North of Boston

Strings on Strings
2026-09-12 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Maeve Gilchrist | Copley Street | The Fretless (with special guest Madeleine Rogers) | Edwin Huizinga and William Coulter (Fire and Grace)
A string focused extravaganza of a night where we hear music from the world-class, pure-drop traditional sounds of Boston-based band, Copley Street (Joey Abarta, Nathan Gourley and Owen Marshall) next to Baroque fiddler extraordinaire, Edwin Huizinga and guitarist William Coulter play their jaw-dropping distillations of Vivaldi’s four seasons.
This evening will bring us the joy of Spring and the visceral excitement of Summer as we hear these two instruments cover an entire orchestra’s worth of texture, melody and soul. In the second half of the concert we bring back Canada’s award-winning quartet, The Fretless, this time joining forces with the stunning vocals of Madeleine Rogers. This pan-Canadian group is reinventing the meaning of string quartet and bringing the sounds of their respective string cultures into indie territory, garnering new audiences, new sounds and creating a whole new horizon. Pulling it all together, Rockport’s Artistic Director Maeve Gilchrist will bring her harp, poetry and context to each act to turn this whole evening into an unforgettable story of songs, tunes and concerti!

Chantey Sing
2026-09-12 13:00 - 14:30 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Bring your voices to a boisterous Chantey Sing with David Coffin. Sing along on the chorus of a hauling, stamping, heaving, capstan, what-have-you chantey. Let’s rattle the rafters!!

MASS ECO FEST
2026-09-12 11:00 - 16:00 | Topsfield Town Common, 9 E. Common St, Topsfield, MA, 01983, United States
Mass Eco Fest is Massachusetts’ only single-use plastic-free event celebrating sustainable living, local makers, and zero-waste innovation.
50+ vendors, sustainable organizations, food, music, and community.
Everyone welcome including dogs!

Salon Session
2026-09-12 11:00 - 12:30 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Come meet our 2026 commissioned composer, Nuala Kennedy and hear about the nuances of writing new works through the lens of traditional Irish Music. Hear Edwin Huizinga and William Coulter describe the Creative process of distilling Vivaldi’s famous Four seasons in all its orchestrational nuance down to two instruments: guitar and fiddle! Bring your own questions. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet some of our 2026 artists up close and have some of your questions answered! Hosted by Maeve Gilchrist.

Pastel Workshop: The Nature of Color with Kimberly Jermain
2026-09-12 10:30 - 12:30 | Cape Ann Museum Green, 13 Poplar Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Discover the power of color in the natural world during this two-hour outdoor workshop led by artist and author Kimberly Collins Jermain. Set on the CAM Green, this hands-on session introduces participants to working with pastel through an exercise from Jermain’s newly published book The Nature of Color, which presents her innovative, nature-based approach to understanding and using color in art.
Note: Materials included. Class time is primarily outdoors; please dress appropriately for the weather.
Kimberly Collins Jermain is a landscape painter, teacher, and architectural color designer whose work uses the power of color to change how we experience the world. Since 1989, Kimberly has collaborated with over 800 clients, including homeowners, architects, interior designers, developers, and commercial property owners on color design projects.

Studio Saturdays: Nature's Abundance Collages
2026-09-12 10:30 - 12:00 | Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Celebrate nature’s abundance through mixed-media collage! Together, we’ll draw inspiration from patterns found in leaves, seeds, flowers and other treasures as we create mandala-inspired artwork that celebrates the beauty, balance and interconnectedness of the natural world.
Studio Saturdays is a series of adult art making classes designed to inspire creativity and connection through multimedia arts exploration. Each class includes an arts activity that will inspire collaboration, curiosity and creativity, culminating in a completed individual artwork and communal sharing.

Fall Weekends at Cider Hill Farm
2026-09-12 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-06 09:00 - 17:00 | Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Avenue, Amesbury, M, 01913, United States
Labor Day kicks-off the best of New England at Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury, MA! Enjoy apple picking, live music (2 bands per day!), food trucks, hard cider, tractor rides, farmhouse goods, hot cider, donuts and pumpkin whoopie pies! Pick out your seasonal pumpkins, gourds and mums.
Purchase apple picking tickets ahead (posted 48 hrs in advance) or upon arrival at the farm.

Country Fair at Cider Hill Farm
2026-09-12 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-11 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-10 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-09 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-08 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-07 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-06 09:00 - 17:00 | Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Avenue, Amesbury, M, 01913, United States
Join us Labor Day weekend for a quintessential New England celebration welcoming the season’s bountiful harvest! Enjoy summer apple picking, free tastings, hard cider, classic fair foods, fall flower cutting, old time-y games, free live music, tractor rides & more! See event schedule as we add more happenings to the line-up! Free admission (does not include pick-your-own tickets, food or drinks).

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.

Opening Night: A Festival of Riches
2026-09-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Maeve Gilchrist | Nuala Kennedy | The Louise Bichan Band | Oisin Mcauly | Caoimhin O Fearghail | Alan Murray | Sam Reider | The Human Hands
This Friday night concert offers a smorgasbord of delights as we present a diverse and exciting array of artists that represent the breadth and eclecticism that has become a trademark of the Rockport Celtic Festival. Think of it as a festival in itself!
Hailing from Dundalk, Ireland, Nuala Kennedy brings her uniquely soulful vocals and flute playing to our Friday night extravaganza, joined by Alan Murray on Guitar. Hailing from one of the most northernmost points of Scotland, Orkney-born fiddler, Louise Bichan brings an incredibly dynamic transatlantic band of young musicians bringing to life music inspired by her upbringing on the culturally rich Island of Orkney. Virtuosic Donegal fiddler, Oisin Mcauly (Danu) pairs up with TG4 Young Musician of the Year and RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Award’s best instrumentalist winner, Caoimhín Ó Fearghail to create a duo of instrumental music that’s sure to set fire to the stage! And as if that weren’t enough, we have the incredible Americana/jazz/roots music band Sam Reider and the Human Hands bringing the party with their unique blend of fiddle, saxophone, accordion and bass and showcasing the most one of the most exciting sounds on the American New Acoustic Scene right now. And best of all, what happens when all these artists meet?! Don’t miss it!

Fall Fridays! Live Music & Hard Cider Series at Cider Hill Farm
2026-09-11 14:30 - 17:30 | Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Avenue, Amesbury, M, 01913, United States
Kick off each fall weekend from 9/4-10/23 with free live music from 2:30-5:30 pm. Enjoy the outdoor hard cider bar (non-alcoholic sparkling cider available) and grab some farm snacks in the farm store. The farm store is open daily until 6 pm. Apple picking open daily through mid October! See the music schedule: https://www.ciderhill.com/farm-events/live-music

Gloucester Stage Company presents MOON MAN WALK by James Ijames
2026-09-10 19:30 - 21:00 | 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.

Latin Night! Learn Salsa - Dance Lessons
2026-09-10 18:20 - 21:30, 2026-09-08 18:20 - 21:30 | Larcom Theatre, 13 Wallis Street, Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
💃 SALSA CLASSES ARE BACK THIS SEPTEMBER!
Our next 6-week Salsa series starts September 8 & 10 at the Larcom Theatre. Choose Tuesday or Thursday nights and the class that fits your experience level.
BEGINNER 1A — FOUNDATIONS
Tuesdays at 7:25 PM or Thursdays at 6:20 PM
Brand new to Salsa? Start here! Learn On 2 timing, basic steps, partner connection, turns, cross-body leads, and foundational patterns. No previous experience necessary.
BEGINNER 1B — ESSENTIALS
Tuesdays at 6:20 PM or Thursdays at 8:30 PM
Ready for the next step? Build on the foundations from 1A while improving timing, connection, leading and following technique, transitions, musicality, and beginner patterns. Completion of Beginner 1A or equivalent experience is required.
COUPLES BEGINNER 1B
Tuesdays at 8:30 PM
Want to learn together without rotating partners? This class is designed specifically for couples. Stay with the partner you came with while building connection, technique, smoother transitions, and expanded Beginner 1B patterns. Beginner 1A or equivalent experience required.
6 weeks. One night a week. Lots of Salsa.
We extend a special invitation for ‘leads’ to join, as their participation will help ensure a robust presence of potential partner leads. ​
Grab your spot and join us on the dance floor this September!
Thelarcom.org/learnsalsa
For questions about the class, email: donnie@thelarcom.org
LARCOM THEATRE, 13 Wallis St, Beverly MA

Spiritualism Tours by Candlelight at Hammond Castle Museum
2026-09-10 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.

Artist Talk: Fiona Sinéad Brehony
2026-09-10 18:00 - 20:00 | The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, M, 01930, United States
Join Manchester-based artist, Fiona Sinéad Brehony at her Artist Talk to learn about her process and technique in her residency in collaboration with Ocean Alliance, made possible through the Goetemann Artist Residency program.
The residency offers Brehony an opportunity to explore Gloucester Harbor through Richard White’s concept of the organic machine, simultaneously a natural system and human infrastructure, yet also something so vast and distributed it exceeds our ability to fully grasp it.
She will engage in acts of listening, watching and writing to see what emerges, inviting participants in for gatherings where ideas can transform collectively. Working with Ocean Alliance’s whale song archives, she hopes to develop poetic work that explores ocean presence, waters shared with whales, where freshwater meets salt and interaction shifts from intimate to incomprehensible.

En Plein Air Sketch Classes with Sue Wheeler
2026-09-10 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-09-05 09:30 - 11:30 | 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!

Rocky Neck Art Colony presents Making an Impression: Traditional Techniques, Contemporary Vision
2026-09-10 12:00 - 17:00 | M
Gloucester, MA — Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) is pleased to present Making an Impression: Traditional Techniques, Contemporary Vision, an exhibition featuring the work of 19 artists from Cape Ann and beyond exploring the rich and varied language of printmaking. Through both traditional and contemporary approaches, the exhibition showcases a diverse range of techniques, offering a thoughtfully curated selection that reflects the vitality and creative possibilities of the medium today.
For centuries, artists have developed innovative methods for creating multiple original impressions from a single matrix. In Making an Impression, participating artists employ a variety of printmaking processes, often combining techniques or incorporating additional materials to expand the expressive potential of their work. Together, these prints highlight the versatility, craftsmanship, and enduring relevance of printmaking as a contemporary art form.
The exhibition invites visitors to discover the many ways artists continue to push the boundaries of this historic medium while honoring its rich traditions.
The public is warmly invited to attend the Artists’ Reception on Sunday, August 16, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to view the exhibition, meet the participating artists, and enjoy light refreshments in the gallery.
Exhibiting Artists: Lisa Barthelson (Boston area), Christine Beneman (Portland, ME), CoCo Berkman (Gloucester), David Brown (Rockport), Sandra Cardillo (Boston area), David Covert (Gloucester), David Curcio (Salem), Leslie Ann Eliet (Gloucester), Deborah Epstein (Cape Ann/Boston), Nina Fletcher (Cape Ann), Don Gorvett (Cape Ann), Barbara Grad (Boston area), Jane Keddy (Cape Ann), Catherine Kernan (Boston area), Denise Manseau (New Hampshire), Mary Rhinelander (Cape Ann), Julia Talcott (Cape Ann), Dorothea Van Camp (Boston area), Constance Vallis (Cape Ann).
About the Rocky Neck Art Colony
Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, nurtures excellence in the arts through exhibitions, workshops, residencies and vibrant cultural events for its members and the public. On picturesque Rocky Neck in Gloucester, Massachusetts, RNAC operates three exhibition spaces, open to the public for free: The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck (6 Wonson Street); The Salted Cod Arthouse (53 Rocky Neck Ave.), a partnership gallery and café; and Cove Gallery (37 Rocky Neck Ave.), open seasonally in the former gallery of local artists Gordon and Judith Goetemann. Check the website www.rockyneckartcolony.org for hours, openings and special events. For more information, see the website or call 978-515-7004.

Free First Wednesday: Grandparents Day Festival at Wenham Museum
2026-09-09 16:00 - 18:00 | Wenham Museum, 132 Main St., Route 1A, Wenham, MA, 01984, United States
Celebrate Grandparents’ Day at Wenham Museum! 🎉
Make memories together on Wednesday, September 9! Enjoy FREE museum admission and spend the day exploring the galleries, creating together, and celebrating the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren.
What’s happening:
🖼️ Explore the Museum’s galleries together
🎨 Get creative with hands-on crafts
🖼️ Decorate your own picture frame to take home
☕ Special Grandparents’ Day Tea Party at 4:30 PM!
Bring that special grandparent, grandchild, or both and make some wonderful memories together!
Wednesday, September 9
FREE Museum Admission
Tea Party at 4:30 PM
All Ages
Please note: This month’s Free First Wednesday will take place on the SECOND Wednesday of the month.

Vintage Base Ball
2026-09-06 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.

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!

Yonder Mountain String Band
2026-09-05 19:30 - 21:00 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
GRAMMY-nominated Yonder Mountain String Band set the tone for a new way forward in acoustic music, carrying bluegrass into rooms and conversations it had never reached before. Nearly three decades later, that same spirit still guides them, alive and present on Good As True (2026), the band’s 12th studio album, released March 2026. The record captures Yonder in full stride. It’s unguarded and in motion, preserving the spark of musicians playing in real time and leaning into everything they have learned along the way.
Good As True (2026) digs into communication, the conversations that carry us forward and the ones that fall apart. The things we say, the things we mean, and what gets lost in between.
“Brand New Heartache,” the album’s lead single, lives in that fragile moment after a breakup when heartbreak and forward motion exist at the same time. Built on rock-leaning verses and a bluegrass-lifted chorus, it turns loss into motion and sets the tone for the record. From the indelible guitar riff and self-reckoning at the heart of “Blind” to the sharp, sarcastic truth of “Long Ride,” the album stays rooted in real life, tracing personal and political fractures on “Nothing New” and “The Lie.” “One to One Another” and “Always Almost” linger in the struggle to connect.
“Barroom Feather” stands on its own. Recorded live in the studio, the song began with lyrics and drifted into a spontaneous jam that became one of the record’s most expansive moments, stretching past sixteen minutes. Anchored by a subtle drum track, it broadens the band’s rhythmic range without losing Yonder’s acoustic core.
Across eight original tracks co-written by Adam Aijala (guitar, vocals), Dave Johnston (banjo, vocals), Ben Kaufmann (bass vocals), and Nick Piccininni (mandolin, vocals), Good As True (2026) reflects a group writing from inside their own history, relationships, and the world around them. Brought to life by the full five-piece lineup, including fiddle player Coleman Smith, the album carries the interplay and identity of the band as it exists today. The songs move between drive, reflection, humor, and weight. It is forward-looking and fully alive, a reminder that Yonder Mountain String Band’s story is still unfolding.
