Tommy Emmanuel @ The Wilbur

Anytime you talk to any of his fans, whether musicians or civilians, invariably they will speak of not one but two qualities that define his greatness. The first, predictably, is his extraordinary guitar playing. Considered by those in the know to be among this planet’s greatest guitarists, his playing is simply miraculous, as it would take three musicians, or more, to do what Tommy does solo. Who else, for example, when playing “Day Tripper,” can lay down the rhythm part, dig into the riff and sing the melody all at once on just one acoustic guitar? Which brings us to the other aspect of his music always mentioned, and without which the first might not be as powerful or as infectiously appealing: the joy. Yes, joy. Because it’s one thing to play these multi-dimensional arrangements flawlessly on an acoustic guitar. But to do it with that smile of the ages, that evidence of authentic, unbridled delight, is an irresistible invitation to feel his music as deeply as he does. “The joy, he says, “is there always because I’m chasing it through music. Seeing the surprise in peoples’ eyes is worth living and working for… I can’t help but play to the people with all my heart, which is overflowing with joy of being in that moment that I’ve worked all my life for. And here it is!” Although his expression is instrumental, he comes to the guitar much more like a vocalist, positively singing melodies through the strings. He inhabits the tunes he performs, delivering every nuance and turn of phrase. His own songs are also illuminated always with lyrical melodies that go right to the heart, such as his beautiful ode to his daughter, “Angelina,” or his great “story without words,” “Lewis &amp; Clark.” That they resonate so deeply without words makes sense, as words only go so far. But music, coming from a genuine and joyful source, can go so much farther. Now with The Best of Tommy songs, he brings us a complete collection of his own songs, all rich with ripe melodicism and rendered with joy in real-time. Born in 1955, one of six kids in Muswellbrook, New South Wales Australia, his first years were fairly uneventful, mostly mastering necessary motor skills between naps. By age four, he got busy becoming a musician. His father, an engineer who loved music and musicians, brought home an electric guitar one day with the intention of finding out how it worked. Piece by piece, he took it apart to discover its secrets. But Tommy and his brother were much more interested in music than mechanics, so that when their dad was away at work, they’d surreptitiously sneak away with the guitar. Driven somewhat by sibling rivalry, they developed contests that were both fun and extremely educational. “We turned our backs to each other,” Tommy remembered, “and Phil would play a chord and I would have to say what the chord was, what the notes in it were.” It was competition which impacted his entire career, allowing him access to the rich interior architecture of songs. Though neither brother had any formal musical training, this self-schooling quickly transformed both into seriously sophisticated musicians. Though they assumed their father would be angry if he found out, which he did, they were wrong. He was surprised and thrilled his sons could play music. Soon their big brother Chris was enlisted to play drums, and with sister Virginia playing lap-steel, a family band was born. They joyously rocked hip guitar instrumentals such as “Apache” by The Shadows, featuring Hank Marvin on guitar, who both Phil and Tommy adored and emulated. They called themselves The Emmanuel Quartet. But when people kept mistaking them for a classical string quartet, they changed the name to The Midget Surfaries. They entered a band competition, and easily surpassed all contenders to take first prize, a national TV appearance. On that show they burned through “Apache” with such aplomb that the producer told their dad he should take the band on the road. He agreed. Back home he told everyone the plan: Sell the house, buy a tent, two station wagons, and hit the road. It seemed to be a dream, yet it was true. What they didn’t know was that their dad had learned recently that he had an incurable heart disease and was not expected to live for much more than a year. His doctor said if there was ever anything he really wanted to do; he should do it. It lasted for six years. They were on the road constantly, except for a few periods when their dad was too ill to tour, and Tommy and his brothers picked fruit to make some money. When his father’s heart finally gave out, Tommy remembered, his mother grieved for a few hours alone, and then emerged to give them the choice of a “normal life” or staying on the road. They chose the road, of course, and signed up with a successful traveling show, which kept them gainfully employed for a good stretch. But that came to an end when the child welfare department forced them off the road again for perceived child labor violations. “They made us go to normal schools,” Tommy said. But normal was not something Tommy accepted for long. Though they settled down in a little town near Sydney, the brothers quickly assembled a little rock band, playing pubs, parties, weddings, and dances. One thing he learned on the road and never forgot was that he loved performing. And he was great at it. From these origins, Tommy’s music expanded in every direction. At 30, he was burning on electric guitar with several rock bands in stadiums all over Europe. He could have gone on to live the rock star life. Yet he yearned for something purer and closer to his heart. Casting off the reliable rock band engine of monstrous sonics blasting with chains of effects through monstrous stacks of amps, he did a reverse Bob Dylan, and instead of going electric, Tommy went acoustic. Stripping away everything but the essentials, Tommy found the ideal equation, and one which has led him to worldwide acclaim: one acoustic guitar in standard tuning played by one ambitiously unchained guitarist and lover of song. Always it’s about melody, of expressing the tune not with a barrage of notes, but with those which touch the heart. And it’s about his singular greatness at translating the dimensional dynamics and dimensions of arrangements onto the six strings of his guitar. Although many scoffed that it was possible, Tommy made a series of hit albums as a solo guitarist, and became a major star first in Australia, and soon everywhere. The inspiration for Tommy’s transformation? That would be guitar legend Chet Atkins, who represented to Tommy the pinnacle of guitar playing. One man, one guitar, and unlimited, passionate song. Like Dylan, who made a pilgrimage from the Midwest to New York to meet his idol, Woody Guthrie, Tommy always knew he had to get to Chet. To let Chet hear his music, which had been so shaped by his years listening, and absorbing, Chet’s genius. When he finally made that trek around the globe to meet the man himself, in Nashville, their bond was immediate, and like their music, existed beyond words. Chet picked up his guitar, and the two men jammed joyously for hours. It started a lifelong friendship which shaped Tommy’s music forever. Chet welcomed Tommy into guitarist knighthood by bestowing upon him the coveted title of CGP (Certified Guitar Player), an honor awarded only to four other humans ever. Though already devoted to the life of a solo player, receiving the love and esteem of Chet lifted Tommy into a different realm. Because, as Chet recognized instantly and told the world, musicians like this don’t come along that often; pay attention to this man. Of course, Chet knew of what he spoke. Tommy’s triumph on his singular solo path has been extraordinary. From the Midget Surfaries he’s become beloved and revered around the planet for the music. And, for the joy.

The Wilbur

The Moth Mainstage

Join The Moth for stories of grazing the flames or escaping unscathed. Tales of getting all revved up and ready to go. Changing shape and like a phoenix, starting anew with hope of things to come. Tiq Milan is a thought leader, storyteller and media maker whose work on equity and inclusion has had an impact in the U.S and abroad for over a decade. He travels throughout North America leading discussions on healthy modes of masculinity, intersectional leadership, and engineering an environment of inclusion. He has lectured at several universities including Harvard, Stanford, and Brown on the importance of inclusion as a tool of innovation and outlines concrete strategies for productive engagement. Tiq is a sought-after host having moderated conversation on intersectional inclusion and human rights at HBO’s Newfest Film Festival and The Tribeca Film Festival. His 2016 TED Talk has been viewed over 3 million times and continues to inform and inspire people all over the world. Tiq recently executive produced the documentary film,&nbsp;Beyond the Aggressives,&nbsp;a 20 year retrospective look at the evolution of masculinity in Black queer spaces. The film will debut on Showtime this fall. The Mainstage is the quintessential Moth experience, a two-act show —featuring a musical act— where the storytellers and a notable host share true personal stories, without notes. Experience true stories live as they’re recorded for future episodes of The Moth Podcast and Moth Radio Hour. About The Moth: The Moth is true stories, told live and without notes. As an organization, it celebrates the ability of stories to honor the diversity and commonality of the human experience. This curated live event features five storytellers who share true stories on an array of topics, creating an experience that is intimate, inspiring, captivating, theatrical, and enlightening.The Moth is a nonprofit dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. For 25 years, The Moth has presented over 40,000 true personal stories, told live, without notes, to standing-room-only audiences and virtually around the globe. Renowned for showcasing a broad range of human experiences, The Moth produces approximately 600 live and virtual shows each year and has an ongoing presence in 27 cities worldwide. Additionally, The Moth runs storytelling workshops for high school students, teachers, adults and advocates from around the world through its Education, Community and Global Programs, and MothWorks, which uses the essential elements of Moth storytelling as an empathetic communication tool.

A NightMARE with Casey Sherman

The USA Today #1 Best-selling True Crime Master shares the terrifying tales behind his groundbreaking investigations of The Boston Strangler, The Helltown Murders, and other shocking crimes. Sherman is the author of 19 acclaimed books including Hunting Whitey, A Murder in Hollywood, Boston Strong, Bad Blood, James Patterson’s The Last Days of John Lennon, Animal, and others. Called one of the “greatest storytellers in America today”, Sherman has appeared on more than 200 television, radio programs &amp; true crime podcasts and is a contributing writer for TIME Magazine, Esquire, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast, and Boston Magazine.

Andy Bell of Erasure: Ten Crowns Tour

When you reach a milestone in your life, what’s the best way to mark it? By embracing it, glorying in it – crowning it, in fact – with an album of euphoric songs produced and polished in Nashville, of course! The name of Andy Bell’s third solo album, Ten Crowns – like its cover art, featuring his head on a glistening gold coin – is making Andy smile today: “It sounds like a pub!”, he jokes. But behind that title lies ten songs of dazzling, joyous pop, inspired by the dancefloor and gospel, completed in the year he turned 60. The name also refers to the tarot, he says: “The ten crowns on the tree of life, which is a very powerful card to have. And I’d just got my crowns on my teeth done in Miami when I was trying to think about a title!”, he laughs. After Erasure’s last two fabulous albums – 2020’s The Neon and its 2021 companion piece Day-Glo (Based On A True Story), full of fascinating experimental reconstructions of The Neon’s tracks – Bell threw himself into writing with Dave Audé, a producer with whom he’s been close for over a decade. Dave met Andy while DJing at a club in 2010 run by a mutual friend, Stephen Moss, who became Andy’s partner and husband (Stephen and Andy live together in London and Atlanta). Working with someone who is not Vince Clarke introduces a new set of dynamics, Andy says – although Erasure fans should know that forty years on, they are still going strong and recently reunited to begin work on the next Erasure album. “I still love working with Vince, but when you’re writing with another person, it’s like the same feeling as going to another country or moving to America. You can just invent who you are, become a brand new person.” Andy and Dave have already released two US dance chart number ones together: 2014’s ‘Aftermath (Here We Go)’ and 2016’s ‘True Original’, the latter arriving in the same year that Dave won a Grammy for his remix of Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk’. After those dance tracks, the pair “just kind of carried on writing as an exercise”, Andy explains, “and after that, Dave moved his family to Nashville because LA was so expensive, and so our writing took this kind of gospel-tinged Nashville twist.” He describes how in Nashville there’s a church on every corner (“it reminded me of singing in choirs and cathedral school as a child, where the spirit of the church is imbued in the music”). Not that Ten Crowns is a sombre, spiritual set. It’s propulsive, electronic, passionate, driven by the need to encounter new emotions and experiences as life races on. “I mean, I’ve got everything I could possibly wish for, you know, I really have, but that’s not to say I’m always fulfilled,” Andy adds. “This album’s about picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, embracing life – and about taking that feeling on even when you’re fighting demons in the world, like homophobia, and fighting demons in yourself. It’s about being celebratory and uplifting.” Ten Crowns also features Andy’s ultimate pop heroine – one he sang about on a track back in 2010, ‘DHDQ’, and now sings alongside on the yearningly wistful ‘Heart’s A Liar.’ “To have Debbie Harry singing with me – you know, I still can’t quite believe it.” He’s known Blondie for years, he explains, and they have always been kind to him, inviting him backstage at their gigs, Chris Stein giving him hugs, Debbie “sitting in the corner, teasing me… she knows how much of a fan I am of the band” Debbie’s an inspiration to Andy in other ways, too – although he hasn’t got the energy to emulate her, he laughs. “I mean she’s eighty this year and one minute she’s in Australia, the next she’s at Paris Fashion Week. Bloody hell!” The song is Andy’s rewrite of a track by English-Italian singer-songwriter and regular Dave Audé collaborator Luciana, which Andy imagines being about two lovers being no good for each other. “Debbie gives it this gravitas and this coquettishness, but she’s still very in command. And she recorded her vocals in the studio on Gay Pride, which I thought when I heard it, oh, trust her!” Ten Crowns begins, however, with a cosmic flash. ‘Breaking Thru The Interstellar’ sees Andy dance us “towards another paradise…ready for a new dimension / On our galactic journey”. Inspired by Andy’s love of reading BBC science magazines, and the possible existence of wormholes that allow travel through space, the song also reminds him of Boney M’s ‘Nightflight to Venus and Leila K’s ‘Open Sesame’. “It’s on first because I wanted to let people know we’re going to go for a ride now, you know!” ‘Lies So Deep’ follows, a song about getting over the intensity of heartbreak, where your heart is like a toffee apple but you’re desperate for somebody to come along and break it. Parts of it remind Andy of Stevie Nicks and Adele, and he’s joined for the middle-eight by another Audé collaborator, Sarah Potenza, who broke through in the US on The Voice. “I wanted someone who was like Whitney Houston crossed with Yazoo, and Sarah’s thing was country and gospel. But as soon as I heard her sing these lines, I was like, Oh, my God – that’s it. She brings its emotions to life.” The album’s full-blooded spirit continues thereafter. ‘For Today’ is radio-perfect, Human League-style electronic pop. ‘Dance For Mercy’ uses the bassline of Sheila and B Devotion’s ‘Spacer’ as the brilliant foundation of a track about reconnecting with your time on earth (“my feet never touched the ground / Walked through the tunnel / Went towards the light / But they said that it wasn’t my time”). There’s a lot of dancing on this album, Andy points out. “Even in Peterborough when I grew up, with my mum and dad in working men’s clubs, I would dance the whole evening. And my heart’s always been in dance music, even if” – he rolls his eyes with self-deprecation – “I don’t really go to clubs anymore!” Some songs hint at the emotional journey Andy has been on in his life. “It’s so very hard to say hello / When your whole world comes crashing down,” he sings, movingly, on ‘Don’t Cha Know’ (“the most ABBA song on here”). ‘Godspell’ moves from feelings of rapture to castigation in its pounding rhythms and fabulous lyrics: “Get thee behind me, charlatan / Get thee behind me, sycophant / Get thee behind me, false prophet.” Comments on modern life also sparkle lightly around Ten Crowns’ golden edges. Featuring a chorus written by Sisely Treasure of the band Shiny Toy Guns, ‘Put Your Empathy On Ice’ sharply satirises today’s overwhelming online world (“No-one can make up their minds / Because their minds are made up for them”). The stunning ‘Dawn Of Heaven’s Gate’ begins differently, with a dream: “If there’s anything I could do for you / Absolutely anything / I would get down on my knees / And pray to the highest power / It wouldn’t be just any power / It would be the power to believe / That we could change everything.” “That song’s partly about this idea of wondering why in the hell we can’t all get on,” Andy explains. “The whole album is like asking for salvation, really, in a world where everybody ultimately wants to be loved.” Ten Crowns concludes with a very moving moment, a song that Andy thinks might partly inspired by his mum, called ‘Thank You’. It’s about seeing the light as the end of life approaches, directed to “all the people and friends / that came along for the ride / I thank you truly”. As euphoric funeral songs go, it’s hard to think of any better. Ten Crowns marks a properly majestic moment in Andy Bell’s forty-year career. His joy about what that holds, and where it can go, clearly excites him. “It’s my third sort of solo record [following 2005’s Electric Blue and 2010’s Non-Stop] and in Erasure, our third album was our most successful out of all that we’ve done, so maybe I’m taking that spirit with me!” Travelling into new dimensions and possibilities with gospel in the heart and dancing in the soul clearly suits him. Ten Crowns is Andy Bell imperial, gleaming, ready for his coronation.

Jordan Klepper

Jordan Klepper is perhaps best known for his work with The Daily Show and his multiple Emmy nominated specials focusing on the political world. From covering the gun safety debate (Jordan Klepper Solves Guns) to his docuseries on the world of activism (Klepper on Comedy Central) Jordan has witnessed an insurrection, capsized a boat with pipeline protestors, interviewed a President and been arrested and locked up in Fulton County Jail. He also travels the globe with his segment “Fingers The Pulse” which has racked up hundreds of millions of views. Klepper wrote, starred and executive produced “Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Into The MagaVerse,” “Fingers The Midterms” (the most watched special on Comedy Central) and “Hungary for Democracy,” the latter of which garnered him a Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in TV Political Journalism. He executive produced and hosted “The Opposition” and “Klepper” on Comedy Central, which was called “A fresh, powerful interpretation of news” by the Detroit Free Press. In addition to being a correspondent on the Peabody Award Winning Daily Show for nearly a decade, and co-hosting this election year, he’s branched out into the podcast space co-hosting StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson, co-hosting Kasich and Klepper (with former Governor John Kasich) as well as the Webby award winning “Fingers The Conspiracy” which took a deep dive into the world of conspiracy. Beyond his work in comedy, Klepper has chronicled his experiences in the world of politics from essays on CBS Morning to Op-Ed’s in the Boston Globe. He’s also been seen on CNN, MSNBC, Showtime’s “The Circus,” HBO’s “Night of Too Many Stars,” Netflix’s “The Who’s Who Show” and voices Pete on Disney’s “The Ghost and Molly McGee.”

Dinosaur Live!

DINOSAUR IMPROV BRINGS COMEDY’S BIGGEST STARS TO THE STAGE FOR TOTALLY IMPROVISED ENTERTAINMENT All-Star Cast Including Edi Patterson, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel, and Jason Mantzoukas Delivers Unscripted Comedy Gold Following sold-out runs across the country, Dinosaur Improv brings their hit show to Boston and DC, featuring some of comedy’s most celebrated performers for an evening of completely improvised entertainment. Nothing is prepared beforehand—every word is made up on the spot based on stories from audience members, creating a unique comedy experience that’s different every single night. The stellar lineup features Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones, Vice Principals), Paul Scheer (The League, Fresh Off the Boat, How Did This Get Made?), Rob Huebel (Children’s Hospital, Transparent, Human Giant), Jason Mantzoukas (The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, How Did This Get Made?), Owen Burke (VEEP, American Housewife), Danielle Schneider (Hot Wives on Hulu, Bajillion Dollar Propertie$, hit podcast Garbage Sesh), and Mary Holland (Happiest Season, Veep). Special guest Rob Riggle (The Daily Show, Step Brothers, 21 Jump Street) joins the cast for the Washington, DC performance. &nbsp;“One of the Best Things to do in LA,” raves LAist, while Ever Out calls the performers “Our nation’s leading improv geniuses.” Vanyaland describes the show as “Phenomenal…Some of the Art Form’s Biggest Stars,” and Brooklyn Vegan declares it “Pretty Fantastic.” Off-script and on point, these comedy veterans transform audience stories into spontaneous magic night after night. Each show is a one-of-a-kind experience where the audience witnesses comedy history being made in real time.

The Chevalier Theatre

Iam Tongi Fall Tour

For Iam Tongi, music is about transformation – and it always has been. A Hawaiian-born singer-songwriter and the Season 21 champion of American Idol, Tongi first picked up a ukulele in the fifth grade, immersed in a deeply musical world filled with the traditional singing and dance of Pacific Island cultures. Tongi learned to sing from his father, who in turned had learned from his father before him. By 13 Tongi had played his first show, but after moving to Seattle a few years later – and losing his father in 2021 – he nearly gave music up completely. His mother secretly signed him up for American Idol, and after Tongi’s viral audition performance of James Blunt’s “Monsters” became one of American Idol’s all time emotional highlights, he went on to win Season 21, making history as the first Pacific Islander to ever win the show. His new music marks a creative transition leaning into his cultural heritage and musical roots – but also the man he’s become.

Adam Carolla

Adam Carolla is the funniest comedian who has never written a joke and to prove it Adam has agreed to come on stage with no idea of what he is going to say… Instead, the audience will supply ideas for Adam to spin into comedy gold right on the spot.. Join Adam to find out just how hilariously funny an unprepared Adam Carolla can actually be… ADAM CAROLLA is best known as a comedian, actor, radio personality, television host and NY Times best-selling author. He currently hosts&nbsp;THE ADAM CAROLLA SHOW, which holds the Guinness Book of World Records for “most downloaded podcast.” Adam started&nbsp;THE ADAM CAROLLA SHOW&nbsp;podcast from his home office in Feb. 2009. The podcast now receives more than 30 million downloads a month and has been featured in&nbsp;Fast Company Magazine, Entrepreneur, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. Adam became a New York Times best-selling author when his book,&nbsp;IN 50 YEARS WE’LL ALL BE CHICKS,&nbsp;topped the charts for ten weeks. The audio version went straight to the #1 position on iTunes. He has since released two other New York Times Best Selling Books,&nbsp;NOT TACO BELL MATERIAL&nbsp;and&nbsp;PRESIDENT ME. Adam began his career on the nationally syndicated radio program&nbsp;LOVELINE&nbsp;with Dr. Drew Pinsky. MTV developed a television version of the show, which was co-hosted by Adam and Dr. Drew for five seasons (1996-2000). With his partner Daniel Kellison, and Jimmy Kimmel, Adam created and starred in two hit Comedy Central shows,&nbsp;THE MAN SHOW&nbsp;(1999-2003) and&nbsp;CRANK YANKERS&nbsp;(2002‐2005). Adam also recently completed three feature length films:&nbsp;ROAD HARD, a crowd-funded comedy that raised over a million dollars in a single month, the inspirational documentary&nbsp;WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN, and&nbsp;THE 24 HOUR WAR, which documents the battle between Ford and Ferrari in the 1960’s for racing dominance at Le Mans. In 2018, Adam is touring his new one-man show,&nbsp;“NOT TACO BELL MATERIAL”, based on his autographical book, to audiences all over the nation. &nbsp;

Colin Hay

“I’m deeply grateful for the life I have,” says Colin Hay, “and I think my natural tendency has always been towards optimism and humor. Lately, though, I’ve had to be more intentional about it. I’ve had to actively seek out the positive, to let new rays of hope shine on some seemingly dark situations.” That’s precisely what Hay does with his extraordinary new solo album, Now And The Evermore, facing down struggle, loss, and even his own mortality with grit and wit at every turn. Written and recorded in Hay’s adopted hometown of Los Angeles, the collection is a defiantly joyful celebration of life and love, one that insists on finding silver linings and reasons to smile. That’s not to say the record deludes itself about the realities of our modern world, but rather that it consistently chooses to respond to pain with beauty and doubt with wonder. The music on Now And The Evermore (Lazy Eye/Compass Records) is vibrant and animated, brimming with fanciful melodies, lush orchestration, and even a guest appearance from Ringo Starr, who kicks the whole thing off with a signature drum fill. Hay’s performances are likewise buoyant and full of life, drawing on vintage pop charm, pub rock muscle, and folk sincerity to forge a sound that’s at once playful and profound, clever and compassionate, whimsical and earnest. At its most basic level, Now And The Evermore offers a deeply personal acknowledgement of the relentless march of time, but zoom out and you’ll see that Hay’s contemplations of identity and eternity are in fact broader reflections on our shared humanity, on letting go of dead weight and reaching for the light no matter how dark things may get. “It’s a troubling and confounding and ever-inspiring world that we live in,” he muses. “I’m lucky to be able to wander downstairs and try to make some sense of it, at least to myself.” Born in Scotland, Hay moved with his family as a teenager to Australia, where he first came to international fame with seminal ’80s hitmakers Men At Work. While the band would reach the heights of stardom—they took home a GRAMMY Award for Best New Artist and sold more than 30 million records worldwide on the strength of #1 singles like “Who Can It Be Now?” and “Down Under”—by 1985, they’d called it quits and gone their separate ways. Hay released his solo debut the following year and, over the course of the next three-and-a-half decades, went on to record twelve more critically acclaimed studio albums that would help establish him as one of his generation’s most hardworking and reliable craftsmen. Rolling Stone praised his “witty, hooky pop” tunes, while NPR’s World Café lauded his “distinctive voice,” and late night hosts from David Letterman and Craig Ferguson to Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel have all welcomed him for performances. Over the course of his remarkable solo career, Hay developed a reputation as a gifted raconteur with serious comedy chops, and his frequent appearances at LA’s Largo club helped garner him a legion of fans in the entertainment world. Among them was actor/director Zach Braff, who called Hay’s mix of heartfelt songwriting and hilarious storytelling “one of the most amazing things I had ever seen.” Braff would go on to feature Hay’s music prominently in the GRAMMY-winning soundtrack for Garden State and invite him to appear as himself on the hit series Scrubs, which helped introduce his music to a whole new generation of listeners. On top of his rigorous schedule as a solo artist, Hay has also managed to tour the world several times over with Ringo Starr &amp; His All–Star Band, release an audiobook of Aesop’s Fables, star in the award-winning documentary Waiting For My Real Life, and even provide the voice for Fergus Flamingo in Disney’s The Wild. “When the pandemic hit, I was forced to stay put for the first time in years,” Hay recalls. “It was horrendous every day to watch the news and see so many people struggling, but even so, musical ideas were creeping into my head, so I followed where they led and embraced the freedom that came with sitting still for a change.” With no tour dates on the horizon, Hay allowed himself to slow things down and work at a different pace than he was used to. For the first time in his career, he had several uninterrupted months to work continuously with his longtime friend and collaborator Michael Georgiades, and the two began penning a series of gorgeous, thoughtful tracks that would eventually form the framework of Now And The Evermore. “It seemed like we tapped into some kind of creative vein that just felt good,” Hay explains. “Even when I thought we had enough material for a record, I just kept writing on my own because the songs kept presenting themselves to me.” Hay took his time in the studio, too, going in alone at first to record basic tracks and then building up the tunes up around his core vocal and guitar performances. While he enlisted a handful of collaborators—including Georgiades, Compass Records co–founder/bassist Garry West, Cuban guitarist/tres master San Miguel Perez, wife and singer/songwriter Cecilia Noël, and drummer Greg Bissonette (Ringo Starr, David Lee Roth)—Hay tackled the majority of the work on his own until it was time to bring in keyboardist and string arranger Fred Kron, who helped flesh out the music with sweeping orchestration, which was recorded and produced by West at the Compass studio in Nashville. “Once we started to put the strings on it, that’s when it felt like everything really came together,” says Hay. “There started to be this sense of beauty and grandeur to the music, this sense of romance and possibility.” That romance and possibility lays at the heart of Now And The Evermore, which opens with the bittersweet title track. Lilting and jaunty, the song (which features Starr on drums) makes peace with life’s transience, accepting the fate that ultimately awaits us all and committing to make the most of what little time we’ve got. “Goodbye to the life we knew / Don’t save it till the end,” Hay sings, balancing faith and fatalism in equal measure. “It could be me, it could be you / Or some old long lost friend.” “I think this pandemic made people recognize that we won’t be around forever,” he explains. “If there’s something you want to say to someone, some love you want to express, then you should do it now because you never know when your number’s up.” Learning to live in the present is a recurring theme on the album. The sunny “Love Is Everywhere” mixes rootsy guitars and gospel harmonies as it reminds us that there’s always joy and gratitude to be found if we’re willing to seek it out, while the soaring “Into The Bright Lights” (written by Chris Trapper) waltzes its way to cinematic heights as it refuses to surrender to darkness and despair, and the playful “Sea Of Always” tips its cap to Roy Orbison and The Beatles as it casts away the trappings and distractions that all too often drag us down. “Sold my rings / Cut the strings / And said goodbye to sorrow,” Hay sings. “Close my eyes as I fly / A different sky to follow.” “A lot of these songs involve different ways of thinking about the unknowable,” he reflects. “I find solace in nature and I often reach for those sorts of metaphors—the sea, the sky, mountains, rivers—when I’m trying to wrap my head around it all.” Indeed, the unknowable looms large on the record. The loss of Hay’s parents informs the mesmerizing “Starfish and Unicorns,” which wrestles with the lingering pain and loneliness that comes with the end of a complicated relationship, as well as the Celtic-tinged “All I See Is You,” which chases after a past it can never get back. The deceptively breezy melody of “Agatha Bell,” meanwhile, disguises an eerie murder ballad that raises more questions than it answers, and the bright, punchy horns of “A Man Without A Name” wraps the never-ending search for self in an air of celebration. But it’s perhaps the album closer “When Does The End Begin?” that confronts the unknowable most directly, with Hay singing, “We’re following the rising moon / When darkness falls it will be none too soon / We’re passing all the loved and lost / Don’t want to look back and count the cost.” “I’m approaching 70 now,” he explains, “and it’s clear to me that I’m in the home stretch. I don’t feel any fear or a resignation about it, though, just an urgency to say the things I need to say and do the things I need to do.” Who knows what happens when we die? Perhaps our consciousness lingers on long after we leave our bodies. Perhaps the curtains simply close and the show ends for good. Regardless, Now And The Evermore reminds us that we’re all alive right here, right now. For Colin Hay, that’s plenty to smile about.

Hannah Berner: None of my Business Tour

Hannah Berner is a stand-up comedian and New York Times Best-Selling author known for her relatable humor and charismatic crowd work. She rose to prominence with her debut comedy special “We Ride at Dawn” which premiered at #2 on Netflix. Berner hosts two hit podcasts, Giggly Squad alongside Paige DeSorbo and Berner Phone with Des Bishop, which have garnered over 100 million combined downloads. After a sold-out national tour, Berner and DeSorbo recently released their book “How to Giggle: A Guide to Taking Life Less Seriously” via Simon and Schuster which debuted at #2 on the New York Times Best Seller list. Her video series, Han on the Street, has earned over 350 million views. In addition to her regular appearances in the New York comedy scene, Berner was included in Variety’s 2024 “The New Power of New York” list, The Hollywood Reporter’s 2024 “The Creator A-List” and Variety’s 2023 “Top 10 Comics to Watch”. She is a Brooklyn native and resides in New York City with her cat Butter.

Brad Williams

EARLY SHOW @ 7:30PM LATE SHOW @ 10PM Pound for pound, Brad Williams is the funniest comedian in the country right now, and has become one of the most in-demand comedians working today. Williams started doing stand-up comedy as a teenager and has been touring successfully ever since, routinely selling out prestigious venues all over the country and world. Williams has parlayed his live performances into a multitude of stand-up television appearances, including The Tonight Show, Dave Attell’s Comedy Underground, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. His first one-hour special, Fun Size, was the highest rated special on Showtime, and a year later, he followed that up with his second one, Daddy Issues, which was even more successful than the first. His third special in three years was an uproarious one, hosting some of the edgiest comedians in the country from the prestigious Montreal Just For Laughs Festival. His last groundbreaking special on Netflix, The Degenerates, garnered more huge ratings and rave reviews. Also an accomplished actor, Williams has appeared on numerous TV shows and feature films, including FX’s Legit, Sam and Cat, Mind of Mencia, Pitboss, a recurring role on the Hulu original show Deadbeat, and memorable roles in a plethora of movies, including Little Evil, produced by Scott Stuber (Ted), as well as the Netflix original Christopher Guest film, Mascots, and most recently Reno 911: It’s A Wonderful Heist. Recently, Brad became the first stand-up comedian to headline a Cirque de Soleil show in their 30 year history, when he agreed to launch—and do a three month run of—their newest show Mad Apple, at the magnificent 1200 seat New York New York Theater in Las Vegas. The show became an immediate smash hit to rave revues, singling out Williams for his incredible ability to captivate his audiences with his extraordinary performances. In addition to stand-up and acting, Williams co-created and co-hosted one of the most successful podcasts in the world, with friend and fellow comic Adam Ray, entitled About Last Night, which was always a mainstay on the iTunes charts during their five year run. Additionally, he is also a regular contributor with a series of incredibly funny appearances on several national radio and podcast platforms, including KROQ’s Kevin and Bean Show and The Adam Carolla Show. Williams’ humorous and inspiring observations on disability, relationships, sex, and race consistently win over audiences; proving anyone can overcome their shortcomings. His high energy live performances frequently produce standing ovations from audience members; which prompted the late Robin Williams to call him “Prozac with a head.”

T.J. Miller

T.J. MILLER is one of the most sought after comedians in the world, certainly the northern part of the western hemisphere. He has been diligently working to make people laugh for over fifteen years, and is driven by the altruistic mission statement that life is fundamentally tragic and the best thing he can do is provide an ephemeral escapism from that tragedy which permeates everyday life by doing comedy. He has been performing his absurdist observational standup act worldwide for over 15 years, and has never gone to the bathroom in his pantaloons on stage. His hour-long comedy specials T.J. MILLER: NO REAL REASON (Comedy Central) and T.J. MILLER: METICULOUSLY RIDICULOUS (HBO) are available to stream now wherever streaming content is streamed. For no reason he produced two music albums, THE EXTENDED PLAY E.P., a hip-hop/pop/folk music E.P. with 41 tracks, and the ILLEGAL ART REMIXTAPE- available now on iTunes and wherever fake music is sold. Miller’s voice stars as Gene in the EMOJI MOVIE and Fred in Disney’s Academy Award-winning animated feature, BIG HERO 6. Miller also talks like an old drag queen after a hard night of chain smoking, and thus has voiced many characters including the character Tuffnut in the Oscar-nominated animated films HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON and HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2. He played Auggie in the first R- rated stop motion animated film HELL AND BACK with Nick Swardson and Prancer in ICE AGE: A MAMMOTH CHRISTMAS. In television, he voices Robbie from GRAVITY FALLS, Tuffnut in How To Train Your Dragon’s DRAGONS: RIDERS OF BERK, Brad in HIGH SCHOOL USA!, Randy in F IS FOR FAMILY and a volcano in FAMILY GUY. Don’t forget about GORBURGER, a show so strange you’ll just have to google it to understand. You may recognize his non-animated face and body from his roles in FOX’s big screen comic book adaptation of DEADPOOL, the highest grossing R-rated film of all time, 2014’s surprise indie hit TRANSFORMERS 4, Pete Holmes’ HBO comedy series CRASHING, Mike Judge’s HBO comedy series SILICON VALLEY, for which he received the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy, or even THE GOODWIN GAMES which was canceled after 7 episodes (he was also on CARPOOLERS with Jerry O’Connel and that lasted 13 episodes). When CHELSEA LATELY was a show, t.j. was on that show quite a bit. A ‘regular’ some might call him. Miller has been in over 25 major studio films- more than Fabio (and he was in Sharknado 5: Global Swarming) including CLOVERFIELD, SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE, SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD, ROCK OF AGES, OUR IDIOT BROTHER, YOGI BEAR 3D (Ranger Jones, his greatest role to date), UNSTOPPABLE, GET HIM TO THE GREEK, SEARCH PARTY, THE GOODS: LIVE HARD, SELL HARD, and finally his good friend Jay Baruchel’s GOON: LAST OF THE ENFORCERS. Most recently, T.J. can be seen in OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY, opposite Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston, READY PLAYER ONE directed by Steven Spielberg, &amp; DEADPOOL 2. He resides in New York City, NY, where he struggles to find meaning in an uncertain world. He is first and foremost, and always will be, a comedian. His Standup is “Smooth Like Fire, Hip Like Lincoln.” Next year T.J. can be seen in the upcoming film UNDERWATER opposite Kristin Stewart, a Twentieth Century Fox disaster thriller that is the perfect full circle return to his roots in Cloverfield. He will work until his death to make you happy. He loves you. Come and enjoy him perform.

Chris Williamson – Self Discovery Live Show

Chris Williamson is a British podcaster and writer, best known as the host of Modern Wisdom, where he dives into everything from self-improvement and philosophy to human behavior and the weird corners of the internet. Since 2018, he’s sat down with world-leading psychologists, neuroscientists, comedians, and cultural commentators, distilling complex ideas into accessible insights. 900+ episodes and 1bn+ downloads. Life is hard… this podcast will help.

Iliza @ The Chevalier Theatre

Iliza Shlesinger has cemented herself as one of the world’s premiere stand-up comedians. On March 11th, Shlesinger will release her 7th special,&nbsp;Iliza Shlesinger: A Different Animal,&nbsp;globally on Amazon Prime Video. An explosive and relentlessly funny hour, Iliza covers everything from shower sex, ugly wives and the ideal man to the truth about the ONE thing no woman wants as nothing is off limits. The special was filmed this past fall at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City. To date, Shlesinger has six Netflix specials including her 2022’s&nbsp;Hot Forever.&nbsp;Her other Netflix specials include&nbsp;Unveiled, War Paint,&nbsp;Freezing Hot, Confirmed Kills, and&nbsp;Elder Millennial.&nbsp;In 2019, Shlesinger released&nbsp;Iliza Shlesinger: Over &amp; Over, her “fan-u-mentary,” which gave fans an inside look into what goes into the making of one of her specials. This behind the scenes showcased many elements of Shlesinger’s creative process and was a tribute to a fan base who show their loyalty by creating their own Iliza inspired swag to wear to her shows. In addition to her stand-up, Iliza has appeared on the big and small screen. She wrote, executive produced, and starred in the romantic comedy film,&nbsp;Good On Paper, which was based on Iliza’s own dating experience, and is streaming on Netflix. Shlesinger also starred opposite Mark Wahlberg in Netflix’s Spenser Confidential, directed by Peter Berg. In 2023, She played Shay Marigold in the popular MAX series,&nbsp;The Righteous Gemstones. In 2020, she co-starred along with Shia Labeouf and Vanessa Kirby in the indie feature&nbsp;Pieces of a Woman&nbsp;and premiered&nbsp;The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show&nbsp;on Netflix. In 2018, she co-starred in&nbsp;Instant Family,&nbsp;starring Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne. Her other credits include Hulu’s&nbsp;Dollface&nbsp;and Amazon Prime’s&nbsp;Bosch. In 2023, Iliza released her latest &amp; second book&nbsp;All Things Aside: Absolutely Correct Opinions, a collection of hilarious and insightful essays about the exasperating issues of everyday life. In 2017, she released&nbsp;Girl Logic: The Genius and the Absurdity&nbsp;(Hachette Book Group) a subversively funny collection of essays and observations on a confident woman’s approach to friendship, singlehood, and relationships. On her podcast AIA: Ask Iliza Anything, Iliza offers up her unique perspective to listeners, answering their questions on virtually any topic. Today, the comedian is wrapping up her Get Ready Tour and will go on-sale for her new tour, Iliza! Live in March 2025. For more dates and info go to Iliza.com.

Tom Papa

With more than 20 years as a stand-up comedian, Tom Papa is one of the top comedic voices in the country, finding success as an actor, host, and author, in film, TV, radio and podcasts as well as on the live stage. The comedian has had 6 highly rated stand-up specials including his most recent Netflix stand-up special, Home Free, which premiered on October 29th, 2024. Filmed at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., Tom holds nothing back, as his kids are finally out of the house and it’s just him, his wife and a bunch of animals ready to return to their glory days. Tom has seen a lot over the years, from close calls with a pachinko ball to late night 7-Eleven runs, and he’s sharing all his thoughts as he parties on into the next stage of life. Papa’s other specials include What A Day!, You’re Doing Great!, Human Mule, Freaked Out and Tom Papa Live in New York City, two of which were directed by Rob Zombie. In 2023, Tom released his highly anticipated third book, We’re All In This Together…So Make Some Room. The book compiles comedic essays that aim to unite us through our stupidity. Every mistake has already been made, and this should bring us great comfort as we join together in our fight for survival, or at least in our attempt to get through the day. Whether we like it or not, we’re all in this together. In 2020, he released his second book, You’re Doing Great! – And Other Reasons To Stay Alive, which was the follow-up to Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas both released by St Martin’s Press, making “Summer Must Read” lists from Parade Magazine to The New York Post. Tom is also a contributing writer to the New Yorker Magazine. Tom is the host of the weekly podcast, Breaking Bread with Tom Papa, which features Tom and his guest eating, drinking, and celebrating the true meaning of breaking bread with insightful, revealing and always funny conversations. He also hosts the popular daily Netflix radio show, What A Joke With Papa And Fortune on Sirius XM Channel 93 and the monthly show, Come To Papa Live on Channel 94. Papa has starred in many fan-favorite films including Paper Spiders where he stared opposite Lily Taylor, The Informant opposite Matt Damon, Analyze That opposite Robert DeNiro, and The Haunted World of El Superbeasto opposite Paul Giamatti, where Tom played the voice of El Superbeasto. He can also be seen alongside Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in the HBO film, Behind the Candelabra, which was directed by Steven Soderbergh and won 11 Emmys. On TV, Tom hosted the NBC series, The Marriage Ref, which ran for two seasons and had a recurring role opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the CBS series, The New Adventures of Old Christine. Tom is currently on his The Grateful Bread Tour. For additional dates and info, go to: www.tompapa.com.

The Wilbur 

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Where

bbp

Experiences