Join us for a tender, soul-stirring, and luminous concert in the intimate Mechanics’ Hall library Suzie Assam is a Maine-based vocalist and songwriter who has spent the last two decades crafting and performing original music across central and southern Maine. Her work blends folk intimacy with modern soul, carried by a warm, expressive voice and a gift for deeply personal, lived-in storytelling: in the vein of Olivia Dean and Lizzy McAlpine. Her early influences include artists like Jeff Buckley, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and Nina Simone. This performance features a collection of unreleased songs (her “letters home”) written over the years for and about herself, her family, and the people she loves. Rooted in reflection and emotional honesty, these songs explore the tension between joy and grief, darkness and light, holding space for more than one truth at a time. Joining Suzie are Sam Smith (percussion) and Nick Santos (bass), helping bring depth and movement to an intimate, heart-centered set.
Tiny Circulation Desk – 106 – June 2026
Join Mechanics’ Hall for a night of lively music in our historic library. Choro Louco performs the enormously appealing Brazilian music genre known as choro. The band was formed in 2013 by a group of accomplished musicians who have all established themselves as virtuosos in other genres – ranging from classical music and jazz, to Celtic, klezmer, and Middle Eastern music. They love sharing their enthusiasm for this wonderful music genre. The band members are Carl Dimow (guitar, flute, bass flute), Nicole Rabata (flute), David Newsam (7-string guitar, mandolin) and Eric LaPerna (pandeiro, bongos). Choro originated in Brazil in the early 20th century. Its beautiful melodies, complex harmonies, and syncopated rhythms combine elements from many styles of music: European folk and classical; ragtime; jazz; Latin; and African music – creating a mix that is uniquely Brazilian and has wide appeal. Choro is experiencing a resurgence of popularity, both in Brazil and with bands throughout the world.
Tiny Circulation Desk – Katherine Perkins – April 2026
Tiny Circulation Desk – Avant Garde Noise – October 2025
Mechanics' Hall is joined by a whole group of experimental, abrasive musical artists for this latest Tiny Circulation Desk, including modulator and instrumentalist Nick Lawler, pianist and experimental songwriter Aaron Haines, and the avant garde performance artists The Asthmatic and Id M Theft Able.
Tiny Circulation Desk – Evan Pillsbury & The Magpie Duo – September 22nd 2025
Join the Magpie Duo (Lauren Conroy, violin & Matthew Schultheis), for a program of new and old music that steps outside the familiar classical sound world. This program is an electro-acoustic meditation, featuring analog synthesizer and a wide-ranging selection of repertoire, from violin duos by the Baroque composer Georg Philipp Telemann to meditative suites by American avant-gardist John Cage and more. They will be splitting the bill with local cellist Evan Pillsbury.