Posted on July 23, 2026

GoggleWorks’ Thorn Alley Series Continues with Blues Legends Johnny Rawls and Alexis P. Suter

GoggleWorks’ Thorn Alley Series Continues with Blues Legends Johnny Rawls and Alexis P. Suter

From GoggleWorks Center for the Arts

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts will welcome two internationally celebrated blues performers to its outdoor Thorn Alley Stage this summer, with soul-blues legend Johnny Rawls performing Thursday, July 23, and Alexis P. Suter Band performing Friday, Aug. 7. Both shows start at 7 p.m.

Johnny Rawls has spent more than five decades building an internationally recognized career as a singer, guitarist, songwriter, and producer. Widely regarded as one of the defining artists of the soul-blues genre, Rawls has released more than 20 albums and received honors from the Blues Music Awards, Living Blues Awards, Blues Blast Awards, and W.C. Handy Awards. His career began alongside influential performers including O.V. Wright, Joe Tex, and Z.Z. Hill.

The July 23 concert is presented by the Reading Musical Foundation as part of the organization’s 100th anniversary celebration. “Some of the most memorable concerts happen under open skies, surrounded by neighbors, conversation, and the beauty of a shared place,” said Keri Shultz, President of the Reading Musical Foundation. “Thorn Alley is a perfect example of how music can bring a community together, and we’re thrilled to be part of that experience during RMF’s centennial celebration.”

Thorn Alley Kitchen, the new restaurant at GoggleWorks, will offer an event menu featuring a selection of its signature dishes and drinks. The restaurant will also introduce a special martini called “The 1926” in celebration of the Reading Musical Foundation and its founding year.

On Friday, Aug. 7, GoggleWorks will welcome the Alexis P. Suter Band for an evening of powerhouse blues, gospel-rooted soul, rock, and funk. Led by Suter’s commanding voice, the band has earned international acclaim for electrifying live performances, authentic sound, and emotionally resonant storytelling.

The Aug. 7 concert will coincide with the opening of two exhibitions celebrating artists who have spent the summer creating and learning at GoggleWorks. The Summer Residents Exhibition will present work by three professional artists who lived, worked, and developed new projects in Reading. The Summer Fellowship Exhibition will feature work by student artists who spent the summer working one-on-one with professional artist mentors. The evening will also include the closing reception for an exhibition of work by ceramic artist Justin George, including work made over his one-year residency at GoggleWorks.

The Thorn Alley Stage also presents monthly outdoor films, community events, festivals, and more. Upcoming musical events include:

All performances are pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation price for each. Tickets and complete event information are available at goggleworks.org/thornalleystage. Advance registration is encouraged for ticketed performances as limited seating is available and performances do sell out. Thorn Alley Stage concerts are made possible through support from the Regional Foundation, Windgate Foundation, Stabler Foundation, and Reading Musical Foundation.

About GoggleWorks Center for the Arts

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural center in downtown Reading, PA, and the nation’s largest art center of its kind. Located in a former goggle factory spanning nearly an entire city block, GoggleWorks serves more than 250,000 visitors annually through arts education, exhibitions, performances, community programs, artist residencies, youth programs, and summer camps. The campus features 30 on-site studio artists, three galleries, the Albert and Eunice Boscov Theater, Thorn Alley Kitchen restaurant, Thorn Alley Stage live music venue, The New Store, an Art Supply Store, the Berks LaunchBox maker space, and 16 communal studios dedicated to disciplines including ceramics, glass, metals, woodworking, printmaking, photography, textiles, digital media, music, drawing and painting, and urban gardening. GoggleWorks is also home to nearly 40 resident organizations ranging from small businesses to nonprofit partners. Learn more at goggleworks.org.




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