Beyond Wellesley

Boston & beyond music festivals for 2026

April 5, 2026 by Bob Brown

The line-ups for music festivals in Boston and beyond have begun to roll out, featuring music for all tastes.

The big missing festivals this year are Boston Calling, which is taking a year off, though has already nailed down June 4-6, 2027 for its return. Also Freshgrass returns to North Adams on Sept. 24-26, 2027.

(Event organizers and performers are welcome to hit us up for possible coverage: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com)

2026 music festivals

The Town & The City Festival (Lowell) on April 30-May 2

Takes place in numerous venues across town, highlights music and the arts.

Mojo Boston Music Festival (City Hall Plaza in Boston) on May 9, 12-10:30pm

Ten hours of music on two stages featuring national and local bands and DJs. Headliners include AC Slater and Discip. Dozens of local vendors, live art, food trucks, bars and more.

New England Americana Festival (Medfield) on June 6

New England Americana Fest returns to the Bellforge grounds for another full day of live music, storytelling, and community celebration. Organized by the New England Americana Association, this free festival brings together beloved regional acts and emerging voices for a vibrant gathering that celebrates the rich traditions and evolving sounds of Americana music.

The day will feature two stages of continuous performances, giving audiences the chance to explore a wide range of artists and musical styles throughout the afternoon and evening.

Green River Music Festival (Greenfield) on June 19-21

Solid Sound (North Adams, MASS MoCA) on June 26-28

Art, music, and comedy festival that takes over the MASS MoCA campus every other year. The band Wilco is the force behind this festival.

Levitate Music & Arts Festival (Marshfield Fairgrounds) on July 18-19

Feel-good festival known for its jam and reggae acts, but also newcomer musicians, live art work, a creators’ market, and more. We love that you can bring folding chairs and take a load off your feet to enjoy the music.

Nice, a fest 2026 (Davis Square, Somerville) on July 24-26

All ages festival; line-up to come.

Breakaway Music Festival (Worcester, indoors and outside) on Aug. 21-22

Electronic dance music extravaganza, has versions across the country.

Past 2026 festivals…. [Read more…]

Nearby in Natick: Epilogue Books & Wine on the way; Transportation Advisory Committee shares update; Little League ups fundraising game

March 22, 2026 by admin

The latest Natick, Mass., news:

Epilogue Books & Wine on the way

A new business called Epilogue Books & Wine is planned for 21 Summer St., a mixed-use development across from TCAN, the Center for Arts in Natick.

Transportation Advisory Committee shares update

2026 goals focus on safer streets, better transit, and making it easier for people to get around town without solely relying on cars.

Little League ups fundraising game with new website

A big part of the league’s solution to needed capital for future projects is a new RallyforNatick website designed to make it much easier to donate—and to keep giving year after year.

Arts roundup—Wellesley Symphony Orchestra concert; “Starry Nights” at Clever Hand; Dana Hall School student is poetry champ; Society of Artists presents pastels demonstration; and more

March 19, 2026 by Deborah Brown

Wellesley is fortunate to have a lively arts scene, with various opportunities to engage with or make art at any given time. Check out a concert, theater performance, or art reception this month. Here are just a few events happening soon, here and beyond Wellesley.

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, “Women Compose”

DATE/TIME: Sunday, March 22, 2pm
LOCATION: This concert will be at the Wellesley High School Auditorium, 50 Rice St, Wellesley, MA
TICKETS here
A HIGHLIGHT: Daphne Lee, winner of the 2025 Michael H. Welles Young Soloist Competition, performs the 3rd Movement of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto

Wellesley Society of Artists presents, “Who is Your Muse?”

DATE/TIME: Sunday March 22 at 1:30pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Free Library, 530 Washington St.

DESCRIPTION: Awards reception for the WSA’s exhibition “Inspired By.” The judge for this show is artist Katherine Miller. The awards announcement will be followed by a panel discussion, “Who’s Your Muse?” with WSA members Darryl Abbey, John Ellefsen, Pilar Figueira, Ginit Marten, Yale Nicolls, Mark Richards, Robert Savage, who will discuss how their artwork was inspired by a particular artist’s style or genre. This will be an informal dialogue with audience members about how each of us draws from the collective art community to create works that both inspire us and those around us. Join us for light refreshments and a chance to chat with local artists beginning at 1:30pm. Free and open to the public.

Art Wellesley, exhibit and artists reception

RECEPTION DATE/TIME: March 26, 6pm-8pm
RECEPTION free, but registration required
EXHIBIT runs March 26 – April 11, Wednesday-Saturday, 11am-4pm
LOCATION: Wellesley History and Exhibit Center, 323 Washington St.
JURORS: David Teng Olsen and Samara Pearlstein

The Clever Hand Gallery presents “Starry Nights”

EVENT: Artists reception
DATE: Friday, March 27, 4pm-6 pm
LOCATION: The Clever Hand Gallery, 52 Central St, Wellesley

Clever Hand, Wellesley — Necklace by Jackie Mosher.

The Clever Hand Gallery, an artisans’ cooperative, is presenting “Starry Nights,” an imaginative exhibition inspired by Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. The show features original interpretations by its members and consigning artists of van Gogh’s radiant stars and kinetic swirls, reinterpreted in various media including glass, pottery, textiles and beaded jewelry. The show will run March 24- April 12, with an artists reception on March 27, from 4-6 pm.

Dana Hall School student is poetry champ

Nia Cao, Dana Hall School, Poetry Out Loud Champion — Nia Cao, Dana Hall School

Congratulations to Nia Cao, a Junior from Dana Hall School in Wellesley, who has been named the 2026 Poetry Out Loud Massachusetts State Champion. The national recitation contest run is locally by The Huntington Theatre, in partnership with the Mass Cultural Council, and nationwide by the National Endowment for the Arts. The honor comes with prize earnings of $200 and an all expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete at Nationals in Washington, DC, April 27-29. Dana Hall School also will receive a $500 stipend to purchase poetry books for the school’s library. Nationals will be livestreamed online at arts.gov.

The 21st annual Massachusetts state finals competition was held at the Old South Meeting House earlier this month, with twelve student finalists competing, representing high schools from across the state, with five emerging as the top finalists.

Wellesley Society of Artists presents pastels demonstration

Wellesley Society of Artsts — Painting by Janet Schwartz

EVENT: Janet Schwartz—Figurative Painting with Pastels
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, April 7, 6:30pm
LOCATION: Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Ave., Needham
COST: Free
DESCRIPTION: Needham Art Association and the Wellesley Society of Artists are pleased to welcome pastel artist Janet Schwartz. The driving force behind Janet’s figurative paintings is the connection between people and/or the environment. In this demo, Janet will focus on capturing the gesture and mood in a figurative painting to tell a story.

Wellesley memorialized on Boston Marathon quilt

EVENT: Quilt show, “A Thread Runs Through It”
DATE: Saturday, April 11, 2026 and Sunday, April 12, 2026 from 10 am – 5 pm
LOCATION: Hopkinton Center for the Arts, 98 Hayden Rowe Street, Hopkinton
COST: $10/person; children 12 and under are free of charge
DESCRIPTION: The Marathon Quilt Guild, located in Hopkinton, MA, is celebrating its 30th anniversary by presenting a quilt show which will celebrate 30 years of the guild’s history, the 130th running of the Boston Marathon, and the 250th anniversary of the United States. The show’s highlight includes a unique “Go the Distance” Boston Marathon Invitational Quilt Exhibit, in which an especially SWELL town we all know and love will be showcased.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater coming to Boston

Vivo Performing Arts, Boston — Alvin Ailey company

DATES: 5 performances, April 30-May 3.
LOCATION: Boch Center Wang Theater, 270 Tremont Street in Boston
TICKETS here
PRESENTED BY: Vivo Performing Arts
DESCRIPTION: The annual run of Alvin Ailey company’s 20-city national tour returns with several Boston premieres, part of the inaugural season with new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack. Fresh for local audiences are Boston-born choreographer Matthew Neenan’s “Difference Between,” among other luminaries. Ailey’s own iconic “Revelations” closes each of the five performances

An Evening with Megan Hilty

DATES: May 29 and 30, 8pm
LOCATION: Umbrella Arts Center, 40 Stow St., Concord, Mass.
DESCRIPTION: The Tony nominee and television star, well known for NBC’s “Smash” and for starring as Glinda in the national tour of Wicked, headlines a concert featuring songs from her celebrated stage and screen career.
TICKETS here

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Nearby in Natick: 219 apartments pitched next to train station; Veteran Service Officer retiring; Neighbors against car wash

March 9, 2026 by admin

The latest news from Natick, Mass.:
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219 apartments pitched next to West Natick train station

The Natick Planning Board on March 25 is set to hear from a developer seeking to build a five-story mixed-used complex with 219 apartment units (330 bedrooms) next to the West Natick commuter rail station where the Natick Crossings retail strip has largely emptied out in recent years.

Gables-Natick-Crossing-1000x558 — Envisioned Gables Natick Crossing

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Veterans Service Officer retiring after 16 years on job

Even as he prepares for retirement in late March, Paul Carew always has a moment for veterans stopping in to say hello, or to get assistance with paperwork.
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Natick residents pour cold water on Rte. 9 car wash proposal

Neighbors of a proposed Rte. 9 west car wash pushed back at a late February Natick Planning Board meeting on a project they worry will make their area noisier and less safe.

Nearby in Natick: Affordable housing complex ekes out approval; Longtime resident recalled for remarkable civic & community service; Mini golf at the library

February 26, 2026 by admin

The latest news from Natick, Mass.:

5 Auburn St. affordable housing proposal ekes out Natick Conservation Commission OK

Metro West Collaborative Development earlier this month earned another close victory on its path to erecting a 32-unit deeply affordable housing complex on property at 5 Auburn St. abutting the Charles River in South Natick.

Longtime Natick resident Paul Connolly recalled for remarkable civic and community service

The passing of Paul E. Connolly, 82, earlier this month has those who knew him recalling the 52-year-plus resident’s extensive contributions to town government and the wider community

Mini golf coming to Morse Institute Library

The Morse Institute Library in Natick Center will turn into a mini-golf course for the annual Family Fun Day on Saturday, March 7.

Nearby in Natick: Flock license plate reader pilot nixed; Latest police doings; Successful book & bake sale

February 1, 2026 by Bob Brown

The latest news from Natick, Mass.:

Natick Select Board quashes Flock license plate reader pilot; Police chief apologizes & explains

After being blindsided by a Natick Police pilot of Flock Safety license plate reader technology, the Select Board this past week voted unanimously to end the trial and have the town set up a working group to explore the topic going forward.

Camera in front of Natick Community Center

What ELSE the Natick Police Department is up to

Natick Police Chief James Hicks spoke of hiring challenges, possible adoption of drones, and more during his briefing with the Select Board.

Friends of Morse Institute Library beat the snow for successful book & bake sale

Nearby in Natick: New pastor, photo exhibit, sushi

January 19, 2026 by Bob Brown

The latest from Natick, Mass.:

Historic Eliot Church has new pastor

The Eliot Church of Natick has called Reverend Adam Isbitsky to be its next minister after a search process that wound up last fall.

A tasty lunch at new Tama restaurant

Sushi and hibachi joint is located in space occupied for years by Oga on Rte. 9 west, not far over the Wellesley line.

Gateway Camera Club photos on display at Morse Institute Library

About 40 photos from members can be seen through February in Lebowitz Meeting Hall.

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Levitate Music & Arts Festival reveals line-up headlined by Alanis Morissette and Caamp

January 6, 2026 by Bob Brown

Nothing warms up a winter day like the release of a summer concert line-up: The annual Levitate Music & Arts Festival in Marshfield, Mass., has revealed its bill.

Topping the two-day line-up are singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette of Jagged Little Pill fame and Caamp, a banjo-strong folk band from Ohio.

Also on the roster are Australia’s Royel Otis (they can rock), reggae star Ziggy Marley, New Orleans legend Trombone Shorty (first saw him opening for a tech conference down south), Brooklyn’s Sammy Rae and the Friends (my goddaughter swears by them), and Bebe Stockwell, who boasts Boston roots and performed last year at Boston Calling in front of many family and friends.

The Levitate festival takes place at the Marshfield Fairgrounds, about 45 minutes from Wellesley by car.

Tickets go on sale Jan. 9.

We’ve covered the Levitate Music & Arts Festival in recent years , including last year:

Among the things that sets Levitate apart from other festivals is its blend of music with the arts, including a crunchy and expansive marketplace where you can get everything from hemp hats to braids. Nearly a dozen artists will get to make their presence felt with big murals or other pieces that they will work on during the event.

Levitate circle songwriter stage — Fans circle up near the Songwriter’s Stage

In addition to the national and international acts on multiple stages is the Levitate Foundation Songwriter’s Stage, which this past year was located in the center of the action. Four previously unsigned artists will be selected to perform and get funding to record an album. The Levitate Foundation is a big supporter of local arts opportunities.

Levitate attracts many families, and includes a Kids Zone with various activities. A plethora of food trucks and booths will keep attendees nourished at this 14th edition of Levitate.

While all this might sound exhausting, one nice thing about Levitate is that you can bring in a folding chair to take a load off and chill.

Interested in having Swellesley cover your music festival or concert? Reach out at theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

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