Community Calendar

Tone Forest is a groundbreaking contemporary jazz ensemble featuring three world-class musicians: Miro Sprague (piano), Jason Ennis (6- and 7-string guitars), and Marty Jaffe (bass). Longtime friends and collaborators with shared roots in Western Massachusetts, their music fuses jazz, world music, and free improvisation into a genre-defying sound that is lyrical, adventurous, and deeply grounded in beauty and groove.

Tone Forest is a truly collaborative trio with an improvisational ethos that makes every performance unique and alive. Drawing inspiration from nature, their compositions and performances take listeners on a cinematic journey through a rich spectrum of musical colors, dynamics, and emotions — from the most delicate passages to the most danceable grooves. Along the way, they weave in rhythms and influences from a wide range of folk and global traditions, including swing, samba, baião, New Orleans street beats, and more.

Acclaimed French guitarist Stéphane Wrembel brings his internationally celebrated blend of jazz, gypsy swing, and world music to Next Stage Arts. Praised by Rolling Stone as “a revelation,” Wrembel is known for his Grammy Award-winning soundtrack work on Midnight in Paris, dazzling virtuosity, and deeply expressive original compositions. Joined by Adrien Chevalier (violin), Ari Folman-Cohen (bass), and Nick Anderson (drums), Wrembel and his world-class band deliver an unforgettable evening of adventurous, genre-defying music that bridges the traditions of Django Reinhardt with contemporary global influences.

Join us for the Wind & Reed Jazz Jam Session at 50 Arrow Gallery!

Musicians of all levels are welcome to bring an instrument, sign up, and jam alongside our house band of professional local musicians.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills, meet other players in the community, perform in front of an audience, or just have a great time making music, this session is for you.

The evening will begin with a 30-minute opening set from the house band, followed by a 90-minute open jam session with a first-come, first-served sign-up list. Players will have opportunities to solo, accompany, experiment, and express themselves in a supportive and collaborative environment.

All styles, experience levels, and creative approaches are encouraged — just keep it respectful, musical, and fun.

Suggested donation: $5 plus tips

Bring your horn, sticks, voice, pedals, weird instruments, or just come hang and listen.

Young exciting jazz trio from New Yrok City led by Caelan Cordello, piano, also features Jonathan Muir Cotton, bass, and Isaiah Bravo, drums. Our annual free 4th of July Jazz concert!

Mechanics Hall is excited to welcome internationally acclaimed guitarist and vocalist Joanna Connor for a powerful night of blues in The Great Hall. Known for her explosive slide guitar work and high-energy performances, Connor brings a bold, modern edge to traditional blues—delivering a live show that feels every bit as intense and electrifying as a rock concert.

With early roots in Worcester, this performance feels especially meaningful as Joanna Connor makes her debut on the Mechanics Hall stage.

Twenty-time Grammy winner Pat Metheny returns to the stage in 2026 with his new ensemble Side-Eye III+, supporting the release of their self-titled album. Metheny's Side-Eye project is a concept he first introduced to showcase the next generation of exceptional young musicians who have come onto his radar in recent years. Joining Pat Metheny for this dynamic performance are pianist and keyboardist Chris Fishman, bassist Jermain Paul, and drummer Joe Dyson.

Pat Metheny has stood at the forefront of modern music for more than five decades. Beginning on trumpet at age eight and switching to guitar at twelve, Metheny was performing with Kansas City's top jazz musicians by fifteen, an early start that helped shape his unmistakable sound.

After joining vibraphonist Gary Burton's group in 1974, Metheny's horn-like phrasing, lyrical touch, and rhythmic fluidity quickly distinguished him. His debut album, Bright Size Life, redefined the possibilities of jazz guitar, introducing a new sonic openness and melodic clarity that inspired generations of players.