First Fridays

Celebrate the spirit of the season at the Whaling Museum’s final First Friday of the year: Winter Brass – A Festive First Friday. This special evening features a live performance by the high-energy Southcoast Brass Band, guaranteed to bring bold holiday cheer with their New Orleans-inspired sound.

Experience a night of immersive indie music as the Whaling Museum transforms into a multi-gallery stage, featuring live performances ranging from acoustic sets to experimental acts. Presented in collaboration with Unexpected Music, this 18+ event celebrates New Bedford’s vibrant creative community.

Get swept up in the sound as the KabuJazz Ensemble takes the stage at the Whaling Museum’s First Friday. Led by the dynamic vocalist Candida Rose Baptista with musical direction by J. L. Santos Spencer, this acclaimed group blends Cape Verdean rhythms with jazz, soul, and energy that will move you all night long.

A lively evening of music, laughter, and local talent! Get a special preview of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with live performances, audience participation, and a post-show reception where you can mix and mingle with the cast over drinks and lite bites.

Celebrate Independence Day with live music with The Jethros, community connections, and free access to the New Bedford Whaling Museum from 5-8PM! This special First Friday is presented in collaboration with the City’s Summer Sound Series.

Enjoy an extraordinary evening of art, history, and live music featuring Joaquin Santos & Friends, blending funk, soul, R&B, and pop. With galleries open after hours, a cash bar, complimentary lite bites, and high-energy beats, this 21+ event promises an unforgettable night out.

Experience an unforgettable evening of music, culture, and connection at the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s First Fridays series. This special program features acclaimed Malian percussionist Sidy Maïga and his ensemble, Afrimanding, as they take you on a journey through the rich traditions of West African drumming and the vibrant global rhythms it inspires.

The Moonbellies deliver an entertaining mix of original music, Americana, Old-Time, Québécois, Irish, and Cajun tunes, blending charm, charisma, and exceptional talent.

We’re thrilled to present a special edition performance by Jason Smith’s band, The Hot Club Cheese Roll (HCCR) sextet. Get ready to dust off your dancing shoes for a toe-tapping, stylish evening of music that combines timeless jazz standards with an irresistible rhythm!

Join us for an encore performance of this silent film screening accompanied by live music! “Down to the Sea in Ships” is a 1922 American romantic drama, directed by Elmer Clifton. In this silent film, whalers go harpooning, leaving a Quaker maiden behind in 19th-century New Bedford, MA. Musical score will be performed live by pianist Jennifer A. Maxwell.

The Spindle Rock River Rats’ repertoire is an eclectic blend of music genres, that includes bluegrass, gospel, sea shanties, old-time fiddle tunes, folk and blues.

Celebrate National Authors’ Day at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. A day packed full of literary delights, in appreciation of the authors that spent countless hours writing our favorite books!

Sip, stroll, and sketch at the New Bedford Whaling Museum during our next First Friday. You are encouraged to sketch something tactile inspired the Wider World and Scrimshaw exhibitions, or other collections, or simply let your imagination run wild. Cash bar and lite bites available for this 21+ event.

Back by popular demand, Aoife Clancy and Eddie Dillion will return to the music with Celtic and Americana music.

Come celebrate Independence Day with the New Bedford Whaling Museum, from our Harbor View Gallery! This 21+ afterhours night out, features access to all museum galleries, followed by a cocktail party with the best harbor view in the city!

The Moonbellies perform an entertaining mix of originals, Americana, Old-time, Quebecois, Irish and Cajun music.

The Zunzún Trio has an exciting rapport, ranging from modern jazz to Afro- Caribbean rhythms. They will bring original pieces to music by Thelonious Monk and Bebo Valdés.

Musician Joaquin Santos and The Dope Lotus are known for their distinctive soulful vocals, tight funky grooves, and poetic authenticity to their musical story.

Fire up your winter season with internationally renowned djembefola Sidy Maiga and steel pannist Becky Bass. Between performances, experience the joy of learning some drum beats from the djembe master himself, alongside other curious learners.

“A passionate and powerful blend of infectious Americana melodies and folky instrumentation, Matthews delivers her honest songwriting through a beautifully raw and unfiltered lens. Oozing soul, her voice bleeds with emotion and gratitude, while simple piano melodies and upbeat percussion fill you with appreciation and love for the people around us who fight for change.” — Ear Milk

Join us for October’s First Friday and enjoy the local sounds of DJ Andrew “Anj” Kepinski, who will be stationed upstairs amongst our main level galleries to enhance your experience until 8:00 PM. Complimentary lite bites and a cash bar will be available.

Join us for our September First Friday and enjoy the museum after-hours with renown violinist Mark Russell, who will be strolling through gallery spaces to enhance your audio visual experience from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Complimentary lite bites and a cash bar will be available.

Join us at the Whaling Museum for the first Friday in August, as we continue our music journey around the world, featuring Celtic music with Aoife Clancy and Eddie Dillion.

Join us for the next First Friday, on Friday, July 7, for an after-hours immersive evening of spoken word within our latest exhibitions “A singularly marine & fabulous produce: the Cultures of Seaweed” (Wattles Gallery) and “Now and Soon & Somehow Forever” (Center Street Gallery). Poetry in art and art in poetry!

First Friday featuring internationally renowned djembefola Sidy Maiga and köra player Yacouba Diabaté. After the listening hour, experience the joy of learning some drum beats from the djembe master himself, alongside other curious learners on drums that he’ll provide.

Enjoy the museum afterhours, margaritas under the whale bones, traditional music of Mexico, and a participatory art project inspired by Mexico’s most iconic figures Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera.

Come for the listening hour to enjoy traditional music of the Cape Verde Islands (Morna) and of Portugal (Fado), then stay for the cocktail social and access to the entire museum afterhours – a Good Friday indeed!

Launch the 2026 First Fridays series in unforgettable style with the return of pianist Dr. Jennifer Maxwell. Enjoy a rare silent-film screening of Down to the Sea in Ships (1922), transformed by Dr. Maxwell’s dynamic live score that fills the classic New Bedford whaling tale with energy and emotion.