Arts Alive 2026 will take place Friday, June 12, through Sunday, June 14, on the Falmouth Library Lawn, Shore Street Extension, and Peg Noonan Park. We are expecting to have approximately 40 performances and more than 70 artisan and food vendors, as well as art activities for children and adults, and an array of community organizations offering information on their services activities.
We welcome professional and amateur performers from Falmouth and the Cape Cod are: musicians, dancers, actors, storytellers, comedians, and more.
Artisan and Food Vendors will be on Shore Street Extension and in Peg Noonan Park Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM , and Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM.
Community Organizations will be on the Library Lawn Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM. Click here for more information.
Art Tent activities will take place on the Falmouth Library Lawn on Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM. We are currently seeking artists, musicians, and other to lead these activities. Click here for more information.
Volunteers are needed! Even an hour or two helps so much. Please let us know your availability by filling out the Volunteer Form here.
For information on past Arts Alive Festivals, please visit our Archives page.
Performance Schedule (subject to change)
Arts Alive performances take place under two tents on the Falmouth Library Lawn and under one tent in Peg Noonan Park. Click on the links below to see performers on each day at each location.
Friday, June 12: Performance Tent
5 to 6 PM: Dawna Hammers
Songwriter, recording artist, and song leader Dawna Hammers kicks off the festival with a variety of her catchy, original, folk, soft rock, & blues songs. Her “Music for the Heart & Soul” spiritually ad physically moves people of all ages with inspiration and joy!
6 to 7 PM: Tish Adams and Paul McWilliams
Jazz vocalist Tish Adams and pianist Paul McWilliams present a vibrant selection of songs: elegant torch songs, high-energy swing, and rip-roarin’ blues.
7 to 9 PM: Town Dance with Cape Cod Moonlighters Big Band
The Moonlighters is a classic Big Band in the image of Glenn Miller playing iconic tunes for dancers and listeners of all ages. Arrangements cover all of the 20th century to the present.
Saturday, June 13, Performance Tent
10 to 11 AM: The Familiars of Cape Cod
The Familiars play acoustic Americana music with Manny Dias on guitar and vocals, Linda Dias on violin, mandolin, and vocals, Frank Carotenuto on guitar, and vocals, and Bob Nelson on bass.
11:15 AM to 12:15 PM: Turning Point Dance Studio
Turning Pointe Dance Studio dancers will perform an exciting array of classical and contemporary choreography.
12:30 to 1:30 PM: Shining Sea Strummers
The Shining Sea Strummers, led by Kathy Johnson, are a multifarious group meeting weekly for past 7 years, singing and playing ukuleles, guitars, bandurria, flute, and varied percussion instruments. The group has 45 members from Falmouth, Sandwich, Mashpee, Cotuit, Pocasset, Carver, Yarmouth, Bourne, and Plymouth. They play and sing a mix of popular sing-a-long songs: Old Cape Cod, Charlie on the MTA, At the Hop, Eight Days a Week, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, and many more. The strummers meet every Tuesday year round at the West Falmouth United Methodist Church from 2:30-4:00 PM. Ukulele players of all skill levels are welcome.
1:45 to 2:45 PM: Falmouth Theatre Guild
Falmouth Theatre Guild will present Show Tunes from past and upcoming shows.
3 to 4 PM: Falmouth High School Jazz Band
The award-winning Falmouth High School Jazz Band performs selections from a wide variety of jazz artists. Ranging from Mingus, McBride, and Basie, and many more.
4:15 to 5:15 PM: Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance is a jazz quintet specializing in Afro-Cuban Jazz and mainstream jazz. Members include Olivia Yingling on vocals, Bill McManus on alto sax, Greg Polanik on electric guitar, Cliff Letsche on electric bass, and Sam Holmstock on percussion.
5:30 to 6:30 PM: Wayside Sound
Wayside Sound is a Boston-based Americana-blues band, composed of members Taylor Gonsalves (a Falmouth native) and Jack Dudek on guitar. The group reimagines roots music in an organic and inviting way. With poignant storytelling, energetic guitar solos, and captivating vocals, Wayside Sound cultivates a homegrown and memorable sound.
7 to 9 PM: Saturday Night Dance with Paradise Rock
Founded in 1982, The Paradise Rock Band features lead singer Craigo Carlson, with Chesna Mandl on vocals, Luka Capitovic on guitar, Alex Lane on drums, Brendan Sullivan on bass, Dickie Nolan and Eric Hayden on keyboards, and Alec Zueli on saxophone. Craigo describes Paradise Rock as “the most epic band ever!” With over 100 original songs and an extensive classic rock cover set list, it’s always a dancing good time.
Saturday, June 13, Music Tent
10 to 11 AM: Falmouth Chamber Players
Members of the Falmouth Chamber Players will be performing several works for a chamber ensemble of strings with keyboard, flute, and clarinet, including Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, Handel’s Entrance of the Queen of Sheba, Vivaldi’s L’estro armonico Op.3 No.7, and more!
11:15 AM to 12:15 PM: North River Brass Quintet
The North River Brass Quintet is a chamber group of brass musicians from the Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra and feature orchestral and contemporary styles of music from all genres. They have been featured in many venues and are delighted to share their music with the community for all to enjoy.
12:30 to 1:30 PM: The ZYG 808
The ZYG 808 is a dynamic, genre-crossing live performer rooted first and foremost in underground boom bap hip-hop, while moving fluidly through alternative rock and punk spaces with equal authority. Describing his sound as Rock-Hop, ZYG’s performances bridge scenes that don’t often share the same stage, yet respond to the same raw energy, rhythm, and honesty.
A fixture at local and regional festivals across these genres, ZYG has earned a reputation for live shows that are immersive, physical, and unmistakably his own. He is a singer, rapper, drummer, vibraphonist, and keyboardist who builds his performances from scratch, constructing beats live rather than relying on pre-made samples. His sets blend live percussion, melodic instrumentation, and vocals into performances that feel closer to a band in motion than a traditional solo hip-hop act.
1:45 to 2:45 PM: Joe Mongelli Trio
The Joe Mongelli Trio offers intimate jazz featuring unique arrangements of American Song Book and jazz classics. The trio features Joe Mongelli on trumpet, flugelhorn and cornet; Gary Gross on guitar, and Rick Cain on bass.
3 to 4 PM: Sonnay Fiddlers
The Sonnay Fiddlers are students of all ages who study with fiddle teacher, Nikki Engstrom. Students range in age from 4 to 70-ish. The focus is on Celtic fiddle style.
4:15 to 5:15 PM: Flat Rabbit
Flat Rabbit is a four-piece band located on Cape Cod, specializing in the music of songwriter Bob Dugan. Their sound has the feel of blues, rock, jazz, reggae, Latin, country, and swing creating an enjoyable and easy to dance to experience. Featuring guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums, Flat Rabbit is unique and pleasing to the ear.
5:30 to 6:30 PM: BSIDE
.BSIDE delights audiences with their pleasing “Coastal Country” sounds popular on Cape Cod. It’s little bit country, a little bit rock & roll with some blues and folk blended in. If you like Tom Petty, Bruce & Grateful Dead, you’re going to love BSIDE.
Saturday, June 13, Peg Noonan Park
12:30 to 1:30 PM: Theresa Inman
Theresa Inman is a singer/songwriter who plays acoustic guitar. Many of her songs are in the style of Carly Simon, Beatles, James Taylor, and Cat Stevens and she also sings her originals. She has performed and sung throughout the United States in all types of venues.
1:30 to 2:30: Brynne Santos
Brynne Santos is a singer/songwriter and harpist. Her music includes a variety of styles, including folk, traditional Celtic, medieval/renaissance, rock/metal, and more.
2:30 to 3:30: Richard Keith
Richard Keith is a singer and a songwriter living in Eastham. He has been playing, writing, and recording original music for 40 years and has two full albums, one EP, and a few singles, all available on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music and many other popular streaming services.
3:30 to 4:30: Maureen Burke
Maureen Burke sings and plays guitar. She performs her own original music, as well as interpretations of standards, pop songs, show tunes, and Celtic, and traditional folk songs. Her guitar style is a unique blend drawn from such various influences as folk, fingerpicking styles, blues and light jazz.
Sunday, June 14, Performance Tent
11 AM to 12 PM: College Light Opera Company
Twenty-four members of the College Light Opera Company (CLOC) 2026 vocal company present musical theater selections from the upcoming summer season,
12:15 to 1:15 PM: Falmouth Fiddlers
The Falmouth Fiddlers have played fiddle tunes and other acoustic music around Falmouth MA since 1998. We welcome everyone to play and promote traditional music on acoustic instruments including fiddles, banjos, bass, bodhran, cello, guitars, mandolins, and whistles.
1:30 to 2:30 PM: Puffy Elvis
Puffy Elvis, led by Tom Messer, is an energetic band made up of teachers and former teachers playing old and new hits of the 60s through today
2:45 to 3:45 PM: Back in Time
Back In Time is a five-member oldies cover band that is all about singing along, dancing and having fun. We feature Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eagles, Creedence, Jimmy Buffett, Motown and many well-known artists and one-hit wonders from the 60’s and 70’s . Back In Time consists or Curt Bakal (guitars and vocals), Steve Cortis (guitars and vocal), Andy Hamilton (guitars and vocals), Dave Margaretos (bass, keyboards, tenor sax and vocals) and Manny Rosado (drums and vocals).
4 to 5 PM: Dan Lawson Band
The Dan Lawson Band is led by one of America’s premier guitar players. Dan Lawson’s style has evolved into a charismatic blues-rock sound with jazz and funk influences. Lawson is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer with a stylistic depth and emotional resonance, His album, Soldiers of Fortune, was named Album of the Year at the Limelight Magazine Music Awards.
Members include Dan Lawson on vocals and guitar, Lori Lawson on vocals and percussion, James Sanborn on vocals and bass guitar, and Richie Grace on vocals and drums.
Sunday, June 14, Music Tent
11 AM to Noon: Craigo Carlson Acoustic
Since 1968, Craigo has been writing songs about the people, places, and happenings of Woods Hole and surrounding areas. He will also share stories of how it all came about.
12:15 to 1:15: UBYOU
Led by Jeff Brown, UBYOU is a three- or four-piece rock and roll band playing mostly original songs.
1:30 to 2:30: Cat’s Melodeon
Cat’s Melodeon, led by Bill Black, specializes in authentic Irish traditional music: the “pure drop” as it is known in Ireland, and includes guitars, pipes, banjo, flute, and fiddles
2:45 to 3:45 PM: Kim Moberg
Kim Moberg is an award-winning singer/songwriter and self-taught, fingerpick style guitarist. Her passionate and heartfelt vocals mesmerize listeners, while her compositions tug at feelings of melancholy, heartbreak, healing and social consciousness.
4 to 5 PM: Audiofossil
Audiofossil is a classic rock cover band based in the Upper Cape. Our motto is: “Old music played by old people. Accept no substitutes!” Marty and Katherine Joyce are Cape residents, living in Bourne. Katherine is lead vocalist (and occasional bassist), and Marty plays guitar and sings. Joe West, a part-time Cape resident, plays drums and sings. Bob Trejo plays bass (and occasional keyboards) and sings. We are old enough to know better … and young enough not to care.
Sunday, June 14, Peg Noonan Park
12:30 to 1:30 PM: Neil Ganju
Neil Ganju plays solo acoustic guitar and will be performing original music inspired by everything from cracks in the road to cracks in the universe. The duo Subsequently Scylla, Emiliana Pachano and Bela Ganju, will open with modern cover songs.
1:30 to 2:30 PM: Michael Shea
Michael Shea performs classic, contemporary, and original country music. His repertoire includes songs from Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash to Allison Moorer John Prine and Lori McKenna.
2:30 to 3:30 PM: Happenstance
Happenstance is a Falmouth-based musical group that came together by … happenstance. Its core members are Kim Bilderback (guitar,) Frank Carotenuto (vocals and guitar,) Pete Russell (vocals and harmonica) and Rusty Strange (dobro.) The Happenstance sound features an easy groove, a natural blend of sounds, tight musicality and distinctive interpretations. The band members’ diverse backgrounds and musical styles bring rock, country, blues, jazz and folk influences together into a soulful and interactive whole. Plus – they have fun, laugh easily and enjoy each other’s company.
Thank you to our Generous Sponsors and Donors!
We gratefully thank our sponsors and donors who make Arts Alive and our other events possible, as well as the Town of Falmouth and the Falmouth Public Library for providing the use of public space for the event, the ArtsFalmouth, Inc. Board Members who work tirelessly throughout the year to organize our events, and the volunteers who help out. Thanks, also, to our many attendees, who support our vendors and performers!
Our generous sponsors include the Falmouth Cultural Council, the Mass Cultural Council, the Woods Hole Foundation, the Falmouth Fund of the Cape Cod Foundation, the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, and the South Shore Playhouse Associates, as well as donations from individuals and businesses and support from Falmouth Community Television, the Falmouth Enterprise, and the Falmouth Art Center. We greatly appreciate this community support.
