The Warner Fall Foliage Festival returns Friday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 8, after a two-year hiatus, welcoming attendees to celebrate community and culture in its 76th year.
Originating in 1947, the festival started as a community fundraising event.
“It has since evolved to feature amusement rides, craftspeople, music and food,” organizer Ray Martin said.
The theme for this year’s grand parade is “Favorite Songs, Past and Present,” with festivities including the 5K road race on Saturday, Kids’ Fun Run on Sunday morning and an ice cream eating contest at the Velvet Moose on Sunday afternoon. Live performances are schedule from various artists such as New Nile Orchestra, The DoBros and East Bay Jazz Ensemble.
Another highlight, Martin said, is the extensive array of crafts, with more than 90 crafters showcasing their wares. “The quality of the vendors is one of the biggest reasons people come each year,” he said.
Discover wooden home decor, pen and ink creations, artisan jewelry, landscape art, wildlife photography, pottery and more by local and regional crafters. There will also be homemade and homegrown goods, including fudge, organic vegetables and dried flowers.
The festival also hosts other events including an all-you-can-ride midway, the oxen and woodmen’s competitions, the library book and bake sale and a lobster dinner and chicken barbecue.
It wouldn’t be the Foliage Festival without the foliage, and Martin said the signs are promising for an abundant display that weekend. “There’s some good foliage starting to come in, so we are optimistic,” he said. The foliage “complements the festival and gives people more to experience at the event,” Martin said, but isn’t “the main draw.” Rather, the festival’s focus is community engagement and supporting local organizations and initiatives.
“All funds collected during the festival go directly into the community,” Martin said, supporting entities such as Mainstreet Stage, Pillsbury Free Library and Riverside Park; community enhancements and the procurement of new school equipment; and local culture, music, art, sports, town and school projects.
Warner Fall Foliage Festival When: Friday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 8 Where: Warner, on Main Street and various locations throughout town Cost: Free admission More info: Visit wfff.org.
Schedule:
Friday, Oct. 6 6 to 9 p.m. – Midway rides (all-you-can ride bracelet is $20)
Saturday, Oct. 7 9:30 a.m. – 5K road race (registration starts at 8 p.m. at Legion Hall) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Crafts and farmers market in town center 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Library book and bake sale at Pillsbury Library 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Oxen competition at upper school parking lot 10 a.m. – Midway and rides open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – The MainStreet Warner Lodge, just behind the town monument, will be open to the public. See the inside as restoration begins, and learn about the plans for this future community space and performance hall. 11:45 a.m. – Lobster dinner and chicken barbecue opens at school playground 1 p.m. – Children’s parade (assemble at post office at 12:45 p.m.) 2 to 3 p.m. – KCPA, Kearsarge Mountain Road Intersection 4 to 8 p.m. – Midway rides (all-you-can-ride bracelets are $25)
Sunday, Oct. 8 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Crafts and farmers market at town center 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Library book and bake sale at Pillsbury Library 9 a.m. – Kids’ 1-mile fun run (register online) 10 a.m. – Midway and rides open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – The MainStreet Warner Lodge will be open to the public 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Woodmen’s competition at upper school parking lot 11:45 a.m. – Lobster dinner and chicken barbecue opens at school playground Noon – Ice cream eating contest at The Velvet Moose 1 p.m. – Grand parade on Main Street 2 to 6 p.m. – Midway rides (all-you-can ride bracelet is $25) 4 p.m. – Raffle drawing at information booth
For more than three decades the Milford Pumpkin Festival has brought residents of Milford and surrounding towns, as well as our Massachusetts neighbors, together for three days of fall fun with food, music and, of course, pumpkins. This year’s festival is from Friday, Oct. 6, to Sunday, Oct. 8.
“It has been a staple in Milford for … many years,” said Wade Campbell, president of the Granite Town Festivities Committee, which has hosted the festival since 2018.
The event originally started on The Oval as a way to raise funds for Town Hall renovations. Now, the money goes to fund the following year’s festival as well as to sponsor local leagues, art students and other scholastic areas.
“We take that money and try to donate it back into the community,” Campbell said.
The festival has expanded to the downtown area with many businesses and restaurants becoming involved over the years.
“A lot of them participate by selling their wares out front, or they put on their own events, which is kind of cool because they’ll have special musicians or comedians come into their venues, so everybody gets a little bit of action so to speak,” Campbell said. “They also sponsor … the window painting around The Oval [by] having a pizza party after they’re done decorating.”
Dozens of vendors will be present, including nonprofits supporting local schools, and craft vendors selling handmade products like jewelry and knitted items. Food and drink vendors at the tasting tent include LaBelle Winery, Pasta Loft Restaurant and Spyglass Brewing; there will be a wide range of food like Thai, American, fried dough and fair food. There will also be a beer, wine and spirits tent on the community house lawn Friday and Saturday night, and kid-friendly activities during the day like pumpkin painting, face painting and scarecrow making on Saturday and Sunday.
Other happenings include a pumpkin carving and lighting display, bounce houses and games and pumpkin catapulting.
Throughout the three days there will be live music on the Oval Stage and Community House lawn stage by performers such as Fox & The Flamingos, The Slakas and The New Englanders.
Visitors can watch Eric Escobar create a pumpkin festival mural over the course of the festival, and, weather permitting, do some stargazing with amateur astronomers who will have telescopes set up at Keyes Memorial Park on Friday and Saturday evening.
One of the biggest draws, according to Campbell, is the haunted trail on Friday and Saturday night.
“There’s a little bit of something for everybody,” Campbell said. “I hope that everybody has a great time … [and] for the festival to continue to grow for many years to come. … We try to put a smile on everybody’s face.”
34th annual Milford Pumpkin Festival When: Friday, Oct. 6, 5 to 9 p.m. (opening ceremony at 6 p.m. on the Oval stage); Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Downtown Milford
Haunted trail When: Friday, Oct. 6, 6 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 7, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Where: Emerson Park, 6 Mont Vernon St. Cost: $5 for adults, $1 for kids 10 and under (children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult)
Beer, wine and spirits tasting When: Friday, Oct. 6, and Saturday, Oct. 7, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Where: Community House Lawn Cost: $20 per person for 10 tasting tickets
Milford historical walking tour When: Saturday, Oct. 7, and Sunday, Oct. 8, 8 to 9:30 a.m. Where: Begins at the Carey House, 6 Union St.
Pumpkin painting, scarecrow making and face painting When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Community House Lawn Cost: $15 per pumpkin; $15 per scarecrow; face painting is $1 for one cheek and $5 for full face.
Pumpkin carving and lighting display When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Bring carved pumpkins to Band Stand by 6 p.m. You can also bring your own from home.) Where: On The Oval Cost: $12 a pumpkin
Pumpkin catapult When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 8, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Where: TD Bank lower lot Cost: One pumpkin is $3, two pumpkins is $5
Featured image: Milford Pumpkin Festival. Courtesy photo.
Current and upcoming exhibitions at the Currier Museum of Art
This fall the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester will present works by classic and current artists in a multitude of media and styles. “Fabricating Modernism: Prints from the School of Paris,” which debuted on Sept. 7, will be joined by “Heart of a Museum” on Thursday, Oct. 19, and “Abstraction in the Currier Collection” on Wednesday, Nov. 15.
“I think one of the great things about [‘Fabricating Modernism’] is not only is the art really wonderful, but it comes from a private collection from a person who put most of it together by himself,” said Kurt Sundstrom, a curator at the museum. “He promised the whole collection years ago as a gift to the Currier upon his passing. It was a great honor to work with him, to watch his collection grow and now for him to share it with us.”
The School of Paris refers to 20th-century artists who were from, or worked in, Paris.
According to Sundstrom, these artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, were key in innovating modernism. He says the exhibition explores the themes of modernism instead of focusing on a narrative.
“First of all there’s color theory,” Sundstrom said. “You don’t [have to] paint tree leaves green; you can paint them blue. If you want to … elicit an emotion you can use color that way also.”
He also notes how Picasso’s frustration with the two-dimensional canvas led him to develop cubism to portray three dimensions on a two-dimensional surface.
c“I think part of the strength of this exhibition … is that it provides context for the development of these different styles in conversation with each other,” adds Rachael Kane, curator of education and interpretation. “Prints are hard to display — they age really quickly in light, so we often can’t keep as much of our print collection out as we’d like to, so something like this is a really special moment to be able to see some of those artistic linkages between work that is already regularly on display around the museum.”
“Heart of a Museum” features work by artist Saya Woolfalk, whose career has shown interest in science fiction, empathy and imaginative human connection and often involves images of the human body, according to Kane. Her display will feature projections, hanging glass and ceramic objects and custom wallpaper to create an atmospheric quality that Kane says her work is known for.
“A lot of it relates back to this idea of wanting to establish this historically grounded and personal connection to the history of the institution,” she said. “I think a lot of her work is really personal for her [and] a lot of it is a reflection on how she sees herself and people like her reflected in these spaces and wanting to get at the heart of that in her own way.”
“Abstraction in the Currier Collection” will also feature work from underrepresented groups with a high proportion of art by female artists like Joan Mitchell. According to Kane, this show is a great opportunity to see the abstract work that the Currier has to offer that people don’t often get to see.
“This is an important time of year for the museum,” Kane said. “I think we’ll see a lot of really celebratory and special events connected to these shows and I think it’s such a range of material it really offers something for everybody.”
Cover photo: Pablo Picasso, Portrait de Jacqueline de Face II, 1962. Courtesy of the Currier Museum of Art.
Currier Museum of Art Where: 150 Ash St., Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144 Hours: Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. plus 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays for Art After Work (when admission is free) Admission: $20 for adults, $15 for 65+ and student, $5 for ages 13 to 17, 12 and under get in for free
“Fabricating Modernism: Prints from the School of Paris” On view through Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024
“Heart of a Museum” On view from Thursday, Oct. 19.
“Abstraction in the Currier Collection” On view from Wednesday, Nov. 15
It takes more than a few great songs to make it as a professional musician, though having a repertoire helps. Without knowledge of business ins and outs — where to play, how to get paid, who wants to hear originals and not Tom Petty covers — even the best players can get lost.
It takes more than a few great songs to make it as a professional musician, though having a repertoire helps. Without knowledge of business ins and outs — where to play, how to get paid, who wants to hear originals and not Tom Petty covers — even the best players can get lost.
Kimayo. Courtesy photo.
How it started When Brad Myrick came back to New Hampshire in early 2011, he’d spent close to a decade chasing his dream of being a professional musician, studying in Los Angeles at USC’s Thornton School of Music, then traveling between the West Coast and Europe, playing shows, making records and learning the ropes.
Myrick was happy to be back home. He fixated on finding a way to continue as a performer in his home state.
“I like the quality of life, and I think this is probably where I want to settle down,” Myrick recalled thinking. “How can I still get that full music business experience while living in a place that is so small and doesn’t have a huge music industry?”
As he dove into getting gigs and building his name, Myrick got caught off guard.
“I was thinking, boy, there’s a lot more going on in New Hampshire than I could have ever imagined; it’s actually a great place to be a musician,” he said. “There’s a lot of live music, there’s a ton of talent … wonderful people doing really great things.”
What was missing was something resembling a centralized scene.
“There’s a cool thing happening in Portsmouth, good stuff in Manchester, and the North Country has got its thing, but people seem to be a little more regional and localized,” he said. “There were a lot of gigs, but not what I was used to seeing in Los Angeles or in some of the cities in Europe.”
“There’s a cool thing happening in Portsmouth, good stuff in Manchester, and the North Country has got its thing, but people seem to be a little more regional and localized,” he said. “There were a lot of gigs, but not what I was used to seeing in Los Angeles or in some of the cities in Europe.”
There was a little bit of self-interest in Myrick’s musical field of dreams but, to mix a metaphor, reaching his goals was going to take a village.
“If this is going to be my home and I want to be a professional musician for the rest of my life, how do we invite people in?” he was thinking. “How do we get everyone connected as much as possible, and then have resources that may exist in bigger places?”
He aimed for the yet-to-be-created indie record label, the singer-songwriter stringing together bar gigs and wondering what to do next, but he was thinking bigger than that.
“What if we had access to local health care for musicians — doctors and chiropractors and naturopaths,” he mused. “Massage therapists that understand musicians because we have different problems than other folks do; what if we had any resource that a musician might need?”
With a brand designed and a Facebook page created, Myrick began obsessively filling notebooks. “I’d be on a plane going to Italy and I’d make bullet points of my ideal scenario if I had infinite money and resources to offer to myself and to musicians in New Hampshire,” he said.
Senie Hunt. Courtesy photo.
NH Music Collective’s first foray into business turned out to be more down to earth than Myrick’s lofty dreams. He booked a midweek gig at the Stark House Tavern in Weare. It was his first time there, and the managers told him they were pleased with his performance. Moreover, they wondered if he knew anyone else who might play there?
Why, yes, he did.
“Booking is essentially creating jobs for performing musicians,” he said. “I did it for myself and I realized there was an opportunity to get more people involved in that. Suddenly it went from a show for me to like eight shows a month, twice a week or whatever, and other people are getting work from that. That basically told me this thing happened that you’re thinking about, this NH Music Collective idea.”
This was in 2013, and it stayed a one-man side hustle, albeit a growing one. “I’ll make a few bucks off it, it’ll create a bunch of gigs for people,” he said. “I started just doing that casually while I was working as a full-time performer, that was the catalyst of the whole thing.”
It took finding a partner — two of them — for Myrick’s NH Music Collective vision to fully flower.
John McArthur and his wife, Reva Tankle, moved from Massachusetts in 2018 to help their son run The Greenhouse, a Gilford recording studio he’d opened a year before. McArthur quickly met Concord musician Mike Gallant, and Mikey G — everyone calls him that — put McArthur and Myrick together.
The two hung out at Strings and Things, a musical instrument store in Concord, and Myrick ended up bringing a couple of projects to the studio, including the Eric Lindberg Trio, which he played in at the time, and his duo with fellow guitarist Nicola Cipriani. They also talked a lot about Myrick’s idea for NH Music Collective.
McArthur’s path to the music business has a familiar beginning and an atypical middle.
“I dropped out of a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology to play music full-time, which I did while my wife, Reva Tankle, finished her Ph.D. and did a postdoc,” he said by phone from Portland, Maine, where they now live. McArthur gave up music when they moved to Texas. “I didn’t play country at the time, so I stopped playing.”
After that, “I kind of fell into tech for 35 years, then I dropped out of tech to go back into music full-time, thanks in part to my son and thanks in part to Brad,” he said. “I play a few times a month but not at the level that Brad does — those years are behind me.”
Myrick and McArthur’s conversations got more serious in 2020, and during the depths of the pandemic they formed a three-way partnership.
“A downturn is a great time to start, because everything looks like growth from there,” said McArthur with a chuckle. “I’m just loving spending all my time in music now, trying to help emerging artists and help venues create better experiences.
Myrick books shows, McArthur does artist development, and Rankle handles the nuts and bolts. “Contracts, finance, communication with the artists to make sure they know where they’re supposed to be, what they’re supposed to get, that they get there on time and everything’s ready for them when they get there,” McArthur said.
“We kept the brand because I’d already built it for many years and had some success,” Myrick said. “Then we have a small record label and a publishing company underneath this parent company, using them for one-off projects. We haven’t really promoted it, but the infrastructure is there and we’re working on that as a future goal.”
Home is where it’s at One thing they’re trying to dispel is the belief that the region’s musicians are bound to leave for a bigger market.
“I encourage people from here to get out and explore, have an experience, particularly if it’s in a place that’s got some industry where you can go and, frankly, get your ass kicked.” Myrick said. “It’s good to have that experience and get pushed and learn what it’s really like in a larger scale.”
While going to a city like Nashville to work with a big-name producer can be exciting, it’s not necessary.
“We have world-class musicians, recording studios, business folks, promoters, all the things that you need to be a successful professional musician,” he said “It’s helpful to get insight and see what the big world has to offer, and I encourage everyone to do that. But you don’t have to.”
Mikey G. Courtesy photo.
That said, there are trade-offs. NHMC has a growing roster of talent performing seven days a week all over New England. While some shows are listening-room affairs (where original music is the primary focus for the audience), more are at venues where music is one item on a big menu. Myrick, however, believes doing original songs and covering the hits both build the same muscle.
That said, there are trade-offs. NHMC has a growing roster of talent performing seven days a week all over New England. While some shows are listening-room affairs (where original music is the primary focus for the audience), more are at venues where music is one item on a big menu. Myrick, however, believes doing original songs and covering the hits both build the same muscle.
A few NHMC acts talk about their experiences.
Justin Cohn is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who was recently featured on the Rocking Horse Music Club rock opera Circus of Wire Dolls.
“As for my own music, I always have trouble describing it,” Cohn said. “I guess it’s a mix of indie folk, pop, Americana, and rock, with maybe a little bit of soul thrown in…. I like to see where the creative process leads me.”
Cohn contacted Myrick after seeing NHMC’s name at venues he played; the two met for coffee. “Brad described the philosophy and intention as much more than just another booking agency,” he recalled. “Their goal was to empower musicians who also want to make original music … cover gigs are a means to an end. The pitch hooked me immediately, because that’s the direction I wanted to go, but I didn’t really know how to get there.”
He’s been pleased with the results.
“The shows I’ve been fortunate to book through them have been some of the best I’ve ever regularly played, especially in the restaurant and bar scene,” Cohn said. “Depending on the venue, this means I’m able to play some of my original music with more frequency. This seems like a small thing, but it’s dramatically expanded my self-confidence and it’s ultimately led to more creativity.”
Rebecca Turmel. Courtesy photo.
Rebecca Turmel put out her first single a little over a year ago. Her latest is a poignant tribute to touring life called “The Road.” She’s among several NHMC artists nominated for the upcoming New England Music Awards.
“I feel honored to be a part of their roster as they work with some of the most dedicated and talented musicians that I know,” she said. “They have connected me with high-quality venues that I thought I could only dream of performing in. For example, I just had the privilege to perform at the Bank of NH Stage … my first true listening room experience as an original artist.”
“It’s hard to put my sound into a box right now since I still have a lot of growth ahead of me as a songwriter, but what I’ve released so far seems to fall into the country genre,” Turmel said. “I am still discovering who I am, and with that comes finding my sound as an original artist as well. It’s all a learning game.” Turmel has been working with NHMC for around a year.
“I feel honored to be a part of their roster as they work with some of the most dedicated and talented musicians that I know,” she said. “They have connected me with high-quality venues that I thought I could only dream of performing in. For example, I just had the privilege to perform at the Bank of NH Stage … my first true listening room experience as an original artist.”
Ryan Williamson is a past NEMA nominee who uses looping and multiple instruments in his shows.
“I’m a self-taught musician who writes music that covers pop, rock, and Americana,” Williamson said. “ I play a bunch of gigs around New Hampshire and love to play songs you wouldn’t expect to hear from a solo artist with a guitar.”
He knew Myrick before he established NHMC, and got involved early.
“I wanted to do anything I could to help with his efforts to create the local scene he envisioned; there is not a single musician on the planet that I respect more than Brad Myrick,” he said. “He is absurdly talented in his own right … and more committed to creating a thriving local music scene than any person I know.”
His involvement has led to many opportunities, Williamson continued.
“Aside from opening my musical reach to more accepting listening rooms, Brad has joined me on stage and made me a better musician … coordinated events with groups of local musicians, which helps engage the musical community with each other as well as showcasing the brilliant talent of these artists to the public in the spaces that crave entertainment.”
Some of the past and present listening room efforts include a monthly event at Sap House Meadery in Ossipee that mixes music, themed dining and mead tasting. “People really want unique experiences,” McArthur said. “One of the first bands we had was Brazilian, so we had Brazilian food. We had a performer from the Ukraine who sang songs in Russian … he’s a Soviet refusenik, just a beautiful concert. We had traditional Eastern European Jewish food to pair with that.”
Eric Lindberg. Courtesy photo.
The upstairs lounge at Bank of NH Stage hosts regular Sunday afternoon shows, while The Livery in Sunapee had a well-attended summer series with artists including April Cushman playing in a duo with Myrick, Cecil Abels and the New England Bluegrass Band, Eric Lindberg, Ari Hest, Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio, Charlie Chronopoulos, Jud Caswell, Hot Skillet Club, Squeezebox Stompers and Peter Mulvey. In November, Senie Hunt will perform there.
Backyard Brewing in Manchester is a long-time customer, and venue manager Marcus Doucet couldn’t be happier.
“Having live music instantly brings a buzz to any space, it engages our customers in their surroundings and makes the experience of dining out feel more personal and inviting,” Doucet said, adding that NHMC performers “are all extremely talented and kind, they are all individuals with a passion for what they do…. We love when musicians will play cover songs that everyone knows, but also love when they perform songs they have written.”
The future The NH Music Collective website lists a range of services available to musicians, including an artist development component that offers coaching services. “Regardless of where you are today and your ultimate music goal,” they “will be by your side providing informed, direct, and specific guidance on steps to take to reach your goals.”
It’s key to McArthur’s role. “My vision is to continue to enhance the level of the musicianship that we provide,” he said. “I want to spend more time working more closely with a handful of artists to really move the needle for people who want to make this their life career. This is a tough business … we want to help those that are serious about it.”
To make it all work — for musicians, listeners and venue owners alike — requires alchemy as much as art.
“Maybe the most important thing as we move forward is we’re really trying to create experiences, if we’re going to have an impact on the music scene and on the community at large,” Myrick said. “We have a chance to really make an experience where people show and know they’re getting live, preferably original music. It can be more than just come and go — that really becomes special.”
Find the music See the musicians of New Hampshire Music Collective. Here are some upcoming shows, according to nhmusiccollective.com.
Thursday, Oct. 5
Ariel Strasser at Contoocook First Thursdays (in Hopkinton), 5 to 7 p.m.
Paul Driscoll at The Foundry in Manchester, 5 to 8 p.m.
Justin Cohn at Lithermans Limited Brewery in Concord, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 6
Kimayo at The Foundry in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Paul Gormley at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
The Sweetbloods at Twin Barns Brewing Co. Meredith, 6 to 9 p.m.
Chase Campbell at Tower Hill Tavern in Laconia, 8 p.m. to midnight
Saturday, Oct. 7
Doug Farrell at the Contoocook Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to noon
Colin Hart with The hArt of Sound at Contoocook Cider Company in Contoocook, 1 to 4 p.m.
Freddie Catalfo at Beans and Greens in Gilford, 1 to 4 p.m.
Ian Archibold at Twin Barns Brewing Co. in Meredith, 3 to 6 p.m.
Dakota Smart at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Karen Grenier at The Foundry in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Scott King at San Francisco Kitchen in Nashua, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Ken Budka at Chen Yang Li in Bow, 7 to 10 p.m.
Chris Lester at Foster’s Tavern in Alton Bay, 7 to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 8
Ariel Strasser at Contoocook Cider Company in Contoocook, 1 to 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 9
Open Mic with John McArthur at Patrick’s Pub in Gilford, 6 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 11
Brad Myrick at the Courtyard Marriott in Concord, 5 to 7 p.m.
Chris Lester at Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Concord, 6 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 12
April Cushman at The Foundry in Manchester, 5 to 8 p.m.
Dwayne Haggins Duo at Lithermans Limited Brewery in Concord, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13
Willy Chase at Beans and Greens in Gilford, 5 to 8 p.m.
Brad Myrick at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Garrett Smith at Lochmere in Tilton, 6 to 8 p.m.
Justin Cohen at The Foundry in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Kimayo at Twin Barns Brewing in Meredith, 6 to 9 p.m.
Dakota Smart at Foster’s Tavern in Alton Bay, 7 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 14
Brad Myrick at Contoocook Cider Company in Contoocook, 1 to 4 p.m.
Garrett Smith at Beans and Greens in Gilford, 1 to 4 p.m.
Dave Clark at Twin Barns Brewing Co. in Meredith, 3 to 6 p.m.
Brad Myrick at Colby Hill Inn in Henniker, 6 to 9 p.m.
Ryan Williamson at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Tyler Levs at The Foundry in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Dusty Gray at Foster’s Tavern in Alton Bay, 7 to 10 p.m.
Mikey G at Chen Yang Li in Bow, 7 to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 15
Ken Budka at Contoocook Cider Company in Contoocook, 1 to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 18
Clint Lapointe at Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Concord, 6 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 19
Eyes of Age at The Foundry in Manchester, 5 to 8 p.m.
Charlie Chronopoulos at Lithermans Limited Brewery in Concord, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Cover Photo: April Cushman and Brad Myrick. Courtesy photo.
According to a recent poll conducted by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center, former President Donald Trump maintains a significant lead among likely voters in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary, with 45 percent expressing their preference for Trump on the ballot test. This represents a 30-point lead over his closest challenger, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who has surged into second place with 15 percent support following the first Republican presidential candidate debate, according to the Sept 25. press release. Haley is now the leading alternative to Trump and outpaces former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie among respondents with an unfavorable impression of Trump, the release said. Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has seen his support decline by 18 points since March and now trails Haley with 11 percent. The poll also highlights the polarization within the primary electorate between supporters and detractors of Trump, with implications for the eventual nominee’s ability to challenge President Joe Biden in a general election matchup.
Rising star
Michael Newell, RN, a home care nurse at Granite VNA, has been named “Young Person of the Year” by Stay Work Play in its 14th Annual Rising Stars Awards. According to a press release, Newell joined Granite VNA in 2020 and participated in their Home Health Nurse Residency Program, where he learned the intricacies of home care nursing and later became a mentor for the program, guiding and supporting new nurses. In addition to his role as a mentor, Newell provides in-home care to a diverse patient population, demonstrating a commitment to compassionate care and support for every patient. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of New Hampshire and aspires to become a nurse educator in the future.
Maternal health
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has officially launched the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, an initiative co-led by the Office on Women’s Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and established following the bipartisan TRIUMPH for New Moms Act, a law co-sponsored by New Hampshire’s Sen. Maggie Hassan and Sen. Tom Tillis of North Carolina. The goal is to address and support new mothers grappling with postpartum depression and other mental health challenges, ensuring they receive the necessary assistance, according to a press release from Hassan’s office. “New moms struggling with postpartum depression or other mental health challenges need to know that help is out there — and how to get it,” Sen. Hassan said in the release. “I am glad that following our bipartisan law, the administration today launched the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, and I look forward to seeing how it works to get more new moms the support that they critically need.”
Commission member
Suzanne Brunelle, a shareholder at Devine Millimet, has been appointed as the attorney-appointed member of the State of New Hampshire Real Estate Commission by Gov. Sununu, according to a press release. In her new role, Brunelle will contribute to the commission’s efforts to establish safeguards and regulations within the licensing process for real estate salespersons and brokers in New Hampshire. With over 30 years of experience in the legal profession, Brunelle has provided legal counsel on various aspects of real estate matters, including land development, commercial and residential property financing, acquisition, sale, leasing, permitting and more.
Rural maternity
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon has been awarded a federal grant totaling $991,467 as part of the Health Resources & Services Administration’s Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program. The grant, spanning four years, will support the North Country Maternity Network, a collaborative effort involving hospitals, community-based services, and state agency partners aimed at bolstering maternal health infrastructure in New Hampshire’s North Country region. RMOMS addresses the challenges faced by women in rural communities when accessing adequate obstetric care. The grant will be used to fund various initiatives, including standardizing prenatal screening, implementing evidence-based obstetrics pathways and improving site-based telehealth for comprehensive community care.
More Medicaid
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has reinstated Medicaid for more than 3,100 individuals, including around 1,350 children, aligning with new federal eligibility guidance, NHPR reported. This reinstatement was prompted by a directive from the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services to review and rectify any inadvertent terminations and align state processes with federal guidelines. This initiative will cover any eligible medical bills incurred during the period of disenrollment and will also help individuals understand if they can retain their coverage without going through a complex eligibility redetermination process. The state is launching further efforts to ensure access to Medicaid services and is exploring more opportunities to expand access to Medicaid-funded health services in schools, according to the article.
The Dover Public Library will host a presentation titled “Hope for Shantytown: A History of Dover Housing Authority” on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 6:30 p.m. Local historian Mark Leno will use historical photos to showcase the Dover Housing Authority’s impact on the city’s development over the past 70 years. The presentation will cover the organization’s evolution, its role in downtown Dover’s urban renewal efforts and milestones in providing housing for Dover residents. The event will be available for in-person and virtual attendance, with sign-up required for online access. It is free and open to the public. Visit library.dover.nh.gov.
The Upper Room, a family resource center in Derry (36 Tsienneto Road, is hosting the Crossroads Co-Parenting course on Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., for parents and caregivers raising children together. This course offers insights into maintaining children’s love for parents, avoiding involving children in conflicts, navigating personal challenges and fostering effective communication. Interested participants can register for classes online at urteachers.org.
The Nashua Transit System, along with other transit systems in New Hampshire, is observing Community Transportation Month throughout October to raise awareness about various transportation options, including Nashua’s city bus system, paratransit services and alternatives like biking and walking. This initiative includes a collaboration with Commute Smart NH, an organization offering ride-sharing services and challenges for riders in October. The celebration aligns with CommuteSmart NH’s Buses, Bikes and Brooms Commuter Challenge and the National Week Without Driving Challenge, aiming to spotlight essential but often overlooked services.
Those who only knew Amythyst Kiah from Our Native Daughters were a bit surprised by her Rounder Records debut, Wary+Strange. Sure, it contained some rustic elements, but mostly the 2021 record rocked.
The clearest example was her version of “Black Myself,” a song that won a Grammy for the all-women-of-color supergroup she’s formed with Allison Russell, Leyla McCalla and Rhiannon Giddens. Kiah’s re-recording growled with an electric urgency akin to Gary Clark Jr.’s 2019 scorcher “This Land,” and landed a country mile beyond the banjo-punctuated original.
Kiah decided to revisit “Black Myself” because it felt fuller when she wrote it.
“It was inspired by a line from the Sid Hemphill version of ‘John Henry,’ and that became the hook,” she said by phone recently. “I put the guitar part underneath and I was kind of like, ‘This feels like an anthem.’ It became part of the Our Native Daughters sound, but my music is in a lot of ways a modern take on roots music, so we explored bringing myself back in.”
It’s a side of Kiah that will be on display at her upcoming shows in Portsmouth, part of a tour that started on Sept. 27.
“I’m bringing a full band on this run, drums, bass and lead electric guitar,” she said. “Everybody sings background vocals on quite a few of the songs. It’s definitely a much bigger sound than what some people might know me for.”
Equally powerful is her raw honesty as a songwriter. “Wild Turkey” is a spare acoustic song from Wary+Strange that dealt with her mother’s suicide when she was 17. The experience led to her first public performance, at the funeral. Asked how she found a way to write about it now, her answer provided a clue to Kiah’s creative spark.
“Being a child of the ’90s, and getting into alternative music, I was really leaning into things that were on the darker side,” she said. “Dealing with feelings like anger and loss. Songwriters being willing to dig down in the depths and really talk about how they feel, that’s something that’s always resonated with me.”
It still does; her most recent EP, Pensive Pop, contains reimagined covers of Tori Amos, Green Day and Joy Division.
Still, “Wild Turkey” took Kiah years to write. “It was dealing with such a tragic event in my life that I never really properly processed, and it wasn’t until I started going to therapy that I realized there’s some unresolved grief here,” she said. “It took so long to write simply because it took a while to unpack all those feelings.”
She stretched the process by constantly tweaking with the song’s mood. “In the beginning, I was trying to make it … more upbeat, like I wanted to juxtapose the subject matter with the music,” she said. “Sometimes you just have to get out of the way and let the song be what it’s gonna be. That’s what I had to do, [because] it’s a really sad song.”
Many fans have thanked her for the “Wild Turkey,” telling Kiah that it helped them process their own grief. She’s heartened by the response.
“If there’s anything I can leave behind in this world, it’s art that people were able to turn to when they felt alone or like they didn’t have anybody,” she said.
“It’s really an honor to have the opportunity to share that with people. … it means a lot.”
Kiah will unveil new songs at her show, the products of some recent cowriting efforts. “Empire of Love,” written with Sean McConnell, is “about my spiritual connection to the mountains where I live, in Appalachia,” while a co-write with Butch Walker is a “straight ahead rock song” called “Never Alone.”
She also collaborated with Avi Kaplan and Jeremy Lutito, who both worked on Kaplan’s LP Floating on a Dream, which Kiah called “probably my favorite album of last year.” Their writing session was inspired by the Old Gods of Appalachia podcast, which led her to read more horror and fantasy stories. “I’m returning to sounds of Appalachian folk music, still with a modern take and it’ll sound a little weird, like all my music sounds.”
An album she hopes to finish by year’s end will reflect this latest direction.
“There’s going to be some spooky songs on there and then some autobiographical songs and more of what I usually write about, but with some other things thrown in,” she said. “That’s the new stuff coming down — a spooky Appalachian vibe, with some rock and blues influences. It’ll be fun; I’m excited about it.”
Amythyst Kiah When: Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Where: The Music Hall Lounge, 131 Congress St., Portsmouth Tickets: $30 and up at themusichall.org
Featured photo: Amythyst Kiah. Photo by Sandlin Gaither
