Pete Seeger Tribute Concert Coming to the Greenwich Odeum April 26

A night of songs, stories, and shared voices will fill the historic Greenwich Odeum in East Greenwich on April 26, when over a dozen local musicians gather to honor the enduring legacy of folk icon Pete Seeger. The show is a benefit for the Rhode Island Folk Festival (RIFF), coming to East Providence in August. Click here for tickets to the April 26 show.

The format is simple – performers will be singing songs written or recorded by Pete Seeger. Artists scheduled to appear include Mark Cutler (Schemers, Raindogs, Men Of Great Courage); Ed McGuirl, Jack Moore & Joe Lambiase; Avi Jacob (Hawk In The Nest), Beth Barron, Dan Lilley & Amy Bedard (The Keepers, Forever Young), Katherine Quinn, Lisa Couto, Anthony Loffredio and Barn Burning, Pete Vendettuoli (Forever Young, Free Radicals), and Kim Petrarca. Ken Abrams, managing editor at Hey Rhody Media, will host the show. 

Seeger, who helped popularize “We Shall Overcome” as an anthem of the civil rights movement, remains one of the most influential figures in American music, known as much for his activism as for his songwriting. Expect to hear many of his classics, including "Turn, Turn, Turn," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone," and Woody Guthrie’s "This Land is Your Land." Performers will also share brief anecdotes on their connection to Seeger and his music. Expect a sing-along or two, an integral part of Seeger’s concerts throughout his career.

Proceeds from the show will benefit the 2026 Rhode Island Folk Festival, which takes place on August 30 at Crescent Park in East Providence. RIFF is a free music festival that is now in its 12th year. The schedule has been partially released - performers include Tracy Bonham,  Vicki Peterson (The Bangles) and John Cowsill (The Beach Boys/The Cowsills), and Gary Higgins.

Both events are produced by John Fuzek of Hear In Rhode Island, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that was established in 1994 to present music events and educate the public about local music as well as the importance of music in people’s lives.

Folk music has historically served to nourish marginalized communities, particularly during challenging times. For organizers and performers alike, the April 26 show is less about nostalgia than continuity – a reminder that Seeger’s music, and the ideals behind it, still resonate. Click here for more information.