by Contributor | April 16, 2026 8:51 am
OSWEGO – The Oswego Music Hall presents An Evening with Tom Rush, accompanied by Brendan Cleary, on Saturday, April 25.
Doors open at 7 pm and the show will start at 7:30 in Oswego’s Roy C. McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St.
Advance tickets are on sale at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/[1] ($35-$40) and at the River’s End Bookstore, 19 W. Bridge St., Oswego. This show is expected to sell out, please purchase tickets as soon as possible. If still available, tickets can also be purchased at the door (cash or check only).
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“Never miss a chance to see Tom Rush live. He’s got that rare one-of-a-kind quality that makes you realize you’ve seen somebody who really matters”, Exclaim Magazine.
Tom Rush is a gifted musician and performer, whose shows offer a musical celebration…a journey into the tradition and spectrum of what music has been, can be, and will become. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. His shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, the sweet melancholy of ballads and the passion of gritty blues.
Rush’s impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the ’60s and the renaissance of the ’80s and ’90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, “Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences.” Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences. Rush has long championed emerging artists. His early recordings introduced the world to the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor, and in more recent years his Club 47 concerts have brought artists such as Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences when they were just beginning to build their own reputations.
Tom Rush began his musical career in the early ’60s playing the Boston-area clubs while a Harvard student. The Club 47 was the flagship of the coffee house fleet, and he was soon holding down a weekly spot there, learning from the legendary artists who came to play, honing his skills and growing into his talent. He had released two albums by the time he graduated.
Rush returned with a splash in 1981, selling out Boston’s prestigious Symphony Hall in advance. Time off had not only rekindled Rush’s love of music, it had re-ignited music audiences’ love of Rush. He instinctively knew that his listeners were interested in both the old and the new, and set out to create a musical forum like the Club 47 of the early sixties to allow artists and newcomers to share the same stage. In 1982, he tried it out at Symphony Hall. The show was such a hit it became an annual event, growing to fill two, then three nights, and the Club 47 series was born. Crafting concerts that combined well known artists such as Bonnie Raitt or Emmylou Harris with (then) unknowns like Alison Krauss or Mark O’ Connor, Rush took the show on the road. From the ’80s to the present day, Club 47 events have filled the nation’s finest halls to rave reviews, and have been broadcast as national specials on PBS and NPR.
Today, Tom Rush lives in New Hampshire when he’s not touring. His voice has grown even richer and more melodic with training, and his music, like a fine wine, has matured
and ripened in the blending of traditional and modern influences. He’s doing what he loves, and what audiences love him for: writing and playing …passionately, tenderly…knitting together the musical traditions and talents of our times.
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Brendan Cleary’s music is like a warm ray of sunshine on a cold day; comforting, familiar, and brimming with soul. Sharing stories and songs that have shaped his life, he is opening his heart to America’s Northeast and making the darkest of days bright and clear. Brendan Cleary is Tom’s latest discovery of a talented young musician he feels deserves a wider audience.
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Saturday’s show will be preceded by the Oswego Music Hall Open Mic Friday on April 24. The open mic begins at 7 pm with sign-ups beginning at 6:30. Guest host Larry Kyle leads off. Musicians typically play three songs each.
All ages, genres and experience levels are welcome. The open mic gives the opportunity to perform in a supportive “listening room” environment with cutting-edge professional audio and lighting equipment.
Open mic guest hosts are scheduled by coordinator Bryan Dickenson.
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The McCrobie Civic Center is wheelchair accessible, adjacent to Breitbeck Park and overlooks Lake Ontario and the Oswego Harbor. The atmosphere is intimate with candle-lit tables and a small stage. Light refreshments will be available at reasonable prices.
Oswego Music Hall is a family-friendly, non-profit organization that has been run entirely by volunteers since its inception in 1977. Volunteers can earn admission to shows through various tasks — from event support to making popcorn. Students can also earn credit for community service. To volunteer, email Volunteer Coordinator Michael Moss at [email protected][2].
For more information, see https://www.oswegomusichall.org[3] or the Music Hall’s Facebook and Instagram pages or email [email protected][2].
Concerts at the Music Hall are made possible in part with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the governor and the New York State Legislature. Other major supporters are the City of Oswego and Shineman Foundation.
2026 Oswego Music Hall Events – Spring Season
National Stage 49th season
Apr 25 Tom Rush accompanied by Brendan Cleary
May 9 Season Finale & Emerging Artist Showcase. Headliner: Abigayle Oakley
Open Mic Friday Guest Hosts
Apr 24 Larry Kyle
Guest Curator Series
May 2 Music, Movement & Mindfulness, with musicians Desirée Dawson and Travis Knapp and curator/yoga instructor Ann Buchau
For a complete performance schedule and additional information about tickets and the artists, visit the website at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/[1] or stop at the River’s End Bookstore, 19 West Bridge Street in Oswego.
PSA/Calendar
On Friday, April 24th 7 PM (sign-ups at 6:30) at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego, the Oswego Music Hall continues its Open Mic with Host, Larry Kyle. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/[1]
On Saturday, April 25th 7:30 PM at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego, the Oswego Music Hall will feature Tom Rush accompanied by Brendan Cleary. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/[1]
On Saturday, May 2nd 7 PM at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego, the Oswego Music Hall will feature Music, Movement & Mindfulness with musicians Desirée Dawson and Travis Knapp and yoga instructor Ann Buchau. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/[1]
On Saturday, May 9th 7:30 PM at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego, the Oswego Music Hall Season Finale & Emerging Artist Showcase. Headliner Abigayle Oakley. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/[1]
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