Andrew DelCid 

There’s a brand-new fall tradition for the Heart of the Commonwealth: the first-ever WooStock. Friday, October 10th, the outdoor stage at Off The Rails (90 Commercial Street) will host a four-band bill with stand-up comedy, local beer, and harvest-fair shenanigans right in downtown Worcester. The party starts at 5:30 with music rolling through the evening and stand-up interludes to keep the energy high between sets. 

Spearheaded by mastermind Anthony Bisceglia from Friends of Coop, the lineup is proudly local and joyfully eclectic. Between the Waves sets the tone with honeyed harmonies and twang-polished hooks before Colt and the Coyotes fire up their roots-rock engine with equal parts grit, groove, and dance-floor magnetism. Miss Fairchild follows with a burst of retro-soul swagger and immaculate pop-funk arrangements, and last but not least Friends of Coop closes the night with alt-country textures made for crisp-air sing-alongs under the lights. 

Threading the whole show together is Worcester’s own Shaun Connolly, the comic ringleader known for “Hot Dog!” at Coney Island, The Sort of Late Show, and his wildly popular sports column in this very magazine. Expect Connolly’s quick, neighbor-next-door bite and Worcester-in-jokes sharpened by years of stage time across New England. If you’ve caught him at Ralph’s or around town, you know he’s the perfect glue for a hometown throwdown like this. 

WooStock is presented by This Is It Record Co., a Worcester indie label that’s been busy championing the city’s bands and scene builders. Pair that DIY ethos with Off The Rails’ Nashville-meets-Worcester footprint—BBQ smoke, a big-hearted patio, and a purpose-built outdoor stage—and you get an atmosphere that feels both polished and personal: a festival you can walk to, with the neighborly chaos we love. 

Because this is Woo-town, the music is just the start. Between sets, the grounds turn into a fall-fair playground: a mechanical bull for your inner rodeo star, bobbing for apples for the nostalgia kick, a stein-holding contest for bragging rights, and cider donuts to keep you fueled. Wash it down with beer from Sam Adams, Greater Good and Harpoon Brewery, two New England staples pouring fresh pints within arm’s reach of the stage. 

Beyond the novelties, WooStock is a statement of intent: a fall anchor event that foregrounds Worcester artistry on Worcester turf. Between the Waves, Colt and the Coyotes, Miss Fairchild, Friends of Coop, and a hometown comic at the mic—that’s not a touring package parachuted in for the night. It’s a snapshot of the city’s creative ecosystem working in concert, amplified by a venue built to make downtown feel like a festival grounds for a few golden hours.

Off The Rails has become a go to for music fans across Central Mass since opening not just because of the national acts, but with their open mics and giving locals a stage that sounds as good as it looks. WooStock extends that arc outdoors at peak foliage season, when a little hoodie weather, stage lights, and a crowd of familiar faces add up to something bigger than a gig: a communal exhale before winter sets in. 

If you want in, plan ahead. WooStock tickets can be found at OffTheRailsWorcester.com. Bring your friends, your jacket, your best bull-riding posture, and a thirst for New England beer and Worcester-born music. First annual? That’s the plan. Make the inaugural one count, and we’ll see you on the patio when the downbeat hits.