Other national acts include Jeffrey Gaines, Hubby Jenkins, Alexis P. Suter, and Johnny Rawls, with pay-what-you-wish admission alongside a new restaurant.
From GoggleWorks Center for the Arts
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts will launch its 2026 Thorn Alley Stage concert season on Friday, May 1, with a special performance by Frog Holler, the acclaimed Berks County-rooted band known for its blend of mountain blues, roots rock, and Americana.
The opening concert will feature two sets by Frog Holler on the outdoor Thorn Alley Stage and will coincide with the reception and award ceremony for GoggleWorks’ Annual Juried Exhibition, taking place inside GoggleWorks. Doors open at 6 p.m., with music beginning at 7 p.m.
Frog Holler has earned national praise for a sound that is both deeply rooted and unmistakably modern. The Washington Post described the band as “Neo-hillbillies with a twist,” noting that Frog Holler plays “mountain blues and country as accessible and modern as the most hummable pop.”
The May 1 performance kicks off a growing season of concerts and performances at Thorn Alley Stage, GoggleWorks’ outdoor venue created to bring live music, food, art, and energy to downtown Reading. The current schedule includes national and regional touring artists and legends, festivals, walk-in films, World Cup watch parties, theatre and dance performances, and community events.
The concert season arrives on the heels of the grand opening of Thorn Alley Kitchen, GoggleWorks’ new dynamic restaurant located beside the stage. Together, the restaurant and stage create a new downtown destination where guests can gather for dinner and drinks, enjoy outdoor concerts, attend gallery openings, see films, and experience the creative energy of GoggleWorks in one visit. Thorn Alley Kitchen features globally inspired comfort food, a full bar, handcrafted design details, and a lively atmosphere built around the connection between food, art, and community.
Thanks to grant funding from the Reading Musical Foundation and the Regional Foundation, powered by Wells Fargo, most Thorn Alley Stage concerts will be offered as pay-what-you-wish, with advance registration required at goggleworks.org.
“This season is about making great live music accessible while creating a new cultural rhythm in downtown Reading,” said Levi Landis, GoggleWorks Executive Director. Landis, who has 20 years of experience in the music industry, was previously executive director of the Philadelphia Folksong Society, sponsor of the Philadelphia Folk Festival. “A host of local promoters and community organizations assembled to make Thorn Alley Stage a remarkable live music venue this season. It will be a vibrant addition to our broad roster of creative programs.”
Following Frog Holler, the season will continue with performances by national and regional artists including Hubby Jenkins, a Grammy and Americana Award-nominated multi-instrumentalist formerly of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, known for illuminating the Black roots of American traditional music; Jeffrey Gaines, praised by Rolling Stone as “the voice of a generation”; blues and soul powerhouse Alexis P. Suter, returning to Reading after large crowds at the Reading Blues Festival; and legendary bluesman Johnny Rawls.
Additional theatre performances, farmers’ markets, educational programs, World Cup watch parties, walk-in films, and more concert performances will be announced soon.
Upcoming performances on Thorn Alley Stage
- Friday, May 1: Frog Holler
- Thursday, May 7: Drew & The Blue w/ Mighty Joe Castro & The Gravamen
- Thursday, May 14: Jon Smith’s Voyages w/ Julie Smucker
- Friday, May 29: Tlooth, Time Being, and Paltrow
- Friday, June 5: Hubby Jenkins
- Friday, June 12: Bret Tobias Set w/ Pseudo Seal
- Thursday, June 25: Jeffrey Gaines w/ Dylan Zangwill
- Thursday, July 9: And You, Brutus
- Saturday, July 11: Summer Fest, presented by Berks Arts
- Thursday, July 16: Chris Kasper w/ La OverToner
- Thursday, July 23: Johnny Rawls
- Friday, July 31: Therapy Barn
- Friday, Aug. 7: Alexis P. Suter
- Sunday, Oct. 4: Bomba Dance Celebration, presented by Wanda Holdren Dance Academy
Located just outside Thorn Alley Kitchen, the Thorn Alley Stage is part of GoggleWorks’ larger effort to create a welcoming outdoor arts destination for Reading residents, artists, families, and visitors. Guests are invited to enjoy food and beverages from Thorn Alley Kitchen before and during many performances.
About GoggleWorks Center for the Arts
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural center located in downtown Reading, PA. Through studio arts education, exhibitions, artist studios, community programs, film, public events, and creative placemaking initiatives, GoggleWorks works to transform lives through unique interactions with art. Its campus includes galleries, teaching studios, the Boscov Theatre, artist studios, Thorn Alley Kitchen, and the outdoor Thorn Alley Stage. Concert registration and venue rental information are available at GoggleWorks.org.
About Thorn Alley Kitchen
Thorn Alley Kitchen is a vibrant, art-driven restaurant tucked inside GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in downtown Reading. Officially opened on April 10, 2026, the restaurant blends globally inspired flavors with elevated comfort food, real ingredients, responsibly sourced farm-fresh foods, a full bar, handcrafted design details, and a lively atmosphere. Whether stopping in for coffee, gathering for dinner and drinks, or pairing a meal with a concert, gallery visit, or film, Thorn Alley Kitchen is designed as a place where food, art, and community come together. Learn more at ThornAlleyKitchen.com.
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