FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Great Barrington, Mass.—The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center has added two new concerts to its year-round programming: singer-songwriter Ben Folds on June 5 and blues guitarist Tab Benoit on July 12.
The Mahaiwe will also present stand-up comic Adam Mamawala on March 14, as part of its ongoing comedy series at the newly opened Indigo Room next door.
Ben Folds & A Piano Tour
The Mahaiwe will present singer-songwriter Ben Folds on Friday, June 5 at 8 p.m.
Ben Folds is an Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter who has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, a holiday album, and numerous collaborative records.
He currently tours as a pop artist, while also performing for over two decades with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras.
Folds, who served for eight years as the first ever Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., stepped down from his post when Donald Trump announced his takeover of the Center. On October 25 and 26, 2024, just days before the U.S. presidential election, Folds recorded two sold out performances with the NSO, which he released as a live album in July. The recording debuted at the top of the Billboard classical and classical crossover charts.
A New York Times Best Selling author, Ben also creates new music for film, tv and theatre, with original new music he composed to be featured in an animated Peanuts special airing this summer on Apple TV.
In 2022, he launched a music education charitable initiative in his native state of North Carolina entitled “Keys For Kids,” which provides funds and keyboards to existing nonprofits that offer free or affordable piano lessons to school-age children from economically-disadvantaged households. For the past 15 years he has been an outspoken advocate for arts funding, music education and music therapy in the U.S. as a member of Americans For The Arts and the Arts Action Fund.
Tickets are $65 to $120, with discounts for Mahaiwe Members and individuals ages 30 and under. One dollar from each sale will be donated to Folds’ Keys For Kids organization.
This performance will mark Folds’ second at the Mahaiwe, having appeared before in 2024.
Tab Benoit: Soul of the Swamp Tour
The Mahaiwe will present blues guitarist Tab Benoit on Sunday, July 12 at 8 p.m.
Join for an exhilarating evening as the legendary multi-Grammy nominee and wetlands activist Tab Benoit brings his high-energy Soul of the Swamp Tour 2026 to the Mahaiwe. Known for his passionate performances and deep-rooted connection to the swamp, Tab Benoit is a true master of his craft, boasting over 20 releases that showcase his unique artistry.
With iconic radio hits like “Nice and Warm” and “Cross the Line” from his ‘90s recordings, critics have often compared Benoit’s voice to Otis Redding’s, while his guitar playing is celebrated for its originality and distinctive style. In 2024, he made a triumphant return with his first recording in 13 years, I Hear Thunder, signaling that his best work is yet to come.
On the Soul of the Swamp Tour, Benoit will take you on a musical journey, performing songs from his vast catalog and digging deep into the rich tones and storytelling lyrics that have made him an admired figure in the music world. True to his authentic style, Benoit performs without effects – just a guitar, a cord, and an amp – allowing the magic of his music to shine through his hands, fingers, and his band.
Blues rock act Sgt. Splendor will open for Benoit.
Tickets are $35 to $55 with discounts for Mahaiwe Members and individuals ages 30 and under.
Indigo Comedy Night with Adam Mamawala
The Mahaiwe will present stand-up comic Adam Mamawala at the Indigo Room on Saturday, March 14 at 8 p.m., as part of the new venue’s ongoing comedy series.
Adam Mamawala is a nationally touring stand-up comedian based out of New York City. He has appeared on Comedy Central, MTV, BET, Amazon Prime and SiriusXM, and both of his comedy albums, Statistically More Relatable (2022) and One of the Good Ones (2017) debuted at number one on the iTunes Comedy Charts. Since 2024, Mamawala has toured as Dane Cook’s feature act, performing at iconic venues including The Fillmore in Detroit, The Met in Philadelphia and New York City’s Beacon Theatre. In 2025 he featured for Jon Stewart at the prestigious Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in Jamestown, N.Y., and was selected as one of Forbes’ 12 Rising AAPI Stand-Up Comedians to Watch.
Indigo Comedy Night shows are hosted by Thomas Attila Lewis and feature supporting comedians before the headliner. This performance is for ages 18 and up.
Indigo Comedy Night shows are sponsored by Fairfield Inn by Mariott.
Tickets are $25 general admission, café table seating.
Tickets
Tickets to Ben Folds go on sale to Mahaiwe Members on Wednesday, January 28 at noon. Member pre-sale ends on Thursday, January 29 at 10 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, January 30 at 10 a.m. online and via the Box Office at noon.
Tickets to Tab Benoit go on sale to Mahaiwe Members on Wednesday, January 28 at noon, and to the public on Friday, January 30 at noon.
Tickets to Indigo Comedy Night with Adam Mamawala go on sale on Friday, January 30 at noon.
Tickets can be purchased online at mahaiwe.org, or by calling or visiting the Box Office, 413-528-0100, on Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
To learn more about Mahaiwe Membership, contact Brenna Hull at 413-644-9040 x107 or brenna@mahaiwe.org, or visit mahaiwe.org/membership.
Individuals ages 30 and under are eligible for $15 youth tickets for live Mahaiwe Presents events on the mainstage. Visit or call the Box Office to redeem this offer.
About the Mahaiwe
Located in downtown Great Barrington, Mass., the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is the year-round presenter of world-class music, dance, theater, classic films, Live in HD broadcasts, and arts education programs for the southern Berkshires and neighboring regions. The intimate jewel box of a theater opened in 1905. Since 2005, the performing arts center has hosted over 2,500 events and welcomed over 600,000 people through its doors. More than 28,000 students from 77 different schools have benefited from the Mahaiwe’s school-time performances and residencies. In 2025, the Mahaiwe opened a second performance venue, the Indigo Room. For more information, see mahaiwe.org.
About the Indigo Room
The Indigo Room is a flexible performance venue in the former Great Barrington firehouse building at 20 Castle Street, next door to the historic Mahaiwe theater. Audience capacity ranges between 75 and 150 based on the floor plan for a given performance. Concessions include beer, wine, soft drinks, hot beverages and snacks.
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