Rain or Shine Series Returns to Prescott Park Arts Festival, Presented by Avery Insurance

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Avery Insurance and The Music Hall partner to host seven concerts at the Portsmouth venue, rain or shine.

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Prescott Park Arts Festival has announced the return of its Rain or Shine Concert Series for the 2026 season, presented by Avery Insurance, in partnership with The Music Hall. This year marks a landmark moment in the series' history: Avery Insurance, a longstanding and generous supporter of the Arts Festival, steps into the role of presenting sponsor of the Rain or Shine Series for the very first time. This meaningful elevation of their commitment reflects their deep investment in the Seacoast's cultural life and ensures that more concerts than ever can go on, regardless of the forecast.

The premise is simple but powerful: all concerts in this series are guaranteed to take place as scheduled, come rain or shine. If inclement or severe weather threatens the evening, an announcement is made, and the concert is moved indoors to The Music Hall. If the skies cooperate, the show takes place exactly as planned, out in the open air at Prescott Park, just the way summer music should be.

A Milestone for the Series: Avery Insurance Steps Up as Presenting Sponsor Avery Insurance has been a valued supporter of Prescott Park Arts Festival for many years, and their decision to become the presenting sponsor of the Rain or Shine Series in 2026 is a powerful expression of that commitment. Their increased investment directly benefits the sustainability of the infrastructure that makes this series possible. That added support absorbs the real costs of moving concerts indoors by bridging the financial gap when smaller venue capacity affects revenue and increases costs. Thanks to Avery Insurance's sponsorship, neither the weather nor financial burden can silence the music for these select concerts.

This kind of community-minded partnership is exactly what allows independent arts organizations to do their best work, and Avery Insurance's leadership sets a meaningful example of what it looks like to truly invest in the cultural fabric of a community. Avery's President, Tod O'Dowd, also serves on the Arts Festival Board of Directors and is deeply committed to Prescott Park Arts Festival's mission of connecting the community through the arts, ensuring access to all, and enriching lives across generations.

“At Avery, we are honored to serve as the presenting sponsor of the 2026 Rain or Shine Series. Our amazing NH summers can be unpredictable, so this collaboration ensures that Prescott Park Arts Festival's incredible performances can go on regardless of the weather. Supporting the Festival is an investment in the cultural vitality of our region, and we are proud to help keep the music playing for our community." – Tod O'Dowd, Avery Insurance President

A Partnership Built to Keep the Music Playing The Rain or Shine Series was formally launched in 2023 as a collaboration between Prescott Park Arts Festival and The Music Hall, two of the Seacoast's most beloved arts organizations. Its roots stretch back a year earlier: in 2022, an Allen Stone concert became the unofficial pilot when it was successfully relocated to The Music Hall ahead of the formal series launch. That single night proved the concept and inspired a partnership that has grown stronger every season since.

Since the series launched, the partnership has covered 21 potential rain dates across three seasons, with 6 concerts successfully moved indoors to The Music Hall when weather threatened. Not one of those shows was cancelled. The music kept playing, and audiences, artists, and the community were better for it.

“We are deeply grateful to both Avery Insurance and The Music Hall for making this series not just possible, but truly sustainable,” said Courtney Perkins, Executive Director of Prescott Park Arts Festival. “Avery Insurance has supported this Festival for years, and their decision to step up as presenting sponsor of the Rain or Shine Series is a reflection of the kind of community partnership that makes everything we do better. The Music Hall has been an extraordinary partner; together, we've built something that didn't exist before: a real safety net for live music on the Seacoast. These relationships matter enormously, and we don't take them for granted for a single moment.”

Behind the Scenes: The Real Cost of Keeping the Show Going While the Rain or Shine Series delivers peace of mind to audiences and artists alike, moving a concert indoors is never without its challenges. The Music Hall's intimate 850-seat capacity is a significant reduction from the large outdoor crowds Prescott Park regularly draws, and regardless of venue, the Arts Festival retains full responsibility for production and staffing costs. A weather relocation can result in real financial strain, which is precisely why Avery Insurance's presenting sponsorship is so meaningful and why The Music Hall's partnership is so valued. Despite those challenges, the impact on the community has been overwhelmingly positive, and the commitment to keeping the music alive remains at the heart of everything this series represents.

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This year's series brings together an extraordinary mix of iconic performers and rising stars. All concerts take place at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH, with the option to move the show just a few blocks away to the indoor venue of The Music Hall.

Now in their 20th year, The Walrus is a band of Portland, ME-based musicians united by a deep love of the Beatles' catalog. All members are active recording and touring artists who bring a reverent precision to recreating Beatles recordings in a live setting. While these exceptional musicians are sometimes joined onstage by a horn section or a string quartet, there are no costumes or fake British accents, just a deep respect and appreciation for these timeless classics. It's a joyful night for listeners of all ages!

One of the most talked-about new voices in Americana and country, Alabama-born Kashus Culpepper brings a husky, soulful growl to songs rooted in faith, heartbreak, and Southern life. A Navy veteran who didn't pick up a guitar until his deployment, Culpepper has risen quickly, named to GRAMMY.com's 25 Artists to Watch, Apple Music's Artists for '25, and the Grand Ole Opry's NextStage class. He's toured with Leon Bridges, Darius Rucker , and Sierra Ferrell, and John Mayer has called him “as good as it gets.” His debut album, Act I, was recorded at the legendary Muscle Shoals studio.

A rare and luminous double bill. Patty Griffin is a two-time GRAMMY Award winner and Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement honoree, one of the most consequential singer-songwriters of her generation, whose catalog spans three decades of folk, Americana, and gospel blues. Her latest album, Crown of Roses, is among the strongest works of her career. Joining her is Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards , a celebrated forebear of modern alt-country whose sharp, unflinching lyricism has earned her a devoted following. The New York Times has praised her “droll, observant and unsparing tone that is all her own.” Together, they make for an unmissable night of masterful songwriting.

Nashville-based trio Zach Williams , Brian Elmquist, and Kanene Donehey Pipkin burst onto the scene with their acclaimed 2013 debut and have been building a devoted following ever since. Known for transcendent three-part harmonies, raw emotional depth, and roof-raising live performances, The Lone Bellow blends Americana, folk, and gospel into something NPR has described as “earnest and magnetic folk-pop built to shake the rafters.” With over 100 million global streams and collaborations with Maren Morris and Kacey Musgraves , they remain one of roots music's most exciting live acts and a Festival favorite.

Named one of Paste Magazine's “100 Greatest Living Songwriters,” Moscow, Idaho native Josh Ritter has spent more than two decades crafting some of the most literate and emotionally resonant folk and Americana music around. The New York Times has likened his sound to “ Bob Dylan , Bruce Springsteen , and maybe a little Mark Knopfler .” Both Bob Dylan and Joan Baez have covered his songs. With twelve albums to his name, a bestselling novel, and a Stage Presence that is warm, witty, and deeply human, Ritter is a rare artist and Festival alum who belongs on any serious summer concert list.

Nashville powerhouse Maggie Rose has spent more than a decade earning her place among the most compelling voices in American roots music, and recent years have seen that work rewarded in a big way. A two-time GRAMMY nominee (Best Americana Album for No One Gets Out Alive; Best Americana Performance for the Grace Potter duet “Poison in My Well”), she earned an Emerging Act of the Year nod from the Americana Music Association in 2025. With a soulful voice built for both intimate moments and big stages, 100+ Grand Ole Opry appearances, and a discography that keeps getting richer, Rose is an artist at the height of her powers.

The soul and R&B force whose 2022 concert first inspired this entire series returns to close out the 2026 Rain or Shine lineup, a full-circle moment. Self-described as “a hippie with soul,” Allen Stone grew up singing in his father's church in rural Washington State and went on to build a devoted following through the sheer force of his voice and his electrifying live shows. His sound channels classic 60s and 70s soul and R&B, Stevie Wonder , Marvin Gaye , Donny Hathaway, with an idealism and warmth entirely his own. His live performance video of “Unaware” has over 16 million YouTube views. Expect a joyful, communal, unforgettable night as Uncle Al hits the Wilcox Main Stage once again.

This season's Rain or Shine Series underscores the Festival's unwavering commitment to providing accessible, high-quality, and consistent live music for the Seacoast community. Thanks to the continued support of our friends at The Music Hall, this tradition of resilience and collaboration will play on, rain or shine.

For the full concert schedule and updates on weather-related moves, visit prescottpark.org .

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/new-hampshire/article/RAIN-OR-SHINE-SERIES-to-Return-at-Prescott-Park-Arts-Festival-20260622)._