If the thought of hearing Coldplay’s music performed by a string trio bathed in the warm glow of hundreds of LED candles sounds like a rather nice way to spend a cold January night, then you might want to attend “A Coldplay Candlelight Experience” on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Second Congregational Church, 16 Court Square in Greenfield. Lumos Experiences, a U.K.-based organization, is presenting this show and there will be two performances, an early show at 6 p.m. followed by an 8 p.m. show.
Tribute bands are popular both here and elsewhere, and these candlelight concerts offer a fresh and unique take with their classical music interpretations of popular music, both past and present.
The idea behind these shows is to present arrangements of pop, rock and even movie soundtracks played in a format that is usually employed for classical music. And these shows strive to go beyond the usual concert experience, where the emphasis is simply on listening to the music being performed.
These concerts are about creating an experience where, through the use of candles, the concertgoer is immersed in an atmosphere of calm and beauty. In addition, Lumos Experiences strives to present these concerts in beautiful settings, such as old churches and museums.
According to Lumos Experiences, “every venue we choose is handpicked for its character, charm and atmosphere.” The Second Congregational Church in Greenfield certainly meets that criteria.
Candlelight concerts aren’t new, but we started to see an increase in these events around 2019. At that time, the focus of these shows was on classical music.
Groups like Lumos Experiences and Fever, two of the largest organizations presenting these shows across the country, continue to host events centered on classical music. But about three years ago they began emphasizing shows that feature the music of a variety of popular artists, ranging from Queen to Beyoncé. That is when candlelight concerts really started taking off. Concertgoers responded to the unique quality of these shows, hearing instrumental performances of the music they loved and enjoying the elegant setting.
This past year, we saw an increase in candlelight concerts being held in western Massachusetts with shows taking place in Amherst and Springfield. They have more scheduled in 2026, including a Taylor Swift tribute in Springfield on Feb. 13 and one featuring ‘90s music happening in Amherst on the same date.
As we mentioned, the show in Greenfield this weekend will focus on classical interpretations of the music of Coldplay, the popular British pop group led by Chris Martin. The group made headlines this past summer when a “kiss cam” video from the band’s July concert in Foxboro, showing a panicked couple who did not want to be on camera, went viral.
Coldplay also had the highest grossing tour of the year in 2025, as fans flocked to stadiums to hear hits like “Clocks,” “Yellow,” and “Viva La Vida.” You can expect to hear these songs and more at this show, which is expected to run for about an hour.
A few things to keep in mind: tickets are sold at various rates ($25-$70) and can only be purchased online at Lumos-experience.com. That’s right, there will be no ticket sales at the door. They also restrict the age for admission to ages 8 and older.
Doors open for the 6 p.m. performance at 5:15 p.m., and doors open for the 8 p.m. performance at 7:30 p.m.
While the Lumos Experiences shows put a unique twist on tribute shows, there are plenty of the more traditional tribute acts coming to our area in 2026. The Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls has already announced a few such shows scheduled for 2026 such as “Something Wonderful Tonight: The Music of George Harrison and Eric Clapton” on Friday, Jan. 23 and “A Farewell to Kings: A Rush Tribute” on Jan. 24. In the early spring, look for “High Noon: A Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute” on Friday, March 27 and the return of the Phish tribute group Reprise on Thursday, April 2. These shows are all-ages and the start time is 8 p.m. Tickets are available at sheatheater.org or by calling 413-648-7432.
Stage on Main Petit Concerts in Orange return
The Petit Concerts, a free monthly concert series at the First Universalist Church in Orange, will return on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. after wrapping up their fall season in November. The Terry, Matt and Ann trio will kick off the series, which is presented by Stage on Main and sponsored by the Orange Revitalization Partnership and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
The group features Terry Reed on banjo and harmonica, his wife Ann Reed on drums and percussion, both from Orange, and Matt Hickler of Royalston on bass. All three members share vocal duties.
Describing their music as “rhythmic renditions of early American blues and roots music,” the trio has shared musical stages together for 35 years, starting back in the days of the old Warwick Inn Tavern where Hickler’s jug band style and the Reeds’ roots rhythms first came together. They don’t perform often (their last show was this past summer), so be sure to catch them this time.
The remainder of the series will feature:
- Feb. 15: Melanie Blackbird: originals, jazz standards, blues, pop from the 1960s onward.
- March 8: Moonlight and Morning Star: interpretations of jazz standards, R&B classics, originals and spoken word collaborations.
- April 12: Myra MacCloud: classical and folk music performed on the violin/fiddle.
- May 3: Susan Hollins: Classical piano music by Jewish musicians and composers. Please note that this show will be held at the Ruth B. Smith Auditorium, Orange Town Hall, 6 Prospect St. in Orange.
All shows are free, but donations are appreciated.
Little House Blues to perform at Incandescent Brewing
Little House Blues will bring down the house when they play at Incandescent Brewing Company in Bernardston on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 6 p.m. The band, which features Bill Blatner on vocals and harmonica, Matt Haenlin on guitar, Nina Rossi on bass, and Ben Sears on drums, plays a mix of old blues favorites with their own originals. The band released its self-titled debut CD in November, and they describe their style as “Chicago Blues, jump and swing, and early rock n’ roll.” Be prepared to make room on the dance floor when Little House Blues takes the stage!
For more information, visit Littlehouseblues.com.
Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.