Listen Live
KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) On last Saturday’s My Keene Now & Next radio show (April 26) on WKBK, Eric Gagne, director of Nova Arts, joined the broadcast to share a preview of the upcoming Thing in the Spring festival, returning to downtown Keene from May 16 to 18. Now in its 17th year, the festival will once again bring an eclectic mix of music, art, and community-driven events to the city, continuing its mission to spotlight independent, boundary-pushing artists and foster immersive experiences that go beyond the passive consumption of streaming playlists.
Organized by Nova Arts in partnership with Arts Alive and the Colonial Performing Arts Center, the festival continues its mission to provide a stage for independent, boundary-pushing artists while fostering immersive experiences that go beyond the passive consumption of streaming playlists.
Founded in Peterborough before relocating to Keene in recent years, The Thing in the Spring has grown from a local celebration into one of the region’s most anticipated cultural events. Gagne, the festival’s longtime curator, says the festival’s evolution reflects a deeper hunger for authentic, community-based artistic engagement.
“Having a place like Nova Arts is really important to me because it means that some avant-garde or lesser-known folks have a place to land and have an audience that’s open and willing to be there and listen,” Gagne said.
This year’s lineup showcases that commitment to diversity and experimentation. Among the headliners are saxophonist Josh Johnson—known for his work with Miley Cyrus and Red Hot Chili Peppers—experimental rock pioneer Roger Clark Miller of Mission of Burma, and indie icon Stephen Malkmus of Pavement fame. Also featured are the Argus Quartet, performing works by local composer Molly Herron, and Irish singer-songwriter Maria Somerville.
In addition to music, the festival offers a robust slate of literary and performance art events. Saturday begins with a morning session at Toadstool Bookshop, where journalist Liz Pelly will discuss her book, “Mood Music,” exploring Spotify’s disruptive impact on artists and listeners. A poetry program featuring John-Francis Quiñonez will follow. Later in the day, Big Nazo’s puppet and mask workshop will bring interactive art to life, culminating in a parade up Main Street led by the Undertow Brass Band.
Saturday evening, Malkmus takes the stage at the Colonial Theater, marking one of the festival’s marquee events, while late-night shows will spill over into Keene’s Kilkenny Pub, extending the festival’s energy well past midnight.
Sunday offers a rich blend of genres, including Chicago electroacoustic group Califone, and Amirtha Kidambi’s Elder Ones, blending Indian devotional music with free jazz activism. Folk fans can look forward to performances by Joan Shelley, Maryse Smith, Derek Sensale and Sam Moss.
Festival passes are priced at $100 for the weekend, with day passes available at $40—except for Saturday’s $60 ticket, which includes the Colonial Theater headliner (or ticket buyers can purchase a $40 ticket to the Stephen Malkmus show). Full details and tickets can be found at thethinginthespring.com.
As with past years, Gagne says the festival offers an antidote to the corporatization of music and the impersonal nature of algorithm-driven playlists. “You’re not experiencing it, you’re consuming it,” he notes, contrasting today’s streaming habits with the tangible, communal experience of live performance and physical media.
That ethos is reflected in the festival’s emphasis on vinyl, cassettes, and CDs, available for purchase alongside the performances. For Gagne and many attendees, it’s about reclaiming a deeper connection to music and art—one that’s rooted in place, memory, and shared human experience.
“If we don’t have that, if everything’s corporatized… that’s not a life that we want,” Gagne said.
Listen to the full interview: