This weekend, a bit of Scottish highland spirit comes to Plymouth. On Saturday, September 5, Cantrip brings its high-energy blend of Scottish traditional music to The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., sharing the bill with American roots trio Low Lily.
Cantrip builds on traditional Scottish music, weaving in influences from bluegrass, Irish music, funk, metal, and even swing to uplift and delight audiences. Formed more than 20 years ago out of the Edinburgh music scene, Cantrip takes the reels, jigs and other traditional music at its foundation and pushes them forward. Border pipes and whistles collide with dual fiddles, guitar and mandolin, while three-part vocals add another layer to a sound that can be both intricate and ferocious.
The current four-piece — Dan Houghton on border pipes, whistles and vocals; Jon Bews on fiddle and vocals; Alasdair White on fiddle; and Eric McDonald on guitar, mandolin and vocals — stretch the music well beyond any single tradition. Houghton is steeped in the piping tradition; Bews combines his place in Edinburgh’s traditional session scene with a strong classical background; and McDonald came from bluegrass before embracing Scottish and Irish traditions.
For White, the music at Cantrip’s core isn’t simply a style – it is the sound of his youth. White was born and raised on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides: “I grew up surrounded by piping, Gaelic singing, social dancing and traditional music. I began playing at age 6, and those sounds shape my fiddle playing today.”
White now lives in New York City, where he finds influences as well. “You never go around with your fingers in your ears, so you let things influence you,” White said. That openness to new sounds is part of what has allowed Cantrip’s music to evolve without losing its Scottish foundation. The band’s name itself — an old Scots word for a charm, spell or bit of mischief — suits music built around unexpected turns and arrangements.
Saturday’s audience will hear where Cantrip is headed next: the band has a new record coming out during the tour and plans to play new material at The Spire.
Opening the evening is Low Lily, whose singer and guitarist Liz Simmons describes the band’s sound as “modern American roots with Celtic influences.” The trio combines three-part harmonies with music reaching from the southern Appalachians to Scotland, Ireland and England, moving between introspective songs and energetic, bluegrass-influenced instrumentals — “high highs and low lows,” as Simmons puts it.
For both groups, keeping this music alive is part of their motivation. “We carry the tradition on to the next generation,” Simmons said. “So we’re not just out there performing — we’re also trying to pass on the tradition.”
For White, introducing people to the traditional music he has known since childhood comes with its own responsibility. “You want to present it in a way that’s accessible,” he said, “but also in a way that’s real and true.” That’s the needle both bands are threading Saturday night — a weaving of traditions, and a new thread carried forward.
Cantrip and Low Lily perform Saturday, Sept. 5, at 8 p.m. at The Spire Center for Performing Arts. For information go here.
Monday, Aug. 31
The film Tony will be showing at Plimoth Cinema at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave., this week. 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.
One last chance to nominate a Plymouth peacemaker: Nominations for the inaugural Gregory Peace Prize, honoring a Plymouth resident whose compassion, courage and commitment to peace, social justice and humanitarian service have made a difference in the community, are due Monday, Aug. 31. For more information or to nominate someone, visit plymouth-ma.gov.
The Sun Never Sets will be showing this week at Plimoth Cinema at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. The film follows Wendy, whose relationship with her older, divorced boyfriend hits a rough patch just as her ex reappears in her life, drawing the three into a complicated love triangle that forces them to confront love, timing and personal growth. The R-rated film runs 102 minutes and is showing at 4:30 and 7 p.m. For more information or tickets, visit plimoth.org.
The Salt Path, starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, will be showing this week at Plimoth Cinema at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. The film follows husband and wife Raynor and Moth Winn, who, after losing their home, set out on a 630-mile trek along the rugged coastline of southwest England, finding resilience and a renewed sense of home along the way. The unrated film runs 115 minutes and is showing at 4:30 and 7 p.m. For more information or tickets, visit plimoth.org.
Tuesday, Sept. 1
It’s back-to-school season for grown-ups, too. Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North St., is accepting registrations for its upcoming adult art classes and workshops. Offerings provide opportunities to learn and develop skills in a variety of media, with classes designed for different experience levels. Space in classes is limited, and advance registration is required. To see the current lineup, class dates, instructors and fees, or to register, visit artsplymouth.org.
Thursday, Sept. 3
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.
Get a sneak peek at the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra’s upcoming season when Music Director Steven Karidoyanes returns to the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., for Meet the Maestro from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Karidoyanes, beginning his 33rd season with the Phil, will preview the entire 2026-2027 season with recorded musical selections, stories and anecdotes about the music and composers. Karidoyanes has presented his annual season preview at the library every year since becoming the Phil’s conductor in 1994. The program, held in the Fehlow Meeting Room, is free. For more information, visit plymouthpubliclibrary.org.
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., welcomes singer-songwriter Halley Neal for “Songbird: Halley Neal Sings Fleetwood Mac” at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Spire Lobby Series. The Berklee College of Music graduate brings her own vocal style and storytelling to Fleetwood Mac favorites including “Songbird,” “Landslide,” “The Chain” and “Dreams.” The lobby is transformed into an intimate, 70-seat showcase lounge for the performance. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $17 including fee. For tickets go here.
Friday, Sept. 4
First Fridays Plymouth returns to downtown Plymouth from 5 to 8 p.m., with galleries, museums, shops, restaurants and historic houses along Main, North, Court and Water streets opening their doors for an evening celebrating local arts and culture. The free event includes artist demonstrations, exhibits and other activities throughout downtown. For more information go here.
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society joins First Fridays Plymouth with free mini-tours of the historic Hedge House Museum, 126 Water St. Explore the Federal-period home’s distinctive architecture and period rooms filled with 19th-century furnishings, China Trade treasures, paintings, textiles, toys and more, and stroll through the Rose T. Briggs Memorial Garden. Free. For more information go here.
Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North St., joins First Fridays with music, art and artist demonstrations. Exit 7 performs classic pop favorites by Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, James Taylor and others, while master printer Katharine LiBretto and potter Kari Devine demonstrate their work downstairs. Upstairs, Karen Cass presents her one-woman show, In Between Days, while the main level features Transitions by PCA members and Celebrating New England in the New England Watercolor Society galleries. Light refreshments, a cash wine bar and the Artisan Shop round out the evening. For more information, visit artsplymouth.org.
Pilgrim Hall Museum, 75 Court St., will celebrate First Friday with Plymouth Tapestry Night from 5 to 8 p.m. Visitors can get an up-close look at a newly completed six-foot panel depicting the Mayflower voyage and watch short films about the ongoing Plymouth Tapestry project in the museum’s restored Steinway Library. From 6 to 7 p.m., project artist Elizabeth Creeden and members of the stitching team will be on hand to meet visitors and discuss the project. The evening is free and open to the public. For more information, visit pilgrimhall.org.
Plymouth Memorial Hall, 83 Court St., welcomes One Night of Queen, featuring Gary Mullen and The Works, at 8 p.m. Mullen, who won the British television competition “Stars in Their Eyes” in 2000 with his portrayal of Freddie Mercury, has toured with The Works since 2002, bringing Queen’s music and theatrical showmanship to audiences around the world. The tribute celebrates the music of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon with some of Queen’s best-known hits. Tickets are $45 to $91. For more information or tickets, visit memorialhall.com.
Saturday, Sept. 5
Arts & Crafts on the Green returns to the Plymouth Town Hall Green, 26 Court St., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free, family-friendly outdoor market features local artists and makers offering ceramics, paintings, jewelry, textiles, woodwork and other handmade goods, along with live music and artist demonstrations throughout the day. Presented by Inebri-Art in partnership with To The Moon and Back, the event is part of a monthly series celebrating local art and creativity in downtown Plymouth. For information go here.
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society and Pilgrim Hall Museum continue their free Burial Hill history tour series at 1 p.m. with “Independency in the Shadow of Contagion: Smallpox in Revolutionary Plymouth.” Led by Dr. Patrick Browne, the tour explores the impact of smallpox in Revolutionary-era Plymouth as part of this year’s “Independency and the People of Plymouth” series. Meet at Burial Hill, School Street. The tour is free; comfortable walking shoes are recommended. For more information, visit pilgrimhall.org.
King Richard’s Faire kicks off its 2026 season with a special three-day opening weekend, Saturday through Monday, Sept. 5–7, from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Edaville Entertainment, 7 Eda Ave., Carver. New England’s largest and longest-running Renaissance festival transforms the grounds into a lively 16th-century village filled with knights, royalty, artisans and performers. The day includes jousting tournaments, live comedy and music, acrobatics, an artisan marketplace, themed food and drinks, and interactive entertainment for all ages. The Faire continues Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 25, with an additional three-day holiday weekend Oct. 10–12. For tickets and more information, visit kingrichardsfaire.net.
Book Love, 7 Village Green South, will host author Jillian Eagan at 3 p.m. for a signing of her fantasy novel, The Silence of Deceit, the first book in The Deceit Trilogy. The seafaring adventure follows Lady Rosalie Yorke, who is kidnapped amid a spreading war and finds her fate intertwined with Crowe, the notorious pirate captain of the Deceit. Blending magic, political intrigue, betrayal and rebellion, the novel explores friendship and survival against the backdrop of a nation at war. For more information, visit book-love.com.
Untold Brewing, 2 Loring Blvd., will host live music with Ric Allendorf from 4 to 7 p.m. A longtime guitarist and singer, Allendorf draws on influences ranging from folk and fingerstyle guitar to the diverse music he grew up hearing in a musical household. Great Grandma Flaherty’s Food Truck will also be at the Plymouth taproom from 2 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit Untold Brewing.
Plymouth Memorial Hall, 83 Court St., welcomes Justin Hayward for his “The Story In Your Eyes” Tour at 8 p.m. Best known as the vocalist, lead guitarist and principal songwriter for The Moody Blues, Hayward has spent more than five decades in music and wrote such classics as “Nights in White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Question,” “The Voice,” “Your Wildest Dreams” and “The Story in Your Eyes.” His 2026 tour brings Hayward back to stages across the United States and Europe. Tickets are $45 to $145. For more information or tickets, visit memorialhall.com.
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., welcomes Cantrip and Low Lily for a co-bill at 8 p.m. Cantrip blends Scottish traditional music with influences ranging from funk and bluegrass to swing and klezmer, featuring border pipes, fiddle, guitar and vocals. Low Lily — Liz Simmons, Flynn Cohen and special guest Elsie Gawler — brings together folk, bluegrass, Americana and fiddle traditions with guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo and vocals. See lead story for more information, Doors open at 7 p.m. For tickets go here.
Sunday, Sept. 6
Rebels and Rods Car Show will bring more than 300 classic and modern hot rods, muscle cars and exotic vehicles to the East Bay Grille, 173 Water St., from 7 to 10 a.m. The Rebels and Rods Hot Rod Club gathers Sunday mornings through Nov. 8, weather permitting, drawing car enthusiasts to the Plymouth waterfront. For more information, visit seeplymouth.com.
King Richard’s Faire continues from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Edaville Entertainment, 7 Eda Ave., Carver, with jousting, live music and comedy, acrobatics, artisans, food and plenty of Renaissance revelry. The Faire runs weekends through Oct. 25. For tickets and more information, visit kingrichardsfaire.net.
Pillory Pub, 72 Water St., will host Flydown from 4 to 7 p.m. The Plymouth waterfront performance is part of the band’s “Sunday Funday” series, featuring an afternoon of live music across from Plymouth Rock. For more information, visit flydownband.com.
Julia Marie Davis can be reached at julia@plymouthindependent.org.