Walker Lecture Series Announces 2025 Spring Season

CONCORD, NH — Since 1896, the Walker Lecture Series has brought stimulating speakers and fun performers to Concord.

The tradition continues. This spring’s offerings range from a walk on the Appalachian Trail to a night with Laurel and Hardy from the silent era. Musical performers include the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, the NH Ukeladies, and Mixtape.

In the Walker tradition, all performances are free, and no tickets or reservations are required. Programs start at 7:30 p.m. at the City Auditorium on Prince Street in Concord.

Visit walkerlecture.org for details.

Spring 2025

Wednesday, March 12: A Walk for Sunshine: Lessons from the Appalachian Trail with Jeff Alt

Jeff Alt takes you along every step of his amazing 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail adventure filled with humor and inspiration, and he includes practical advice to plan your own hiking adventure.

Alt introduces you to bears, bugs, blisters, skunk bedmates, and hilarious food cravings. Jeff dedicated his journey to his brother, who has cerebral palsy, inspiring an annual fundraiser which has raised over $500,000. As you walk along with Jeff, you experience perseverance, surviving with only the bare essentials, the success of goal setting, and overcoming obstacles. His story sheds light on the pursuit of a simpler life.

Wednesday, March 19: Jane Oneail: Revolutionary Design: Modern Architecture in New England, and Georgia O’Keefe: Beyond the Blossoms

Revolutionary Design: Modern Architecture in New England

New England is known for its history and its traditions, but it is also home to daring and inventive modern designs from some of the world's leading architects. How do giants in the field like Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, Louis Kahn, Philip Johnson and Maya Lin combine the expected and the familiar with the innovative and experimental?

Georgia O’Keeffe: Beyond the Blossoms

Flower painting has long been the realm of women artists, so it is not surprising that Georgia O’Keeffe is best known for her revolutionary floral still lifes. Of course, in her eight-decade-long career, O’Keeffe explored a variety of subjects, including the skyscrapers of NYC and the deserts of New Mexico. This program will shine a light on other subjects and examine the ways O’Keeffe employed abstraction to become known as the “Mother of American modernism.”

Wednesday, March 26: New England Traditions: Maple Mania with Willa Caroka and Discovering New England Stone Walls with Kevin Gardner

Maple Mania: From Sap to Syrup & the Magic in Between

From learning to identify a sugar maple to tapping a tree, Willa Caroka will take you from sap to syrup.

Discovering New England Stone Walls

Why are we fascinated with stone walls? Kevin Gardner, author of The Granite Kiss, explains how and why New England came to acquire its thousands of miles of stone walls, the ways that they and other dry-stone structures were built, how their styles emerged and changed over time, and their significance to the famous New England landscape. Along the way, Kevin builds a miniature wall on a tabletop, using tiny stones from a five-gallon bucket.

Wednesday, April 2: Tiny Instruments and Big Attitudes with The NH Ukeladies

The New Hampshire Ukeladies is an all-female group of performers with a shared passion for the miniature member of the guitar family. They are a bunch of confident women in Hawaiian-print pants wielding tiny instruments and big attitudes. “You’ll hear a lot of girl power anthems, like ‘I Will Survive,’ and lots of tight vocal harmonies on songs like ‘Walk the Line,’ and ‘When Will I Be Loved,” says founding member Kate Boisvert. “Oh and ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ by Guns ‘n’ Roses. Yeah, we’re that cool.”

Wednesday, April 9: Before They Could Speak: Laurel & Hardy in the Silent Film Era with Jeff Rapsis

See Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy as they started during the silent film era, prior to their transition to talkies. We will learn about this comedy duo and watch “Two Tars” (1928), “The Finishing Touch” (1928), “Soup to Nuts” (1928) and “You're Darn Tootin’.” (1928). Live music improvised by noted silent film accompanist Jeff Rapsis.

Wednesday, April 16: A Cappella Concert with Mixtape.

Mixtape began their a cappella journey in the quaint, historic city of Dover with a raggle-taggle bunch of folks with musical tastes spanning classical to early 20th century jazz to modern radio hits. The members of the group remain true to their name.

Wednesday, April 23: A Tribute to Duke Ellington with the Aardvark Orchestra

The Aardvaark Jazz Orchestra, one of the longest-running large jazz ensembles in the world, will showcase Ellington's works, such as Caravan, by Duke and Juan Tizol, Come Sunday, and I’m Beginning to See the Light featuring Aardvark vocalist Grace Hughes.

The performance will also explore the music of Ellington and his long-time artistic collaborator, jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger Billy Strayhorn. Guests will hear Blues to Be There from the Ellington/Strayhorn Newport Jazz Festival Suite, Chinoiserie from The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse Suite, and It’s Freedom, from the Second Sacred Concert.

Submitted by the Walker Lecture Series.