April 1-31
Discover Newport:
Daffodil Days at Blithewold
Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
101 Ferry Road
Bristol, RI 02809
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
daffodillion.com
blithewold.org
discovernewport.org
Celebrate spring at this beautiful thirty-three-acre estate on Narragansett Bay with a spectacular display of more than 50,000 daffodils. Billiant yellow daffodils trumpet the arrival of spring as the sight of blooming flowers and budding trees help us forget winter as we look forward to summer fun.
April 5
The Good Friday Agreement:
20 years of peace and progress in Northern Ireland
Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate
Columbia Point,
Boston
5:30 pm | 617-740-7000 | Register here | emkinstitute.org
This program will mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the cornerstone of peace and reconciliation in Ireland. Co-hosted by the Consulate General of Ireland, the British Consulate General and Irish Network Boston, the program features a keynote address by Senator George Mitchell, the US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland during from 1995 to 2001, including the signing of the Agreement on April 10th, 1998. Panel discussion follows.
April 7
BRT Presents:The Gothard Sisters
Blackstone River Theatre
549 Broad Street,
Cumberland, RI
8:00 pm |
$21.00 adv / $24 at the door |
Reserve Tix: 401-725-9272 | riverfolk.org
The Gothard Sisters impressive array of talents have set them apart as one of the most compelling acts in Celtic music today. When siblings Greta, Willow and Solana fuse their talents together, the result is an irresistible mix of spritely violin and fiddle tones, vocal harmonies, mandolin and penny-whistle accents, all supported by the exuberant rhythms of the bodhran, djembe and guitar. After ten years of playing together, The Sisters' eclectic style has truly evolved into a jubilant, not to be missed, live performance!
April 8
JFK Library Presents: PEN/Hemingway Award Ceremony
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Columbia Point, Boston
2:00 - 3:15 p.m. |
Chick here to register
617 514-1644 | jfklibrary.org
Seán Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway’s grandson, presents the 2018 PEN/Hemingway Award at this ceremony to Weike Wang for her novel Chemistry. Ricardo Cortez Cruz, author of Straight Outta Compton and Five Days of Bleeding, is the keynote speaker. The Kennedy Library is the major repository of Ernest Hemingway's personal papers. See the collection here.
April 15
BRT Presents:
Matthew Byrne in Concert
Blackstone River Theatre
549 Broad Street,
Cumberland, RI
7:00 pm |
$16.00
Reserve by Phone: 401-725-9272 | riverfolk.org
Storytelling through song is a fundamental duty of traditional music and Matthew Byrne does this brilliantly with his latest recording, "Horizon Lines." Since bursting on to the trad scene in 2010 with his debut recording, "Ballads," Matthew has swiftly earned his place as one of Canada's most authentic and vital traditional voices backed by his masterful guitar playing. Byrne's second solo CD "Hearts & Heroes" won "Traditional Album of the Year" at the 2015 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
April 15
One Boston Day
City of Boston and Beyond
onebostonday.org
Mayor Walsh announced that One Boston Day – held annually on April 15th to commemorate the Boston Marathon bombings – will become a permanent fixture of the City of Boston. "April 15 is a date that has come to stand for our city's deepest values, and we continue to be amazed by the spirit of the day, in the city, and around the world," Walsh said. "I am proud to sign this proclamation so that every April 15 we are inspired to come together to honor the bravery, the resolve and the unity of the city by reaching out, helping those in need, committing random acts of kindness."
April 17
JFK Library Presents:
Bright Star Touring Theatre - Upcycled Cinderella
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Columbia Point, Boston
10:30 - 11:30 am |
Free | Children Ages 5 and Up
617 514-1644 | jfklibrary.org
Bright Star Theatre brings to life the story of Cinderella in a way that will surprise and delight visitors of all ages. Using household items, recycled objects and physical comedy, performers create hilarious characters, inventive settings and lively scenes that activate the imagination and encourage teamwork, friendship and creativity in everyday life.
April 20
Bach's St. Matthew Passion
Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester
8:00 pm | 508 752-0888
mechanicshall.org
Presented by Music Worcester. Christopher Shepard returns to the Mechanics Hall stage as conductor and director of The Worcester Chorus this April with a program featuring Bach's magnificent choral work, St. Matthew Passion.
April 21
BRT Presents:
Frigg - Music from Finland
Blackstone River Theatre
549 Broad Street,
Cumberland, RI
8:00 pm |
$16.00 advanced / $18 at the door
Reserve by Phone: 401-725-9272 | riverfolk.org
Frigg has been conquering the world with a fusion of western folk music, leaning towards Nordic folk music, for which the world music media has coined the term "nordgrass" referring to the bluegrass influences of the group. The tight interplay of four violins, string instruments and contrabass, fine-tuned to perfection and spiced with sparkling, humorous live energy has made an impact on listeners all over the world.
April 22
BRT Presents:Sultans of String
Blackstone River Theatre
549 Broad Street,
Cumberland, RI
7:00 pm |
$16.00 advanced / $18 at the door
Reserve by Phone: 401-725-9272
riverfolk.org
3-time JUNO (Canada's Grammy) nominees Sultans of String are an energetic and exciting band thrilling audiences with their genre-hopping mix of Celtic reels, Flamenco, Gypsy-jazz, Arabic, and Cuban rhythms as fiery violin dances with kinetic guitar while funky bass lays down unstoppable grooves. The group has performed live on BBC TV, BBC Radio, and the internationally syndicated shows WoodSongs, World Cafe, and on SiriusXM in Washington. Don't miss their Rhode Island debut!
April 28
BRT Presents: Mike Block and Bruce Molsky
Blackstone River Theatre
549 Broad Street,
Cumberland, RI
8:00 pm |
$16.00 advanced / $18 at the door
Reserve by Phone: 401-725-9272 | riverfolk.org
Mike Block is a pioneering multi-style cellist, singer, composer, and educator, hailed by Yo-Yo Ma as the "ideal musician of the 21st-Century" and acclaimed by the NY Times for his "vital rich-hued solo playing." While still studying at the Juilliard School, Mike joined Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, with which he has toured extensively, and won a 2017 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album. Bruce Molsky, “one of America’s premier fiddling talents” (Mother Jones) and a Grammy-nominated artist on fiddle, banjo, guitar and song will play a solo set and also join Mike. Molsky is a Berklee College of Music’s Visiting Scholar in the American Roots Program. Says WBUR (Boston NPR), "It is no exaggeration to say that Bruce Molsky is one of the greatest American fiddlers of all time. His playing is mesmerizing and transporting…”
April 28
Mechanics Hall Presents:
Cameron Carpenter
Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester
8:00 pm | 508 752-0888 | mechanicshall.org
A former child prodigy, Cameron Carpenter trained at the American Boychoir School, the North Carolina School of the Arts and has two degrees from The Juilliard School. He holds the 2012 Leonard Bernstein Award, is the first solo organist ever nominated for a GRAMMY® Award for a solo album, and has appeared with many of the great orchestras around the world; he has spoken and debated at think tanks and conferences including TED, IdeaCity, The Entertainment Gathering, and many more.