FARHOF to open patriotism and protest exhibit in Boston

The Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame is set to launch a new exhibit in Boston that traces how American music has fueled patriotism, protest and social change. Public tours begin Sept. 12, with tickets available at FARHOF.org, and the exhibit runs through February 2027.

Why it matters: - Music has long shaped American identity, and the new exhibit is designed to show how songs have helped drive movements for equality, justice and unity. - The exhibit also connects Boston’s history to a larger national story, linking revolutionary-era music to modern calls for social and economic change. - The project gives the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame a new draw for visitors, students and music fans inside the Wang Theatre.

What happened: - The Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame will open “Chimes of Freedom: Patriotism, Protest, and the Power of Song” in collaboration with the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music. - Public tours begin Saturday, Sept. 12. - Tickets will be available at FARHOF.org. - The exhibit will feature items from Bruce Springsteen, John Denver, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Dropkick Murphys and others.

The details: - The exhibit examines music as an agent for change across American history. - The storyline starts with Indigenous people, moves through the American Revolution and the spirituals sung by enslaved people, and reaches the Civil Rights Movement and present-day justice movements. - Casey Soward, president and CEO of the Boch Center, said music has served as “the conscience of our nation” by pointing out inequity and defining an American ideal. - The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music launched a sister exhibit in June when the center opened to the public. - Both exhibits share the same title and similar themes, but each includes unique items. - Both exhibits run through February 2027. - FARHOF is located inside the historic Wang Theatre, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. - The Museum Collective curated the exhibit in partnership with the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music. - FARHOF includes exhibits, artifacts and educational experiences for audiences of all ages. - Recent and current FARHOF exhibits include Music America: Iconic Objects from America’s Music History, This Wheel’s Still On Fire: The Legacy of Levon Helm, Joan Baez: A Life of Music, Art, and Activism, All Seeing Eye: Blue Note Records Through the Lens of Francis Wolff, Bruce Springsteen: Portraits of an American Music Icon and Legends of Folk, Americana, Roots Music.

Between the lines: - The exhibit positions folk, Americana and roots music as both cultural memory and political force. - The partnership with the Bruce Springsteen Center suggests a broader effort to build a connected exhibit program around music history and civic identity. - The timing also gives FARHOF a high-profile offering during a year when the Wang Theatre is marking a centennial milestone.

What's next: - FARHOF will continue offering tours, events and exhibit programming through the run of “Chimes of Freedom.” - The exhibit remains on view through February 2027. - Visitors can also follow updates and information on Facebook and Instagram.

The bottom line: - FARHOF is using a major new exhibit to argue that American music has never been just entertainment; it has been part of the country’s civic and cultural engine.