As of July 24–25, 2025, the Northeast saw a vibrant return of live community entertainment, with landmark cultural venues showcasing a roster of headline performances. From classical music at Tanglewood to summer residency concerts and comedy at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), regional stages have come alive again in full force.
At Tanglewood in the Berkshires, the Boston Symphony Orchestra launched its 2025 summer season under the baton of Music Director Andris Nelsons, blending new commissions with classical favourites. The highlight came as Emanuel Ax premiered John Williams’s long‑awaited Piano Concerto on July 26, followed on July 27 by celebrated pianist Lang Lang performing Saint‑Saëns’s Piano Concerto No. 2. The program also featured orchestral selections by Gabriela Ortiz and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”), enriching Tanglewood’s historic tradition as a premier summer music destination.
This season, Tanglewood presents more than 100 concerts across venues like the Koussevitzky Music Shed and Ozawa Hall, including performances by the Boston Pops, the Tanglewood Music Center Fellows, and popular artists such as James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt. The season began in late June and runs through August, with tickets first released on March 6.
Meanwhile, at SPAC in Saratoga Springs, a three-night Phish residency began on July 25, marking the culmination of the band’s 23-date summer tour. What began in Manchester, New Hampshire in late June closes in upstate New York with performances on July 25–27. The band, which has performed at SPAC frequently since 1992, returns for its signature improvisational rock sets.
Phish’s run comes alongside major comedy events: on July 24, Jerry Seinfeld performed an open‑air stand‑up set at SPAC, drawing fans with his trademark observational humor. On July 24 as well, Sandra Bernhard appeared at the nearby Bearsville Theater. These appearances reflect a broader programming mix across the region—comedy, live music, and family-friendly offerings.
Concertgoers and families can also enjoy performances by folk legends, alternative bands, and jazz artists including Goo Goo Dolls, Emmylou Harris, and Dashboard Confessional. Theater productions are running across venues like the Adirondack Theatre Festival, Home Made Theater, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. Free family programs include outdoor screenings of “Brave” and “Dog Man,” local county fairs, and dance presentations from companies representing Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Norway, and more.
Together, these events underscore a resurgent season for live performance in the Northeast—an energized mix of classical prestige at Tanglewood and popular, accessible culture across SPAC and surrounding venues. This revival reaffirms the region’s commitment to fostering communal artistic experiences for audiences of all ages and interests.
The continued collaboration of world-renowned orchestral, jazz, folk, and comedy figures—from Lang Lang and Emanuel Ax to Jerry Seinfeld and Phish—demonstrates a broad-based demand for cultural engagement that this summer is happily meeting.
