Spend your night exploring some of rock and roll's most iconic moments. See the exhibition Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll, make a button or tie-dye a t-shirt, learn how handcrafted instruments are made, celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock music festival, and hear from musicians, historians, and critics about the lasting cultural impact of rock and roll.
All events are free with Museum admission.
Film Screening: Woodstock
6–9 pm
Ground Floor, Bonnie J. Sacerdote Lecture Hall
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Festival, view this Oscar-winning documentary about the event, directed by Michael Wadleigh in 1969.
ETHEL and Friends: Four for Fighting
5–8 pm
Floor 2, Great Hall Balcony Bar
String quartet Four for Fighting presents an evening of classic hits inspired by Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll.
Conversations with . . .
6–6:45 pm
Floor 1, Gallery 199
Join Jayson Dobney, Frederick P. Rose Curator in Charge, Department of Musical Instruments, and Craig J. Inciardi, Curator and Director of Acquisitions, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, for a wide-ranging discussion in the exhibition they organized together.
Signs and Symbols of Rock and Roll
6–8 pm
Floor 1, Great Hall
Join designers from ThoughtMatter as they explore the semiotics of rock and roll—from the Grateful Dead's "Lightning Skull" to Led Zeppelin's iconic typographic logo. Create your own legendary rock and roll identity using tools such as a band name generator and make a button to promote your band.
Building Instruments with Atelier Rosenkrantz
6–8 pm
Floor 2, Gallery 681
Learn about the artisanship of making instruments with French luthier (maker of stringed instruments) Rachel Rosenkrantz of Atelier Rosenkrantz.
Tie-Dye Workshop
6–8 pm
Ground Floor, Carroll Classroom
Drop in and create colorful, wearable tie-dye. Bring in your own cloth item or choose a t-shirt or handkerchief from our supplies.
Reflections on Woodstock with Chris Molanphy
6:30–7:30 pm
Ground Floor, Art Study Room
Chris Molanphy, host of Hit Parade, Slate magazine's podcast about pop-chart history, discusses his most recent episode, which focuses on the cultural, musical, and hit-making impact of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. According to Molanphy, Woodstock was not only a seminal festival concert but an instigator and burnisher of several artists' careers—from short-lived Billboard phenomena to iconic music legends.
Lez Zeppelin Live
7:15–8:30 pm
Floor 1, Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium
The all-girl quartet pays homage to Led Zeppelin during a live set of covers played on vintage and replica equipment used by the original band. Before the performance, guitarist Steph Paynes, founder of the group, and Brad Tolinski, journalist and author of Play It Loud: An Epic History of the Style, Sound, and Revolution of the Electric Guitar, will discuss the histories and details of guitars used by Led Zeppelin.
Note: Space is limited; advance registration is recommended. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration does not guarantee seating or entry once at capacity.
Register Now for Lez Zeppelin Live
This event is part of MetFridays: New York's Night Out.
MetFridays are made possible in part by Bonnie J. Sacerdote.
