Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• Al fresco: A free summer concert series kicks off in Canterbury with Old Tom & the Lookouts, a Boston band led by Alex Calabrese, a singer and guitarist with influences ranging from Tom Waits to Phoebe Bridgers. The Band-channeling “1981,” from their latest, Northeastern, manages to make a line like “the dogs are snoring and the plants are dead again” fun and upbeat. Thursday, June 26, 6 p.m., Friends of Canterbury Center, 1 Center Road, Canterbury, oldtommusic.com.

• Cool brew: With a name taken from Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Mr. Bojangles,” Eyes of Age is “more of a musical community than a band,” as described in the Monadnock band’s bio. With tasty harmonies, they shift from rootsy acoustic songs — a cover of Neil Young’s “Out on the Weekend” is particularly good — to electric originals like “Holiday.” Friday, June 27, 6 p.m., Henniker Brewing Co., 173 Centervale Road, Henniker – facebook.com/eyesofage.

• Fever time: With a final U.S. date before heading back Down Under, The Australian Bee Gees Show returns to the area. A multi-year hit on the Vegas strip and, according to the President of Bee Gees Fan Club USA, “the best Bee Gees tribute in the world,” the group’s 75-minute performance spans 50 years of Brothers Gibb rock and disco. Saturday, June 28, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $45 and up at tupelohall.com.

• Quarter notes: A spring music series concludes with a performance from Soggy Po’ Boys, a Seacoast Dixieland band that combusted into existence in 2012, when a one-off Fat Tuesday pub show became a residency. Though its raucous lead singer and guitarist Stu Dias left early this year, the group continues without slowing down – new members have come and gone throughout. Sunday, June 29, 6 p.m., Andres Institute of Art, 106 Route 13, Brookline, $25 at andresinstitute.org.

• Classic songs: Reviews are effusive for the latest tour by James Taylor. At a recent show, one critic said his voice “was often strong and his phrasing was often supple… and his guitar-picking fingers didn’t sound as though they stumbled or missed a note.” He brings a catalog of near-standards such as “Sweet Baby James” and “Fire and Rain” to New Hampshire for a night. Tuesday, July 1, 8 p.m., BankNH Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, $64 and up at ticketmaster.com.

Local music news & events

• Totally: Fans of Sirius XM’s Saturday Night Safety Dance will be right at home with Big Country atop a four-band bill of Big ’80s stars that includes Tommy Tutone, a one-hit wonder whose hit, “867-5309/Jenny,” was truly wonderful. Also performing are Bow Wow Wow and Gene Loves Jezebel, known for “Motion of Love.” Thursday, June 19, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $50 at tupelohall.com.

• Country: With a heritage that includes one of the gunfighters in the Eagles song “Bitter Creek,” Houston Bernard is a genuine country performer. His latest release is “Comeback,” a solid rocker. Friday, June 20, Par28, 23 S. Broadway, No. 10, Salem. Visit houstonbernard.com.

• Throttle: The final two days of Laconia Motorcycle Week are packed, including heavy metal band Chasing the Devil and perennial rally favorites Mojo Gypsy performing at a just-opened music bar. The latter is a female-led southern blues rock group that changed its name from Carolina Reign a while back. They’ve been rolling around the region all week, after a stint in Sturgis. Saturday, June 21, 5:30 p.m., Madame Bardello’s, 70 Endicott St. N, Laconia, madamesbardello.com.

• Dayfest: An all-day bash has five local bands doing their thing. Tumbletoads plays psychedelic rock and funk, while The Whole Loaf is described as “the closest thing you’ll get to an all-in-one modern Sixties band.” Jesse Rutstein is a singer-songwriter who recently did a show at Terminus Underground in Nashua. The Faith Ann Band, who organized the show, also performs high-energy rock. Sunday, June 22, 1 p.m., Auburn Pitts, 175 Rockingham Road, Auburn, faithannband.com.

• Nineties: Shorn of his trademark dreadlocks and wearing a Calvin Klein jean jacket, Counting Crows front man Adam Duritz looks quite different in the video for “Under The Aurora,” a bracing new song from the band’s new album, Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets. The emotive singer is happier too, celebrating the longest romantic relationship of his life. Wednesday, June 25, 7:30 p.m., BankNH Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, $29 and up at ticketmaster.com.

Local music news & events

By Michael Witthaus
mwitthaus@hippopress.com

• Enduring: A band that grew out of jazz’s rising popularity in the late ‘70s, Spyro Gyra broke through with the crossover hit “Morning Dance” in 1979. The group, formed in Buffalo, got its name from a type of algae that founding member Jay Beckenstein learned about in college. They’re currently touring in celebration of their 50th anniversary last year, with an upcoming stop in Derry. Thursday, June 12, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $57 at tupelohall.com.

• Gathering: In its first socially distanced iteration, the Northlands Festival was a creative way to offer live music during the pandemic, with a series of pod seating shows. Now in its sixth year, it’s grown to three days, with the cream of the jam scene headlining each night. This year includes String Cheese Incident, Cory Wong, moe., Umphrey’s McGee and Lotus. Friday, June 14, through Sunday, June 15, Cheshire Fairgrounds, 247 Monadnock Hwy., Swanzey, $99 and up at northlandslive.com.

• Rolling: New Hampshire drivers should check their mirrors twice as Laconia Motorcycle Week is back for nine days. The oldest bike rally in the United States always has a lot of live music. For the past five years, an AC/DC tribute act has held forth, with guitarist Jonny Friday as Angus Young and Dean Celisia doing the late Bon Scott and his replacement Brian Johnson. Saturday, June 14, 8 p.m., The Big House, 322 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, more at laconiamcweek.com.

• Jamming: Named after its front man, a Senegalese rhythm guitarist, Mamadou is strongly influenced by West African music, along with reggae, salsa, merengue and Cubano. All lyrics are sung in Wolof, Mamadou Diop’s native language. Sunday, June 15, noon, Tuscan Village, 9 Via Toscana, Salem, mamadou.com.

• Honoring: Led by 2016 American Idol alumni Tristan McIntosh, The Linda Ronstadt Experience offers an enjoyable re-creation of the singer’s prime era. Ronstadt’s longtime producer Peter Asher gave McIntosh a thumbs up for her solid work interpreting songs like “You’re No Good,” “That’ll Be the Day,” “It’s So Easy,” “Heat Wave” and “Just One Look.” Wednesday, June 18, 7 p.m., Town Common, 265 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, londonderryartscouncil.org.

Local music news & events

• Jersey night: A Bon Jovi tribute act with a following in the rocker’s home state, 1 Wild Night features look- and sound- alike singer Alex Barbieri backed by a solid three-piece band. The group covers songs like “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ On a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive” with energy and conviction, something they’ve done for over a dozen years in a tough market. Thursday, June 5, 7:15 p.m., LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111, Derry, $40 at labellewinery.com.

• Local and: A packed bill has two Brooklyn bands. Debbie Dopamine is led by Katie Ortiz and is currently cresting on “Negative Space,” a song about gender dysphoria. Youth Large has whimsical songs that will appeal to boygenius fans. Joining are Manchester emo faves Happy Just to See You, who released the charming Ways To Cope in 2024, and Donaher performing an early set. Friday, June 6, 8 p.m., BAD BRGR, 1015 Elm St, Manchester, $12 at the door, bad-brgr.com.

• Odd milestone: Literate, ethereal singer-songwriter Aimee Mann has been busy of late. The reunion of her band ’Til Tuesday for its first show in 35 years was the highlight of last month’s Cruel World Festival in Southern California, and she’s currently on tour celebrating a quirky anniversary —it’s been 22 and a half years since her fourth solo album, Lost In Space, was released. Saturday, June 7, 7:30 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $64 and up, etix.com.

• Surfie sounds: Last year, Jakob Nowell led his late father’s band Sublime at Coachella. Jakob’s Castle, which released a debut album Enter: The Castle recently, headlines with Spray Allen, led by Sublime bass player Eric Wilson, making the Lakes Region show something of a reunion. Also at the afternoon Punky Sunday party are surfer songwriter Jesse James Pariah and Strange Case. Sunday, June 8, 4 p.m., Surfside Burger Bar, 41 Route 25, Meredith; see jakobscastle.com.

• Many talents: The after-work crowd will enjoy a musical treat when Dan Blakeslee performs a midweek solo set at a Seacoast pub and restaurant. The erstwhile troubadour’s blues-infused urban folk music has been a mainstay in the region for decades. Be sure to hit the merch table for some of Blakeslee’s art, including his book, Draw Them In, published last year. Wednesday, June 11, 6 p.m., Riverworks Restaurant and Tavern, 164 Main St., Newmarket; see danblakeslee.com.

Local music news & events

By Michael Witthaus
mwitthaus@hippopress.com

• Shedheads: There must be something about the Lakes Region that Zac Brown Band loves. They’ve played the al fresco venue there since it was named after a phone company, and keep coming back, even if they have a show at Fenway Park. Their latest record is No Wake Zone, which includes “Pirates & Parrots,” a duet with Jimmy Buffett’s old bandmate Mac MacAnally. Thursday, May 29, 7 p.m., BankNH Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, $69 and up at livenation.com.

• Jamtastic: Named after a late ’90s song by ska punk band Catch 22, Supernothing has a percolating rock reggae sound that’s perfect for the board shorts and sandals of the coming season. Last week, the Concord band dropped a new single called “Summer Soul,” a smooth wave-y jam with an infectious chorus featuring Kurdistan-born singer-songwriter B. Positive. Friday, May 30, 6:30 p.m., Henniker Brewing Co., 129 Centervale Road, Henniker. More at supernothing603.com.

• Brotherly: Given that Liam and Noel Gallagher doing an American tour is unlikely, the Oasis tribute SuperSonic will have to suffice. After all, a lot of English pounds have already been wagered on the two fractious siblings brawling before their English reunion run gets to Wembley. So enjoy “Wonderwall,” “Champagne Supernova” and “Don’t Look Back In Anger” here instead. Saturday, May 31, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $35 at palacetheatre.org.

• Bobness: Her 2017 album Songs of Bob Dylan showed Joan Osborne to be a solid interpreter of his catalog. This year, she revisited it with Dylanology Live, supported by Amy Helm, Robert Randolph and Jackie Greene on “Masters of War,” “Buckets of Rain” and other songs. For an area show, Cindy Cashdollar, Nicki Bluhm and Gail Ann Dorsey will perform with her. Sunday, June 1, 7 p.m., Chubb Theatre at CCANH, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $53 and up at ccahn.com.

• Folkified: On songs like “Tom’s Diner,” “Frank and Eva” and the poignant ode to 9/11 “Anniversary,” Suzanne Vega is a vital chronicler and erudite ambassador to her New York City home. She’ll play those songs, along with her timeless hit “Luka,” and others that reveal what one critic called her “clinically poetic eye” during a show at a venue she helped open back in 2023. Wednesday, June 4, 7:30 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $54 and up at etix.com.

Local music news & events

• Fab Faux: Unlike many Beatles tribute acts, Studio Two sticks to John, Paul, George and Ringo’s rise to fame and all-too-brief touring years. It will feel like a black and white evening in a more innocent time as the group rolls through early hits like “Please Please Me,” “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and “Hard Day’s Night” wearing their trademark suits and boots — they’re among the best. Thursday, May 22, 8 p.m., Labelle Winery, 14 Route 111, Derry, $40 at labellewinery.com.

• Home town: The latest edition of the Locally Sourced showcase has Cozy Throne, a band that would have been right at home in the early ’70s NYC punk scene with front woman Amara Phelps evoking Patti Smith. They also have a fun grunge vibe going; fans of Garbage and Hole will love them. Baby Wah Wah, a student and adult music group led by area history teacher Eddie Phelps, will also perform. Friday, May 23, 8 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $15 at ccanh.com.

• Big sound: The Seacoast-based YellowHouse Blues Band packs a punch, with two female vocalists, a horn section and a pair of guitarists, along with a strong rhythm section and a well-traveled keyboard player. Their material ranges from the classics like Howlin’ Wolf to contemporary artists such as Tedeschi-Trucks and Larkin Poe. They also do a killer version of Steely Dan’s “Pretzel Logic.” Saturday, May 24, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $30 at tupelohall.com.

• Island music: When the weather gets warm, outdoor shows from area band Reggae Tones return. Check out the first of four this season at a favorite Nashua restaurant/bar, with the final one on the first day of autumn. The group draws from favorites like Bob Marley & the Wailers and Toots & the Maytals.Sunday, May 25, 4 p.m., Penuche’s Ale House, 4 Canal St., Nashua, reggaetonesband.com.

• Golden tone: There are classic country throwbacks, then there’s Melissa Carper. “One of the greatest classic golden era country singers and composers of this generation,” one critic wrote. On the title song from her latest release Borned In Ya, she name-checks everyone from Hank Williams to Lead Belly and Hazel Dickens on a track whose title was inspired by a Ralph Stanely quote. Monday, May 26, 7 p.m., The Word Barn, 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, $25 at thewordbarn.com.