Live music in Northampton, MA

At The LAVA Center in Greenfield, MA, the Open Stage takes on a spooky twist, celebrating costumes, candy, and performances that revel in the Halloween spirit. This welcoming showcase invites artists from any discipline to share staged work in any phase of creation, including theater, dance, music, literature, spoken word, magic, puppetry, circus, sideshow, comedy, and improv. Costumes are encouraged, and participants may sing a haunting tune, present a skit, read scary stories or poetry, or simply enjoy the atmosphere. The host is Clara Witty, Programming Director of The LAVA Center, whose credits include indiVISIBLE, the On the Boards playwright festival, and the documentary Rising River’s Edge, with a focus on connecting community and the arts. Performers can tap into the house sound system via Bluetooth or a 1/8 inch input, and an adapter may be needed. A suggested donation of $1 to $5 supports the event. For questions, contact info@thelavacenter.org.

Bywater Call brings its blend of Southern soul and roots rock to The Iron Horse with an emotionally charged show defined by soaring vocals and tight, intuitive chemistry among the players. The Toronto-based seven-piece features Meghan Parnell on vocals, Dave Barnes on guitar, Bruce McCarthy on drums, Mike Meusel on bass, John Kervin on keys, Stephen Dyte on trumpet, and Julian Nalli on tenor sax. Their repertoire spans tender ballads and full-throttle anthems, exploring life’s highs and lows while drawing inspiration from artists such as The Band, The Wood Brothers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Otis Redding, Little Feat, and Sly and the Family Stone. The group has earned recognition with a UK Blues Award nomination for International Blues Artist of the Year and a top 20 shortlist for the same honor alongside names like Larkin Poe, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Beth Hart, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, Samantha Fish, and Bobby Rush. Tickets start at $30, all fees included, and prices increase on the day of the event.

Villa Napoletana hosts an evening of wine, Italian cuisine, and a live set by Jeffrey Thomas. Photo credit to Jeffrey Thomas on Facebook.

No Frills Karaoke offers a welcoming, nonjudgmental setting where everyone can relax, be themselves, and belt out favorite tunes. Whether you feel at home onstage or usually sing only in the shower, this gathering brings music lovers of all experience levels together to share songs, laughter, and good company. Expect a supportive atmosphere that encourages letting go of inhibitions, celebrating friends, and creating memories through spirited performances and shared camaraderie.

Part of Quabbin Harvest’s tiny co op concerts, this performance showcases singer and guitarist Josh LeVangie and his love of classic country. He draws on songs made famous by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and others, delivering them with a warm, resonant baritone. With more than two decades onstage, he brings seasoned musicianship and a timeless country sound.

Local singer songwriters share their original music in a free showcase hosted by John Prout. The list of artists will be announced. Enjoy a beer and something to eat while you listen to the performances.

The Iron Horse in Northampton, MA hosts a concert with Mark Erelli, an American singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist whose work spans rock, folk, and Americana. Known for thoughtful lyrics and layered arrangements that nod to classic rock, he has collaborated with Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, and Anaïs Mitchell, has opened shows for Marc Cohn, Watchhouse, and Josh Ritter, released fourteen solo albums alongside three with his bluegrass group Barnstar!, and produced two albums for GRAMMY winner Lori McKenna. Tickets start at $30 with fees included, and prices rise on the day of the event. A pre-show bar and event queue will be available.

New Music Alliance and Bigger Beast Records host The Spark Sessions at Bright Ideas Brewing Westfield with a set of original music from nationally touring artist Vance Gilbert. Richmond Magazine has likened his artistry to a blend of Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens with a comic edge reminiscent of Rodney Dangerfield. The performance unfolds in the BackLight Listening Room, a comfortable, up close space set apart from the main brewery for a focused listening experience. Award winning craft beer from Bright Ideas and Chappy's local fare are just down the hall. Tickets cost $20.

The Weight Band revives the timeless music of The Band with a high-energy program of classic Americana that blends roadhouse rock, swamp pop rhythms, blues, country soul, and folk. Led by guitarist Jim Weider, the lineup includes keyboardist Brian Mitchell, bassist Albert Rogers, drummer Michael Bram, and keyboardist Matt Zeiner, musicians whose backgrounds include The Band, Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band, the Jim Weider Band, Jimmy Vivino, Jason Mraz, and Dickey Betts. United by what Weider calls the Woodstock Sound, this veteran quintet keeps that tradition alive with soulful performances and rich musicianship. Their work Shines Like Gold offers a vivid showcase of these seasoned roots artists at their best.

Always Now offers a cinematic, layered take on folk rock shaped by commanding musicianship, rich three-part vocals, and lyrical storytelling. This progressive folk-rock trio explores themes of time, love, connection, and the practice of being present, creating performances that feel both intimate and electrifying with a resonant, lasting impact. Listeners may catch hints of Crosby, Stills & Nash in the vocal blend, Joni Mitchell in reflective moments, Fleetwood Mac in emotional drive, the Indigo Girls in candid truth-telling, and Steely Dan in adventurous guitar work, yet the sound remains uniquely their own. The music moves from delicate to powerful, thoughtful to vibrant, and aims not just to entertain but to stir, connect, and bring attention to the moment at hand.

Experience a candlelit tribute to Adele at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, where a live, multi-sensory atmosphere sets the tone for an evening of her most beloved songs. The Listeso String Quartet will perform selections including Hello, Rumour Has It, Make You Feel My Love, Water Under the Bridge, Oh My God, Someone Like You, Send My Love, Chasing Pavements, Skyfall, When We Were Young, Set Fire to the Rain, Easy On Me, and Rolling in the Deep. Seating is assigned on a first come, first served basis within each zone, and Zone C offers ADA accessible seats. Attendees must be at least 8 years old, and guests under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. This is a tribute concert and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the artist, their estate, or official representatives.

Step up to the mic for an evening of karaoke. Perform songs, support other singers, and enjoy a music-filled night.

Harpist Melinda Georgeson presents an hour of music, offering a varied set designed to bring joy to listeners. A Millers Falls resident, she became a harpist in retirement and enjoys sharing her music with others.

Lost Towns Brewing hosts a Saturday music feature showcasing a live performance by RAMSHACKLE.

Kick off the weekend with an evening of music as The Storytellers perform at Mario's Cafe Ambiance.

Savor fine wines and Italian dishes while Marco Turo performs live. Photo courtesy of Marco's Facebook page.

The four-day Polyphony Fest concludes with a concert highlighting harmony-rich traditions from around the globe. The program features Culomba, special guest musicians, and festival participants who have spent the weekend learning songs from diverse lineages. It reflects Culomba’s commitment to broadening cultural understanding through song and creates a shared sense of communal music making. Culomba is a six-voice ensemble devoted to close harmonies across American folk, Georgian, Corsican, and Balkan styles, renaissance polyphony, and original compositions. Over the past decade the singers have toured internationally, studied with tradition bearers in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean, and offered educational programs to high school, college, and community choirs. This finale also marks the group’s tenth year with a participatory singing weekend.

DSP Shows presents a night of earthy Delta swamp blues as Tab Benoit brings the Soul of the Swamp Tour to the Academy of Music Theatre, with Ghalia Volt. A four-time Grammy nominee and five-time Blues Music Award winner, including BB King Entertainer of the Year twice, Benoit has spent more than three decades building a devoted following for his raw guitar work and unmistakable voice. After a 13-year break from recording, he returned with I Hear Thunder on his Whiskey Bayou Records label, earning his first Billboard number one in over 30 years. His 2013 album Medicine, co-produced with Anders Osborne for Concord International, collected three Blues Music Awards. He is also a member of The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Beyond the stage, Benoit champions the health of his home state’s wetlands. He founded Voice of the Wetlands, received the Governor’s Award for Conservationist of the Year from the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, and appeared in the iMax film Hurricane on the Bayou. Over the years he has worked alongside artists such as Junior Wells, George Porter Jr, Dr. John, Willie Nelson, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Billy Joe Shaver, Maria Muldaur, James Cotton, Cyril Neville, Kenny Aronoff, Allen Toussaint, Kim Wilson, Jimmy Thackery, Kenny Neal, Chris Layton, Ivan Neville, Jimmy Hall, Jim Lauderdale, Anders Osborne, and Alvin Youngblood Hart. Ghalia Volt adds a high-voltage jolt as a one woman band, driving guitar and foot-drums with grit and soul. Born in Belgium and raised on the streets of Brussels, she honed her craft busking before immersing herself in the blues of the American South. Her album Shout Sister Shout! reached number two on the Billboard Blues Chart, marking a third straight Top 3 release. She has appeared at festivals including New Orleans’ Jazz Fest and Telluride Blues & Brews, and has shared bills with Tab Benoit, Devon Allman, and Buddy Guy. An evening of swampy grooves and raw blues energy awaits at the Academy of Music Theatre.

Dustbowl Revival returns to the Shea stage, three years after making their debut there in the summer of 2023. The performance coincides with peak foliage season in Western Massachusetts, adding a distinctly autumn backdrop.

Cruising for Kitties is a community car gathering where every kind of vehicle is celebrated, from classic muscle and vintage pickups to modern supercars. Enjoy music from DJ Gary Frances and food from Chappy’s Mobile Culinary Experience. All proceeds support the Westfield Homeless Cat Project, and the event is presented by Pioneer Valley Indoor Karting.

DSP Shows presents Suzanne Vega at BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity in Northampton for a concert that spans her catalog, featuring favorites like Tom’s Diner, Luka, and Marlene on the Wall, along with songs from her most recent album, Flying with Angels, which earned strong critical praise after its May 2025 release. She performs with longtime guitarist Gerry Leonard, known for his work with David Bowie, and cellist Stephanie Winters. Critics have highlighted the new album’s keen insights and refined sound, and recent shows have been noted for intimate storytelling that blends treasured classics with newer material. A seminal figure in the early 1980s folk revival, Vega has sustained a decades-long career crafting contemporary folk narratives with a concise, distinctive voice, often reflecting city life and everyday people, and has performed to sold-out audiences across the globe since her acclaimed 1985 debut.

Palmyra performs at The Iron Horse with Olivia Ellen Loyd. Originating in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Teddy Chipouras, Mānoa Bell, and Sasha Landon weave traditional instruments with honest songwriting about grief, gender dysphoria, identity, and growing up. Their sound bridges folk roots and broader indie currents, nodding to soul, post-rock, and emo, and drawing connections to artists like The Avett Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show as well as My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, and Cat Power. Their first full length album, Restless, is out now on Oh Boy Records, exploring struggle, solidarity, and hard earned growth in a space where indie rock grit meets raw folk. Tickets start at $18 with all fees included, and prices increase on the day of the event.

Dead Night gathers musicians and music lovers for a welcoming experience hosted by Kade Parkin. Built over years of care, this community celebration invites longtime Dead Heads and curious newcomers to connect, enjoy the music, and dance in an uplifting atmosphere. It is a friendly space where the spirit of the scene brings people together.

Savor fine wine and Italian cuisine while Jeffrey Thomas performs live at Villa Napoletana in East Longmeadow.

Local jazz musician Wes Brown leads a recurring live set every 3rd Wednesday, known as Wes-day, featuring collaborations with musicians from across the valley. When a month includes a 5th Wednesday, an extra Wes-day is added.

Every Wednesday features karaoke hosted by DJ PRL, a weekly chance to take the mic and perform the songs you love.