North of Boston

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
2026-09-05 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-09-06 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-09-11 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-09-12 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-09-13 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-09-18 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-09-19 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-09-20 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, 356 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Salem State theatre celebrates 50 years of theatrical excellence with its production of Stephen Sondheim’s dark, witty and Tony Award-winning tale of love, murder and revenge.
Sweeney Todd has become a bloody, worldwide success since being awarded eight Tony’s, (including Best Musical), for its Broadway premiere. Stephen Sondheim’s and Hugh Wheeler’s (A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures) tasty, thrilling, theatrical treat has simultaneously shocked, awed and delighted audiences across the world.
An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which, he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up… and the carnage has only just begun!
FOR MATURE AUDIENCES
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Hugh Wheeler
Directed by Peter Sampieri
April 17, 7:30 pm
April 18, 7:30 pm
April 19, 2 pm
April 24, 7:30 pm
April 25, 7:30 pm
April 26, 2 pm
TICKETS
$15 general/$10 seniors/free for all students with student ID and under 18.
Friday, April 24 is SALEM NIGHT. Free admission for Salem residents. This event takes place in our mainstage theater, no advance reservation required.
Tickets are available at: https://salemstatetickets.universitytickets.com/w/
For access and accommodation information, visit https://www.salemstate.edu/access or email access@salemstate.edu.

Barry Goudreau's Engine Room
2026-09-05 20:00 - 22:00 | The Cut, 177 Main Street , Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Join guitarist Barry Goudreau, formerly of the band “Boston”, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the debut record that went on to sell 17 million albums. His awesome seven piece band of seasoned musicians, the “Engine Room”, will take you through the hits on the first two records as well as his other bands, and classic rock favorites. Don’t miss out!

Vintage Base Ball
2026-09-06 11:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-13 11:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-20 11:00 - 17:00 | Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, 5 Littles Lane, Newbury, M, 01951, United States
It’s Base Ball, 1864 style at Spencer Peirce Little Farm! These fun, historically accurate games feature underhand pitching without gloves. A ball bounced once and caught is an out! Snacks, baseballs, and cards are available for purchase. Come and see for yourself how “America’s favorite pastime” was played in the 1860s. The teams competing are based on actual nineteenth-century baseball clubs from New England.
The Essex Base Ball Organization is a nonprofit “vintage base ball” group that plays the game as it was played in the 1860s. They are based out of Newbury, Massachusetts, and have four teams. They teach the history of baseball through games and demonstrations, offering youth clinics and lectures on baseball history at historical societies, libraries, and other civic organizations.
See HNE website for first pitch times; triple headers start at 11 AM, doubles at noon.

En Plein Air Sketch Classes with Sue Wheeler
2026-09-10 13:00 - 15:00 | Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
From stick figure doodlers to first-rate talents, join us for a seaside, En Plein Air sketch class with Sue Wheeler of Arts Abound in Magnolia. All skill levels are welcome! This two-hour session includes a 30-minute beginner sketch lesson. All you need to bring is a sketchbook, pencils, a ruler, and an eraser. Please note: watercolors, pastels, oils, or acrylics are not permitted on the Museum grounds.
Attendees who wish to tour the Hammond Castle Museum after this class are entitled to a 20% discount on a self-guided tour. Tour tickets may be purchased in the Museum Shop before 2:30 pm on the day of this class.
Class Schedule:
Thursday Plein Air Sketch classes: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.
May:14
June: 11
July 23: (6 – 8 pm)
August: 6
September: 10
October: 8
Saturday En Plein Air Sketch classes: 9:30 am- 11:30 am.
May: 9
June: 20
July:18
August: 1
September: 5
October: 3
All classes are $25 each. Museum Member savings apply.
Weather-dependent; classes may be canceled, and reservations will be refunded if necessary.
About Sue Wheeler:
Sue has a lifetime of making art through various mediums from delectable pastries to abstracts in pastels, watercolor, and acrylics. She enjoys using her creative flair in quilting and interior design as well.
Sue graduated from the University of Denver with a Bachelor’s in business with a focus on hospitality management and earned an associate’s degree from the Culinary Institute of America. Following her tenure as a pastry chef in New Hampshire, Sue returned to school for a certificate in graphic design and put her talents to use as a designer in the book publishing and art publishing industries in Vermont. In early 2019, Sue opened her own gallery and studio, Arts Abound in Magnolia Village, MA, as an artistic haven for local artists. Through the gallery, over 30 artists featured their creative works, ranging from paintings, hand-painted silk scarves, silver jewelry, and more. Sue also ran many workshops and classes featuring many of the artists. Often, Sue would work late into the night, painting in her Arts Abound studio. After closing the gallery in 2022, Sue continued to offer the often sold-out painting classes, taught by some of the Arts Abound artists.
Sue has studied under numerous artists to learn watercolor, acrylic painting, cold wax & oil, and collage. Her goals for the Hammond Castle Museum sketch classes are to engage those who are new to the world of art and reinvigorate those who haven’t picked up a blank canvas or sketch pad in a long time. Sue’s philosophy on the creative process encourages you to be less concerned about the final product and instead to enjoy the journey of creativity and get lost in the moment. Once you find yourself in your work, you may just be surprised!

Spiritualism Tours by Candlelight at Hammond Castle Museum
2026-09-10 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-17 18:00 - 21:00 | Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
From John Hays Hammond Jr.’s attempts to communicate with supernatural entities using a Faraday Cage to Irene Fenton Hammond’s extensive astrological writings under a mysterious pen name, this 55-minute, fully-guided specialty tour sets the stage for a fun and informative seasonal experience unlike any other. The dramatic, Gothic-inspired architecture of the Museum and the twilight atmosphere are enhanced by the light of handheld electronic lanterns throughout your tour.
New in 2026: Extended Hours and Midnight Tours
For the first time, Hammond Castle Museum is offering its popular Spiritualism Tours by Candlelight during extended late-night hours–including a midnight tour–on October 22nd and 29th—a one-of-a-kind experience for those celebrating the Halloween season on the North Shore!
Admission:
July, August, & September: $27.50.
October: $35.
Museum Member savings apply.
Please be mindful when processing your reservation to select the correct reservation date and corresponding admission price.

Gloucester Stage Company presents MOON MAN WALK by James Ijames
2026-09-10 19:30 - 2026-09-11 21:00, 2026-09-11 19:30 - 2026-09-12 21:00, 2026-09-12 19:30 - 2026-09-13 21:00, 2026-09-13 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-09-16 19:30 - 2026-09-17 21:00, 2026-09-17 19:30 - 2026-09-18 21:00, 2026-09-18 19:30 - 2026-09-19 21:00, 2026-09-19 14:00 - 15:30 and 2 more dates | Gloucester Stage Company, East Main Street 267, Gloucester, M, 01930, United States
Travel to the moon and back as Spencer revisits his childhood home in Philadelphia following his mother’s passing. With the help of the unfettered Petrushka, along with the haunting memory of his mother, Spencer dives into the mystery of his youth and uncovers the true identity behind his estranged father. Journey through time and space as we discover how our pasts shape, protect, and connect us all in this time-bending, regional premiere drama.
Written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright James Ijames and directed by Dawn M. Simmonsº, Moon Man Walk runs September 13 to 29. All performances are at the Natti-Willsky Performance Center – 267 East Main Street, Gloucester. Showtimes are Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm, with matinees Saturdays & Sunday at 2:00pm.

A Band of Brothers - More than just and Allman Brothers Tribute
2026-09-11 20:00 - 22:00 | The Cut, 177 Main Street , Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
18+, Positive I.D. Required
“A Band Of Brothers” isn’t just an Allman Brothers tribute band; they’re a powerhouse, uniting the top-tier talent of the East Coast. The brainchild of ace Boston guitarists Ryan Taylor and Johnny Trama, this collective, more than a mere homage, harness the Allman Brothers tradition as a vehicle to bring a unique and exciting experience every night. The ensemble features artists from an array of bands including – North Mississippi Allstars ,Dickey Betts and Great Southern, Pink Talking Fish, Neighbor, Dub Apocalypse, Peter Wolf’s Midnight Travelers, Dickey Betts Great Southern, Slightly Stoopid, Sonya Rae Taylor, Band of Killers and more.
Matt Zeiner began his professional music career touring with Matt “Guitar” Murphy, who exposed him to a fusion of blues and jazz. His career took a significant turn in 2000 when Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers Band recruited him as a keyboardist and vocalist, leading to a fruitful collaboration and tour.
Ryan Taylor on slide guitar spearheads the band with his exceptional talents. His journey, steeped in the rich musical traditions of Austin and Nashville, saw Ryan honing his craft the old-fashioned way.
Johnny Trama on guitar conjures up riffs and rhythms that speak volumes. His journey through the realms of rock, soul, and blues, playing with icons like Bettye LaVette and Jesse Dee, has armed him with a mystical musical prowess.
Jesse Williams on bass is an alchemist of groove, spinning each note into a rhythmic tapestry. His Grammy-nominated escapades with the likes of Duke Robillard and Joe Louis Walker have endowed him with a bass prowess that’s both fluid and formidable.
Tom Arey behind the drums is nothing short of a powerhouse, orchestrating beats and fills with the finesse of a seasoned composer. His tenure with Peter Wolf’s Midnight Travelers has honed a style that’s explosive yet eloquent, much like the Allmans’ own percussive legends.
Brendan Tommaney on percussion is a true artist, painting rhythms with a palette of beats and textures. Educated at the New England Conservatory of Music and seasoned with groups like Pink Talking Fish, Tommaney brings a jazz-infused sensibility that adds depth and dimension to the band’s sound.
Paul Wolstencroft on keyboards crafts melodies that mesmerize and transport. His tenure with Slightly Stoopid has given him a swagger that shines through each performance, weaving a spell of harmonies and counter-melodies that elevate the band’s tribute from mere replication to a reimagined homage.

Our Founding Mothers and Fathers: More Revolutionary War Connections to the Salem Witch Trials
2026-09-17 13:00 - 14:00 | virtual program
Each year we meet hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals who can trace their family line back to the Salem witch trials. We often tell visitors that the English colonists of 1692 were the founding fathers and mothers of our country. They were themselves descended from the earliest settlers, who were establishing a new country and took the biblical instruction “be fruitful and multiply” to heart.
It is fascinating to consider the many connections between the Salem witch trials and the Revolutionary War generation, particularly the one most often referred to as our “Founding Fathers.” Part II of our Rev250 lecture series will focus on four more notable connections, including witchcraft skeptic Robert Calef, Ipswich court clerk Thomas Wade, condemned witch Mary Bradbury, and accuser Bathsheba Pope.
Join us on Thursday, September 17th at 1:00 pm for this free, virtual program.
Registration is required for this event.

Tanya Donelly
2026-09-17 20:00 - 22:00 | The Cut, 177 Main Street , Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Tanya Donelly first emerged in the indie-rock landscape in the early 1980s, co-founding Throwing Muses (with stepsister Kristin Hersh), then later co-forming The Breeders, before leading her own band Belly in the 1990s. With Belly she had her biggest commercial breakthrough, notably with the single “Feed the Tree”, earning critical acclaim and a Grammy nomination.
After that success, Tanya embarked on a solo career marked by lyrical richness, melodic innovation, and a shifting musical palette that embraces folk, country, ambient, and indie pop textures. Her solo debut, Lovesongs for Underdogs (1997), established her distinct songwriting voice outside of her band projects.
This Hungry Life (originally released in 2006) is a live album recorded in a unique intimate setting — a closed hotel in Bellows Falls, Vermont — featuring largely new material, plus a few covers and re-imagined tracks. The album reflects maturity in both voice and subject matter: themes of home, family, identity, and the passage of time are woven through in her warm vocals and intimate performance style, with the live setting giving the songs immediacy and connection.
Marking the 20th anniversary of This Hungry Life offers a chance to revisit her work at this pivotal moment: affirming her legacy in indie rock; celebrating her evolution as an artist who has never stopped refining her craft; and presenting This Hungry Life not just as a document of a live show but as a milestone in her ongoing journey — both musically and personally.
The Guardian:
“Recorded live in a disused Vermont hotel, Donelly’s vocal, full of personality, soars brightly over the audience and fills you with affection for hearth and for home.” The Guardian

Ramble Through the Revolution: Old Hill Burying Ground
2026-09-19 10:00 - 11:30 | Old Hill Burying Ground, 25 Greenleaf Street, Newburyport, M, 01950, United States
Meet Revolutionary heroes, merchants, captains, and curious characters among Old Hill’s remarkable stones and family tombs.
Wander through Newburyport’s historic 1730 Old Hill Burying Ground with noted author and historian Ghlee Woodworth, a 12th-generation Newburyport native. Meet Revolutionary War heroes, captains and merchants of Old Newbury, and even a “cool, cool cat” in a stroll around this hilly graveyard. From some of the most ornate early tombstone decorations in New England to the mausoleums of Newburyport’s leading families, Old Hill Burying Ground looks down on the city from its perch above Bartlet Mall.

Anthony Gomes – Praise Out Loud 2026 Tour
2026-09-19 20:00 - 22:00 | Larcom Theatre, 13 Wallis Street, Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
With a guitar slung over his shoulder and the amps turned up full tilt, Anthony Gomes electrifies blues and rock at a 21st century crossroads of his own. The Canadian vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer wails with all the force of a hurricane in the Mississippi Delta and enough fret-burning fireworks to leave his strings in flames.
Over the years, he’s toppled the Billboard Blues Chart at #1, earned the endorsement of legends such as B.B. King, tallied tens of millions of streams, and packed shows on multiple continents. Named one of Total Guitar magazine’s “100 Greatest Blues Guitarists of All Time” and recognized by Guitar World among the world’s best blues guitarists, Gomes has become one of today’s most exciting live performers.
In 2026, Gomes is back supporting his #1 blues album, Praise the Loud, with a world tour that includes stops in 17 countries. Expect a powerhouse night featuring blistering guitar solos, soulful vocals, and a high-energy blend of blues, classic rock, and modern rock that has earned him a devoted international following.
Thelarcom.org/anthonygomes
