Brown Bag Concert Series
The Brown Bag Concerts are produced by 90.5 WICN & Mechanics Hall.
Brown Bag Fall 2024 Concert Series
Wednesdays at Noon, November 13th, 20th, December 4th & 11th
Free Admission
Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester, MA, 01608; 508-752-5608
Broadcast live on WICN 90.5 FM and streaming at wicn.org
For over 35 years, Mechanics Hall and WICN have been proud to provide quality live performances free to the general public! Every concert begins at noon and ends promptly at 1:00 pm. Bring your own “brown bag” lunch, as Mechanics Hall will not be offering food or beverages at this time.
Brown Bag Concerts are broadcast on 90.5fm and stream live on wicn.org as they happen. All concerts are free and subject to change without notice.
Fall 2024 Schedule
Tomoko Iwamoto
November 13, 2024
Jazz violin and vocalist. Born and educated in Japan, Tomoko Iwamoto majored in electrical engineering at Keio University, but spent a lot of time playing jazz saxophone and singing in the R&B band. She graduated from college in 1988, and worked as an engineer in Tokyo for a year before moved to the U.S. to become a professional musician.
Fall 2024 Brown Bag Concert: Tomoko Iwamoto
Trío Búho
November 20, 2024
A Latin jazz group featuring pianist José Soto, bassist Greg Loughman, and percussionist Ricardo Guerra. Together, they have forged a new and distinctive voice, rooted both in the rhythms and songs from across Latin America and the improvisational approach of jazz. A unique and irresistible blend, rhythmically infectious, melodically appealing, and peppered with exciting and surprising complexities. Costa Rican pianist José Soto has performed internationally with artists including Luciana Souza, Chico Pinheiro, Danilo Perez, and Cheo Feliciano. Bassist Greg Loughman has performed with artists including Jerry Bergonzi, Mark Murphy, the Rhythm Future Quartet, and Danilo Perez. Cuban-American percussionist Ricardo Guerra has studied with Lazaro “Tato” Alfonso (Irakere), teaches at Belongó Afro Latin Jazz Alliance of NY, and has performed with such varied artists as George Cables, Billy Wylder, and the Boston Lyric Opera.
Fall 2024 Brown Bag Concert: Trío Búho
Myanna
December 4, 2024
Contemporary Soul/Jazz. One of the hottest and most soulful saxophonists to be based in Massachusetts, Myanna plays music that mixes together jazz improvisation with funky rhythms, expressive playing and catchy tunes. Her music, whether it is an original or a cover tune, is colorful and infectious, and she is a consistent crowd pleaser.
Fall 2024 Brown Bag Concert: Myanna
U.S. Navy Band Northeast with New England Conservatory Symphonic Winds and Chamber Singers
December 11, 2024
This annual holiday concert serves up the spirit of the season in a big way. Navy Band Northeast, a 35-musician ensemble based on board NAVSTA Newport and one of 11 official U.S. Navy bands worldwide, team with the NEC Symphonic Winds directed by Bill Drury and NEC Chamber Singers directed by Erica Washburn.
Brown Bag Concert Series Sponsors
BROWN BAG ARCHIVE
WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) has recognized the historical significance of the 30+ years of the Brown Bag Concert Series. WPI has documented the series history in its Jazz History Database. The database includes information from 1989 – 2008.
“Studio 3”, a half-hour music and interview television program featuring some of the best jazz groups in New England and beyond, was taped between 1993 and 2000 before live audiences in the studios of WGMC-TV3 or on location, including Brown Bag concerts at Mechanics Hall. All shows were produced and hosted by jazz vocalist Toni Ballard, with production support from Greater Media Cable, and aired from 1993 to 2003 on WGMC-TV3. The WPI Jazz History Database includes Studio 3 videos.
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2024
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2023
Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2022
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2022
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2020
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2019
Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2018
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2018
Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2017
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2017
Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2016
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2016
Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2015
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2015
Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2014
Brown Bag Concert Series: Spring 2014
Brown Bag Concert Series: Fall 2013
Brown Bag Concert Series: Spring 2013
Brown Bag Concert Series: Fall 2012
Brown Bag Concert Series: Spring 2012