Melissa Ferrick and Rasa String Quartet with Jake Armerding Headline Two Unique Shows at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate September 10th & 17th
Concerts Are a Partnership Between Passim & Trustees of the Reservations
(Ipswich, MA – August 26, 2026) Passim in partnership with The Trustees of the Reservations will present a pair of unique concerts featuring Rasa String Quartet with Jake Armerding (Sept. 10th) and Melissa Ferrick (Sept. 17th) at the historic Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich, MA. The shows will transport these artists, who have graced the Club Passim stage, to Castle Hill’s terra-cotta-walled Italian barn with breathtaking views of the New England seaside. Tickets are available at www.passim.org.
The September 10th show will feature the Boston-based, award-winning Rasa String Quartet, who are known for their blend of Western classical and folk music traditions. They will be joined on a co-bill by folk musician, composer, and Ipswich native Jake Armerding of the acoustic, instrumental band Rosin, and formerly of the legendary bluegrass outfit Northern Lights.
On September 17th, genre-defying songwriter and performer Melissa Ferrick will bring her raw and inspiring live show to Castle Hill. With a career spanning three decades and 18 albums, the celebrated indie music veteran and Ipswich native has cemented her legacy as one of New England’s premier storytellers. This show is a homecoming for Ferrick, who also grew up in Ipswich, worked at the property, and even attended prom inside the venue.
“I am thrilled to be returning to my hometown, Ipswich, to perform at the Crane Estate. Besides being a long-time Trustees member, from 1984 to 1988, I served as a front gate attendant at Crane Beach, celebrated my Junior and Senior proms at Castle Hill, and enjoyed 4th of July fireworks and lots of music events at the estate. It’s an immense honor to have been invited to perform by the Trustees of Reservations in my hometown at such a prestigious venue. Expect an evening of lyric-centered acoustic songs about love, loss, and the moments in between,” said Ferrick.
These special concerts follow on the ongoing success of their Scenic Songs Concert Series, which combines guided hikes with intimate outdoor performances on several of the Trustees’ more than 120 properties around Massachusetts. Upcoming shows include Rachel Sumner at North Common Meadow in Petersham, MA on Saturday, September 19th, and The Nields at Rocky Woods in Medfield, MA on Sunday, October 4th.
Tickets for all of these shows are available now at: www.passim.org.
About Passim
The mission of Passim is to provide truly exceptional and interactive live musical experiences for both performers and audiences, to nurture artists at all stages of their career, and to build a vibrant music community. Passim does so through their legendary listening venue, music school, artist grants, and outreach programs. As a nonprofit since 1994, Passim carries on the heritage of our predecessors, the historic Club 47 (1958-1968) and for-profit Passim (1969-1994). We cultivate a diverse mix of musical traditions, with an emphasis on the relationships among performers and audience, and between teachers and students. Located in Harvard Square, Passim serves Cambridge and the broader region by featuring local, national, and international artists. Our ultimate goal is to help the performance arts flourish and thereby enrich the lives of our community members. For a complete schedule, visit www.passim.org.
About Trustees of the Reservations
The Trustees is Massachusetts’ largest—and the nation’s first—land conservation and preservation nonprofit. Today, through the support of Members, donors, and partners, The Trustees helps conserve nearly 52,000 acres and welcomes the public to more than 120 inspiring locations across the state to experience landscapes where nature, wildlife, and people all thrive. For more information, visit: https://thetrustees.org/
###