The Thing Headlines VersoFest 2026 Kickoff Concert at Verso Studios on February 27.

Westport, CT -  VersoFest 2026 launches a high-energy kickoff concert featuring The Thing, a New York-based rock band that embraces the raw ethos of classic rock & roll. More than a band, The Thing   represents a return to fundamentals—garage-born creativity, live recordings, and the belief that artistic limitations fuel originality. “With restriction comes creativity—old becomes new,” says guitarist and vocalist Jack Bradley, a philosophy that guides every aspect of their work. 

Opening for The Thing is Fever Dream a group of five friends from the Westport/Weston area who love playing music. They play covers of some of their favorite classic/alternative rock and grunge songs and ahs written a number of original songs they'll be releasing soon. Fever Dream's members consist of Seamus Brannigan (drums and vocals), Griffin Delmhorst (guitar, keys, and vocals), Ari Sklar (guitar and vocals), Harry Shultz (lead guitar), and Ezra Schwartz (bass guitar). 

That spirit is fully realized on the band’s self-titled third album, released in August 2025. The 12-track collection channels the grit of vintage New York rock while nodding to influences ranging from The Kinks to The White Stripes. “It showcases all of our different personalities,” says bassist and vocalist Zane Acord. “We hang our hats on being a true band—where everyone has the spotlight.” The album follows their 2023 debut Here’s the Thing and 2024’s The Thing Is. 

The four members of The Thing bring diverse musical roots to the project, contributing to their melting-pot sound. After forming through school connections and eventually converging in New York City in 2022, the band has since played more than 300 shows worldwide. 

The performance kicks off VersoFest, The Westport Library’s annual music and media festival and conference, where artists, creators, and audiences come together for conversations, workshops, and live performances. Now in its fifth year, VersoFest takes place at Verso Studios, a state-of-the-art media and production hub within The Westport Library. 

Past VersoFest guests include Chuck D, Patti Smith, Black Thought, Henry Rollins, Richard Butler, the Wallflowers, Spin Doctors, and many other influential voices across music and media.