10,000 Maniacs 45th Anniversary Celebration Set
SitlerHQ has helped the 10,000 Maniacs with their 25th Anniversary, 40th Anniversary and now 45th Anniversary celebrations. This is going to good one, with a charity concert to be held to help support the local community.
Jamestown, NY -Labor Day Weekend 2026 will mark a historic homecoming in Jamestown as 10,000 Maniacs celebrate their 45th Anniversary. The band, who first performed on Labor Day weekend 1981, will host an arts festival culminating in a benefit concert on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. Proceeds from the show will benefit three distinct funds at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.Tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday, June 22nd at 12pm Eastern at RegLenna.com
The headline concert will be the crown jewel in a multi-day arts festival featuring live performances, archival exhibitions, and community events. The festival will highlight the artistic spirit and cultural legacy of the band, bringing together musicians, artists, activists, fans, local businesses and community organizations for a weekend of programming honoring the intersection of art, labor, history and education.
A look at the events…
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 – 7:00 p.m. – (Pay What You Can)
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts Media Arts Studio
Madness Most Discreet Presents: A Bright Room Called Day Featuring Work from Sukanya Burman The weekend begins with a multidisciplinary theatrical event produced by Madness Most Discreet in collaboration with Sukanya Burman Dance. This contemporary staging of Tony Kushner’s A Bright Room Called Day explores themes of political responsibility, artistic integrity, and social upheaval through an intimate and highly stylized production in which four performers portray the play’s full cast of characters. The performance reflects the same spirit of social awareness, artistic experimentation, and emotional storytelling that has long defined the music and legacy of 10,000 Maniacs.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 – 4:00 p.m. (Free)
Jamestown Community College Weeks Gallery
Maniacs 45: An Archival Retrospective
Taking place in the Weeks Gallery at Jamestown Community College, where the founding members of 10,000 Maniacs first met, this special exhibition will showcase archival photographs, memorabilia, recordings, posters, and artifacts spanning the band’s 45-year history. The retrospective traces the evolution of the group from its earliest beginnings in Jamestown to its enduring international influence. After the opening reception, the show can be viewed all weekend during normal gallery hours.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 – 6:00 p.m. (Free)
Winter Garden Plaza, 313 Main Street, Downtown Jamestown
Dead Letter Office (R.E.M. tribute band)
Downtown Jamestown’s open-air Winter Garden Plaza will host a performance of beloved regional performers, Dead Letter Office, who play in tribute to one of 10,000 Maniacs earliest collaborators, R.E.M.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 – 8:00 p.m. (Ticketed event)
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts Media Arts Studio
10,000 Maniacs New Record Listening Party
Fans will have the opportunity to hear unreleased material from 10,000 Maniacs ahead of the band’s forthcoming record release during an exclusive listening event hosted upstairs at The Reg. The evening will include refreshments and a first look at new music from the legendary hometown band. Limited tickets available for sale on Monday, July 13.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2026 – 6 p.m. (Ticketed event)
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts Media Arts Studio
10,000 Maniacs Pre-concert VIP Meet and Greet
Fans will have the opportunity to take photos with the band and celebrate their 45 year career just before they take the stage. Limited tickets available for sale on Monday, July 13.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2026 – 7:30 p.m.
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
10,000 Maniacs 45th Anniversary Concert Extravaganza
The centerpiece of the anniversary weekend will be a special benefit concert celebrating 45 years of music by 10,000 Maniacs. The evening will honor the band’s legacy while raising support for causes connected to music, community, education, and the arts in Western New York. Tickets available for sale Mon. June 22nd, 12 noon at RegLenna.com
Proceeds from the concert will support three scholarship funds created to honor those loved by the band; The Aaron Perez Fund (Jamestown Community College media arts students), The B&B Fund (mothers attending college in Western New York and Western Pennsylvania), and the Robert Buck Memorial Scholarship Fund (assist college music students) at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. The festival is made possible by the generosity of local sponsors, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union and UBS Financial Services.
The 10,000 Maniacs 45th Anniversary Arts Festival is continuing to add more events to the roster, so stay connected at Maniacs.com and book your trip to Jamestown for Labor Day weekend 2026 to join us in celebration, solidarity, and support!