David Longstreth of the Dirty Projectors
David Longstreth of the Dirty Projectors Credit: Courtesy photo—Credit: Jason Frank Rothenberg

Following another year of foraging, hunting and gathering, Eric Gagne and the Glass Museum have announced the music lineup for the Thing in the Sping festival, coming back to Peterborough June 5-9.

Each year, Gagne curates a lineup with a little something for everyone — big-name indie acts, obscure discoveries you’ve just got to hear, local acts making a name for themselves, and so on. 2019, the 12th annual Thing, is no exception.

There’s a story behind every act coming to town, the tale of the trail that leads them to Peterborough.

For example: When Gagne’s band, Footings, was touring with State Champion last year, the midwestern rockers’ van broke down, and Gagne found himself driving drummer Sal Cassato to the next show. Cassato put an album by the Roches in the stereo, and Gagne loved it.

“It blew my mind – that self-titled Roches album is unbelievable,” Gagne said.

So, he reached out and booked Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche for the 2019 festival, and here we are.

Noël Wells, formerly of Saturday Night Live and now a singer-songwriter, came at the recommendation of Gagne’s wife and festival co-founder Mary Goldthwaite-Gagne.

“If anybody I like says ‘I wish we could see this person in Peterborough,’ I will make an attempt,” Gagne said.

Other big names on the lineup include:

David Longstreth of the Dirty Projectors playing a solo set; “He’s a crazy guitar player and great songwriter and singer,” Gagne said.

Philadelphia psych rockers Bardo Pond; “They’ve been one of these bands that exist outside of the regular framework,” Gagne said. “They don’t seem to give a [expletive] about [promotion], they just put out record after record after record.”

Tyondai Braxton (formerly of Battles); Nadah El Shazly; Tashi Dorji; Ryley Walker; Joan Shelley; Jaw Gems; Thalia Zedek Band; Trinary System (featuring Roger Miller of Mission of Burma); Sunburned Hand of the Man; and Headroom.

The concerts will take place in the Unitarian Universalist Church in Peterborough, in the main hall, the Parish Hall and the basement.

The first show is Wednesday, June 5. On Sunday, June 9, the festival will conclude with a free outdoor concert on the roof of the Toadstool Bookshop, featuring Gilliver, Village of Spaces, Party of the Sun and Sweater Mouth.

More information about the individual shows and tickets to all those shows are available now at thethinginthespring.com/tickets. A limited number of weekend passes are also available.

Broke: the Affordable Arts Fair returns on Saturday, June 8 at the Town House, featuring local artists selling their work for $50 or less.

Readings in conjunction with the MacDowell Colony, a film series at the Peterborough Community Theatre and art exhibits by Anna Von Mertens, Shaina Gates, Colleen Kinsella, and others will occur through the festival.