WESTFORD, MA: Parish Center for the Arts (PCA), 10 Lincoln Street is celebrating 25 years of bringing Arts to the community this year, is staged and ready to launch its new season starting September 6, 2025. Tickets for all scheduled events are currently online and available for purchase via the PCA’s website (
pcawestford.org), or by calling (978) 692-6333.
Starting off September 6 is a new “Community” event – a Comedy Open Mic night where aspiring comedians can take the mic and impress audiences with five minutes of funny. Each Comedy Open Mic will share the talents of up to 18 comedians, with sign-ups available to professionals and novices alike. At this show, the guest host will be Jeanne DeRosa, math teacher by day; Mad Barbie by night. As with other PCA Community events, admission is just a donation of $5 per person. Seating will be cabaret style. BYOB & snacks.
Paul Rishell and Annie Raines are up next on September 12 at 7:30pm, part of the PCA’s Coffee House series, sponsored by Rockland Trust. Rishell and Raines are an acoustic, country blues-inspired musical duo that met in 1993 during the recording of Paul's album "Swear to Tell the Truth." They have released four albums as a duo. Raines is primarily known for her harmonica playing, but also plays mandolin, zither, and keyboard instruments. Rishell's primary instrument is guitar. Both sing on their recordings. They have also recorded and performed as members of John Sebastian's J-Band, and appeared on the soundtrack to "A Prairie Home Companion." Tickets are $20 for members; $22 for non-members; $25 at the door. Cabaret seating. BYOB & snacks.
September 20 is a fun-filled day at the PCA, starting the evening off at 5pm with the 2025 Annual Membership Meeting. There’ll be a “year in review,” a pot-luck dinner from 6-7pm, following by a concert with jazz-masters AJ & the Groove. Memberships begin at just $20 for the year. For information about attending or becoming a PCA Member, email
admin@pcawestford.org.
Grammy Award-nominated classical guitarist and composer Dr. José Lezcano returns to the PCA with an All-Cuban program including ‘contradanzas’ by Ignacio Cervantes and works by Leo Brouwer (including earlier works like ‘Danza Caracteristica’, ‘Danza del Altiplano’, and his arrangement of Grenet's ‘Drume Negrita,’ also known as ‘Afro-Cuban Lullaby’). Dr. Lezcano will also perform original works including ‘Bolero Manaba’ and ‘Mojito and Habano,’ in popular Cuban style and an original arrangement of hits from ‘Buena Vista Social Club.’ There will a pre-concert lecture at 3:30pm before the concert. Recital seating. Tickets range from $5-$20 in advance; $25 at the door.
Closing out September at the PCA will be Tim Ray Jazz Trio. Tim Ray’s wide-ranging skills as a soloist and accompanist have afforded him the opportunity to perform with legendary performers from all walks of music. He is perhaps best known as Tony Bennett’s most recent pianist and musical director, appearing in concerts with him until his retirement in 2020. Featured on over 100 recordings to date, Tim has performed in concert with an extensive list of pop music icons, notably Aretha Franklin, Lyle Lovett, Jane Siberry and Soul Asylum. He regularly performs with leading figures in the jazz world, among them Kurt Elling, Gary Burton, Esperanza Spalding, Phil Woods, Terri Lyne Carrington, Scott Hamilton, Dave Douglas, John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Lewis Nash and Rufus Reid; and his classical credits include solo performances and concerts with Gunther Schuller, the Boston Pops, and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. Tim’s busy schedule has included frequent tours throughout the Americas, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and has included performances at Carnegie Hall, the White House, the Kennedy Center and the 1992 Presidential Inauguration. For this performance, Tim will be playing with John Lockwood (bass) and Austin McMahon (Drums), featuring music from their "Fire and Ice" CD recording as well as some from Excursions and Adventures and previous projects. Cabaret seating. BYOB & Snacks.
There’s always something happening at the PCA. To get an update of what’s to come, visit them online at
pcawestford.org where you can sign up for their weekly newsletter. Once a week, you’ll hear who’s taking the stage when, other local events, as well as volunteer opportunities, possible arts classes, etc.
