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.
Tiny Circulation Desk – Soirée Español
In this inaugural Tiny Circulation Desk concert at Mechanics’ Hall, the Soirée Español ensemble—featuring Meghan Habibzai, Behzad Habibzai, Scott Wheatley, and flamenco dancer Lindsey Bourassa—presents an evening of Spanish song, poetry, and dance. The program features selections by celebrated Spanish composer Antón García Abril (1933–2021), whose lyrical Tres Nanas are set to poetry by Rafael Alberti of Spain’s “Generation of ’27.” Abril’s Dos Cantares de la Frontera, accompanied by flamenco dance, and additional works showcasing the collaboration between Abril and his daughter, poet Ara García Abril Ruiz, are also included. The concert continues with world premieres of original compositions inspired by Miyazaki films and the poetry of Emily Dickinson, including Heart, We Will Forget Him, and Hope Is the Thing with Feathers. The evening concludes with Spanish and Cuban-influenced works and a special duet with Dr. Melinda Haslett, Chair of Vocal Studies at USM. This performance celebrates the intersections of music, poetry, and movement, bridging Spanish traditions, contemporary creativity, and timeless words of hope.