Jack Waldheim & the Criminal Hearts make the kind of music that rewards being watched up close: folk, alt country, and acoustic rock from a Berkshires songwriter who spent 17 years behind the counter at Wood Brothers music shop in Pittsfield before deciding to go all-in on his own records. The Monday Music Project brings that work in progress to the North Room at The Stationery Factory every Monday night, free of charge.
About the Show
The October 19 date is one stop in the Monday Music Project, a recurring series running every Monday through December 21, 2026. The concept is deliberately open: audiences watch Waldheim & the Criminal Hearts explore original compositions, experiment with covers, and search — in the band’s own framing — for “the creative marrow of their art and experience.” Any given night might find the band developing material for a future album, seeding a side project, or working up a new tune on the spot. Audience participation is encouraged.
Waldheim runs his own label, Crazy Jane Records, and is based in Hinsdale, MA. He blends folk, alt country, acoustic rock, blues, and spoken word — a range that plays out across three studio albums, from Jane: or All I Could Remember (2006) through After the Revolution (2012), a 30-track double disc exploring love, politics, and nature. The Criminal Hearts’ core lineup is Waldheim and drummer Chris Mattoon, with past recordings drawing in collaborators on pedal steel, keys, and vocals. The 17 years at Wood Brothers put deep roots under the work; his own framing of why he went independent says it plainly: “When I knew no one else was going to do it for me and do it well. It’s all about creative control.”
Venue & Logistics
The show takes place in the North Room at The Stationery Factory, 63 Flansburg Avenue in Dalton — a converted 1889 building, originally the Dalton Shoe Company, that housed Crane & Company’s stationery division from 1922 to 2013 before becoming a multi-tenant creative hub. The building now hosts around 25 tenants across arts, entertainment, food, and wellness, with a post-industrial aesthetic that carries through the performance spaces. The North Room is cozy by design. The Stationery Cafe is on site with a full bar, espresso drinks, and light snacks throughout the evening.
Tickets
Admission is free — no tickets required, no advance registration. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tips for the band are welcome. Find more live music across the capital region at Upstate Concerts.