Bluegrass fans in Cumberland have a Saturday afternoon date circled: Rock Hearts, a five-piece band of Southern New England veterans, takes the stage at Blackstone River Theatre on November 14 for a 3 p.m. matinee. Advance tickets run $23, climbing to $26 on the day of the show.
The performance is set for the theatre's address at 549 Broad St. in Cumberland, according to The Valley Breeze. The venue describes its room as a 165-seat listening space, and notes it sits just 15 minutes from Providence with free parking available, according to Blackstone River Theatre.
Rock Hearts formed in 2013, bringing together five veteran musicians from Southern New England who play bluegrass, old country tunes and newer songs adapted from other genres while maintaining a traditional feel, per event organizers. The lineup includes founding member and banjo player Joe Deetz and lead vocalist and guitarist Alex MacLeod, alongside Billy Thibodeau on mandolin, Rick Brodsky on bass and Austin Scelzo on fiddle.
A Catalog Built on Chart Success
The band's catalog has grown steadily since its 2020 debut album, Starry Southern Nights. Rock Hearts followed that release with Wanderlust in 2023, its debut project with The 615 Hideaway Record Label, as detailed on the band's Blackstone River Theatre concert page.
According to a news release, the band's subsequent album, Unfinished Bridges, saw real chart momentum, with the full album and several singles debuting in the national charts' Top 10, including five No. 1 positions. That followed on the heels of recognition within the genre: Rock Hearts was selected as one of 20 official showcase bands at the 2021 IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the group has been featured in Bluegrass Unlimited, Bluegrass Today and the Bluegrass Situation.
New Gospel Project in the Works
In April 2026, Rock Hearts completed its fourth project, a 15-track bluegrass gospel album, a notable turn for a band that has built its reputation on traditional and chart-topping material alike, according to the band's bio page on Rock Hearts’ own site.
Saturday's Cumberland stop isn't the band's first appearance at Blackstone River Theatre. The venue's listing shows Rock Hearts previously performed there on April 6, 2024, at 8 p.m., suggesting the group has built a relationship with the room over multiple visits.
Tickets can be reserved at brtri.org or by calling 401-725-9272.
