2024 – Page 34

Electric history

How power changed rural New Hampshire life

Steve Taylor is a lifelong scholar of New Hampshire agriculture and rural life. He has been a daily newspaper reporter and editor, freelance writer, dairy farmer and for 25 years served as the state’s commissioner of agriculture. He was the founding executive director of the New Hampshire Humanities Council and in recent years has been an active participant in its Humanities to Go program. Steve spoke to the Hippo about his program “Late in Arriving, How Electricity Changed Rural New Hampshire Life” that he will give on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. at St. John Episcopal Church Parish Hall in Dunbarton. The event is hosted by the Dunbarton Historical Society.

Can you give a brief overview on what you talk about regarding electricity in rural New Hampshire?

The period between World War I and the middle of the 1950s was a time when there were two distinct civilizations in the state of New Hampshire: those who had electricity and those who didn’t. Those who didn’t lived almost the same as people would have lived in the 1890s. That means having to fetch water, run kerosene lamps, use privies, wash clothing by hand … as late as 1936, nine out of 10 rural residents of New Hampshire did not have electricity. But the coming of the New Deal with the Rural Electrification Administration addressed that problem. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, when he was campaigning in 1932, promised that the federal government would get behind electrification of rural United States, all over the country. … what is now known as the New Hampshire Electric Co-op … came in December 1939 in the little town of Lempster in Sullivan County. And it’s very, very amazing today to think how they accomplished so much, given the difficulties of the wartime economy, shortages of labor, shortages of materials so that by 1950 rural New Hampshire was largely wired and served by electricity.

Did the rural communities and people without electricity want electricity? Did they know how beneficial it would be to their lives?

Certainly, yes, the majority of people did. There were some holdouts. There were guys who milked their cows by hand and they said that was good enough for them. There were people who cut ice from the local pond and put it in an ice box and they thought that’s all they needed. Some people heated and cooked with wood. … But the majority of people jumped at the chance to have electric service brought in. And it was very remarkable because in order to qualify for an REA loan you had to have three potential customers signed up per mile and in order to sign up they had to put up five dollars … but there were some people that just couldn’t come up with five dollars and they did it with IOUs; eventually got it done. …

Does access to the internet mirror the issue with electricity?

There are echoes of that time today where you have people that don’t have high-capacity broadband service if they have any broadband service and that is a big, that’s a defining thing for many rural residents. … [I] n the little town where I live and the next town over they’ve gotten together and they’re getting some kind of grant support to have a company come in and string the fiber optic cable to get that service level raised.

Do you know the last place that got electricity in New Hampshire?

Hart’s Location in the White Mountains, a very, very small town, the last town to be wired was 1968.

Would you want to speak on New Hampshire Humanities?

We got it started back in the ’70s. It was just a little tiny venture in the early days… There’s a lot of emphasis on history, on literature, well some of it is more sociology I guess you’d say, but it’s a very remarkable organization what they do. I specialize in rural and agricultural history.

—Zachary Lewis

Late in Arriving, How Electricity Changed Rural New Hampshire Life
When: Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m.
Where: St. John Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 270 Stark Highway North, Dunbarton
Info: nhhumanities.org; Alison Vallieres, 774-3681

Featured image: Steve Taylor. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 24/10/31

Voting info

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Find information about registering to vote, which can be done at the polling place on Election Day, as well as what identification to bring and information about accessible voting at the NH Secretary of State’s website, sos.nh.gov. The Voter Information Lookup page (app.sos.nh.gov/viphome) allows you to search for your voting registration status and tells you your polling place, with hours.

Chief retires

Manchester Police Department Chief Allen D. Aldenberg announced his retirement effective Nov. 29 earlier this week. “After 27 years as a law enforcement officer, it is without reservation that I submit my formal letter of retirement,” Aldenberg said in a letter to Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais on Oct. 28. “Over the years, I have had the honor to work beside the committed and professional men and women of New Hampshire law enforcement. During the course of my career, I have experienced many challenges and difficult times. However, there have been many great moments along the way and I have been extremely fortunate throughout my career,” the letter said.

Aldenberg also praised the Manchester Police Department, saying the officers and staff “who serve you do so with dedication and courage. It’s easy to point out flaws from the outside, but true progress happens when we all engage in solutions together. Never forget that a law enforcement officer will lay down his/her life in a moment’s notice so that others don’t have to, and to me there is no more profound commitment.” He also encouraged the city to “continue to invest in the mental health and overall wellness of our employees. The Mental Health and Wellness Program that is currently in place at the Manchester Police Department serves as the standard bearer across New Hampshire.” And Aldenberg wrote, “The retention of our employees must be the number one priority. They have invested in Manchester and we share a collective responsibility to respect their commitment through competitive wages, safe workplace conditions, and a strong investment in their overall well-being.”

The letter also thanks former Mayor Joyce Craig and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen who appointed him chief and his wife Emily and their children as well as Chief Steven Monier of the Goffstown Police Department, where Aldenberg started his career in 1998, and Chief John Jaskolka in Manchester, who hired him in 2003.

Library for sale

The Boscawen Select Board is selling the 1913 Library at 248 King St. in Boscawen. The library building was designed by American architect Guy Lowell, was picked as a Seven to Save by the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance in 2013 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981, according to boscawennh.gov. The property is “offered for $350,000 ‘as-is’ … Covenants would include maintaining the exterior facade of the building and would prohibit demolition,” the website said. The town’s current public library is at 116 N. Main St.

Work recognized

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Information Technology won the state an Outstanding Achievement Award for “exemplary work in Health and Human Services in the Center for Digital Government’s 2024 Digital States Survey,” according to a press release on the DHHS website, which said New Hampshire was one of three states to receive the award. “The Center for Digital Government recognized New Hampshire for the state’s efforts to improve its technology infrastructure and security features, a commitment to transparency, and an enhanced and consistent web presence. … The State’s most significant technological achievement has been establishing relationships with local, state and county government; schools; technology advisory sources; the private sector, other states; and most importantly, the residents of New Hampshire,” the press release said.

Hospital recognized

The Foundation of Healthy Communities, a New Hampshire nonprofit “that builds healthier communities for all by leading partnerships, fostering collaboration, and creating innovative solutions to advance health and health care,” gave its Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Award to the Concord Hospital Health System, according to a press release. The Concord Hospital Health System “focused on improving outcomes due to a strong culture of safety, including launching a skilled and restorative care program to provide a new level of post-acute skilled care within its system; reducing health disparities among specific patient populations; and promoting transparency among care teams, with patients, families and community stakeholders,” the release said. See healthynh.org for more on the Foundation.

Toy season

Liberty Tax in Manchester is partnering with Toys for Tots of Southern New Hampshire in November for a national effort called “Torchie’s Toy Drive,” according to a press release. (Torchie is the Liberty Tax mascot; see libertytax.com/torchie.) Bring new, unwrapped toys to Liberty Tax, 245 Maple St. in Manchester, Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon throughout November (closed Thanksgiving), the release said.

The Squam Lakes Association will hold a “Let’s Go Nuts!” program
with Lakes Region Conservation Corps member Meg at
Chamberlain-Reynolds Memorial Forest in Center
Harbor on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The easy
2-mile walk will highlight “anything nut-related: mast years,
trees, seeds and more” according to a press release. Sign up at
squamlakes.org or call 968-7336.

The Craftworkers’ Guild shop in Bedford
(3a Meetinghouse Road, down the hill in the Library parking lot) will
open for the holiday season on Friday, Nov. 1. The shop will be open
in November Thursdays through Sundays (plus Veterans Day) from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. and in December Wednesdays through Sundays from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. through Sunday, Dec. 22. See thecraftworkersguild.org.

The Derry Public Library, 64 E. Broadway in Derry, will hold a program about retirement planning with financial advisor Dan Blakeman on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 6 p.m. Register at derrypl.org.

The United Way of Greater Nashua will hold Care-E-Oke at the Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., on Friday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $27 for adults, $10 for ages 14 and under, at tinyurl.com/Care-e-oke24Tickets. Sign up to sing at tinyurl.com/SinginCareEOke.

The Southern NH Ukulele Group relaunches its Sunday Jam Socials at Milk Street Studios, 6 Milk St. in Dover, starting Sunday, Nov. 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. Sign-ups are first come first served on the group’s Meetup page and at the door, according to a press release. See dovernh.org/news.

Mayor of Tender Town — 10/24/2024

You may have seen Nick Lavallee’s name in a recent New York Times story about Manchester’s chicken tender fame. Michael Witthaus talks to this Manchester booster about music, chicken tenders, his love of the Queen City and his pursuit of joy. Above and on the cover, Nick Lavallee poses with one of his Wicked Joyful shirts in Cat Alley in Manchester. Michael Cirelli Photography.

Also on the cover It’s a week of grown-up Halloween fun — find your party (parties?) in the listing on page 30. Or take the family to the Witch of Weston Tower attraction in Manchester (page 16). And Concord’s Street eatery explains its approach to french fries (page 24).

Read the e-edition

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Named after a seasonally appropriate Ramones song, a show devoted to their music by the Brad Marino Band is an adult way to cap off the Halloween celebration in downtown Rochester. Pet Semetary is an event benefiting the city’s Main Street organization. It begins shortly after the annual Zombie Walk.

The civic charity’s hope, Marino said in a recent phone interview, “is that people out having a good time supporting the local businesses will want to keep the party going in their zombie outfit and come hear the band play some music.” Admission to the event is free, with donations encouraged.

Marino may be Rochester’s biggest celebrity, but he doesn’t draw a crowd when he walks down the street. When he was in The Connection, his music was heard frequently on the satellite radio channel Little Steven’s Underground Garage. As a solo artist, he’s done several successful overseas tours.

Since his old band broke up in the mid-2010s, he’s made several solo pop-punk records; the latest is the surf-centric Hot Rod Rampage. “I can go and sell out rooms in Spain and Europe,” he said. “It’s a weird dichotomy … I always joke with my wife, ‘you’re married to the most famous person in Rochester.’ It’s just that nobody knows who I am.”

The upcoming show at the Roberge Center is special for Marino, who made an EP called Ramones & Stones with a tribute title track and four originals that sounded like Rocket to Russia outtakes. “These songs are a part of my DNA,” he said. “I started listening to Ramones when I was, like, 14. So, more than half my life, I’ve been playing along to their records.”

Covering the punk pioneers is something he’s done more than a few times, including playing “Blitzkrieg Bop” with Clem Burke sitting in. His band was on a bill with the Blondie drummer, who was playing with one of his side projects. “We’re like, ‘Hey, you want to do a Ramones song or something?’ We just did the easiest one … kind of cool to have a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer playing drums in your band for a song.”

The band — Marino, drummer and ex-Connection mate Craig Sala and Bobby Davis on bass — will play as a three-piece for the Rochester show. “I’m going to be doing dual duty, Joey and Johnny, and that’s going to be challenging,” Marino said. “We practiced the other day, and it was, like, woof. It’s not so easy when you’re trying to do all the down strokes.”

The two-hour set will be mostly tribute. “The Ramones themselves played 30 songs in an hour and 15 minutes every night, so we’re definitely going to mix in some Brad Marino tunes. I’m not sure if I’m just going to do a Ramones set then take five and regroup as my band, or if we’ll just randomly throw in some of my tunes — we’ll kind of play it by ear.”

Down the road, Marino is planning to release a new album early next year. “It’s a compilation record of a bunch of songs that haven’t been on vinyl,” he said. “They’ve just either been digital or maybe a bonus track on a CD. There are at least nine songs that have never been on vinyl, and there’s a couple new ones as well.”

Next month, the Brad Marino Band will headline an afternoon show in Ridgewood, New York, part of Fear City Fun Fest. He’s not missing his old group, and has a positive outlook, even if relative anonymity continues in his hometown. Marino, his wife and two sons moved there a few years ago, along with other creatives who were priced out of Portsmouth.

“The Connection had a good run for sure, but I’ve been quote unquote solo for five or six years. Pretty much in a groove with that and having a good run, playing some good shows and pumping out records. I think next year we’re going to be hitting up Europe — Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, and then probably back to Spain.”

Pet Semetary – A Ramones Tribute
When: Friday, Oct. 25, 8 p.m.
Where: Roberge Center, 6 Bridge St., Rochester
More: facebook.com/bradmarinomusic

Featured photo: Brad Marino. Courtesy photo.

For grown-up ghouls

Halloween week parties and music events

Next year will be simpler, when Halloween falls on a Friday and every nightspot in the state will offer costume contests. For 2024, though, it’s possible to parlay a wild and costly getup into multiple bashes. For those with kids, they can trick-or-treat without having to worry about when the parents’ Spooktacular event commences.

There’s a bunch to do. Here’s a list.

Friday, Oct. 25

• Atkinson Resort & Country Club (85 Country Club Drive, Atkinson, eventbrite.com) 8 p.m. Devil’s Disco: A 21+ Halloween party. Main Event Entertainment’s DJ Joey Dion spins the hottest tracks. $45.

• Haluwa (45 Gusabel Ave., Nashua, 864-8348) 8:30 p.m. Night Owls play covers, $100 prize for best costume.

• Henry J. Sweeney Post (251 Maple St., Manchester, 623-9145) 8 p.m. Dance with The Raging Rockaholics Band. Costume contest, winners for first, second and third prize. Finger foods provided; members and guests.

• Intervale Country Club (1491 Front St., Manchester, 674-6811) 8 p.m. Eleganza Dance Company hosts its 4th Annual Halloween Spooktacular. DJ Lucia’s plays salsa, bachata, hustle, and cha-cha music. The evening begins with a bachata lesson, followed by social dancing until midnight. Prizes for the best costumes. $20 at the door.

• Jewel (61 Canal St., Manchester, 836-1152) 9 p.m. Hachi Halloween with Reaper, Rebel Scum, Extrakt, Kr3wl b2b Cowson, costumes welcome and contest winner announced at 8 p.m. $30 at posh.vip.

• Makris Lobster & Steak House (354 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, 225-7665) 6:30 p.m. Stray Dogs play classic rock covers and there’s a costume contest

• Puff Cigar Lounge (355 South Broadway, Salem, eventbrite.com) 9 p.m. Hallowhine with favorite dancehall records. Music from Ru, Lu, Styles and Turtle with performances from Nawlage & True’ly Young; hosted by Jakeera. $30.

• Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St., Concord, 224-4600) 10 p.m. Rocky Horror Picture Show is screened. Audience participation is encouraged, but no outside props please. Also Oct. 26 at 10 p.m.

• Red’s Kitchen & Tavern (530 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, 760-0030) 7 p.m. Redemption Band performs, with a costume contest offering $500, $250 and $100 Red’s gift cards as prizes.

• Roberge Center (6 Bridge St., Rochester, facebook.com) 8 p.m. Halloween parade after-party with Pet Semetary: A Ramones Tribute, featuring The Brad Marino Band; donations welcome.

• Rumors Sports Bar & Bowling (22 N. Main St., Newmarket, eventbrite.com) 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Drag Me To Death Halloween drag show and costume contest with two shows and two casts. $25.

• Shaskeen (909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246) 9 p.m. Halloween bash with DJ Myth playing the best in Top 100 and throwbacks, Shawn Caliber on MC duties and prizes for best costumes.

• Stone Church (5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659-7700) 7 p.m. Two-day Grateful Dead party led by Stone Dead, a collaboration of New England musicians with roots and associations going back to the Stone Church scene of the ’80s and ’90s, from acts such as Percy Hill, Groove Child, Thanks to Gravity, Trade and others. $25 in advance, $30 day of show, $45 two-day pass.

• The Bar (2B Burnham Road, Hudson, 943-5250) 8 p.m. Ask Alice plays a Halloween bash with prizes for best costumes. The show is sponsored by Witch City Walking Tours.

• The Brook (319 New Zealand Road, Seabrook, 474-3065) 9 p.m. Guest DJ Sickick spins modern tracks. Prizes for best costume.

Saturday, Oct. 26

• American Legion Post 3 (11 Court St., Nashua, facebook.com) 7 p.m. DJ Bernie D of Perfect Entertainment spins, with prizes, food, dancing and fun.

• American Legion Post 70 (169 Walton Road, Seabrook, facebook.com) 7 p.m. Halloween party with costumes, contests and music from the Ghost Riderz.

• American Legion Post 8 (640 Central Ave. , Dover, 742-9710) 7 p.m. Stiletto, a tribute act dedicated to ’80s hard rock, performs at a 21+ event.

• Auspicious Brew (1 Washington St., Dover, 953-7240) 8 p.m. Halloween kickoff party with Tysk Tysk Task, 2000’s and Regals, $10 at the door.

• Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline, 244-3165) 6 p.m. Spirit to Spirits – Intuitive Medium Jessica Moseley conducts a group medium reading, offered with a wine tasting. Ticket includes a seat at the reading, calling forward anyone in spirit who would like to communicate with their loved ones in the audience. $45, 21+.

• Black Swan Inn (354 W. Main St., Tilton, eventbrite.com) 7 p.m. Experience the history of spiritualism and a Victorian magic show by magician Michael OJ. Learn about the era’s magic, turn-of-the-century psychics and the ongoing conflict between magicians and spiritualists. Hors d’oeuvres and spirits included. $70.

• The Castle on Charles (19 Charles St., Rochester, facebook.com) 7 p.m. Halloween Latin dance party with cash bar and light snacks. Cocktail hour at 7 p.m., beginner bachata lesson by Anita Augustyniak at 8 p.m. with salsa and bachata dancing from 8:30 until 11 p.m. $20.

• Castleton Banquet and Conference Center (58 Enterprise Drive, Windham, eventbrite.com) 7 p.m. Halloween costume gala, supporting Less Leg More Heart (charity supporting amputees), with dinner, dancing and silent auction. $100 and up.

• Chop Shop (920 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, 760-7706) 8:30 p.m. 15th Birthday Halloween Bash with Casual Gravity and Bulletproof.

• Derryfield (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880) 7 p.m. Mugsy is joined by D-Comp for the Halloween Monster Bash. Come in costume. Prizes for best overall, most creative and honorable mention. $30 at eventbrite.com. 21+ event.

• The Farm Bar & Grille (1181 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com) 7 p.m. Spooktacular Halloween bash hosted by local rugby club.

• Feathered Friend Brewing (231 Main St., Concord, 715-2347) 5 p.m. Halloween party with Andrew North & The Rangers, all ages, free show.

• High Octane Saloon (102 Watson Road, Laconia, 527-8116) 8 p.m. Mugshot Monday performs at this bash, with costume prizes for sexiest, scariest, best group, funniest, and best overall ($100 for that one).

• Keys Piano Bar (1087 Elm St., Manchester, keysmanch.com) 6 p.m. Witches Brew & Booze Crawl, with a craft cocktail at each stop. Kickoff at Keys Piano Bar (wristband pickup), Wild Rover at 7 p.m., McGarvey’s at 8 p.m., Bad Burger at 9 p.m. and finish at Bar Code at 10 p.m. $15, costume required.

• Liquid Therapy (16 Court St., Nashua, [email protected]) 7 p.m. Souhegan Valley Rotary Club Halloween Party and Karaoke Contest with prizes for best costume and singer, $25.

• Lynn’s 102 Tavern (75 Derry Road, Hudson, 943-7832) 7 p.m. Done By 9, with one member dressed as Monopoly Man, performs, with prizes for best costumes.

• Marker 21 (33 Dockside St., Wolfeboro, facebook.com) 7 p.m. Small Town Stranded will appear in costume as the X-Men, playing an extensive repertoire of cover songs, and there will be a contest for guests too.

• McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Court, Manchester, 622-6159) 7 p.m. Come in costume and join The Morning Buzz at the resort’s Hill Bar & Grille for the Buzz Brews & Boos Halloween Party (21+). $45 at ticketscandy.com, includes appetizer buffet, DJ, Halloween contest, games and prizes.

• Michael’s Bar & Grill (8 Stiles Road, Salem, michaelsmarketllc.com) 6 p.m. Halloween dinner with costume prizes, music videos, trivia. $40.

• MoJo’s West End Tavern (100 Albany St., Portsmouth, facebook.com) 6 p.m. 4th Annual Two Brothers Halloween Party with DJ NBD. Wear a costume to unlock drink specials.

• Newport Opera House (20 Main St., Newport, 863-2412, newportoperahouse.com) will host a 21+ Halloween Masquerade Dance with music by Last Kid Picked, from 8 p.m. to the stroke of midnight. Prizes awarded for best costumes in different categories. Cash bar. Tickets are $25 in advance, and $30 at the door, while they last.

• Mount Washington Cruises (211 Lakeside Ave, Laconia, 366-5531, cruisenh.com) will hold a Halloween Masquerade Cruise from 6 to 9 p.m., leaving from Weirs Beach. This 21+ costumed event will be a three-hour cruise with a buffet dinner, live entertainment, seasonal snacks and a costume contest. Tickets are $72.

• Par28 (23 S. Broadway, Salem, par28.com) 6 p.m. Halloween costume party with DJ, games and gift card for winners.

• Portsmouth Gas Light (64 Market St., Portsmouth, portsmouthnhtickets.com) 8 p.m. Halloween party in the third-floor nightclub with DJ Koko P, $500 prize for best costume, $25.

• Press Room (77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, eventbrite.com) 8:30 p.m. Skunk Sessions Halloween Psychedelic Circus with the Liquid Light Brothers and special guests Justin Lopes (keys), Henley Douglas (sax) and Yahuba Torres (percussion). $20.

• Rockingham Ballroom (22 Ash Swamp Road, Newmarket, portsmouthnhtickets.com) 7 p.m. DJ/KJ Magic spinning funk, groove, R&B, pop tunes and requests. Karaoke after 10 p.m. Costume prizes include cash for best couple. Signature Witch’s Brew drink included with ticket (21+). $15

• Saddle Up Saloon (92 Route 125, Kingston, 347-1313) 8 p.m. All That ’90s plays covers at a decade-themed costume bash.

• Sayde’s (136 Cluff Crossing, Salem, 890-1032) 7 p.m. Big Blue Sky returns to provide the music. Dress-up encouraged but optional; there will be prizes for best costumes.

• Shooters Pub (6 Columbus Ave., Exeter, 772-3856) 6 p.m. Tin Palace plays covers at a Halloween party.

• Village Trestle (25 Main St., Goffstown, 497-8230) 8 p.m. Halloween costume party with Bob Pratte Band. Contest and prizes.

Sunday, Oct. 27

• Rambling House Food & Gathering (57 Factory St., Suite A, Nashua; ramblingtale.com) will host Boos & Brews at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $20. “Join Rambling House & TaleSpinner Brewery for a night filled with frights by the fire. Enjoy an evening of storytelling by raconteur, humorist, and author Simon Brooks,” according to the website.

Monday, Oct. 28

• Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club (135 Congress St., Portsmouth, ticketmaster.com) 7 p.m. Scott Brown and the Diplomats perform an elegant Halloween soiree, with multiple costume contest categories. $20.

Wednesday, Oct. 30

• Brickhouse Restaurant and Brewery (241 Union Square, Milford, eventbrite.com) 6:30 p.m. Spooky pumpkin paint night; entry includes one free drink. $45.

• Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) 7 p.m. Jeff Rapsis provides the music at the Lon Chaney Halloween Creepfest double feature, with The Unknown (1927) and West of Zanzibar (1928). $10.

Thursday, Oct. 31

• Alpine Grove Events Center (19 S. Depot Road, Hollis, eventbrite.com) 9 p.m. Halloween singles bash. Come dressed in your costume — prizes for the best ones — and dance to DJ music while enjoying a Halloween vibe. $12–$29.

• Auspicious Brew (1 Washington St., Dover, 953-7240) 8 p.m. Queeraoke with Lezhang Seacoast Halloween costume contest, no cover.

• Bridgewater Inn (367 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, 744-3518, bridgewater-inn.com) will offer Halloween karaoke on Thursday, Oct. 31, and Friday, Nov. 1, before the big party on Nov. 2

• Chunky’s (707 Huse St., Manchester, chunkys.com) 7 p.m. Halloween viewing party of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone, $15.

• Downtown Nashua (eventbrite.com) 5 p.m. Unleash the Night: The Ultimate Halloween Bar Crawl, $14.99 includes two or three drinks or shots (offers may vary).

• Forum Pub (15 Village St., Concord, 565-3100) 7 p.m. Trick-or-treat options for all who show up in costume.

• Keys Piano Bar (1087 Elm St., Manchester, keysmanch.com) 8 p.m. A ghoulishly good time with live music, costume contests ($200 prize) and wickedly delicious drink specials that will keep you in high spirits all night long.

• LaBelle Winery ( 345 Route 101, Amherst, 672-9898) 6:30 p.m. Spooktacular Halloween party with DJ from Get Down Tonight Entertainment spinning Halloween tunes. Enjoy appetizers, snacks and desserts included in your event ticket, and a full cash bar will be available all night. A special prize will be awarded for the best Halloween costume. $47.

• Porkbarrel Productions (1324 Lovell Lake Road, Wakefield, eventbrite.com) 6 p.m. Backyard Boulderdash with The Boneheads and the Wooden Nickels. Come dressed in costume — grand prize of $300 and runner-up wins $100, as judged by the headliners. $15.

• Press Room (77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, eventbrite.com) 9 p.m. Dan Blakeslee’s alter ego Doctor Gasp performs with his band the Eeks. The 21st Annual Halloween Special with support from Soul Church begins directly after the Portsmouth Halloween parade. $15.

• Stone Church (5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659-7700) 7 p.m. Jimkata is a nationally touring electro-rock band blending heavy beats, hooks built on synth-pop sensibilities, and big anthemic guitars to create music with both modern and timeless appeal that combine the organic and the electronic. P(x3), a Connecticut duo, opens. $15.

• Stoned Wall Bar & Grill (37 Manchester St., Manchester, 698-2049) 8 p.m. Halloween party with drink specials and full menu, 50/50 raffle, bag raffles (six bags with values of $10-$5), costume contests. Best costume voted by customers, most original, colorful/pride filled, scariest, best clown and kinkiest.

• The Big House (322 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, 767-2226) 6 p.m. Luke SkyRocker Karaoke’s 7th annual Halloween party with costume contest. 21+.

• The Rugged Axe (1887 S. Willow St., Manchester, 232-7936) 2 p.m. Axe throwing Halloween party runs from 2 to 10 p.m., with costumes strongly encouraged, drinks specials and a raffle. Reservation at theruggedaxe.com.

• Wally’s Pub (144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton, ticketmaster.com) 9 p.m. 12/OC Halloween Hoedown with Nate Ramos Band and Michael Corleto, $30.

Friday, Nov. 1

• Saddle Up Saloon (92 Route 125, Kingston, 347-1313) 8 p.m. Bite the Bullet plays covers, with prizes for the best costumes in various categories.

Saturday, Nov. 2

• Bridgewater Inn (367 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, 744-3518) 8 p.m. Halloween karaoke and costume contest.

• To Share Brewing (720 Union St., Manchester, 836-6947) 7 p.m. Queen City Improv will be performing a Halloween-inspired show. $5 at the door (cash or card) gets you in. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Costumes are highly encouraged.

• Wally’s Pub (144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton, 926-6954) 6 p.m. Prospect Hill’s 15th annual Halloween party also celebrates their new EP, Catalyst. Anaria, Red Crown and Chris Drake provide support. $25.

Featured photo: West of Zanzibar.

The Music Roundup 24/10/24

Local music news & events

• Lyrical flow: In a tour that’s a throwback to his roots, Chris Webby stops in town for a show that includes Grieves, Ryan Oakes and Suave Ski. On the Connecticut-based rapper’s latest effort “FSU” — the NSFW title is abbreviated — he samples CKY’s 1999 stoner rock hit “96 Quite Bitter Beings” with Ekoh, who called it “maybe my favorite song sample flip of all time.” Thursday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $27 at aftontickets.com.

• Femme power: An evening of tribute music, Muse – A Salute to Divas of Rock showcases female singers from Janis Joplin to Paramore’s Hayley Williams. A power trio backs Jacyn Tremblay and Lauren Rhoades on classic songs like “Me and Bobby McGee” and Heart’s “Barracuda,” along with a healthy helping of icons including Pat Benatar, Joan Jett and Alanis Morrisette. Friday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $39 at palacetheatre.org.

• Lilith returns: Before her song “Angel” helped launch the pet rescue industry, Sarah McLachlan broke out big with Surfacing, an album that garnered a lot of AOR mindshare in the grunge-dominated ’90s and would help the Canadian singer-songwriter launch the all-woman Lilith Fair. At an upcoming show she’ll play the record from start to finish, along with other hits. Saturday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester, $49 and up at ticketmaster.com.

• Vocal sorcery: In a free show made possible by the William H. Gile Trust, Kitka performs a program of traditional singing. For over 40 years the nine-woman vocal group has traveled to Eastern Europe and the Caucasus to gather songs and learn about the traditions behind the centuries-old music, which resembles a more soulful version of Gregorian chant. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord; request free tickets at ccanh.com.

• Midweek mirth: A finalist at last year’s Boston Comedy Festival, Jessica Levin headlines a weekly shindig that began in 2008, and these days is booked and hosted by comic Sam Mangano. The fortysomething Levin is a North Jersey/Philly hybrid who works regularly in New York, where she’s now based. Her comedy is brash and unfiltered; a bit about trying to get Ozempic is hilarious. Wednesday, Oct. 30, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $5 at eventbrite.com.

Year: 2024

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Mayor of Tender Town — 10/24/2024

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The Music Roundup 24/10/24

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