Music at the MAC Spring Series

The Marion Art Center (the MAC) is pleased to announce its spring series of Music at the MAC, with generous support through a Festivals & Projects grant provided by the Mass Cultural Council. View all concerts and register online at www.marionartcenter.org/music .

Only a few tickets remain for the MAC’s first Unplugged in the MAC Gallery event with pianist Matt Richard and guitarist Donn Legge on Friday, April 14 (second seating scheduled at 8:45pm). The cost is $12 for MAC members and $15 for nonmembers.Find a spot at a cabaret table to listen to a mix of jazz standards and original compositions by both artists. Guests will enjoy a refreshing atmosphere at this unplugged performance featuring mainly acoustic sound, without the volume and density of bass and drums often experienced during larger concerts in the MAC Theater. Guests may bring their own beverages and snacks to enjoy in this intimate setting.

Experience a night of original music performed by four talented singer/songwriters on the MAC stage on Saturday, April 22 at 7:30pm. The MAC’s first edition of Songwriters in the Round will feature local musicians Richard Lewis, Molly O’Leary, Ric Allendorf, and John Fernandes. Musicians will share the stage, taking turns performing original songs. During the first hour, guests will hear up to three songs per artist, followed by a 15-20 minute intermission where guests can meet and greet the artists. Finish off the night with two more songs from each artist and an informal Q&A opportunity after the show. Tickets are just $20 for MAC members and $25 for nonmembers.

Don’t miss the Buttonwood Brass Prohibition Party on Saturday, May 13 from 6:30-9:00pm, just one of many events during SouthCoast Spring Arts at the MAC. Put together your 1920’s attire and bring your favorite “bootleg” beverage of choice. Enjoy the MAC’s speakeasy-cabaret atmosphere while listening to Buttonwood Brass, a versatile ensemble performing Jazz Standards, Classical, New Orleans, Roaring Twenties, and the Great American Songbook from the Prohibition Era. Guests are encouraged to dress the part! Light snacks will be provided by the MAC. Tickets are just $15 per person for this low cost Spring Arts event.

See New York-based band Hawthorne perform at the MAC on Friday, May 19 at 7:30pm (tickets are $20 for MAC members and $25 for nonmembers). Musicians Nat Osborn and Aimee Bayles form this Folk-Americana band with a modern edge.Hawthorne’s music weaves intricate vocal harmonies with contemporary folk melodies and arresting instrumentation. Their sound draws inspiration from folk legends Paul Simon, Gillian Welch, Patty Griffin, and Alison Krauss as well as contemporary artists Fleet Foxes, Glen Hansard, and Dawes. With Nat and Aimee’s original songs taking center stage, the band includes long-time collaborator and cellist Karna Ray, and a rotating cast of talented multi-instrumentalists.

Putnam Murdock & Friends return to the MAC stage on Saturday, May 27 at 7:30pm, with musician Merrick Brannigan as the opening act. Along with Colin Bradley on pedal steel, Kyle Spark on bass, and Mark Purrington on drums, Murdock’s tunes are realized in a new way. There is a sensitivity and touch where the players listen and create in the moment to create a solid sonic foundation but one that is malleable and patient. These players do not rely on their rehearsals to create repetition but to create the trust it takes to approach every song like it is brand new every time they perform. Merrick Brannigan is a 15-year-old singer/songwriter with a passion for all things music. He is an accomplished guitarist, pianist, and vocalist. A former Nantucket resident, his music career began when he won Nantucket’s Got Talent?in 2019.
View all concerts and register online at www.marionartcenter.org/music .