Walker Lecture Series Announces 2026 Fall Season
Since 1896, the Walker Lecture Series has brought stimulating speakers and fun performers to Concord. The tradition continues. This fall’s offerings range from a visit to Japan to the voices of Irish writers. Musical performers include a tribute to the Beatles’ early years and an evening of tunes with two members of the Rhode Island Bluegrass Hall of Fame.
Because of the generosity and foresight of Timothy and Abigail Walker, all performances are free for people in the Concord area. No tickets or reservations are required.
Find out what's happening in Concordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Programs start at 7:30 PM at the City Auditorium on Prince Street in Concord, with the exception of Messiah, performed at St. Paul’s Church.
Visit walkerlecture.org for details.
Find out what's happening in Concordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Fall 2026
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Vintage Rock ‘n’ Roll with Richie and the High Street Rockers
Richie and the High Street Rockers are a Philadelphia power trio bringing the sound and spirit of 1950s and 1960s rock and roll to the stage. Buckle up for fiery renditions of Elvis, Chuck Berry, and Buddy Holly, then lean back for smooth ballads by Dion and The Everly Brothers.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Soulful Sounds with Lori Diamond, Fred Abatelli, and special guest Anelise
This dynamic duo will share their soul-stirring original songs wrapped in heavenly harmony. Award-winning songwriters Lori Diamond and Fred Abatelli deliver a musical flavor that will appeal to fans of Norah Jones, Carol King, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell and more.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
JAPAN: Spirited Away with Marlin Darrah
Join the world's most traveled filmmaker on a spectacular journey to Japan's Honshu and Hokkaido islands. Along the way you'll savor historic sites and cultural parks, walk through Buddhist and Shinto shrines, enjoy music and dance performances, sample delicious cuisine, and meet a variety of friendly Japanese people.
Wednesday October 7, 2026
Beatles Tribute with Studio Two
Studio Two is a Boston-based tribute band that has been passionately playing the music of The Beatles since 2012. Specializing in the early Beatles years, they faithfully recreate the sound, energy, and excitement of their live performances—from their days at The Cavern Club to their groundbreaking American tours.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Irish voices with Stephen Collins and
Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven with Jeffrey Zygmont
Irish voices
Hear Yeats, Joyce, Heaney, McCourt, and other prominent Irish writers in this dramatic offering.
Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven
Greet Halloween with a dramatic recital of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous poem, “The Raven,” the perfect work of American literature to put us in a spooky mood.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
An Evening of Bluegrass with the Southern Rail Bluegrass Band
Southern Rail's concerts are high energy exuberant fun with stunning harmonies, irrepressible good humor and sparkling banjo, guitar and mandolin. Their repertoire is fresh and diverse, featuring lots of originals plus a kaleidoscope of covers (Mavis Staples, Paul Simon, Earl Scruggs, Crosby, Stills and Nash). Two of the band's founding members were recently inducted into the Rhode Island Bluegrass Hall of Fame.
November 4, 2026
Connie Converse: Concord's Cassandra with Howard Fishman
Concord High School class of 1942 valedictorian Connie Convers was a trailblazing songwriter, composer, performer, thinker, activist, writer, and community organizer, Converse who spent her known life engaged with creative and intellectual pursuits that pointed toward many of today’s issues. There was only one problem: she was invisible. In 1974, frustrated by her lifelong inability to have her life’s work acknowledged, Connie Converse wrote notes to family and friends and drove off. She was never seen again.
Connie Converse’s legacy did not disappear along with her. It lives on, preserved in a massive archive she left behind containing letters, diaries, music, artwork, photographs, and recordings of her music–the basis for Howard Fishman’s book To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse.
Saturday, December 12, 2026 10:00 AM Open rehearsal
Sunday, December 13, 2026 4:00 PM Performance
Both events are at St. Paul’s Church
Messiah
A musical rite of the holiday season, this Baroque-era oratorio still awes listeners more than 250 years after the composer’s death. Concord’s performance, conducted by Benjamin Greene, and held at St. Paul’s Church, will include professional soloists and a community chorus.
