Maudslay Arts Center (MAC) will present Ken Clark Organ Trio on Saturday evening and as a special event concert folk/blues singer, guitarist, songwriter, and Oscar winner Chris Smither on Sunday afternoon.
“Summer is just a brief season here in New England,” MAC Director Nicholas C. Costello said, “so come out and enjoy wonderful music at affordable prices in a spectacular natural setting.”
Saturday evening at 7 p.m. come hear the Ken Clark Organ Trio (KCOT), which has been performing around New England and the eastern U.S. for the past 32 years.
“Organist Ken Clark, guitarist Mike Mele, and drummer Steve Chaggaris lean on the beat, they build dynamic climaxes sprinkle in jazz solos and deliver the goods,” wrote Owen Cordle in Jazz Times. “Clark controls the B3 like a master: hip bass lines, sizzling chordal washes, feel-good riffs, funky blues lines and syncopated accents figure in the mix.
“The groove, the sonic power of the organ and a soulful message are a forceful combination for reaching the people, all the way from the church to the dance floor. Can’t beat the feeling.”
Come back on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the MAC season special event concert Chris Smither. Smither grew up in New Orleans where he first started playing music as a child. His music draws deeply from the blues, American folk music, and modern poets and philosophers.
In his early twenties, Smither headed to Boston where he forged lifelong friendships with many musicians, including Bonnie Raitt, who went on to record his songs, “Love You Like a Man” and “I Feel the Same. Their friendship has endured as their career paths intertwined over the years.
What quickly evolved from his New Orleans and Cambridge musical experiences is his enduring beat-driven fingerpicking guitar sound.
“Wise words pour forth from Chris Smither – observations and aphorisms, similes and internal rhymes, run-on sentences and concise quips, all in a conversational flow. The careful construction of Smither’s lyrics is a thing of beauty and the bedrock of his bluesy folk music,” wrote The Associated Press. “Smither is an excellent acoustic guitarist and first-rate foot-stomper.”
He won an Oscar in 2026, when he made his acting debut in the independent film “The Singers,” which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short.
Saturday concerts begin at 7 p.m. including Ken Clark Organ Trio on Aug 1 and Breakin’ Strings on Aug. 8. Sunday afternoon performances begin at 2 p.m. including Chris Smither on Aug. 2, The Mystix Unplugged with Danielle Miraglia on Aug. 9, and Alex Lee-Clark and The 8tet on Aug. 16.
Saturday performances start at 7 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m. Patio seating (tables and chairs) is $40 while lawn seating (bring your own chairs or blankets) is $35. Children 12 and under are free.
Sunday performances start at 2 p.m. with gates opening at 1 p.m. General admission is $30 with open seating on the patio and lawn. Tables and chairs are provided on the patio. Special group rates may be arranged by calling (978) 388-2552. Children 12 and under are free.
The Chris Smither Concert on Sunday, Aug. 2, is a special event. General admission is $45. The first 100 tickets sold are guaranteed seats in the performance hall in case of rain.
For the complete summer schedule, to purchase tickets online, or for further information about the performers, visit the MAC website at www.maudslayartscenter.org in mid-June. Tickets also may be purchased at the gate (check, cash or Venmo only) or by calling (978) 388-2552. There is no reserved seating, but large groups will be accommodated with advance notice. Gift certificates also are available. MAC participates in the MCC Card to Culture Program.
The series is operated and supported by dedicated volunteers, private donors, ticket sales and rentals, and the staff of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Saturday evening concerts are supported by The Newburyport Bank. Sunday afternoon concerts are supported by Smith, Costello & Crawford.