Festival Lineup
We will continue to announce updates to the VersoFest’26 lineup.
KICKOFF CONCERT | FRIday, February 27
FRIday, FEBRUARY 27, at 8 pm
VersoFest’26 Kickoff Concert: The Thing
The Thing, the rising rock band out of New York City with roots in Connecticut, will be performing the 2026 VersoFest Kickoff Concert.
TREFZ FORUM | $35
Registration is required. Standing room only.
VersoFest | FRIday, MARCH 6
FRIday, MARCH 6, at 7 pm
VersoFest Storytellers: Susanna Hoffs, in Conversation and Song, with Alisyn Camerota
Susanna Hoffs, co-founder of the Bangles, will be one of the lead acts for VersoFest 2026, appearing alongside award-winning journalist and rock memoirist Alisyn Camerota.
TREFZ FORUM | $50
Registration is required.
VersOFest | WEDNESday, MARCH 25
wednesday, MARCH 25, at 6 pm
VersoFest Artist Reception: Holly Danger & Sean Williams
Join us for our reception and artist talk with VersoFest 2026 featured visual artists Holly Danger (Lighthouse) and Sean Williams (The SneakerVangelisT), joined by Westport artist Miggs Burroughs. Both exhibits will be on display from March 20 through April 5.
TREFZ FORUM | FREE
Registration is NOT required
VersOFest Weekend| Thursday, MARCH 26
Thursday, March 26, at 7 pm
VersoFest 2026 Visionary: Ani DiFranco with Lauren Coyle Rosen
Grammy Award-winning musician, folk-rock legend, and cultural icon Ani DiFranco kicks off the four-day weekend in conversation with Lauren Coyle Rosen, co-author of their new book, The Spirit of Ani: Reflections on Spirituality, Feminism, Music, and Freedom.
TREFZ FORUM | $35
Registration is required.
Versofest Weekend| FRIday, MARCH 27
FrIday, March 27, at 8 pm
VersoFest 2026 Concert Event: Wyclef Jean, LIVE
Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, composer and Fugees co-founder Wyclef Jean will be this year’s headline performer for the VersoFest 2026 Friday night concert. Wyclef will be performing with his full band.
TREFZ FORUM | $125
Registration is required. Standing room only.
VersOFest Weekend | saturday, MARCH 28
Saturday, March 28, at 10 Am
VersoFest’26 Workshop: Cumbe Dance Congolese Dance and Drum
Get your body moving and those waistlines rolling to the dynamic sounds of the Ngoma Drum with Master Artist Andoche Loubaki in a lively and colorful Traditional Congolese Dance and Drum workshop with Brooklyn based dance troop.
TREFZ FORUM | FREE
Registration is required.
Saturday, March 28, at 1 pm
VersoFest Author Talk: Claire Dederer on ‘Monsters,’ a Look at What to Do with Great Art by Bad People
Best-selling memoirist, essayist, and critic Claire Dederer will be in conversation with acclaimed journalist Hilarie M. Sheets about Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma, Dederer’s recent nonfiction book investigating how to reconcile loving the art but not the artist.
TREFZ FORUM | FREE
Registration is required.
Saturday, March 28, at 1 pm
Verso University Presents: Closing the Deal: How to Get Bigger Gigs with Matt Starr
Learn the secrets to how professionals get those next level opportunities and build sustainable careers as professional musicians. In this interactive VersoFest workshop, you’ll learn how to meet the right people, set your rate, get over your discomfort, and get into action!
BOARD ROOM | $5
Registration is required.
Saturday, March 28, at 3 pm
VersoFest’26 Visionary: Adria Petty, on the Legacy of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Adria Petty, who works as a managing partner at the Tom Petty estate, will discuss the legacy of her father and his band, The Heartbreakers, in conversation with music industry pioneer Sam Hendel.
TREFZ FORUM | FREE
Registration is required.
Saturday, March 28, at 5 pm
VersoFest 2026 Author Talk: Gina Gershon on AlphaPussy
Celebrated actress Gina Gershon will be one of the highlight performers on VersoFest Saturday, discussing her recent memoir, AlphaPussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs, with award-winning journalist and rock memoirist Alisyn Camerota.
TREFZ FORUM | $35
Registration is required.
Saturday, March 28, at 7:30 pm
VersoFest Storytellers: Alt-Rock Legend David J, in Verse, Conversation, and Song
Musician, writer, playwright, poet, visual artist, and alt-rock legend David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets) closes VersoFest Saturday with a special storytellers event. David will read selections from his new poetry book, Rhapsody, Threnody & Prayer, accompanied by original pre-recorded music an acoustic set & followed by an interview featuring celebrated author Douglas Rushkoff.
TREFZ FORUM | $35
Registration is required.
VersOFest Weekend | sUnday, MARCH 29
Sunday, March 29, at 10:30 am
VersoFest’26 Panel Discussion: Coffee with the C-Suite: Creators, Technologists, and Music’s AI Frontier
In this candid, executive-level conversation, leaders from across music tech, rights investment, AI creation tools, and licensing platforms unpack the seismic shifts redefining the industry. Speakers are from Suno, LANDR, Incantio; and Chord Music Partners Music.
TREFZ FORUM | FREE
Registration is required.
Sunday, March 29, at 12-4 pm
VersoFest 2026 Workshop: Sound Playground with Suno
Step into a collaborative music experience with music platform Suno. This open workshop invites the curious to experiment with instruments, voice, and AI to explore how technology can expand the edges of musical expression and unlock playful possibilities. Open to all ages and musical abilities!
MCCALL ROOM | FREE
Please register for only one session.
Sunday, March 29, at 12 pm
Verso Visionary: Renowned Music Entrepreneur Peter Shapiro, in Conversation with Relix Editor Dean Budnick
Peter Shapiro, who has owned and operated venerated concert venues like Brooklyn Bowl and The Capitol Theatre and has produced a wide array of lauded music festivals, alongside rock author, writer, and documentarian Dean Budnick, will discuss the legacy of the Grateful Dead and the development of the jam band scene over the decades.
TREFZ FORUM | FREE
Registration is required.
VERSOFEST’26 art exhibits
March 20 through April 5
VersoFest Exhibit: ‘Lighthouse’ by Holly Danger
Stamford-based video artist Holly Danger presents Lighthouse, an immersive art experience on display in the Sheffer Gallery. Lighthouse is a video art installation that reminds us that we project light into the world for ourselves and each other. As you move through this exhibit, you’ll be surrounded by thousands of colorful strings lining the perimeter of gallery.
SHEFFER GALLERY | OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
March 20 through April 5
VersoFest Exhibit: ‘The SneakerVangelisT’ by Sean Williams
Sean “Opus 1” Williams presents The SneakerVangelisT. Sneakers are wearable art that serve both self expression and function simultaneously. Some sneaker models offer an ideal canvas for artistic expression, while others make the perfect muse.
SOUTH & JESUP GALLERIES | OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
Saturday, April 5, at 10 AM
VersoFest 2025 Weekend Kickoff Celebration
From 10 to 11:30 am, come celebrate music, media, and creativity in style, hosted by visionary artist 5iveFingaz, with a rotating cast of DJs, a Library primal scram, live art installations, and other fun fare for the whole family!
TREFZ FORUM | FREE
Registration is suggested!
Saturday, April 5, at 12 PM & 1 PM
Verso University Presents: Graffiti 101: Finding Your Voice as a Graffiti Artist
Explore basic graffiti techniques and hand-lettering skills in this fun, hands-on workshop led by globally renowned visionary artist 5iveFingaz! This workshop is open to all ages. Adult supervision is required for children under 13.
BROOKS PLACE | FREE
Registration is required. Limited space.
Saturday, April 5, at 1 pm
VersoFest Panel: Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run at 50
A panel discussion on Bruce Springsteen’s breakthrough album with Springsteen manager/producer Mike Appel; Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music executive director Bob Santelli; former Columbia Records executive Michael Pillot; author and music culture writer Kenneth Womack, and more; hosted by Arlen Schumer and Dick Wingate.
TREFZ FORUM | FREE
Registration is suggested.
Saturday, April 5, at 4 pm
Verso Visionary: Black Thought, Lead Emcee of The Roots, in Conversation with June Archer
Black Thought, lead emcee and founding member of The Roots, will headline Saturday afternoon at VersoFest 2025 alongside music industry executive, entrepreneur, and community leader June Archer. Copies of Black Thought’s 2023 book, The Upcycled Self, will be on sale at the event, with the author signing copies after his talk.
TREFZ FORUM | FREE
Registration is required.
Saturday, April 5, at 7 pm
Verso Visionary: Henry Rollins in Conversation with Nabil Ayers
Legendary Black Flag frontman and spoken word artist Henry Rollins, in conversation with Nabil Ayers, the founder of Beggers Records US.
TREFZ FORUM | $35
Registration is required.
Day 4 | Sunday, April 6
SuNday, April 6, at 11 am
VersoFest Oral History Podcast: TELEVISION ROCKS!
With Paul Shaffer, SNL band member and David Letterman music director, in conversation with SNL Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman.
TREFZ FORUM | $25
Registration is required.
Add on Day | FRIDAY, April 18
Friday, April 18, at 1 pm
Gang of Four Vocalist Jon King on His New Book, in Conversation with Chris Frantz
Gang of Four vocalist and founding member Jon King to talk about his brand new memoir, To Hell with Poverty! A Class Act: Inside the Gang of Four, live in the Trefz Forum. King will be in conversation with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chris Frantz, drummer for Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club.
TREFZ FORUM | $30
Your $30 ticket includes a copy of To Hell with Poverty! Additional copies will also be for sale on-site.
Friday, April 18, at 6:30 pm
Gang of Four: The Long Goodbye Tour Kickoff
Gang of Four, the pioneering band that served as one of the forerunners of the post-punk movement, mixing outspoken political messages with intense, percussive live sets, will kick off its farewell tour in The Westport Library’s Trefz Forum.
TREFZ FORUM | $55
DOORS/DJ: 6:30 PM | SHOW: 8 PM
Registration is required.
Shoutout Our 2026 Lead Sponsors!
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