The groundbreaking rapper, singer, songwriter, musician, poet, writer, and actor Saul Williams, who burst into the public consciousness as Nuyorican Poets Cafe’s Grand Slam Champion in 1996 and then the star of the 1998 independent hit Slam, has since toured the world with his band, opened for Nine Inch Nails, and had records produced by Rick Rubin and Trent Reznor. His performance at MASS MoCA celebrates the opening of Vincent Valdez’s major exhibition Just a Dream… The two artists’ politically charged work interrogates the American experience with a furious rigor and dynamism that our historical moment cries out for.
About the Artist: Saul Williams came to public attention after the release of the internationally acclaimed film Slam (dir. Marc Levin), which he co-wrote and starred in, introducing the world to the Slam Poetry movement, and winning Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize and the Cannes Camera D’Or, in 1998. Williams has performed in over 30 countries and read his poetry at over 300 universities, with invitations that have spanned from the White House, the Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center, the Louvre, the Getty Center, Queen Elizabeth Hall, to villages, townships, community centers, and prisons across the world. Saul has published five books of poetry which have been translated into several languages. His writings and lesson plans surrounding his work have been added to the curriculum of schools and universities around the world. Saul Williams has released six albums and toured or collaborated with dozens of artists including Kanye West, Nas, Janelle Monae, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine, The Roots, Mos Def, The Mars Volta, David Cross, Allen Ginsburg, Amiri Baraka, Gil Scott-Heron, Jose James, Arthur H, Camille, Ayo, TV On The Radio, System Of A Down, KRS ONE, DJ Krust, DJ Spooky, Cold Cut, Matisyahu, Blackalicious, K’naan, K-OS, and Erykah Badu.
Guster and The Mountain Goats take to MASS MoCA’s Courtyard D stage. Hear why Boston.com says rock group Guster is “back in a big way,” and Pitchfork declares that “Few working artists have accumulated a richer body of lore than the Mountain Goats,” at this unmissable summer show.
$1 per ticket supports 501c3 nonprofit Reverb, who are dedicated to creating a more sustainable music industry and empowering millions of individuals to take action toward a better future for people and the planet.
About the Artists: Guster
Not long before the making of their new album Ooh La La, Guster celebrated three decades together as a band—a journey that’s included landing a series of hits on the Billboard charts, working with luminaries like Steve Lillywhite and Richard Swift, launching their own music festival, and amassing an ardent fanbase partly on the strength of their relentless touring and deeply communal live show. But despite reaching a milestone few musical acts ever come close to attaining, Guster’s ninth studio LP reveals a band fully in touch with the voracious creative energy that first inspired their formation. A major leap forward for lead vocalist Ryan Miller, guitarist Adam Gardner, drummer Brian Rosenworcel, and multi-instrumentalist Luke Reynolds, Ooh La La ultimately matches that wide-eyed spirit with a newly heightened sense of confidence, conviction, and commitment to the raw sincerity that’s made them so beloved.
The Mountain Goats Jenny from Thebes began its life as many albums by the Mountain Goats do, with John Darnielle playing the piano until a lyric emerged. That lyric, “Jenny was a warrior Jenny was a thief Jenny hit the corner clinic begging for relief,” became “Jenny III,” a song which laid down a challenge he’d never taken up before: writing a sequel to one of his most beloved albums. This is what a follow-up to All Hail West Texas entails. But if you think about the Mountain Goats as they were in 2001, when Darnielle wrote and recorded that album on his own, mostly into his Panasonic RX-FT500 boombox, and how they are now as the recording and touring outfit of Darnielle, Peter Hughes, Matt Douglas, and Jon Wurster, you may find yourself asking how. That occurred to Darnielle, too. “If we’re going to do a sequel to a record that was recorded almost entirely on a boombox,” he asks,“why not do the opposite and make it as big as possible?”
Make a Plan
This performance is standing-room only and will take place outside, in MASS MoCA’s Courtyard D rain or shine. All sales are final; no refunds or exchanges.
No outside food or beverages will be allowed in the venue during the event. Food and drinks are available for purchase during the show.
This performance is standing-room-only. For ADA accommodations, please contact the Box Office at (413) 662-2111 x8121 or email boxoffice@massmoca.org.
Please note, museum admission is not included with your event ticket unless indicated. Purchase museum admission here.
By purchasing a ticket to join MASS MoCA’s visitors, staff, and artists on the museum campus, you agree to follow a Courtesy Code, detailed here.
Primus make their way to the Midway Lawn at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction, Vermont on Saturday, July 19th as a part of their Onward & Upward Tour, along with special guest Ty Segall.
Wild Adriatic is back in action and releasing their long-awaited follow-up album to 2017’s Feel. Six years in the making, the new self-titled album encompasses songs written and recorded together in a studio apartment in Lake George, NY. After a pandemic and a band hiatus, the tracks have new life breathed into them and the band is excited to finally have new music out in the world once again. Self Titled finds the band firmly back in the saddle, weaving rock, soul & blues into the trademark sound of one of Upstate New York’s most beloved rock n’ roll exports. The group celebrates the release of their third full length studio album on Friday April 18th at their hometown venue Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs NY.
Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band are an indie-folk/americana ensemble that doesn’t get caught up in how things are supposed to be done. Working mostly with expansive live albums, a mailing list and word of mouth, Reese and his band have become one of the fastest-rising groups in upstate NY by cutting their own path. With a rotating cast of top players, a broad and dynamic body of work, and a refusal to set anything in stone, their shows are always fresh, full of joy, and hard to describe. Think Wilco with hints of Prine and Zappa.
Hilltop is a four piece Funk Rock band based in Albany, NY. The group consists of brothers Stephen & Reid Perry, and their friends Aris Nieuwkerk and Dave Klang. The Perry brothers started playing rock music in high school with Aris, who met keyboardist/founding member George Scherck at music school in Schenectady, NY. Reid and Dave met in Dobbs Ferry, NY at Mercy College, and Stephen studied percussion at SUNY Fredonia before transferring to Mercy. The five of them eventually started playing and writing before their first show in January of 2018 and released their self titled, self produced album a year later. George left the band in 2019 but the band has continued to grow as a quartet. With over 100 shows under their belt, Hilltop shows no signs of slowing down. Each member offers a proficient, unique approach to their instrument, defining the experience. This band of young musicians is ready to spread their music and will continue to engage crowds wherever they go.
Residual Groove is a five-piece funk/fusion band based out of Norwalk, CT that brings a unique and transcendent energy to the stage and takes their audiences on a transportive journey through time and space. Their ability to effortlessly shift from one musical genre to the next and seamlessly transition between structured songs and improvised jams is a testament to the band’s chemistry and ability to push the boundaries of their sound.
Featuring brothers Previn Edwards (guitar/vox) & Kiran Edwards (keys/vox), Miles Livolsi (bass), Henry Thomas (drums), and Garrett Halstead (percussion), Residual Groove have established themselves as a must-see act on the live music circuit. With a healthy mix of groovy originals & surprising covers, the band joins their influences and creations together through tasteful segues and spontaneously improvised segments.
Musician Chris Merenda and a rotating cast of friends play every 2nd & 4th Wednesday on The Stationary Factory stage in Dalton, Massachusetts. This week’s guests are Picky Bastards.
The band UAP pay tribute to the music of UFO, including a full performance of their 1977 album Lights Out, on Friday, April 18th at The Stationary Factory in Dalton, Massachusetts.
Musician Chris Merenda and a rotating cast of friends play every 2nd & 4th Wednesday on The Stationary Factory stage in Dalton, Massachusetts. his week’s guests are The Whiskey Trio (Greg Smith & Tory Hanna).
The Rev Tor Band’s large original repertoire feature funky, bass oriented rhythms and foot stomping percussion. Bouncy guitar lines pull the whole groove together and creates an entrancing state that just makes you want to shake it! Catch them at The Stationary Factory in Dalton, Massachusetts on Friday, April 4th.
Melvin Seals has been a powerful presence in the music industry for over 30 years with a long-established reputation as a performer, recording artist and producer. Melvin is most revered for his powerful, high-spirited, Hammond B-3 organ, and keyboards in the Jerry Garcia Band. Melvin spun his B-3 magic with the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years and in doing so helped pioneer and define what has now become “Jam Band Music”. From blues to funk to rock to jazz, Melvin Seals serves up a tasty mix with a little R&B and gospel thrown in to spice things up.
Melvin and JGB bring an intuitive, expressive style, soul, spontaneity and remarkable chops to the table. John Kadlecik on lead guitar and vocal duties, John-Paul McLean’s savory bass, Jeremy Hoenig on the drums and, of course, a heapin’ helpin’ of the wizard’s magic on Hammond B-3 Organ and keyboards. Their chemistry is the focus from which they create a spontaneous and high art where the sky is the limit musically. They offer an exciting, often psychedelic musical journey that changes nightly and keeps the audience dancing and smiling (and some staring in amazement) for hours.
Adding his rock-gospel-soul-rhythm and blues touch with his funky style of playing, no wonder Jerry nicknamed him “Master of the Universe”. Melvin continues to treat music lovers to his unique brand of melodic flavor with JGB. Come see and hear for yourself!
Catch a show with Gratefully Yours as they pay tribute to the music of The Grateful Dead at The Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls, New York on Friday, March 21st.
***Due to high demand, this pavilion only show has been expanded to include lawn tickets!
GLASS ANIMALS EXTEND ‘TOUR OF EARTH’ WITH 2025 DATES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA
KICKING OFF THE TOUR IN SARATOGA!
Tickets Available Starting Wednesday, March 19 with Presales
General Onsale Begins Friday, March 21 at 10am Local at GlassAnimals.com
Saturday, June 7 in Saratoga Springs, NY at Broadview Stage at SPAC, with additional stops in Asbury Park, Richmond, Charleston, Jacksonville, Tampa, and more. Special guests SOFIA ISELLA and Orla Gartland will join the band on select dates. Alongside the Tour of Earth 2025 announcement, Glass Animals have released a short documentary with footage from the first leg, capturing the culmination of 14 years of growth, creativity, and connection, showcasing how this tour became a shared experience between both the band and their dedicated fanbase. Watch HERE.
Glass Animals’ 2024 Tour of Earth captivated audiences worldwide with sold-out performances across North America, Europe, the UK, and Australia, including headline shows at legendary venues like Madison Square Garden, Kia Forum, O2 Arena, and the Sydney Opera House. Marking their biggest global tour yet, the band has played over 60 shows since launching last year. Most recently, they expanded their tour to Asia, delivering electrifying performances in Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Taipei, Bangkok, and Mumbai. In addition to their own headline dates, the band will also headline a handful of major festivals across North America this summer, including New York’s Governors Ball Music Festival, Manchester, TN’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Montreal’s Osheaga, and more.
“This tour has made me feel some emotions. The crowds have been another level of incredible…the outfits, the big crowd projects that keep blowing us away all over the world, the synchronised dances…and the inflatable cows. They’ve just felt so epic and joyful that 1. we had to do a little mini documentary of the tour so far…and 2. it only made sense to do a few more shows around the festivals we had planned. Also… everyone was livid that we missed Florida, Minnesota, and Oregon. I get barraged with messages every day. Peer pressure works. We are coming to see you.” – Dave Bayley, Glass Animals
The Tour of Earth supports Glass Animals’ critically acclaimed fourth studio album, I Love You So F***ing Much, released in July 2024 via Republic Records. Since its debut, the album has amassed a staggering 250 million streams, including 150 million Spotify streams, 90 million YouTube views, and 135 million TikTok views, solidifying its place as a global sensation. Not to mention, the band recently teamed up with Mura Masa, Jakwob, and Para For Cuva to release several remixes of fan favorite tracks off the album.
TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with Discord and artist presales beginning Wednesday, March 19 at 10am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, March 21 at 10am local time at glassanimals.com.
VIP: The tour will also offer a VIP package and experience for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. The package includes premium tickets, VIP-exclusive gift pack, early entry & more. For more information, visit vipnation.com.
GLASS ANIMALS: TOUR OF EARTH 2025 DATES:
Sat Jun 7 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC+
Sun Jun 8 – New York, NY – Governors Ball Music Festival^
Tue Jun 10 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage+
Wed Jun 11 – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront#
Fri Jun 13 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival^
Sat Jun 14 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium+
Sun Jun 15 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion+
Tue Jun 17 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place+
Wed Jun 18 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live+
Thu Jun 19 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre+
Fri Aug 1 – Montreal, QC – Osheaga^
Sat Aug 2 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater#
Mon Aug 4 – Minneapolis, MN – Armory=
Tue Aug 5 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha=
Thu Aug 7 – Colorado Springs, CO – Ford Amphitheater*=
Sat Aug 9 – Aspen, CO – Up In The Sky^
Tue Aug 12 – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater*#
Fri Aug 15 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater=
Sat Aug 16 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater=
Sun Aug 17 – Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys*=
Join us on Saturday July 12, 2025for this year’s Rock the Dock Music Festival in Lake George, NY is located on and around The Lake George Steamboat Company’s pier, surrounded by the beautiful Adirondack mountains of Upstate NY. Enjoy the sounds of several well-known jam bands from the dock or aboard the steamboats that surround the stage. Food and artist vendors fill the pier for a truly magical experience. A one-of-a-kind music festival.
Performances by:
Umphrey’s McGee
Pink Talking Fish
Wild Adriatic
Chestnut Grove
The Switch
Neon Avenue
After Party at The Lagoon with Capital Zen
His songs appear on recordings by Alison Krauss, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Douglas, John Oates, Dierks Bently, Blackhawk, Jo-el Sonnier and more. Sam Bush has championed him with recording many of his songs including “Same Ol’ River” and “Gold Heart Locket”. Jeff co-wrote the title track to Sam’s Grammy nominated album “Circles Around Me”. His music can be heard on the soundtracks of “The Thing Called Love”, the acclaimed PBS documentary “The Appalachians” and Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize Winner for Best Drama “Steel City”. BlackHawk’s cover of Black’s song, “That’s Just About Right,” was a Top 10 Country single. BlackHawk’s cover of Black’s song, “King Of The World” was a Top 30 Country single. A master songwriter and performer, Black was voted one of the top 100 Folk artists of the last 25 years by Boston’s WUMB listeners.
Well friends, we’re throwing another party to support our little buddy Solaar and her family as she continues her treatments! The last event we held back in November at OMG was incredible and we’re excited for this one too! One of Mya & Solaar’s absolute favorites, @kale.band will be kicking off the evening with new local powerhouse @deadguyfashion closing out the night!
We will have food: wraps, chili, soup, etc.
We will be asking for donations at the door but as always, all are welcome. We originally put this idea together simply to create a fun night for Solaar and her family to lose themselves in the music and step away for their troubles for a bit, well, if you are in need of that too and don’t have a few bucks to contribute, no worries!
We will also have raffles (including a pair of Phish tix)
as we still have quite a few items that were donated for the November event.
