The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court St., has brought just about every kind of music to its stage, and on Saturday, Aug. 22, it will strike a new chord with the launch of its first CountryFest. Plymouth may be a long way from Nashville, but country music has a devoted following here, and for Spire founder Bob Hollis, the festival fulfills a long-held goal.
The three-act concert, featuring Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum duo Thompson Square along with April Cushman and Sarah Martin, is something Spire founder and board president Bob Hollis has wanted to bring into the venue. “A country music event is something we’ve been trying to do for a while,” Hollis said. “I think it’s a natural thing because there is interest in the Northeast. People may not think there is interest in country, but when you see some of the big bands that come into the Northeast’s arenas, they all sell out.”
The challenge was finding the right combination of artists for an intimate venue like the Spire, Hollis said. Nationally relevant country acts can command considerably high-performance fees, he said, so the goal was to assemble a lineup that could draw an audience while still making it a viable event for a roughly 400-seat room.
CountryFest will reflect how much the definition of country music has broadened, he said. “Today, most of what we see is more country rock, more crossover music,” Hollis said.
Headliner Thompson Square knows something about that evolution. Husband-and-wife Keifer and Shawna Thompson broke through with the multi-platinum hit “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” and went on to win major country music awards and tour nationally.
Now independent after years with record labels, the couple is moving toward music Keifer Thompson describes as more organic, country and singer-songwriter driven.
“We’re toying with doing an acoustic-ish kind of broke-down” record, Thompson said. “It’s gonna be more country and organic and singer-songwriter and just kind of who we are.”
That makes the intimate Spire particularly well suited to their current sound. “The Spire is exactly the kind of venue that would support what me and Shawna are doing right now with our acoustic show,” Thompson said.
The evening will begin with Lakeville, MA native Sarah Martin, now a Nashville recording artist who has performed at the Spire several times, followed by New Hampshire-based Cushman. Hollis referenced Brandi Carlile before her career took off and said he sees similar promise in Cushman. “She’s really poised for a breakout,” he said.
For Thompson, the current musical moment feels in some ways like a return to an earlier one. He remembers spending hours in record stores, taking an album home and listening to it repeatedly until he knew every song.
“It was an immersive process, and I do think the younger generation is starting to pick up on that,” Thompson said. “My son’s 10. He loves old everything. He loves Haggard, he loves Def Leppard, Willie Nelson, Billy Joel. He has a massive cassette collection.”
There are numbers behind Thompson’s observation. Vinyl has now grown for 19 consecutive years in the United States, surpassing $1 billion in sales in 2025, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
Thompson sees the renewed interest in physical music — from vinyl to CDs and cassettes — as evidence listeners may once again be looking for a deeper connection to the artists and music they love. That connection between artists, audiences and the music itself is exactly what the Spire hopes to create when CountryFest makes its Plymouth debut Saturday night.
The Spire Center for Performing Arts’ inaugural CountryFest begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at 25½ Court St. For tickets and information, go here.
Monday, August 17
Late Fame is showing at Plimoth Cinema, 137 Warren Ave through Aug. 20. The film follows a legendary New York poet who rediscovers his artistic passion after befriending an eccentric group of young creatives. The unrated film runs 96 minutes and is showing at 4:30 and 7 p.m. in the Maxwell Theater. For more information or tickets, go here.
The Rivals of Amziah King is showing at Plimoth Cinema, 137 Warren Ave through August 27. The film centers on Amziah King, an Oklahoma beekeeper and bluegrass musician who reconnects with his former foster daughter, Kateri, only to find the family business threatened by beekeeping rivals. The R-rated film runs 2 hours, 11 minutes and is showing at 4:30 and 7 p.m. For more information or tickets, go here.
Tuesday, August 18
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., welcomes The World-Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra at 7 p.m. One of the most enduring big bands in music history, the orchestra brings the distinctive sound of the swing era to the stage with classics associated with bandleader Glenn Miller and his legendary orchestra. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information or tickets, go here.
Wednesday, August 19
The Gardens at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave., will host Music at the Monet Gardens from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. featuring the Louise Adams Duo. The outdoor summer music series takes place on the Monet Lawn, with stone-fired pizzas and drinks available for purchase. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs; outside alcohol and pets are not permitted. For more information, go here.
Project Arts’ Summer Concert Series continues at 6:30 p.m. with 3rd Left and the Fey Band opening. The free waterfront concert, at 79 Water St., celebrates the music of the big band era with an evening of classic swing performed by accomplished vocalists and musicians. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, or a picnic to enjoy the open-air performance overlooking Plymouth Harbor. Metered parking is available nearby. For more information, go here.
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., again presents a second performance by The World-Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra at 7 p.m. The celebrated ensemble continues the musical legacy of Glenn Miller with the unmistakable big-band sound that made his orchestra one of the defining acts of the swing era. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information or tickets, go here.
Thursday, August 20
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., presents guitarist Alexandr Misko at 8 p.m. The German-based guitarist, composer and arranger has emerged as a standout of a new generation of fingerstyle guitarists, blending multiple genres and unconventional techniques in performances that have taken him from viral online videos to Carnegie Hall and collaborations with Hans Zimmer. Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information or tickets, go here.
Shop fresh, local and seasonal at the Plymouth Farmers Market, where area farmers, bakers, food producers and artisans gather to offer everything from just-picked produce and flowers to baked goods, meats, seafood, honey and handcrafted products. The weekly market is a favorite summer tradition, giving residents an opportunity to support local growers while enjoying a lively community atmosphere. The market is open from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the lawn of the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. For information go here.
Thursdays at The Mayflower Beer Garden at The Pinehills Village Green, 3 Village Green North from 5 to 9 p.m. The outdoor gathering space features Mayflower Brewing Company craft beer, food trucks and more. Information: The Pinehills Events Calendar.
Friday, August 21
Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., will host “Segregation Games: Boston, Busing, and the Making of Red Sox Nation,” an author talk with David Faflik, at 4 p.m. Faflik will discuss his book exploring the intersection of baseball, race and Boston history, examining the Red Sox and the city during the turbulent era of school desegregation and busing. The program will be held in the Fehlow Meeting Room. For more information, go here.
The much-anticipatedfilm Tony will be showing at Plimoth Cinema, 137 Warren Ave. Aug. 21 – 27. The film follows a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain as he travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, beginning a summer that will shape the course of his life. Part of the movie was filmed in Plymouth. The R-rated film runs 106 minutes and is showing at 4:30 and 7 p.m. in the Linn Theater. For more information or tickets, visit plimoth.org.
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., welcomes acclaimed singer-songwriter Ruthie Foster at 8 p.m. Rooted in the gospel music she heard growing up in Texas, Foster has developed a distinctive sound that moves across blues, folk, soul, gospel and Americana, powered by her commanding voice and skills as a guitarist and songwriter. Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information or tickets, go here.
Fridays at The Mayflower Beer Garden at The Pinehills Village Green, 3 Village Green North from 5 to 9 p.m. The outdoor gathering space features Mayflower Brewing Company craft beer, food trucks and more. Live Music by Nikki Childs & Eddie Childs, 6 to 9 p.m. Information: The Pinehills Events Calendar.
The Pilgrim Progress steps off from the Mayflower Society House, 18 Winslow St., at 6 p.m. Established by the Town of Plymouth in 1921 during the 300th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ landing, the procession recreates the settlers’ walk to worship after their first devastating winter. Visitors are invited to follow the costumed procession past Plymouth Rock and up Leyden Street to Burial Hill, where a brief worship service concludes one of Plymouth’s oldest and most cherished living traditions. For more information go here.
Saturday, August 22
Saturdays at The Mayflower Beer Garden at The Pinehills Village Green, 3 Village Green North continues weekly, from 2 to 8 p.m. The outdoor gathering space features Mayflower Brewing Company craft beer, food trucks and more. Live music by Liam Hempstead 3 to 6 p.m. For information go here.
Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., will host the 3rd Annual We Remember We Recover from noon to 4 p.m. on the library’s front lawn. The community event brings people together to remember those lost to substance use disorder, celebrate recovery and connect individuals and families with resources and support. The gathering is designed to reduce stigma while recognizing the strength of people in recovery and those who support them. For more information, go here.
Book Love, 7 Village Green South, will host an author signing with John Placanica from 2 to 3 p.m. The local author will meet readers and sign copies of his work during the afternoon event. For more information, visit book-love.com.
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., hosts its inaugural CountryFest at 6 p.m., bringing together an evening of country music featuring Grammy-nominated duo Thompson Square, New England country artist April Cushman and singer-songwriter Sarah Martin. For information see the lead story. Doors open at 5 p.m. For more information or tickets, go here.
Sunday, August 23
Sundays at The Mayflower Beer Garden at The Pinehills Village Green, 3 Village Green North from 12 to 6 p.m. and will continue into October. The outdoor gathering space features Mayflower Brewing Company craft beer, food trucks and more. Artisan Pop-up Shops from 12 to 6 p.m. Live music with Graham Hempstead from 12 to 3 p.m. For information go here.
Book Love, 7 Village Green South, will host an author signing with Stephen Sayers from 1 to 3 p.m. on the Pinehills Village Green. Sayers, a research professor and author of suspense, thriller and horror fiction, has also written two travel guides, including “100 Things to Do in Plymouth, Massachusetts Before You Die.” His fiction includes “A Taker of Morrows,” “The Soul Dweller,” “The Immortal Force” and “The Carousel Man,” with a new novel, tentatively titled “Beneath Still, Dark Water,” forthcoming. For more information, visit book-love.com.
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., presents Heaven & Hope: An Afternoon of Spirit Messages with Psychic Medium Lori Sheridan at 2 p.m. Sheridan, a professional psychic medium, will offer an afternoon centered on messages, connections and stories intended to provide comfort, hope and healing to audience members. Doors open at 1 p.m. Tickets are $35. For more information or tickets, go here.
Julia Marie Davis can be reached at julia@plymouthindependent.org.