area’s most exceptional theatre and music luminaries, proving that AC’s enduring legacy is the brilliance of our local talent. The music is pretty good, too.” American Classics is the Boston area’s only organization devoted solely to performing American music, giving voice to forgotten gems and newly discovered musical treasures in concerts of vocal and instrumental music. To obtain tickets and more information, visit www.amclass.org
NOV. 14: 18TH ANNUAL RIVERFEAST CONCERT/BENEFIT
Boston’s Independent Radio, 92.5 the River, today announced that three-time Grammy award-winner Shawn Colvin will headline the 18th annual RiverFeast Concert on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at the Blue Ocean Music Hall, 4 Ocean Front N, in Salisbury, MA. The annual benefit concert raises funds for The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), helping address critical food insecurity across Massachusetts. Colvin burst onto the music scene with her 1989 debut album, Steady On, which earned the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. She reached an even greater milestone in 1998, winning Grammy Awards for both Record and Song of the Year for her Top 10 hit “Sunny Came Home,” from the platinum-selling album A Few Small Repairs.
Recognized with the Americana Music Association’s 2016 Lifetime Achievement Trailblazer Award, Colvin was celebrated by Bonnie Raitt as “one of the best singers I’ve ever heard.” With 13 albums, an acclaimed memoir, and a career spanning over three decades, her songs remain as personal and timeless as ever. “We are thrilled to have Shawn Colvin join us for one of our most important events of the year,” said Liv Lowe, Music Director for 92.5 the River. “RiverFeast is not only a fantastic evening of music, but also an opportunity to directly support families across the region who struggle with food insecurity.”
Liam St. John The opening act is Liam St. John who brings a gritty, soulful sound rooted in blues, rock, and Americana. First capturing national attention on NBC’s The Voice, St. John has built a strong reputation for his powerful vocals, raw stage presence, and signature roots-rock style. The 18th annual RiverFeast will feature a cocktail reception with harvest-themed appetizers and a silent auction. All net proceeds will benefit The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and one of the largest food banks in the country. Tickets are $100 for General Admission and $135 for VIP. Tickets are available at www.theriverboston.com/riverfeast
NOV. 19 – 22: DREAM FEED
ArtsEmerson Emerson presents at the Emerson Paramount Center, Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre, 559 Washington St. in Boston the latest electro-acoustic vocal work from the two-time Grammy Award® Winning theatrical family band The HawtPlates. Can we remember our own dreams? Can we share the dreams we have in common? Can we awaken ourselves to the origin of our aspirations? In this shared dream sequence and live concept album, The HawtPlates metabolize the surreal allure of the active mind within a slumbering body through trip-like lullabies and bold reverie. A 2023 Artist Residency Program (HARP) commission with additional co-commissioning support from the Under the Radar Festival, this psychedelic live concept album invites audiences into a hypnotic journey through the subconscious. Tickets may be purchased at www.artsemerson.org
DEC. 5 (7pm) HANDEL’S MESSIAH
The Worcester Chorus returns to Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. in Worcester with this annual performance of Handel’s masterpiece. It was first performed by The Worcester Chorus during the grand opening weekend of Mechanics Hall in 1858. Over the past several decades, the performance has become a definitive annual tradition, marking the beginning of the holiday season for generations of families throughout New England. Chris Shepard, the Ruth Susan Westheimer Artistic Director of The Worcester Chorus and Music Worcester’s THE COMPLETE BACH. He is also the director of CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Artists), Connecticut’s oldest professional choir in Hartford will direct. “Last year, we celebrated our long run of Messiahs by hearkening back to time when these arias were sung by larger voices, as opposed to the Baroque specialists we’ve seen in the last 50 years,” said The Worcester Chorus’ Artistic Director Chris Shepard. “Judging by the audience reaction, and literally by popular demand, we have invited back the four soloists who lifted our performance to new heights.” These impressive soloists include Soprano Robyn Marie Lamp who has served as a soloist in Verdi’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall and Mechanics Hall. She is joined by the Mezzo-soprano Ann McMahon Quintero whose career extends across the operatic and concert stage with portrayals of characters ranging from Verdi’s Amneris, Azucena and Mistress Quickly to the Old Lady in Candide. The tenor Derrek Stark who has sung with The Metropolitan Opera, Pacific Opera Project, Palm Beach Opera and more will also perform, along with basso profondo Edwin Jhamal Davis who among his impressive credits is his Carnegie Hall debut in Mozart’s Requiem along with performing the bass solo in Stravinsky’s Pulcinella with the Mainly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center. Tickets for this stirring concert may be obtained at www.musicworcester.org
DEC. 11: 5th ANNUAL LET’S ROCK CANCER CONCERT
The 5th annual Let’s Rock Cancer music benefit concert to raise vital funds for community-based cancer care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will take place at the Crystal Ballroom in the historic Hobbs Building, next to the Somerville Theatre at 55 Davis Square in Somerville. This ‘All Ages’ rockin’ night of live music, hosted by GBH radio announcer Henry Santoro, features performances by some of the Boston-area’s favorite acts including Vapors of Morphine, Muck & the Mires, The Ray Liriano Experience, and …Go! (+ guests). The year’s concert will celebrate the life of Linda Pardee, beloved bass player, vocalist, and co-founder of popular Boston rock-trio Chelsea Curve as well as performing in Orbit and numerous other bands. Pardee, a fixture at past Let’s Rock Cancer events, passed away in August following a long battle with cancer. Jeffery Robbins, co-founder of Orbit, will dedicate a special set to Linda. Proceeds from this all ages event will benefit the Cancer Care Access Program at Dana-Farber, which aims to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes among local communities. Established in 2012, the Program broadens access to historically marginalized patient populations and joins our community partners in the pursuit of equitable care across the spectrum of cancer-related diseases. Tickets for the various support levels to benefit this critical program range from $25 General Admission/ Standing Room Only to $250 which includes Merch & Gratitude and are available at https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/01006544367B983E
DEC. 11 – 28:AMERICAN CROSSROADS…A SOLTICE CELEBRATION
Midwinter Revels returns to Sanders Theatre at 45 Quincy Street in Cambridge bringing with it one of the most cherished holiday traditions in New England. Revels announces that Artistic Director Jeffrey Binder will mark his Revels directorial debut with this concert. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be making my Revels directing debut with American Crossroads,” states Binder. “It’s filled with everything I love about Revels — extraordinary music, rich traditions, a touch of magic, and the perennial cycle of coming together on the shortest day of the year to celebrate the turning of the season and the return of the light.” Revels brings together people of all ages and backgrounds through musical and theatrical celebrations of our world’s cultural and seasonal traditions as they combine artistic excellence with the lively participation of audience and volunteers in their performances and programs. Drawing on 19th-century songs and stories from the Great Plains, this Midwinter Revels will include cultural touchstones of the American frontier and the diverse communities who shaped it. Set on the Winter Solstice of 1876, immigrants and families from Ireland, Germany, Poland, China, and beyond gather at a tiny Great Plains train station to await the first train — and the promise of a new American future. But when the train mysteriously goes silent somewhere out on the winter Plains, an ancient spirit of hunger and division begins to grow among them. “At its heart, this is a story about people from different places, cultures, histories, and circumstances coming together around one of the great myths embedded in our national identity: the arrival of the railroad and the promise of progress and connection,” said director Jeffrey Binder. “In sharing their stories, songs, traditions, and challenges, they begin to find common ground and create something greater together.” The cast of Midwinter Revels includes some of Revels’ favorite performers led by David Coffin, who has been Master of Ceremonies since 1990. Musician Jake Blount, who appeared in 2019’s Midwinter Revels, actors Eliza Fichter(Midwinter Revels 2024 and 2025) and Doug Lockwood (founding member of Actors Shakespeare Project) will also be featured. Massachusetts’ Inaugural Poet Laureate Regie Gibson who recently performed at a Revels Fringe program at the venerable Club Passim. Tickets for family tradition may be obtained at www.revels.org/midwinter
DEC. 20 (4pm): WORCESTER WOMEN’S ENSEMBLE HOLIDAY CONCERT
This annual pay what you wish, family concert will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster Street, in Worcester. Led by Mark Mummert, the director of The Worcester Chorus Women’s Ensemble and assistant director & accompanist for The Worcester Chorus. Mark is also Cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA), Worcester, MA where he leads the music in all worship services, conducts the exceptional Trinity Choir, and is artistic director of the Music at Trinity fine arts series. In addition, Mark serves on the voice faculty at Hanover Theater Conservatory in Worcester. He has served as the Director of Worship at Houston’s Christ the King Lutheran Church (2008-2015) and as Seminary Musician at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (1990-2008). The concert will feature Britten’s Ceremony of Carols and Susa’s Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest, alongside a program of other holiday classics and sing-alongs. A dessert reception follows the performance. The Women’s Ensemble is part of The Worcester Chorus of Music Worcester, which has been an important part of Central Massachusetts’ musical tradition since its founding in 1858. Tickets for this concert may be obtained at www.musicworcester.org
FEB. 19 (7:30pm) & FEB. 21 (3:00pm): “IT TAKES TWO SERIES”
American Classics continues its 30th Concert season on Feb. 19th at the First Church Congregational, 11 Garden Street in Cambridge, and on Feb, 21 at the First Parish Church, 75 Great Road in Bedford. Both are wheelchair accessible. This concert celebrates the musical works of Lerner & Loewe, Kander & Ebb. Richard & Robert Sherman and Dietz Schwarts. Performers include Grace Allendorf, Valerie Anastasio, Brian De Lorenzo, Todd McNeel, John Manning, Carolyn Saxon, Bradford Conner, and Benjamin Sears. They are accompanied on piano by Steve Sussman and Catherine Stornetta. American Classics is the Boston area’s only organization devoted solely to performing American music, giving voice to forgotten gems and newly discovered musical treasures in concerts of vocal and instrumental music. It is led by Artistic and Producing Directors Bradford Conner and Benjamin Sears. To obtain tickets and more information, visit www.amclass.org