Natalie Merchant Announces Intimate Fall Tour with Dates in Hudson and Great Barrington
Merchant will grace the stages of the Mahaiwe and Hudson Hall.
Folk-rock icon Natalie Merchant is hitting the road this fall—but not straying far from home. The longtime Hudson Valley resident and former 10,000 Maniacs frontwoman has announced an East Coast acoustic duo tour with longtime collaborator Erik Della Penna. The stripped-down set-up will spotlight Merchant’s literary lyricism and quietly commanding voice across a series of intimate venues—including two in our neck of the woods: the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington (November 1) and Hudson Hall (November 15).
Merchant began her musical career in 1981 with 10,000 Maniacs, the jangly college rock outfit whose blend of pop smarts and social conscience helped define the late '80s alt scene. She left the band in 1993 and struck gold—literally and figuratively—with her solo debut Tigerlily, which yielded hits like “Wonder” and “Carnival” and has since become a folk-pop classic. She’s released nine solo albums since, exploring themes from motherhood to mortality, often through projects that blur the lines between songwriting, folklore, and activism.
Known for her philanthropic work as much as her music, Merchant has served on the New York State Council on the Arts and was appointed to the board of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. In 2025, she became the National Head Start Association’s artist-in-residence.
While her music has grown quieter and more contemplative over the years, Merchant’s focus on storytelling and justice has remained constant. These fall performances—intimate, acoustic, and deeply personal—promise to be less a greatest hits revue than a conversation between an artist and the place she calls home. NB: These shows will sell out, so gather ye tix while ye may.
