“Folk” is the word Adam Ezra most often uses to describe his music. Americana works, too. Then there’s rock, country, pop and blues. In truth, the Adam Ezra Group, performing at the Spire Center for Performing Arts on Oct. 8, has spent 25 years demonstrating why musical categories can matter far less than the song itself.
“I like to call myself a folk musician,” Ezra said. Americana, he added, is “a quick and dirty way to define us.” But when he writes, genre is largely beside the point.
“When I write songs, I’m not thinking about what box that song is going to fit in musically,” he said, but rather, “what am I wanting to say and express?”
That philosophy extends to the band when it begins building an arrangement. “How can we make sound to support the song rather than what is our sound?” Ezra said.
This methodology illustrates the musical range of a group whose palette can include fiddle, accordion, piano, mandolin, banjo and bass alongside Ezra’s acoustic guitar and an unconventional percussion setup. Rather than impose a recognizable formula on every song, the musicians allow the material to dictate where they go.
The same principle governs their concerts. “A great concert should feel like a conversation between the audience and the artist,” Ezra said. “You never show up with a plan.”
That conversation has been unfolding for a long time. Ezra describes himself as having been “grinding for about 25 years,” building an audience one show and one listener at a time. In Plymouth, the group progressed from summer concerts on the waterfront to the more intimate Spire, where its appearances now regularly draw a crowd. “It took us 25 years to be able to show up in Plymouth and sell out the Spire,” Ezra said.
The relationship between band and audience deepened during the pandemic when Ezra began “the Gathering series,” livestreaming a performance every evening at 7 p.m. “I did it for 500 nights,” he said. Ezra calls that period a “huge galvanizing moment” for the community of fans now known as the Village. “Night after night, listeners who might have known only a handful of songs began exploring our catalog” that now encompasses 20 albums, he said.
That sense of community extends beyond the stage. Ezra founded RallySound with a mission to empower community through music. The group’s “Ramble” in Ashburnham raises money to combat veteran homelessness. This year’s 17th annual concert brought nine musical acts to two stages and raised $171,000. Each winter, the community convenes a three-day “Winter Gathering” in Vermont.
Plymouth, Ezra said, has developed its own relationship with the band — one of those local “pockets” of fans that can take on a distinct “micro persona.” That makes the Spire particularly well suited to a musician who believes the best performance isn’t something delivered to an audience. It is something created with one.
In fact, the group’s fan loyalty has grown. Yesterday marked its 1042nd Gathering Series – backyard concerts streamed live on Facebook — this time in Townsend, MA , supporting ecumenical research, organized by The Traveling Village. Judging from the now-sold out status of the concert, the Spire will likely be filled with super-fans who know the words to every song. And you never know, they may organize a Gathering Series concert nearby.
The Adam Ezra Group performs Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., Doors open at 7 p.m.; the show begins at 8 p.m. For information go here. For a complete group touring schedule go here.
Monday, Oct. 5
Primetime is at Plimoth Cinema, 137 Warren Ave. Robert Pattinson stars as Chris Hansen in this comic drama about a television journalist whose career takes an unexpected turn as he navigates the increasingly blurred lines between celebrity, ambition and the stories he covers. The R-rated film runs 1 hour, 50 minutes and screens at 4:30 and 7 p.m. in the Maxwell Theater. For tickets and information, visit Plimoth Cinema.
Plimoth Cinema will show the movie Digger in the Linn Theatre at 137 Warren Ave. The new film from Academy Award-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu stars Tom Cruise, with Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons. Showtimes are at 4:30 and 7 p.m. The R-rated film runs 2 hours, 8 minutes. For information go to www.plimoth.org.
Tuesday, Oct. 6
Explore the darker side of Victorian fashion when the Plymouth Antiquarian Society presents “Victorian Gothic: Dark Fashion and the Medieval Imagination” at 2 p.m. at the Hedge House Museum, 126 Water St. The historic clothing display and parlor talk look at the influence of the Gothic Revival on 19th-century clothing and accessories, including fashions inspired by the mystery, romance and architecture of the medieval past. The program is part of a series highlighting pieces from the Antiquarian Society’s Historic Clothing Collection. Admission is $10. For information go here.
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Celebrate the freedom to read during Banned Books Week at a Banned Book Read-In at Book Love, 7 Village Green South. Bring your current read — or choose something from the store’s selection of frequently challenged and banned books — and settle in for 45 minutes of silent reading, followed by 45 minutes of shopping, mingling and giveaways. The event runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. For information go here.
Celebrate Banned Books Week with a trip back to the silent-film era when the Richard M. Shiff Forum presents The Scarlet Letter (1926) at 6 p.m. at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. The silent adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic tale of old New England will be shown with live piano accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based composer who specializes in creating music for silent films. The program will also highlight books that have been challenged or banned and the importance of protecting the freedom to read. Registration is encouraged but not required. Free. Register here.
Thursday, Oct. 8
Three poets take the spotlight during Poetry Night at Book Love, 7 Village Green South, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. John Bonanni, winner of the Donald Hall Prize for Poetry and founder and editor of Cape Cod Poetry Review; John Hopkins, a longtime English teacher and author of three poetry collections; and Lisa J. Sullivan, whose debut collection, “Theory of Impact,” was published this year by Lily Poetry Review Books, will each read selections from their work. The evening concludes with an opportunity to meet the poets and purchase signed books. Information and registration.
Adam Ezra Group brings its high-energy blend of folk, Americana and rock ’n’ roll to the Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., at 8 p.m. Known for building a fiercely loyal fan base through more than two decades of grassroots touring, the band performs without a fixed set list, shaping each concert around the energy of the room. The result is a show that mixes music, storytelling and spontaneity, with no two performances quite the same. Doors open at 7 p.m. For information go here.
Friday, Oct. 9
Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave., kicks off its Indigenous Peoples’ Weekend with special programming and educational opportunities for the whole family, exploring Indigenous history and culture. Programs for visitors of all ages will take place throughout the museum. Programming includes Talks in the Wetu (Bark Covered House), all day; Wampanoag Cooking Display, all day; Wampanoag Mishoon (Dugout Canoe) Demonstration; Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers, 11 a.m. For information and schedule go here. Reminder: Plymouth residents’ admission is $5 with proof of residency.
Raise one more glass outdoors as the Mayflower Beer Garden at The Pinehills, 3 Village Green North, heads into the final weekend of its 2026 season with three days of beer, food and live music. Friday runs from 5 to 9 p.m., with Dan Byrnes performing from 6 to 9 p.m. Information.
Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated fiddler Eileen Ivers & Universal Roots perform at the Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., at 8 p.m. A nine-time All-Ireland fiddle champion and former musical star of “Riverdance,” Ivers has performed with Sting, Patti Smith, Hall & Oates, The Chieftains, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops, among many others. With Universal Roots, she blends Irish traditional music with American roots, jazz, blues and world music, accompanied by guitar, banjo, accordion, bass, percussion and other instruments. Doors open at 7 p.m. For tickets and information go here.
Just in time for the darker days of October, the Plymouth Antiquarian Society invites visitors into the historic Hedge House for “An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe,” a candlelit theatrical experience featuring dramatic readings of Poe’s haunting tales and poems. The evening also introduces audiences to Plymouth poet and spiritualist Lizzie Doten, who gained national attention in the 19th century for claiming that she communicated with Poe after his death and channeled his spirit through her poetry. The approximately hour-long experience takes place at the Hedge House Museum, 126 Water St., with timed tours beginning every 20 minutes from 6 to 7:40 p.m. Tickets are $20, or $15 for Plymouth Antiquarian Society members, and advance reservations are required. Tickets and information.
Saturday, Oct. 10
Help give one of Plymouth’s waterfront spots a fall cleanup during a COASTSWEEP at Nelson Street Beach, 235-255 Water St., beginning at 10 a.m. Organized by the 4-H Nature’s Navigators Science Club of Plymouth County, the event is part of the statewide COASTSWEEP program, which brings volunteers together to remove trash and marine debris from Massachusetts beaches, rivers, marshes and other waterways. Go here for information about the Plymouth cleanup.
The Plymouth Seafood Festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at three downtown locations: the Hedge House lawn, 126 Water St.; the area next to the harbormaster’s building; and Town Hall Green, 26 Court St. The festival features local oysters, lobster and clam chowder, along with live music, games, crafts, educational exhibits, art and a clam chowder competition. Boats will be on display, and a free trolley will run among the three festival locations. For more information, see the Plymouth Independent story from Oct. 1. Tickets are $39.19 and must be purchased in advance. Go here for tickets and information.
Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave., continues Indigenous Peoples’ Weekend with special programming and educational opportunities exploring Indigenous history and culture. Programs for visitors of all ages will take place throughout the museum, including Threads of Identity: Wampanoag Clothing Across Generations; History, Culture, and Lifeways on the Homesite;Talks in the Wetu (Bark Covered House), and a Wampanoag Cooking Display. For information and schedule go here.
Raise one more glass outdoors as the Mayflower Beer Garden at The Pinehills, 3 Village Green North, heads into the final weekend of its 2026 season with beer, food and live music. The beer garden is open from 2 to 8 p.m., with the Alden Park-ed Food Truck and live music from Dan Felix from 3 to 6 p.m. For information go here.
Pointy hats and broomsticks take over downtown during the 3rd Annual Plymouth Witches Pub Crawl, from 4 to 8 p.m. Costumed witches and wizards will make their way between locations along the waterfront and Court Street, encountering characters from Plymouth’s past along the way and learning the event’s “Witch Dance.” Participating establishments will offer themed food and “witches’ brews.” The event is organized by Illuminated Soul/Plymouth Witches, and tickets are limited. For tickets go here.
Hedge House Museum, 126 Water St., continues its presentation by the Plymouth Antiquarian Society of “An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe.” The candlelit theatrical experience features dramatic readings of Poe’s tales and poems while also telling the story of Plymouth’s own Lizzie Doten, a 19th-century spiritualist and poet who claimed to channel Poe after his death. The immersive experience lasts about an hour, with tours beginning every 20 minutes from 6 to 7:40 p.m. Tickets are $20, $15 for members, and advance registration is required. Go here for tickets and information.
Las Vegas impersonators The Edwards Twins bring “The Ultimate Variety Show” to the Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., for two performances: Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. Twin brothers Anthony and Eddie Edwards use elaborate makeup, costumes and live vocals to re-create stars from the classic variety-show era and beyond, including Sonny & Cher, Elton John, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Tom Jones and more. Doors open at 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. For tickets go here.
Sunday, Oct. 11
Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave., continues its Indigenous Peoples’ Weekend with special programming and educational opportunities exploring Indigenous history and culture. Programs for visitors of all ages will take place throughout the museum, including Talks in the Wetu (Bark Covered House); Wampanoag Cooking Display; Wampanoag Football, 1 p.m. (weather permitting); Make a Corn Husk Doll, 2 p.m. For information and schedule go here.
Halloween starts early at ThreeV, 10 Cordage Park Circle, with a Costume Brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restaurant has transformed into the ThreeV Apothecary for October, an elaborate Gothic pop-up inspired by a 19th-century haunted estate, complete with candlelight, Halloween décor, themed food and cocktails. Children under 12 who arrive in costume can eat free from a select menu. Reservations are strongly recommended. Information.
Raise one more glass outdoors as the Mayflower Beer Garden at The Pinehills, 3 Village Green North, heads into the final weekend of its 2026 season with beer, food and live music. Enjoy a full afternoon from noon to 6 p.m., featuring Chris Ballerini from noon to 3 p.m., Lobsta Love Food Truck and the season’s final Sunday Artisan Pop-Up Shops. For information go here.
Las Vegas impersonators The Edwards Twins again bring “The Ultimate Variety Show” to the Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., at 2 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m. Twin brothers Anthony and Eddie Edwards use elaborate makeup, costumes and vocals to re-create classic variety-show era acts, including Sonny & Cher, Elton John, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Tom Jones and more. For tickets go here.
Poetry and visual art come together at Visual Inverse 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North St. A collaboration between the Center and America’s Hometown Poet Laureate program, the event pairs poets with works from the Center’s 59th Annual Juried Art Show. Participating poets select a work of art and write an original poem inspired by it, then read their poems while the corresponding artwork is displayed on screen. Refreshments will be served. For tickets and information, visit the Plymouth Center for the Arts events page.
Things are getting spooky as the Hedge House Museum, 126 Water St., as it continues its presentation by the Plymouth Antiquarian Society of “An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe.” The candlelit theatrical experience features dramatic readings of Poe’s tales and poems while also telling the story of Plymouth’s own Lizzie Doten, a 19th-century spiritualist and poet who claimed to channel Poe after his death. The immersive experience lasts about an hour, with tours beginning every 20 minutes from 6 to 7:40 p.m. Tickets are $20, $15 for members, and advance registration is required. For information go here.
Monday, Oct. 12
Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave., ends its Indigenous Peoples’ Weekend with a day full of special programming and educational opportunities exploring Indigenous history and culture. Join Tim Turner (Cherokee Nation), director of Indigenous Education & Training, for a unique conversation at 1 p.m. that explores “13 Moons and 12,000 Years: Wampanoag History Past and Present.” Discover how communities past and present have adapted and sustained their way of life amid changing natural, social, and political landscapes. Programs for visitors of all ages will take place throughout the museum. For information and schedule go here.
Raise one final glass outdoors as the Mayflower Beer Garden at The Pinehills, 3 Village Green North, heads into the last weekend of its 2026 season with beer, food and live music. Live music by Kyle Morrison noon to 3 p.m. For information go here.
Julia Marie Davis can be reached at julia@plymouthindependent.org.