In front of a Trefz Forum crowd packed wall to wall with more than 600 people, Patti Smith strode onto the stage, sat down, and graciously opened her talk with Alisyn Camerota by saying, “I’m a big, big fan of libraries, and I’m so happy to be here.”
For four remarkable days, Smith had good company, with approximately 3,500 people filling The Westport Library for our fourth annual VersoFest music and media festival, a celebration of music, media, art, creativity, and once again this year, community.
Smith’s Thursday evening conversation — which featured spoken-word poetry and an inspiring singalong of her hit single “Because the Night” with those assembled — was followed by a Friday night concert with Jakob Dylan and the Wallflowers that drew more than 700 attendees, a full Saturday of programming that started with a weekend kickoff celebration hosted by visionary artist 5iveFingaz, an all-star panel discussion celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run, and Verso Visionary conversations with Black Thought and Henry Rollins.
Each event attracted at least 200 people, with many surpassing 400, an eclectic mix celebrating music and creativity in all its forms — all in a most unique setting: a public library with the goal of redefining what a 21st century library can be.
“We have to support our libraries,” Smith said in her closing remarks. “Our libraries are the seat of truth.”
Dylan, now 30 years into his admired career, acknowledged the novelty by telling the assembled Friday night crowd: “I apologize, I’m a little nervous. This is my first [show in a] library.”
The festival wrapped up Sunday with a VersoFest live podcast featuring longtime David Letterman music director Paul Shaffer and SNL Beehive Queen Chirstine Ohlman that was a blend of conversation and song, all played to another packed house.
Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer summed up the excitement of the weekend during his introduction to the Springsteen panel.
“Let’s hear it for libraries that rock!” Harmer said. “We are building something truly unique here, and we’re just getting started.”
And in fact, VersoFest isn’t quite done yet. On Friday, April 18, the seminal post-punk band Gang of Four will be launching their farewell tour at the Library. The show starts at 7:30 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm), preceded by a book talk between Gang of Four vocalist Jon King and Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club drummer Chris Frantz on King’s new book, To Hell with Poverty! A Class Act: Inside the Gang of Four, at 1 pm.
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Photos by KT Kaminski/Westport Library & Kerry Long/Kerry Long Photography
VersoFest annually delivers four days of music, media, and creativity, featuring a range of conversations, workshops, panel discussions, concerts, and a featured art exhibit.
This year, it will also offer an opportunity to bid on a range of items signed by legendary Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, who visited the Library on March 5 to receive the inaugural Governor’s Award of Excellence from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont.
Among the items up for auction are:
The items will be on display during VersoFest, hosted April 3-6, in the Hub on the Library’s main level. Proceeds will benefit the festival.
All items will be available viasilent auction on the BetterWorld platform. Bidding opens Thursday, April 3, and closes Sunday, April 6. View the full collection and place your bids here — or scan the QR code on-site during VersoFest!
More on the Michael Friedman print: The image was taken in 1969 at The Rolling Stones’ Madison Square Garden concert that was featured in the documentary Gimme Shelter. Friedman took Janis Joplin, who he was managing at the time, to the concert. Since they had all-access passes, Friedman was able to be right on stage when he took the photo. His photographic negatives from1969 were discovered almost 50 years later and are featured in the book EXPOSED: The Lost Negatives and Untold Stories of Michael Friedman, by Friedman and Donna Vita.
More on Life: The long-awaited autobiography of the guitarist, songwriter, singer, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. With The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the songs that roused the world, and he lived the original rock and roll life. Now, at last, the man himself tells his story of life in the crossfire hurricane. Listening obsessively to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records, learning guitar and forming a band with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones. The Rolling Stones’s first fame and the notorious drug busts that led to his enduring image as an outlaw folk hero. Creating immortal riffs like the ones in “Jumping Jack Flash” and “Honky Tonk omen.” His relationship with Anita Pallenberg and the death of Brian Jones. Tax exile in France, wildfire tours of the U.S., isolation and addiction. Falling in love with Patti Hansen. Estrangement from Jagger and subsequent reconciliation. Marriage, family, solo albums and Xpensive Winos, and the road that goes on forever. With his trademark disarming honesty, Richards brings us the story of a life we have all longed to know more of, unfettered, fearless, and true.
VersoFest 2025 weekend will be a vibrant roof-raiser, from a kickoff celebration hosted by renowned visual artist 5iveFingaz, to an illuminating evening with hardcore legend Henry Rollins and fellow musician Nabil Ayers — and now, The Westport Library is excited to welcome its newest Verso Visionary as part of this year’s annual music and media festival: three-time Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist and co-founder of The Roots, Black Thought.
The conversation between The Roots’ lead emcee and music industry executive, entrepreneur, and celebrated community leader June Archer will take place Saturday, April 5, 4-5:30 pm, in the Library’s Trefz Forum.
The event is free to attend. Click here to register. Copies of Black Thought’s 2023 memoir, The Upcycled Self: A Memoir on the Art of Becoming Who We Are, will be for sale, with the author signing copies after the talk.
Crowned by HYPEBEAST as “one of the best lyricists in hip-hop history,” critically acclaimed musician Tariq Trotter, popularly known as Black Thought, has led a diverse creative career not only as a musician, actor, writer, and producer — but also as one of the most prolific, innovative, and powerful voices in hip hop.
Black Thought founded The Roots in 1987 alongside fellow hip-hop legend Questlove. From humble beginnings performing on Philadelphia street corners, to more than two decades of commercial success before expanding their reach in 2009 as the house band for both Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and later The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Roots’ eclectic, jazz-infused sound has transcended genres, with Black Thought’s influence and musical mastery rendering the group a hip-hop cornerstone.
In all, The Roots have produced 11 studio albums, including their debut, Organix (1993); the breakthrough Things Fall Apart (1999); the hard-hitting Game Theory (2006); the optimistic How I Got Over (2010); and countless more that have earned critical acclaim.
Beyond collaborations with Eminem, John Legend, J Dilla, Big Pun, Linkin Park, Logic, and Fall Out Boy, Black Thought also co-produced the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning original Broadway cast recording of Hamilton. He has also succeeded in in film and television, with work on projects such as HBO’s The Deuce and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Golden Globe-nominated Tick, Tick… Boom! — as well as live theater, in his roles as main composer and lyricist of the 2022 off-Broadway production Black No More, which he also starred in.
“I think a writer should always be aware of his or her surroundings,” Black Thought told The Paris Review. “The material is there. It’s already in the world. You have to be in tune with it to hear it and see it. The best essays, the best books, all wrote themselves. Same with paintings and dances — all of the best art ... comes from the universe. You have to master the art of being in tune enough when it’s time to create.”
Like Black Thought, Archer has led a diverse career, as an entrepreneur, music industry executive, motivational speaker, and educator. After getting his start in the music industry in 1995 as a member of the Elektra Records recording group Room Service, Archer transitioned into the business side of the industry. His accolades include gold and platinum plaques for his work on albums by Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Mario, Omarion, Beyonce, and more. A two-time Grammy and Soul Train Award nominee, Archer also previously served eight years on the Grammy Committee.
In addition to his current role as CEO of The Eleven28 Entertainment Group, Archer spearheaded the documentary Stepping Into the Shade — screened at The Westport Library in June 2024 — and he hosts the The Winner’s Circle podcast for rapper 50 Cent's 'This is 50' platform. Archer is the founder of The June Archer School of Arts, The Archer Foundation, The 100 Men and Women of Color Black Tie Gala & Awards, The New England Music Seminar, the Hot Chocolate Soul performance showcase, and June Archer's Celebration of Life AIDS/Breast Cancer Fundraiser. In 2013, he also added published author to his list of distinctions, with his children’s books, Yes! You Can and Yes! Every Day Can Be a Good Day.
VersoFest is four days of music, media, and creativity, running this year from April 3 to April 6 — a forum for media creators, artists, and fans to converge. In addition to Black Thought, this year’s guests include Patti Smith, Henry Rollins, and Paul Shaffer, with a Friday evening concert by the Wallflowers, the Saturday weekend kickoff event hosted by 5iveFingaz, and an all-star panel discussion on the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run, plus art exhibits and workshops. In addition, VersoFest will host the kickoff event to legendary post-punk band Gang of Four’s farewell tour on April 18.
Past VersoFest guests have bridged connections between genre and medium, including hip hop legend Chuck D, established hit-makers Spin Doctors and the Smithereens, up-and-coming bands Sunflower Bean and the Lemon Twigs, rockers Lez Zeppelin, famed producers Steve Lillywhite (U2, Dave Matthews Band) and Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T. Rex), Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler, the Doors drummer John Densmore, Cramps drummer Miriam Linna, Alice Cooper Group bassist Dennis Dunaway, hip-hop originators Tony Crush and Grand Wizzard Theodore, Manic Panic’s Tish and Snooky, and a wide array of authors, photographers, artists, and thought leaders.
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.
The event is free to attend. Copies of Black Thought’s 2023 memoir, The Upcycled Self: A Memoir on the Art of Becoming Who We Are, will be for sale, with the author signing copies after the talk.
Crowned by HYPEBEAST as “one of the best lyricists in hip-hop history,” critically acclaimed musician Tariq Trotter, popularly known as Black Thought, has led a diverse creative career not only as a musician, actor, writer, and producer — but also as one of the most prolific, innovative, and powerful voices in hip hop.
Black Thought founded The Roots in 1987 alongside fellow hip-hop legend Questlove. From humble beginnings performing on Philadelphia street corners, to more than two decades of commercial success before expanding their reach in 2009 as the house band for both Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and later The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Roots’ eclectic, jazz-infused sound has transcended genres, with Black Thought’s influence and musical mastery rendering the group a hip-hop cornerstone.
In all, The Roots have produced 11 studio albums, including their debut, Organix (1993); the breakthrough Things Fall Apart (1999); the hard-hitting Game Theory (2006); the optimistic How I Got Over (2010); and countless more that have earned critical acclaim.
Beyond collaborations with Eminem, John Legend, J Dilla, Big Pun, Linkin Park, Logic, and Fall Out Boy, Black Thought also co-produced the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning original Broadway cast recording of Hamilton. He has also succeeded in in film and television, with work on projects such as HBO’s The Deuce and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Golden Globe-nominated Tick, Tick… Boom! — as well as live theater, in his roles as main composer and lyricist of the 2022 off-Broadway production Black No More, which he also starred in.
After getting his start in the music industry in 1995 as a member of the Elektra Records recording group Room Service, Archer transitioned into the business side of the industry. His accolades include gold and platinum plaques for his work on albums by Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Mario, Omarion, Beyonce, and more. A two-time Grammy and Soul Train Award nominee, Archer also previously served eight years on the Grammy Committee.
In addition to his current role as CEO of The Eleven28 Entertainment Group, Archer spearheaded the documentary Stepping Into the Shade — screened at The Westport Library in June 2024 — and he hosts the The Winner’s Circle podcast for rapper 50 Cent's 'This is 50' platform. Archer is the founder of The June Archer School of Arts, The Archer Foundation, The 100 Men and Women of Color Black Tie Gala & Awards, The New England Music Seminar, the Hot Chocolate Soul performance showcase, and June Archer's Celebration of Life AIDS/Breast Cancer Fundraiser. In 2013, he also added published author to his list of distinctions, with his children’s books, Yes! You Can and Yes! Every Day Can Be a Good Day.
***
VersoFest is four days of music, media, and creativity, running this year from April 3 to April 6 — a forum for media creators, artists, and fans to converge. In addition to Black Thought, this year’s guests include Patti Smith, Henry Rollins, and Paul Shaffer, with a Friday evening concert by the Wallflowers, the Saturday weekend kickoff event hosted by 5iveFingaz, and an all-star panel discussion on the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run, plus art exhibits and workshops. In addition, VersoFest will host the kickoff event to legendary post-punk band Gang of Four’s farewell tour on April 18.
Past VersoFest guests have bridged connections between genre and medium, including hip hop legend Chuck D, established hit-makers Spin Doctors and the Smithereens, up-and-coming bands Sunflower Bean and the Lemon Twigs, rockers Lez Zeppelin, famed producers Steve Lillywhite (U2, Dave Matthews Band) and Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T. Rex), Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler, the Doors drummer John Densmore, Cramps drummer Miriam Linna, Alice Cooper Group bassist Dennis Dunaway, hip-hop originators Tony Crush and Grand Wizzard Theodore, Manic Panic’s Tish and Snooky, and a wide array of authors, photographers, artists, and thought leaders.
For more, visit VersoFest.org.
Freegal Music
History of Music
The Westport Library has always been a place where it's OK to occasionally get loud, hosting an array of concerts and music events for patrons of all interests and ages.
On Saturday, April 5, at 10 am, the Library is taking things to the next level — the next decibel level, that is — inviting visionary artist 5iveFingaz to host a 90-minute celebration that will include a rotating cast of DJs, live art, and the Library version of a primal scream in an attempt to set the record for the loudest library ever.
VersoFest 2025 Kickoff Celebration: The Loudest Library in History! is free and open to the public. It will feature an electrifying fusion of music, art, and community as we transform the Library into the epicenter of creativity and sound. There will also be doughnuts and other snacks and beverages on hand for the attendees. (Register here.)
“Our goal is to make this a true celebration and a community experience, showcasing the transformative power of community and creativity,” said Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer. “We want everyone to feel welcome, from our youngest patrons to our longtime music supporters. The emphasis here is on fun and setting the right tone to what promises to be an incredible weekend of events at VersoFest 2025.”
This kickoff celebration will coincide with 5iveFingaz's Interactive Community Participation Mural, which invites members of the community to help fill create a one-of-a-kind work of art from 10 am to 2 pm. And it will be followed by an all-star panel discussion on the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run at 1 pm and two Verso Visionary conversations — the first one at 4 pm between The Roots founder and lead emcee Black Thought and June Archer, followed by hardcore punk legend Henry Rollins in conversation with Nabil Ayers at 7 pm.
The festival closes on Sunday with a very special VersoFest live podcast discussion between longtime David Letterman music director Paul Shaffer and SNL Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman.
Led by 5iveFingaz, the Norwalk-based artist whose installations are serving as the artistic complement to VersoFest, the kickoff celebration will feature a rotating cast of DJs, with four different DJs each delivering a 30-minute set that spans genres and ignites the dance floor, and live art performances with four talented artists who will be creating visual art in real time, projected live on the Trefz Forum’s 18-foot videowall, as they draw inspiration from the music.
It culminates with the grand finale: As the Trefz Forum reaches peak energy, all DJs and artists will unite on stage for a collaborative performance, leading to the Library’s attempt to set the new world record for loudest ever library.
The VersoFest 2025 weekend celebration will feature an electrifying fusion of music, art, and community as we transform The Westport Library into the epicenter of creativity and sound. Join us for a groundbreaking kickoff to VersoFest 2025, where we aim to set the world record for the loudest library in history!
Led by 5iveFingaz, the Norwalk-based artist whose installations are serving as the artistic complement to VersoFest, the kickoff celebration will feature a rotating cast of DJs, with four different DJs each delivering a 30-minute set that spans genres and ignites the dance floor, and live art performances with four talented artists who will be creating visual art in real time, projected live on the Trefz Forum’s 18-foot videowall, as they draw inspiration from the music.
It culminates with the grand finale: As the Trefz Forum reaches peak energy, all DJs and artists will unite on stage for a collaborative performance, leading to the Library’s attempt to set the new world record for loudest ever library.
This event is free and open to all ages. There will be doughnuts and other snacks and beverages for those in attendance.
So, bring your energy, your voice, and your love for music and art. Let’s make history together and showcase the limitless possibilities when a community comes together to celebrate creativity.
Join us and be part of history as we make some noise and set a record!
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This event will coincide with 5iveFingaz's Interactive Community Participation Mural, which invites members of the community to help fill it in from 10 am to 2 pm. Join us in making a masterpiece!
More Information
Freegal Music
History of Music
Now in its fourth year, VersoFest is rising in the ranks as one of Connecticut’s premier music festivals, delivering on its mission to provide a forum to share knowledge, discover inspiration, and celebrate media in all forms. From April 3 to April 6, The Westport Library’s annual music and media festival promises all of this and more — with four days of insight from industry legends, show-stopping performances, artistic expression, and engaging opportunities for community collaboration.
Commencing this year’s lineup is a Verso Visionary conversation between legendary singer/songwriter Patti Smith and award-winning journalist and rock memoirist Alisyn Camerota on Thursday, April 3. Hit band The Wallflowers follows up with Friday night’s concert on April 4, and the weekend welcomes another Visionary conversation between hardcore punk legend Henry Rollins and Nabil Ayers, president of the record label Beggars Group, on Saturday, April 5.
Prior to Rollins and Ayers taking the stage, Saturday at VersoFest 2025 will be a celebration of boundary-defying artistic expression. Between interactive art exhibits and a graffiti workshop led by visionary artist 5iveFingaz, a weekend family kickoff celebration, and a panel discussion focused on the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run, featuring an all-star cast of Springsteen collaborators and experts, the Saturday morning and afternoon run of events will be free to attend and open to all.
Saturday starts off with a bang — the VersoFest 2025 Weekend Kickoff Celebration will be a raucous curtain raiser to set the stage for a full weekend of VersoFest events. From 10 am to 12 pm, come celebrate music, media, and creativity in style, with DJs and other fun fare for the whole family.
Taking the stage in the Trefz Forum from 1 to 2:30 pm, Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run at 50 will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Springsteen’s breakthrough 1975 album — a seminal work that is widely considered to be one of the greatest rock albums of the 20th century. This event is free to attend. Click here to register.
An all-star panel will lead the procession, including Mike Appel, Springsteen’s first manager and the co-producer of Born to Run. Described as a “managerial genius” by Springsteen himself, Appel had a pivotal role in the launch of Springsteen’s career. His mark on the production of Springsteen’s first three albums, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.; The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle; and Born to Run can be heard decades later in the albums’ musical risk-taking and lyrical romanticism.
“Mike was my musical brother in arms,” Springsteen said in his autobiography Born to Run. “He knew everything about the great groups, the fabulous hit records, every important nuance of the great singers' voices, the greatest riffs, the heart and soul that were in our favorite music.”
Joining Appel is former Columbia Records promotions director Michael Pillot, who spearheaded the album promotion for Born to Run and solidified Springsteen’s quintessential image. From 1974 through 1978, Pillot was directly involved in the promotion of Springsteen’s first four albums on Columbia Records.
Music historians Robert Santelli and Kenneth Womack will also offer insight into Born to Run's legacy. As the current executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, as well as the founding executive director of the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, Santelli is a Grammy-winning authority in music preservation. Likewise, Womack’s work spans numerous volumes of literary and cultural criticism and poignant commentary for BBC, NPR, ABC’S 20/20, NBC’s Access Hollywood, and more; he also co-wrote the 2024 book, Bruce Songs.
The panel will be hosted by author and pop culture historian Arlen Schumer. In 1978, Schumer was the art director of Thunder Road, the first magazine devoted to Springsteen’s life and music. That same year, he created collateral artwork for two Springsteen concerts, one of which was Springsteen’s legendary Capitol Theater radio broadcast show.
Former music industry executive and Verso Studios advisory board member Dick Wingate will host alongside Schumer. While at Columbia Records, Wingate worked closely with Pillot, managing the marketing of Springsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town, as well as many other influential rock albums.
Launching in tandem with VersoFest 2025, globally renowned artist 5iveFingaz is bringing his bold signature style to The Westport Library in a series of art exhibits that will provide a vibrant and immersive backdrop to the festival. From March 29 to June 1, his work will span the Library’s Sheffer, South, and Jesup Galleries.
On Saturday, April 5, from 10 am to 2 pm, the South Gallery will feature an Interactive Community Participation Mural designed by 5ive, which will invite members of the community to help fill in and create their own masterpiece during VersoFest. By allowing the viewer to participate in the creation of the artwork, creative immersion and community contribution will be as much a part of the piece as the art itself.
5ive’s immersive exhibit Visual Verses will be displayed in the Sheffer Gallery, transforming the space as it merges the expressive power of visual art with the profound impact of language. Each painting in this collection transcends traditional boundaries by weaving together vivid colors, dynamic compositions, and original phrases crafted to evoke thought, emotion, and reflection. This fusion of imagery and language urges viewers to engage not only with the aesthetics, but also with 5ive’s deeper narratives and intentions behind each piece. More information on 5ive’s Jesup Gallery exhibit is forthcoming.
In addition to his art exhibits, 5ive will also lead two consecutive graffiti workshops, both of which will take place concurrently with the interactive mural. Presented by Verso University, Graffiti 101: Finding Your Voice as a Graffiti Artist will provide a space for participants to tap into their artistic expression and create their own unique pieces using spray paint and markers. This workshop contains two sessions: the first running 12 to 12:45 pm, and the second running 1 to 1:45 pm. Both sessions will cover the same content and are free to attend. Click here to register.
Sunday, April 6, will cap off the weekend with a VersoFest Oral History Podcast live recording with David Letterman Musical Director Paul Shaffer and SNL Tour De Force Christine Ohlman, followed by an afternoon event to close the festival. More details coming soon.
Since 2022, VersoFest has welcomed a number of celebrated global sensations including hip hop legend Chuck D, famed producers Steve Lillywhite and Tony Visconti, Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler, the Doors drummer John Densmore, Cramps drummer Miriam Linna, Alice Cooper Group bassist Dennis Dunaway, established hit-makers Spin Doctors and the Smithereens, up-and-coming bands Sunflower Bean and the Lemon Twigs, hip hop originators Tony Crush and DJ Grand Wizzard Theodore, and a wide array of authors, photographers, artists, and thought leaders.
All VersoFest performances, panels, and workshops are free or at market rates thanks to the generous support of donors, community partners, and Library programming funds. A selection of events will be recorded by Verso Studios Crew Call and available on-demand at a later date.
The complete VersoFest 2025 schedule, plus tickets and additional information, can be found here.
Take a break from the everyday and immerse yourself in the art of the late 19th and early 20th century Tonalist movement. Fairfield University Adjunct Professor of Art History Ive Covaci will lead an exploration of the paintings in this exciting and evocative show.
Registration fee: $15
Transportation: Participants need to provide their own transportation to Fairfield University Art Museum. Please meet the instructor on-site.
Dawn & Dusk: Tonalism in Connecticut explores the work of artists such as George Inness, John Henry Twachtman, and John Francis Murphy. Tonalism is a transitional movement that emerged from the Hudson River School of painting, laying the groundwork for modernism. Featuring works often painted from memory, this movement was signified by evocative landscapes that symbolized a spiritual connection to the natural world. More than 50 artworks in this exhibition are drawn from private and institutional collections.
About Ive Covaci
Ive Covaci is an art historian, curator, and specialist in Japanese art. She has been teaching Asian art and global introductory art history courses at Fairfield University since 2010, and received the 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award for Undergraduate Adjunct Faculty. She holds a PhD in art history from Yale University, and an MA in East Asian studies and BA in art history from Stanford University. She is passionate about teaching and learning with original works of art.
Ive has curated and co-curated numerous exhibitions, including Kamakura: Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan (Asia Society Museum, New York, 2016), Gifts of Gold: Japanese Lacquer Boxes (Fairfield University Art Museum, 2020), and Ink/Stone (Fairfield University Art Museum, 2022). A resident of Westport for 14 years, Ive is currently co-chair of the Westport Public Art Collections Committee, with whom she has organized the two most recent annual WestPAC exhibitions at MoCA CT: Sixties MOD (2024) and ON FIRE: Energy, Climate, Infrastructure (2025).
About Verso University
Verso University is the Library’s lifelong learning and education initiative, serving up year-round offerings of classes, workshops, and lectures designed to further education and learning. Offerings run the gamut of educational opportunities, ranging from one-time lectures to ongoing courses to classes that meet weekly or perhaps monthly.
Important Information About Verso University Classes:
Westport's Artistic Legacy
Virtual Museum Tours
The Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dylan
The kickoff events for VersoFest 2025 are officially set, with the hit band the Wallflowers as the headlining act for the Friday night concert on April 4. Doors open at 6 pm, with the Wallflowers taking the stage at 8:30 pm following an opening act's set at 6:30 pm.
Tickets for the Wallflowers and the Thursday night Verso Visionary conversation with iconic rocker and National Book Award winner Patti Smith are now on sale.
VersoFest is The Westport Library’s annual music and media festival — a forum for media creators, artists, and fans to converge. This year’s festival runs April 3 to April 6.
In addition to the Wallflowers and Smith, featured guests for this year’s festival include hardcore punk pioneer Henry Rollins and longtime David Letterman music director Paul Shaffer. There will also be a symposium celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run, special exhibits by local graffiti artist 5ive Fingaz, a weekend kickoff celebration, and a gospel revival, plus workshops and more.
Previous bands to play at VersoFest include established acts the Smithereens and Spin Doctors, rising artists Sunflower Bean and the Lemon Twigs, and local stars Lez Zeppelin.
For the past 30 years, the Wallflowers have stood as one of rock’s most dynamic and purposeful bands — a unit dedicated to and continually honing a sound that meshes timeless songwriting and storytelling with a hard-hitting and decidedly modern musical attack. That signature style has been present through the decades, baked into the grooves of smash hits like 1996’s Bringing Down the Horse — which featured hits like “One Headlight,” “Three Marlenas,” and “6th Avenue Heartache” — as well as Breach (2000), Rebel, Sweetheart (2005), and Glad All Over (2012).
In recent years, Jakob Dylan — the Wallflowers’ founding singer, songwriter, and guitarist — has stepped outside the band, first with a pair of acoustic, rootsy records, 2008’s Seeing Things and 2010’s Women + Country, and then with the 2018 film Echo in the Canyon and the accompanying soundtrack, which saw Dylan collaborate with a host of artists classic and contemporary, from Neil Young and Eric Clapton to Beck and Fiona Apple.
Dylan returned to the Wallflowers in 2021 with the release of Exit Wounds, the first collection of new Wallflowers material since Glad All Over. “The Wallflowers is much of my life’s work,” Dylan said, adding, “It’s pretty hard to get a good band name, so if you have one, keep it.”
Despite the hiatus, Exit Wounds was a return to the band’s signature sound, even as Dylan surrounded himself with a fresh cast of musicians.
“The Wallflowers has always been a vehicle for me to make great rock ‘n’ roll records,” he said. “And sometimes the lineup that makes the record transfers over into touring, and sometimes it doesn’t. But my intention is always to make the Wallflowers record I want to make, using the musicians I have beside me.”
He added: “I've always been a believer in collaboration, and no matter who I'm playing with I've always tried to include them very heavily. Otherwise, why would they be around? Because I do think bands, whether it’s a long-standing group or just five people who are working together for that one stretch of time, make better rock ‘n’ roll records than solo artists. I mean, it's not 100 percent true, but it's usually true.”
For Dylan, the continued success of the Wallflowers is all about chasing — and capturing — that magic.
“I came up in an era of great rock ‘n’ roll bands making great music, and it’s the way I always imagined I would do it one day,” he said. “So, that’s always been my vision with the Wallflowers: to be a great rock ‘n’ roll band. And I've worked on it for 30 years now and I still have a lot to say. It’s something I started a long time ago, and it’s far from finished.”
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Event Information
VersoFest 2025 Concert Event: The Wallflowers, LIVE at The Westport Library
Friday, April 4, 6:30 pm
Trefz Forum, The Westport Library
Tickets
The Wallflowers, who rose to fame behind their iconic 1996 album Bringing Down the Horse and who have continued to thrive as one of rock’s most dynamic and purposeful bands in the three decades since, will be the headlining act for the VersoFest 2025 concert event.
Doors open at 7 pm (no bags allowed; standing room only*; no refunds). The Wallflowers are taking the stage at 8:30 pm.
For the past 30 years, the band has stood as a unit dedicated to and continually honing a sound that meshes timeless songwriting and storytelling with a hard-hitting and decidedly modern musical attack. That signature style has been present through the decades, baked into the grooves of smash hits like “One Headlight,” “Three Marlenas,” and “6th Avenue Heartache” from Bringing Down the Horse — as well as a continued outstanding body of work present on standout albums like Breach (2000), Rebel, Sweetheart (2005), and Glad All Over (2012).
In recent years, Jakob Dylan — the Wallflowers’ founding singer, songwriter, and guitarist — has stepped outside the band, first with a pair of acoustic, rootsy records, 2008’s Seeing Things and 2010’s Women + Country, and then with the 2018 film Echo in the Canyon and the accompanying soundtrack, which saw Dylan collaborate with a host of artists classic and contemporary, from Neil Young and Eric Clapton to Beck and Fiona Apple.
Dylan returned to the Wallflowers in 2021 with the release of Exit Wounds, the first collection of new Wallflowers material since Glad All Over, and the band continues to play widely and to ardent crowds. In addition to their stop at the Library, the band will tour this spring and summer tour across the U.S. and Canada, with stops in Arkansas, California, Minnesota, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and much more.
*This event is designated as 'standing room only,' however, if accessible seating is required, please contact Robin Powell (rpowell@westportlibrary.org) directly to inquire about available options in a nearby accessible location.
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VersoFest is The Westport Library’s annual music and media festival — a forum for media creators, artists, and fans to converge. This year’s festival runs April 3 to April 6.
In addition to the Wallflowers, featured guests include Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and National Book Award winner Patti Smith, hardcore punk pioneer Henry Rollins, and longtime David Letterman music director Paul Shaffer. There will also be a symposium celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run, special exhibits by local graffiti artist 5iveFingaz, a weekend kickoff celebration, and a gospel revival, plus workshops and more.
Previous bands to play at VersoFest include established acts the Smithereens and Spin Doctors, rising artists Sunflower Bean and the Lemon Twigs, and local products Lez Zeppelin.
History of Music
Freegal Music
Join us on Thursday, April 10, for an artist reception for 5iveFingaz, whose art exhibits, including Visual Verses and an Interactive Community Participation Mural, will be on display in the Library's Sheffer, South, and Jesup Galleries from March 29 through June 1, as part of VersoFest 2025.
The reception will run from 6 to 7 pm, followed by a conversation between 5iveFingaz and Miggs Burroughs from 7 to 8 pm.
About 5iveFingaz
5iveFingaz is a visionary artist whose work seamlessly bridges the realms of street art, contemporary expression, and social consciousness. Renowned for his distinctive fusion of bold visuals and thought-provoking text, 5iveFingaz crafts pieces that resonate deeply with audiences, challenging them to reflect on both personal experiences and broader societal issues. His signature style often features vibrant colors juxtaposed with powerful, concise phrases that speak directly to the heart of human experience, exploring themes of love, resilience, unity, and justice. Emerging from a background rich in urban culture and creative exploration, 5iveFingaz honed his artistic voice through a unique blend of trained and self-taught techniques and active community engagement. His art transcends traditional canvases, finding life on walls, public spaces, and unconventional surfaces, transforming everyday environments into platforms for inspiration and dialogue. The artist’s work has garnered global attention not only for its striking aesthetic appeal but also for its profound ability to connect with diverse audiences on an intimate level.
At the core of his practice lies the "Love More Than Ever" movement, a heartfelt initiative that underscores the importance of uplifting one another with kindness and understanding. 5iveFingaz’s unwavering commitment to positive messaging and social awareness drives his creative process, with each piece serving as a rallying cry for change. His work urges viewers to reflect on their roles in fostering a more compassionate and equitable world. Through exhibitions, collaborations, and public art projects, he amplifies voices that are often unheard, using art as a powerful tool for empowerment and community building. As his influence continues to grow, 5iveFingaz remains steadfast in his mission to spark meaningful conversations and inspire action, solidifying his place as a transformative figure in the contemporary art scene.
Arts & Culture
Artistic Activism for Social Change
As part of VersoFest 2025, explore basic graffiti techniques and hand-lettering skills in this fun, hands-on workshop led by globally renowned visionary artist 5iveFingaz! Using spray paint and markers, participants are invited to create their own unique pieces while learning how to express themselves through art.
Important Information:
About Verso University
Verso University is the Library’s lifelong learning and education initiative, serving up year-round offerings of classes, workshops, and lectures designed to further education and learning. Offerings run the gamut of educational opportunities, ranging from one-time lectures to ongoing courses to classes that meet weekly or perhaps monthly.
Verso University programs are made possible by the generous support of the Nancy J. Beard Lifelong Learning and Education Fund.
