Hunter Center | MASS MoCA

Mavis Staples is one of the great alchemists of American music, crossing genre lines like no musician since perhaps Ray Charles, and weaving her voice into the very fabric of gospel, soul, folk, pop, R&B, blues, rock, and hip-hop. From her time in the legendary Staples Singers, to her Grammy-winning 2010 collaboration with Jeff Tweedy, You’re Not Alone, to her recently released Livin’ on a High Note, produced by M. Ward and featuring contributions by Neko Case, Justin Vernon, Ben Harper, and Tune-Yards, Staples is a classic artist who is as vital today as at any point in her legendary career.

What to expect
Seating is general admission on the floor. Preferred tickets are general admission seats located in the first rows of the theater. A full bar serves Bright Idea Brewing beers and Berkshire Mountain Distillery spirits.

Planning on dinner before the show? Our museum café Lickety Split rolls out a special menu that includes grass-fed beef “Blue Moon” burgers, Reubens, nachos supreme, Mediterranean flatbreads, fresh field greens salads, and homemade quiche.

photo by Chris Strong Photography

The innovative ensemble Sō Percussion explores America’s fraught relationship with guns in this theatrically staged concert. Taking mallets to disassembled sniper rifles and assorted drums, the musicians serve as Greek chorus, commenting instrumentally on sung and spoken texts drawn from the nightmares and nostalgia of armed experiences. Obie-winning director Ain Gordon and choreographer Emily Johnson give depth to this probing work.

Museum galleries open until 7pm.

What to expect
Seating is general admission. Preferred tickets are general admission seats located in the first rows of the theater. A full bar serves Bright Idea Brewing beers and Berkshire Mountain Distillery spirits.

Planning on dinner before the show? Our museum café Lickety Split rolls out a menu of favorites including Vermont black bean burgers, Angus burgers, tasty paninis, quiche, and an array of fresh salads featuring field greens, goat cheese, and grilled pineapple, all priced at $10 or less.

photo courtesy of the artist

Presiding over consciousness-expanding arrangements of Sly and the Family Stone, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Allen Toussaint, The Band, and more — with a wicked horn section — trumpeter and bandleader Steven Bernstein whips up a blowout Free Day concert that will alter your brain chemistry.

With Bernstein on horns, the band features Duane Eubanks (trumpet), Arthur Baron (trombone), Curtis Fowlkes (trombone), Oscar Noriega (sax and clarinet), Erik Lawrence (saxophones of all kinds), Ben Stapp (tuba), and Billy Martin of Medeski Martin & Wood on percussion.

Join us in the galleries for the museum’s annual Free Day, from 11am to 7pm.

What to expect
Dance! Dance! Some seating will be available in the Hunter Center. A full bar serves Bright Idea Brewing beers and Berkshire Mountain Distillery spirits.

photo by Michael Weintrob

Local indie-folk heroes Parsonsfield blew minds at FreshGrass 2016 playing live to an excerpt of the iconic Robert Flaherty documentary Nanook of the North. We’ve asked for the band to score the whole film, and they’re back to perform the world premiere.

Folk Alley has dubbed Parsonsfield’s songs “the most jubilant and danceable indie roots music this side of the Carolinas.” Their rowdy live performances only upped the ante, with The Bluegrass Situation falling for their “fun and frenzy” and No Depression raving that they’ll “give you rich five-part harmonies one minute, sound like bluegrass on steroids the next, and then rock you over the head with unbearably cool and raucous Celtic rhythms.”

Parsonsfield is: Chris Freeman (vocals, banjo), Antonio Alcorn (mandolin), Max Shakun (vocals, pump organ, guitar), Harrison Whale Goodale (bass), Erik Hischmann (drums)

Learn more about how the band’s FreshScores performance got its start. Tickets for FreshGrass 2017 are on sale now.

What to expect
Seating is general admission within each section. Preferred tickets are general admission seats located in the first rows of the theater. A full bar serves Bright Idea Brewing beers and Berkshire Mountain Distillery spirits.

Planning on dinner before the show? Our museum café Lickety Split rolls out a menu of favorites including Vermont black bean burgers, angus burgers, tasty paninis, quiche, and an array of fresh salads featuring field greens, goat cheese, and grilled pineapple, all priced at $10 or less.

photo by Douglas Mason