Party of 3 Acoustic Duo - Pier 52 Brunch
2026-08-30 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Pier 52, 52 Ferry St, Fall River, MA, 02721
Start an amazing Sunday afternoon with live music, brunch, and cocktails, all while enjoying the most amazing ocean view.

Sunday Funday with Neal McCarthy Band and Mark Russell on Fiddle
2026-08-30 17:00 - 20:00 | Canned Heat Craft Beer Co., 52 Ferry Street, Fall River, MA, 02724, United States
mark your calendars and welcome the Neal McCarthy Band back at Canned Heat for Sunday Funday! Once a month all of 2026! Rotating band mates and Fiddle performances from Mark Russell!

Other musician appearances from Kyle Spark, Mark Purrington and MORE!

FRACC Artist Park Picnic
2026-08-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Heritage State Park, Davol St, Fall River, MA, 02720
FRACC is BACK hosting a new season of open meetings. This one is in collaboration with the FRNB Artist Collective at Heritage State Park.We are inviting you to bring a blanket, chairs, your picnic basket, and join in on some art talk , FRACC & FRNB updates, and art making -while having a lovely picnic dinner together! ALL are welcome.

Historical Fiction Book Club
2026-08-31 18:00 - 19:00 | Fall River Public Library, 104 North Main St, Fall River, MA, 02720
Join us on the last Monday of every month from 6:00-7:00 in the meeting room to read, discuss, analyze, review, and suggest all books Historical Fiction. Drink some tea and enjoy living in another time.

English Conversation Group
2026-09-02 18:00 | Fall River Public Library, 104 North Main St, Fall River, MA, 02720
Learning to speak English can be a challenge. Come practice with us in the Nagle Room. Join our English Conversation Club and practice your speaking and listening skills. Beginners are welcome to join!

Teen Game Night
2026-09-03 17:30 | Fall River Public Library, 104 North Main St, Fall River, MA, 02720
Gamers unite for Teen Game Night!!!

Every first Thursday of the month, teens are invited to the Fall River Public Library to play all sorts of collaborative and competitive multiplayer video games on the library projector. Show off your skills, learn about games new and old, and most importantly… have a blast!!

For teens ages 13 – 18.

Open Mic Night
2026-09-03 19:00 - 22:00 | The Belmont Club, 34 Franklin Street, Fall River

Monthly Artists Share!
2026-09-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Gallery X, 169 William Street, New Bedford, MA, 02740
Get feedback on your work and meet local creatives at this Monthly Artists Share! group, facilitated by Midori Creativity.

Artists Share! is a place to share your creative work, get support and feedback, and be part of a wonderful discussion. Hosted by Midori Creativity, we’re all about cross-pollination welcoming painters, jewelry makers, fiber artists, photographers, musicians, scultptors and more. Our exhibit, Creative Catalysts, celebrates the interplay and creative exploration that happens when artists of different genres work together.
Anyone is welcome and we take turns sharing. Sometimes we are looking at a body of work and other times we are talking about creative identity. The group meets every month, aiming to help each other progress and grow in our work by sharing and exploring together. It’s a chance to learn from people whose work may be different from your own but who have insights you could never imagine. We laugh, share ideas, and have fun!
Participants can also attend via Zoom. Learn more about the program at midoricreativity.com/artistsshare
This program is supported in part by a grant from the New Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Writing Group
2026-09-09 18:00 | Fall River Public Library, 104 North Main St, Fall River, MA, 02720
Welcome all writers! Looking to build a community with creative, like-minded people? Look no further! We’ll be getting together once a month on the second Wednesday of each month to provide support and feedback and share our love of the craft of writing. Bring your favorite pen!

YA Comics Club
2026-09-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Fall River Public Library, 104 North Main St, Fall River, MA, 02720
CALLING ALL teenage COMICS ENTHUSIASTS!!!! Do you like comics? Graphics novels? Manga? Webcomics? Some other combination of pictures and words?? Then the Young Adult Comics Club is the place for you!

The second Thursday of each month we meet to discuss all things comics – making, thinking, reading, sharing, etc. Share your favorite manga with peers! Show off the comic you’ve been making to other comic artists! Finally start that cool comic idea you’ve been meaning to draw! Learn what comics are all about!!!

Each month we will have an optional comic prompt to make and share for the following meeting. Make us some words and pictures!!

For teens ages 13 – 18.

Reverend Horton Heat
2026-09-10 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Thursday, September 10, 2024
$50 Advance | $52 Day of Show
[all-in pricing, no additional fees]
Doors 7pm | Show 8pm
Special Guests: Messer Chups
Loaded guns, space heaters, and big skies. Welcome to the lethal littered landscape of Jim Heath’s imagination. True to his high evan- gelical calling, Jim is a Revelator, both revealing & reinterpreting the country-blues-rock roots of American music. He’s a time-travelling space-cowboy on a endless inter- stellar musical tour, and we are all the richer & “psychobillier” for getting to tag along.
Seeing REVEREND HORTON HEAT live is a transformative ex- perience. Flames come off the gui- tars. Heat singes your skin. There’s nothing like the primal tribal rock & roll transfiguration of a Rever- end Horton Heat show. Jim be- comes a slicked-back 1950′s rock & roll shaman channeling Screamin’ Jay Hawkins through Buddy Holly, while Jimbo incinerates the Stand- Up Bass. And then there are the “Heatettes”. Those foxy rockabilly chicks dressed in poodle-skirts and cowboy boots slamming the night away. It’s like being magically transported into a Teen Exploita- tion picture from the 1950′s that’s currently taking place in the future.

Listening to the REVEREND HORTON HEAT is tantamount to injecting pure musical nitrous into the hot-rod engine of your heart. The Reverend’s commandants are simple.
ROCK HARD, DRIVE FAST, AND LIVE TRUE.
And no band on this, or any other, planet rocks harder, drives faster, or lives truer than the Reverend Horton Heat. These “itinerant preachers” actually practice what they preach. They live their lives by the Gospel of Rock & Roll.
From the High-Octane Spaghetti-Western Wall of Sound in “Big Sky” — to the dark driving frenetic paranoia of “400 Bucks” – to the brain-melting Western Psychedelic Garage purity of “Psychobilly Freakout” — The Rev’s music is the perfect soundtrack to the Drive-In Movie of your life.
Jim Heath & Jimbo Wallace have chewed up more road than the Google Maps drivers. For twenty- five Psychobilly years, they have blazed an indelible, unforgettable, and meteoric trail across the globe with their unique blend of musical virtuosity, legendary showman- ship, and mythic imagery.
With special guests Messer Chups.

We Love Children Dinner Dance
2026-09-12 17:00 - 23:00 | White’s of Westport, 66 State Road, Westport, Massachusetts, 02790, United States
Join us for an evening of dinner and dancing while supporting our mission to assist families of children with critical illnesses. Live entertainment by Throwback Band.

Josh Blue - Narrows Comedy Series
2026-09-17 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Narrows Comedy Series
Thursday, September 17, 2026
$43 Advance | $45 Day of show
[all-in pricing, no additional fees]
Doors 7pm | Show 8pm
After his groundbreaking win on Last Comic Standing in 2006, Josh Blue has risen through the ranks to become a well-established headliner at venues throughout the world. In 2018, Josh crushed his set on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. In the same year, he was honored with a performance at the William H. Macy Gala at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada. He wrapped up 2018 by recording his fifth hour special, Broccoli, at his home club, Comedy Works in Denver, CO. In 2021, following his 3rd place finish on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Josh Blue hit the road with his As NOT Seen on TV Tour. Josh does over 200 shows a year, continuing to spread laughter and break down stereotypes of people with disabilities. His stand-up routine is in a constant state of evolution and his off-the-cuff improvisational skills guarantee that no two shows are alike.
Josh represented the United States in 8 countries as a member of the US Paralympic Soccer Team. Josh and his team were thoroughly disgraced in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece by not scoring a single goal. He is a single father living in Denver, CO with his son and daughter. Don’t miss Josh as he travels to a city near you in 2026!

Check out more at www.joshblue.com

Josh Blue - Fall River
2026-09-17 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Fall River, get ready for a night of laughs with Josh Blue at Narrows Center For The Arts—one of the city’s go-to spots for live entertainment. Join your neighbors for Josh Blue – Fall River Fall River and settle in for a show that feels like a hometown highlight.
Josh brings sharp, fearless storytelling and quick improvisation, turning everyday moments into punchlines that land with heart and surprise. His perspective is distinct, and his timing keeps the room buzzing from start to finish.
The Narrows Center offers an intimate, welcoming atmosphere with great sightlines and a comfortable setup that makes it easy to relax and enjoy the night. It’s a perfect Fall River destination for a fun evening out.
Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 8:00 PM, and don’t wait—secure your seats for Josh Blue – Fall River Narrows Center For The Arts.

Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys
2026-09-18 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Friday, September 18, 2026
$31 Advance | $33 Day of Show
[all-in pricing, no additional fees]
Doors 7pm | Show 8pm
Since forming in 1988 in Southern California, Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys have become one of the world’s most beloved Americana/Roots acts, drawing from the deep musical waters that flow just beneath the surface of Rock & Roll’s fertile soil. A childhood passion for Country, Doo-Wop, and Rhythm & Blues 45s led Sandy (born Robert Williams) to pursue a singing career as a teenager, beginning a life in music that continues decades later. And as his personal record collection continues to grow (75,000 and counting), so does the depth of the musical influences that stream through his songwriting and singing style. A critically acclaimed tribute to Tex-Mex hero Freddy Fender, released at the beginning of the 2020 lockdown, points the way forward for Big Sandy and his Fly-Rite Boys as they continue on a path of musical growth. After nearly 35 years on the road, and more than two dozen releases to their credit, they remain key figures on the ever-changing Americana circuit, both on record and in live appearances

Big Sandy and His Fly Rite Boys - Fall River
2026-09-18 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Fall River, get ready to welcome Big Sandy and His Fly Rite Boys to the Narrows Center For The Arts—one of our go-to spots for a night out by the river. Big Sandy and His Fly Rite Boys – Fall River Fall River lands on Friday, September 18, 2026, bringing serious swing to the South Coast.
This band doesn’t just play jazz and blues—they stitch together rockabilly snap, horn-driven jump, and dance-floor grooves with razor-tight rhythm and a frontman who knows how to work a room.
At the Narrows, you’ll love the intimate sightlines, warm sound, and easy access in the heart of Fall River. Big Sandy and His Fly Rite Boys – Fall River Narrows Center For The Arts feels tailor-made here.
Grab your friends, mark 8:00 PM, and book your tickets early—this one’s built for moving feet and big smiles.

Grant Writing Workshop
2026-09-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Groundwork New Bedford, 1213 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA, 02740
Feeling like you have a great idea for a project or a grant but not quite sure how to go about writing that winning proposal? Join our in-person Grant Writing Workshop where you’ll do hands-on training with skilled facilitators who have written, read, and evaluated hundreds of grants. Don’t miss out on this chance to sharpen your skills and get some great forward momentum!

Parlor Greens live at the Narrows
2026-09-19 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Saturday, September 19, 2026
$33 Advance | $36 Day of Show
[all-in pricing, no additional fees]
Doors 7pm | Show 8pm
Perhaps one of the most exciting and anticipated projects in the world of heavy instrumental music is Parlor Greens, a fresh organ trio on Colemine Records! You could say that Parlor Greens are greater than the sum of their parts…however, the individual parts are simply stellar on their own. Tim Carman (GA-20) on drums, Jimmy James (True Loves, formerly Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio) on guitar, and Adam Scone (Scone Cash Players, The Sugarman 3) on organ.

Scone is perhaps the most tasteful living organist on planet Earth (and beyond) and to watch him play is to truly watch a master at work. He bends the organ to his will like a true mastercraftsman. He’s a veteran of the soul revival scene, having played on many Daptone recording sessions since their inception, but also has learned from some of the legends of soul jazz: Melvin Sparks and The Turbanator himself Dr. Lonnie Smith. Jimmy James needs no introduction to many as he’s been seen all over the world performing with instrumental groups The True Loves and the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio. Perhaps the most dangerous right hand in all of soul music, his signature funky approach can be identified by even the most novice of music fans, a feat most musicians could only dream of. Tim Carman. The backbone. The pocket. Having cut his teeth touring the world with blues group GA-20, Carman’s expertise in the world of blues shuffles might make him an unlikely candidate to lay the foundation for the funky Parlor Greens, but this debut LP shows otherwise. Steady, heavy pockets and as funky as they come.
Parlor Greens started off as an idea before it even had a name. Carman had been chatting with Colemine label boss Terry Cole about their shared love for organ combo records of yesterday on labels like Blue Note and Prestige. Cole said he’d love to have an organ trio be the first project at the label’s new studio, Portage Lounge, located in Loveland, Ohio. So when Carman tapped James and Scone for the session, the stage was set. Carman and Cole had started work a day early to dial in the drum sound, so when the rest of this murderer’s row arrived they hit the ground running. It was instant chemistry. Within the first ten minutes of everyone plugging in, a song was written and recorded, “West Memphis”. And over the next three days, these three maestros conducted a beautiful and soulful symphony straight to tape. As natural and fun as three old friends getting together after a long absence, only this was the first time they had written and performed together. True magic.
So this is the result of that session. Eleven cuts. Ten originals. Two sides. All killer, no filler. Straight to the old reliable Tascam 388 tape machine, mixed up nice and dirty for your enjoyment. Parlor Greens are proud to present their debut long player, In Green / We Dream.

Summer All Ages Book Club
2026-09-23 18:30 | Gathering Grounds Cafe, Fall Rivr Carousel, 5 Water St, Fall River, Massachusetts, 02721
All events begin at 6:30 PM

Each 90-minute session is led by a guest proctor who will guide us through lively discussions of each featured title. Your $10 registration includes your choice of coffee/tea beverage and a pastry/dessert. Books will be available for purchase at the hosting café in the weeks prior.

Whether you’re a seasoned bookworm or looking to get back into reading, come sip, chat, and connect with us.

Register at www.gatheringgroundscafes.comJune 16thProctor: MaggieBook: The Last LetterAuthor: Rebecca Yarros

July 15thProctor: KellyBook: Black & BlueAuthor: Anna Quindlen

August 11thProctor: MaggieBook: Too LateAuthor: Colleen Hoover

September 23Proctor: KellyBook: This Book Made Me Think of YouAuthor: Libby Page

don't feed the bear
2026-09-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Narrows Yumaverse Series
Thursday, September 24, 2026
$23 Advance | $25 Day of Show
[all-in pricing, no additional fees]
Doors 6:30pm | Start 7pm

SOLO ONE ACT. don’t feed the bear is a 45-minute dark comedy about loneliness, memory, and the aching desire to be seen. With biting speech, meta-humor, and quiet heartbreak, don’t feed the bear will draw you from your seat into Will’s world, and by the end, you might just want to bring Will into yours.
About the writer: Cam Torres is an American playwright based in Fall River, Massachusetts. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Acting in 2015. He is primarily a working actor, but has the years go on is transitioning behind the scenes spending more time writing and directing. In 2019, Brown Box produced the world premiere production of don’t feed the bear. Since then, don’t feed the bear has performed in LA Fringe Festival and in Calgary, CAN.

Following the performance, the playwright, Cam Torres will host a 15-minute talkback with the audience.

Trey Hensley
2026-09-24 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Thursday, September 24, 2026
$30 Advance | $32 Day of Show
[all-in pricing, no additional fees]
Doors 7pm | Show 8pm
GRAMMY® winner and reigning two-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year Trey Hensley has been called a “musical phenom” by NPR, “a guitar-slinging superhero” by Bluegrass Today, “Nashville’s hottest young player” by Acoustic Guitar magazine, and “the Swiss Army knife of roots music” by WMOT Radio’s Craig Havighurst. Hensley’s artistry has received high praise from the likes of Merle Haggard and Marty Stuart. An Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival invitee who has collaborated with Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Taj Mahal and Tommy Emmanuel, Hensley is known for his other-worldly guitar playing, jaw-dropping musicianship and soulful storytelling. Having recently announced his signature guitar with Taylor Guitars: The Trey Hensley Gold Label 510e, Hensley is set to release a new album, Can’t Outrun The Blues, on March 6, 2026. The title cut has spent multiple weeks at #1 on the bluegrass charts.

Shine On
2026-09-25 18:00 - 22:00 | Century House, 107 S. Main Street, Acushnet, MA, 02743, United States
Shine On 2026 is Community Nurse’s signature annual fundraising event, bringing the community together for an unforgettable evening of music, laughter, and giving back. Join us on Friday, September 25, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Century House in Acushnet for live entertainment by The Flying Ivories Dueling Pianos, delicious appetizers and dessert, a wine pull, complimentary photo booth, silent auction, and an exclusive Portland Getaway Raffle, with only 100 tickets available for a chance to win a two-night stay in Portland, Maine.
General admission is $85, and VIP tickets are $125 and include one complimentary drink ticket. This event is for guests 21 and older.
Proceeds from Shine On support Community Nurse’s mission of providing compassionate home healthcare, hospice, palliative care, and community support services to individuals and families throughout the South Coast.
Tickets go on sale Friday, August 7, 2026.

Ana Popovic
2026-09-25 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Friday, September 25, 2026
$50 Advance | $52 Day of Show
[all-in pricing, no additional fees]
Doors 7pm | Show 8pm
Los Angeles-based and critically acclaimed guitarist and singer Ana Popovic released her highly acclaimed album Dance To The Rhythm (Electric Heel Records) on September 26, 2025. Produced by Popovic and Buthel, the album showcases a groundbreaking fusion of groove, blues, funk, and soul.
Building on the success of her previous work, Dance To The Rhythm pushes boundaries, seamlessly blending infectious dance grooves (“Dance To The Rhythm” / “Sho Nuff”) with raw blues guitar and powerful lyrics. From the soulful “Soul’ution” to the funky “Hottest Ticket In Town” and the bluesy “Dwell On The Feeling”, “California Chase,” the album weaves a rich tapestry of musical styles, reflecting Popovic’s masterful versatility. The track “Sisters and Brothers” channels a Steely Dan-like arrangement, while “Hurt So Good” brings a contemporary mainstream flair. The ultimate jam comes in the form of a clever reimagining of Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.”

Ana says: “One of my biggest strengths on stage is my ability to make people dance. Music should take you to a place where you can let go, feel the groove, and move. You want music to grab you, to have a pocket that you can’t resist. —everything else revolves around it. Blues guitar has never really been part of dance music before, and in that way, it’s revolutionary. Guitar plays a central role in these tracks, breaking down the boundaries created by time, culture, and musical traditions. With this album, I’m pushing those boundaries.” For Ana, blues guitar is the foundation of everything in her music. Yet, she masterfully blends genres, effortlessly shifting from blues to dance, jam band, funk, pop, and even gospel—it’s all part of her evolving sound.
A true pioneer, Ana combines her blues guitar roots with bold experimentation, redefining the intersection of blues and dance music. Her live performances, whether with her six-piece or eleven-piece funk band FUNTASTAFUNK, are electrifying, blending fierce guitar work with irresistible rhythms that compel audiences to move.
A multi-award-winning artist, Popovic has earned recognition from major outlets and industry figures, including Bruce Springsteen, who called her “one helluva guitar player.” She’s been nominated for seven Blues Music Awards, and her latest album POWER hit #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. Ana has shared stages with legends such as B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa, Warren Haynes, Robert Plant, and Gary Clark Jr., and is an endorsee of Fender, D’Angelico, Jim Dunlop, and DR Strings.
Popovic’s commitment to her craft and fearless boundary-pushing ensures she remains one of the most dynamic forces in contemporary blues and beyond.

Ana Popovic - Fall River
2026-09-25 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Fall River’s got a can’t-miss night on the calendar: Ana Popovic live at Narrows Center For The Arts in Fall River, a local favorite for top-tier entertainment. Join fellow blues and jazz lovers for **Ana Popovic – Fall River Fall River** on Friday, September 25, 2026 at 8:00 PM.
Ana brings a fierce, soulful guitar voice, razor-sharp band chemistry, and grooves that slide from smoky blues into punchy, modern funk—built for a room that listens close and cheers loud.
Narrows Center offers an intimate, great-sightline setting right in the heart of the city, with easy access for a smooth night out at **Ana Popovic – Fall River Narrows Center For The Arts**.
Grab your seats now and come be part of the buzz—this is one you’ll talk about all week.

Five for Fighting with String Quartet
2026-09-29 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
$55 Advance | $57 Day of Show
[all-in pricing, no additional fees]
Doors 7pm | Show 8pm
Opener: Lace & Lee
The only way for a story to progress is to turn the page.
John Ondrasik— the songwriter and performer known as the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated, Five For Fighting—knows this well. In the two decades since his first major single, “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” hit the stratosphere, the artist has both evolved and come back ‘round full circle. Creativity, if nothing else, is paradoxical.

To date, Five For Fighting, has released six studio LPs, including the platinum certified America Town and The Battle for Everything; and the top-10 charting Two Lights, along with an EP and live albums. Ondrasik has penned major hits, including the chart-topping “100 Years,” “The Riddle,” “Chances,” “World,” and “Easy Tonight,” which have earned over one billion streams and place him as a top-10 Hot Adult Contemporary artist for the 2000s. The reflective “100 Years” has joined “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” as part of the American Songbook and continues to stand the test of time at weddings, birthdays, graduations, memorials, and many a home video. Five For Fighting’s music has also been featured in more than 350 films, television shows, and commercials, including the Oscar-winning The Blind Side, Hawaii Five-O, The Sopranos and the CBS drama, Code Black.
Referencing Fight For Fighting’s success in the 2000s, AllMusic called Ondrasik “one of the decade’s leading balladeers.” But perhaps his biggest achievement is performing “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” at the 2001 Concert for New York, a benefit show at Madison Square Garden that honored first responders and the fallen about a month after the tragic September 11th attacks. Ondrasik performed alongside other big-name artists like Paul McCartney, The Who, Elton John, Billy Joel, and dozens more.
Says Ondrasik, “It was a surreal experience. I was honored and blessed to pay tribute to the heroes who ran into those buildings at ground zero, and hopefully, through a song, provide a little solace to family members who’d lost loved ones.”
Now, though, what once was a dream is a reality. Buoyed by his unique falsetto voice and his prowess on the piano—a skill bestowed to him by his piano teacher mother—Ondrasik has made a solid reputation for himself in the world of songwriting and performance, selling upwards of three million albums over his career. Not only does he tour with his popular string quartet and play solo and rock band gigs, but he is also a high demand keynote speaker in which he combines themes of creativity and innovation with his business acumen. Along with his father, he has managed the family business throughout his musical career. As Ondrasik happily puts it, his company, Precision Wire Products, “makes the best shopping cart in the world!”
He’s presented at TEDx, The Salk Institute, American Cancer Society, and dozens more. Perhaps being the son of an astrophysicist dad and having a degree in mathematics from UCLA has something to do with it.
“Math was the Plan-B to get a real job when the music thing imploded,” says Ondrasik, with a chuckle.
But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t always a student at heart. As he wrote songs in his late teens and early 20s, the Los Angeles-born Ondrasik studied his favorite rock vocalists. Finding out that singers like Freddie Mercury and Steve Perry studied classical voice, he did too, even seeking out some of those icons’ former teachers. No stone unturned.
In September of 2021, Ondrasik released the powerful, “Blood on My Hands,” a protest song that takes a non-political, moral stance against the 2021 United States chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. While he’s well-versed in politics, he isn’t of a bickering mindset. For Ondrasik, it’s about the conversation. “Blood on My Hands,” the track, accompanying acoustic version, and docu-music video, “Blood on My Hands (White House Version),” has had millions of streams to date (despite little-to-no radio play). Like other protest songs of the past— “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young or “The Times They Are a-Changin’” by Bob Dylan—Ondrasik aimed to point out a problem. While it’s critical of President Biden’s administration, he says that if a Republican were President, the song would remain the same, only the names would change.
Thanks to the song, years later, Ondrasik is still working with evacuation groups that strive to help the American citizens left behind in Afghanistan by the U.S. government, as well as the Afghan people who remain there largely under the threat of terrorism. It’s a difficult, and at times a polarizing subject, but it’s one Ondrasik is not shying away from. Not because of any politics or partisan pats on the back, but simply because he knows it’s the right thing to do.
Ondrasik notes, “There has been a tradition of musicians speaking truth to power. In the current tribal culture, our freedom of expression has never been more critical.”
In 2022, Ondrasik released “Can One Man Save The World?” with a powerful companion music video, featuring the Ukrainian Orchestra filmed in Ukraine. The song, inspired by the courage of President Vladimir Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine, asks the nation, and the world, to stand up for core values of freedom and justice.
Moved to action that extended beyond songwriting, Ondrasik entered an area, outside of Kyiv, that had seen heavy combat shortly after the Russians pulled back from the capital with an American production crew.
“I was honored to perform my new Ukraine tribute song Can One Man Save the World? with the Ukrainian Orchestra in the ruins of the Antonov Airport – in front of the Ukrainians’ beloved Mriya, the world’s largest cargo plane that Russia destroyed at the outset of the war,” said Ondrasik. “In sharing this musical collaboration on such hallowed ground, I saw firsthand the fortitude and grace of the Ukrainian people, who whether playing a violin or driving a tank, will not be deterred by Putin’s atrocities and aggressions.”
Proceeds from the single and its companion video benefit the NGO Save Our Allies and further its mission of providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Afghanistan.
Throughout his multi-decade career, which began when music publisher Carla Berkowitz (now his wife of 25 years) discerned him in a dive bar, Ondrasik has been involved in multiple charity efforts. Along with supporting the troops via multiple USO tours, Ondrasik created “The CD For the Troops” project with song and comedy compilations featuring artists like Billy Joel, Melissa Ethridge, Chris Rock, and others, gifting more than one million CDs to veterans and military families. John has also been deeply involved with the ALS charity “Augie’s Quest.” and is an ambassador for his pal Gary supporting the Gary Sinise Foundation.
While he may not be as obsessive as he once was—writing upwards of dozens of songs per month, Ondrasik is more focused today. He knows who he is, as an artist and as a human being. His is a career molded by light and darkness. At one point, he’d been looked over by every publishing house and label out there. At another, he had one of the biggest songs in the world. Those extremes give a person perspective.
“I’ve been incredibly blessed,” he says. “I still pinch myself.”
As Five For Fighting, which is a professional hockey term designating a five-minute penalty for fisticuffs on the ice, Ondrasik has also developed a close relationship within the world of sports. He was a contributing writer for Sports Illustrated as well as for his beloved Los Angeles Kings. Five For Fighting was one of the first musical artists to perform on ESPN’s SportsCenter, and has played The Daytona 500, Monday Night Football, The Heritage Classic, the L.A. Kings outdoor hockey game, and more. Recently, John performed a version of 100 Years for CBS sports celebrating “100 Days to the Superbowl” and is routinely featured in Bally Sports broadcasts at the start of L.A. Kings hockey games.
“Singing from home plate at Dodger stadium,” Ondrasik says, “where, as a five-year-old boy, my dad and I would catch bleacher bombs during batting practice—that was a dream.”
Today, Ondrasik spends his time writing music, touring, working at the family business, supporting various charities, and enjoying life with his wife, two children, and dog Ender.
Through “What Kind of World Do You Want,” Ondrasik’s charity driven website – WhatKindofWorldDoYouWant.com – he has raised funds for Afghan evacuation organizations, refugees and Augie’s Quest to cure ALS. He continues to support Save Our Allies and the Ukrainian people through “Can One Man Save the World”, multiple charities fighting antisemitism globally, and looks forward to returning to Ukraine and Israel in the near future.
What motivates him musically now?
His latest three songs tell the story. He wants to promote dialogue. He’s set to speak his mind, with words, melody, and conviction.
Ondrasik doesn’t shy away from nuance. He embraces it and seeks it – just as he does the next chorus, the next verse, all the while searching for a bridge
It’s what artists and freethinkers do, after all.
It’s his gift to share.
His decided obligation, too.
About Lace & Lee:
Lace & Lee is a folk rock duo heavily influenced by the mystical wisdom of 60s and 70s storytelling, with a twist of humor and bard-like prose. Caroline Lace and Olivia Lee began their musical journey at NYU Tisch, and have since toured with Five For Fighting. Their ethereal vocals and risky harmonies carry the spirit and charm of Celtic music, often holding a mirror up to the 21st century.

Magic: The Gathering Meetup
2026-09-30 17:00 - 19:00 | Fall River Public Library, 104 North Main St, Fall River, MA, 02720
Our monthly Magic: the Gathering group meets on the last Wednesday of each month.* Come play a few games in the world’s most popular trading card game! Participants are invited to bring their own decks or build their own with a selection of the hundreds of cards we have at the library. Don’t know how to play? We’ll be glad to show you how!

This program is intended for teens ages 12 to 18. No prior experience with the game is required to participate. We’ll be meeting in the Fell Reading Room in the library.

*If the last Wednesday of the month falls on a holiday, the meetup will be rescheduled, probably to the week before. Please check our calendar to be sure.

North Mississippi Allstars
2026-10-01 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Thursday, October 1, 2026
$50 Advance | $52 Day of Show
[all-in pricing, no additional fees]
Doors 7pm | Show 8pm
North Mississippi Allstars started by brother Luther and Cody Dickinson in 1996 as a loose collective of musicians from their North Mississippi home inspired by their father Jim Dickinson as well as neighbors and musical elders of their community; RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Otha Turner and Fred McDowell. Luther’s first national tour was the RL Burnside Ass Pocket of Whiskey tour in 1997, selling out shows in the US and Canada. “Kenny Brown hired me to tour with RL and Cedric and showed me the ropes. That experience blew my mind. Cody and I have been on the road ever since.”
NMA began touring in 1998 and over the years the touring lineup has included, Cedric, Duwayne and Garry Burnside, Chris Chew, Berry Oakley Jr, Oteil Burbruidgem and currently Joey Williams of the Blind Boys of Alabama and Ray Ray Hollowman, guitar player for Eminem and Nee-O.
Since their debut album in 2000 and hitting the never ending road, they have shared the stage with countless legends; Phil Lesh, Mavis Staples, Robert Plant, John Hiatt, the Allman Brothers, The Black Crowes, Buddy Guy, Snoop Dogg, and Jon Spencer to name a few, while earning multiple grammy nominations for their experimental albums of they like to call Modern Mississippi Music.

Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen
2026-10-02 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Friday, October 2, 2026
$50 Advance | $52 Day of Show
[all-in pricing, no additional fees]
Doors 7pm | Show 8pm
After thirty-five years of being at the forefront of the ever-evolving musical landscape of New Orleans, Grammy Award winner Jon Cleary decided to bring that sound back home, both figuratively and literally. He assembled his Absolute Monster Gentlemen (his acclaimed all-star big band) in his home studio in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, drew up a setlist of some of his most beloved songs–and some new favorites–and rolled tape. “We set out to capture that sound in the old-fashioned way: everybody in the room, playing together,” Cleary explains.
The result is The Bywater Sessions, a musical tour-de-force that showcases the grit, funk and joy that’s packed concert halls from New Orleans to Tokyo and beyond. Co-produced by Cleary and John Porter (Roxy Music, The Smiths, Taj Mahal), it’s a stunning collection of performances that affirms Cleary’s place in the New Orleans musical vanguard.
“There’s a lot to be said for the ‘lean and mean’ sound of a piano trio, stripped down to basics, simple and direct,” Cleary says. “But recently, I’ve been experimenting with different combinations; adding horns, guitar, percussion and even another keyboard player. This expanded line-up has allowed the arrangements to blossom in new directions.”
As for the musicians, it’s the best of the best. Long time Monster Gentlemen Cornell Williams and A.J. Hall anchor the band on bass and drums, respectively. They are joined by Nigel Hall (Lettuce) on Hammond organ, Pedro Segundo (Ronnie Scott’s All Stars) on percussion, Xavier Lynn (MonoNeon, Ledisi) on guitar, and an all-star horn section of Aaron Narcisse (Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra), Charlie Halloran (Squirrel Nut Zippers, Preservation Hall All Stars) and Jason Mingledorff (Galactic).
“Sophisticated, nasty, good-time, low-down funk is the folk music of New Orleans,” Cleary says. “Everyone playing on this recording is a New Orleanian by birth or by choice, having learned their craft at the feet of the masters who in turn were taught by the old lions in their day – it’s a tradition stretching back over two hundred years. The roots go deep, but each generation, growing up with street parades and second-lines, absorbs the old and introduces the new, gently coaxing the essential essence into and out of each succeeding decade.”
It’s an apt description of Cleary’s career thus far. Born in London and on a plane to New Orleans before he turned twenty years old, he grew up absorbed by the sounds and rhythms of the Crescent City. His mastery of the city’s music landed him gigs playing as a session musician in the bands of local legends Earl King, Johnny Adams, Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington, Snooks Eaglin, Ernie K-Doe, Jessie Hill–and as a guitarist for Dr. John. He later toured extensively with icons like Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal. His solo career began in earnest in 1989 and includes beloved records like their self-titled band debut and his 2015 Grammy winner, Go-Go Juice.
In fact, his first job in New Orleans was as a painter at beloved local club the Maple Leaf Bar, and it wasn’t long until he was playing piano in that very room. To this day, he and his band continue to pack that room to crowds that gather from around the world, playing their unique and ever-evolving take on New Orleans funk and R&B.
“These grooves are not museum pieces, they are alive, breathing and fresh – and that’s why joints like Tipitina’s, The Maple Leaf Bar and Chickie Wah Wah are always packed when the locals, young and old, come out to hear the Gentlemen do they thang,” Cleary proudly adds.
On The Bywater Sessions, the band that Rolling Stone’s David Fricke called “as broad, deep and rolling as the Mississippi river” is finally captured as intended–live, in the room and as funky as ever. And with that comes an invitation from Cleary himself:
“Close your eyes, imagine you’re in the room with us, me and the band, Mike Dorsey the engineer, John Porter the producer and Reed the manager. Turn it up and enjoy the experience. I hope you have as much fun listening as we did playing.”

Eli "Paperboy" Reed live at the Narrows
2026-10-03 20:00 - 22:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Saturday, October 3, 2026
$31 Advance | $33 Day of Show
[all-in pricing, no additional fees]
Doors 7pm | Show 8pm
Eli “Paperboy” Reed is a survivor. He was one of the first of the new wave of singers and songwriters to embrace unabashedly soulful music and he has been tearing up stages all over the world with his heart-stopping falsetto screams for more than a decade with no plans to slow down. From humble musical beginnings growing up outside of Boston, at 18 Reed moved to Clarksdale, Mississippi and cut his teeth playing and singing in juke joints all over the Delta. From there he took the well-trod path to Chicago where he spent a year as minister of music the Southside church of Soul legend Mitty Collier.
Soon after returning to Boston, he was bit by the songwriting bug and released his first full length, “Roll with You” in 2008. Reed’s combination of powerful soulful vocals coupled with his strong pop sensibility as a songwriter made people all over the world stand up and take notice. Soon there were calls coming in from everywhere; television shows in the UK, festivals in Australia, and a jaw-dropping schedule of national and international tour dates.
Major record labels came calling, deals were signed and Reed’s star kept rising, now with the help of song placements in major movies, television shows and commercials. The albums “Come and Get it” (Capitol – 2010) and “Nights Like This” (Warner Brothers – 2014) went on to do more than $2.5 million in total licensing, while Reed and his crack band continued to wow audiences on five continents. In 2016, after some much-needed time off from the road, Reed returned to the studio to cut “My Way Home” (Yep Roc – 2016); an album that is at once back-to-basics and startlingly current.
Starting in 2013 Reed began teaching at an after-school music education based in Harlem called for Gospel for Teens during his breaks from touring. The program worked with at-risk youth from around the New York City area and Reed specifically began teaching these young men about Gospel Quartet music, its history and harmony. Out of those classes emerged a new project that Reed dubbed The Harlem Gospel Travelers. He produced, arranged and played guitar on their debut album which came out on the revered soul label Colemine records in 2019 to rave reviews. Now The Harlem Gospel Travelers are at work on their second full-length and have begun conquering festival stages as well.
Parenthood gave Reed a newfound wisdom and self-reflection. His daughter Stella was born in 2016 and son Oscar in 2019. With that in mind he returned to the south to record his 7th full-length “99 Cent Dreams” at the legendary Sam Phillips Recording studio in Memphis, TN. This time around he was joined by Soul legends The Masqueraders on background vocals. The title track was given an unexpected boost with a feature by hip-hop pioneer Big Daddy Kane! No Depression wrote: Reed never disappoints and on 99 Cent Dreams he takes his musical game to a new level, elevating us with it.”
In 2022 he fulfilled a career-long dream, making an album of his own Soulful interpretations of songs by the country legend Merle Haggard. This album brought another milestone: the opportunity to perform on the hallowed stage of The Grand Ole Opry. Now approaching two decades in his field, Reed has improbably become an elder statesman of the genre, and he’s begun seeing new artists who are taking inspiration from his unique sound. A sound that, over everything else, prizes feeling, energy, and, yes, Soul.

Narrows Center and Arte Institute present The Gift & Noiserv
2026-10-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, MA
Narrows Center and Arte Institute present
Saturday, October 4, 2026
$42 Advance | $44 Day of Show
[all-in pricing, no additional fees]
Doors 5pm | Show 6pm

Formed in 1994 in Portugal, The Gift has become one of the country’s most acclaimed and internationally recognized alternative pop bands. Fronted by vocalist Sónia Tavares alongside Nuno Gonçalves, John Gonçalves, and Miguel Ribeiro, the band quickly gained attention with their dynamic live performances and independent spirit, founding their own label, La Folie Records, in 1998. Their debut album Vinyl was named Album of the Year by Diário de Notícias, while subsequent releases, including Film and AM-FM, achieved Gold certification. Over the years, The Gift has performed extensively across Europe, Asia, and North America, appearing at major events such as SXSW, MIDEM, and Expo 2000, and sharing stages with artists including The Flaming Lips. They won the 2005 MTV Europe Award for Best Portuguese Act, topped the Portuguese charts with Explode in 2011, and in 2016 began a celebrated collaboration with legendary producer Brian Eno on the single “Love Without Violins” and the band’s subsequent recordings, further cementing their reputation for ambitious, genre-defying music.

About Noiserv:
Life is built around small details. From the very first listen, it’s clear that in Noiserv‘s universe, attention is focused on the smallest moments, which come together to create deeply moving songs. His poetic and ethereal sound draws comparisons to artists such as Yann Tiersen, Radiohead, Sigur Rós, and Explosions in the Sky.

Noiserv is the solo project of Portuguese musician David Santos. His debut album, One Hundred Miles from Thoughtlessness, was released in 2008 to widespread critical acclaim. It was followed by the EP A Day in the Day of the Days and the soundtrack for José & Pilar, the documentary about Nobel Prize-winning author José Saramago, which was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.

In late 2013, Noiserv released his second album, Almost Visible Orchestra, which earned the prestigious Portuguese Authors Society Award for Best Album of the Year. Between 2008 and 2013, he toured extensively, performing more than 400 concerts across Portugal’s leading venues and festivals while sharing stages with artists including Arcade Fire and Portishead. His growing international profile led to performances throughout the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Austria, and Sweden, with standout appearances at Eurosonic Festival in Groningen and Europavox in France, where Les Inrockuptibles described his performance as “a tender triumph… strong and opulent.”

In 2015, Almost Visible Orchestra received an international release through the French label Naïve, home to artists including M83 and Yann Tiersen. At the end of 2016, Noiserv released the conceptual piano album 00:00:00:00. In 2018, he was invited to compose the music for Portugal’s national television branding, and after creating several film soundtracks in 2019, he returned in 2020 with his fourth studio album, Uma Palavra Começada Por N.

On stage, David Santos has earned a reputation as a true “one-man orchestra,” seamlessly combining metallophone, melodica, bells, synthesizers, omnichord, megaphone, guitars, vocals, toys, music boxes, and a variety of other instruments through live looping. The result is an immersive, inventive performance that transforms each concert into a unique musical experience.
