Category: Music This Week

By Michael Witthaus

mwitthaus@hippopress.com

• Folk duo: Celebrating 10 years since releasing their debut album, A Wolf in the Doorway, The Ballroom Thieves are in the region for a few shows, including one at a music-friendly Lakes Region winery. The duo of Caitlin Peters and Martin Early offers lovely harmonies accompanied by guitar and cello. 2024’s “self-portrait” LP Sundust was a meditation on the nature of tenderness. Thursday, April 17, 7 p.m., Hermit Woods Winery, 72 Main St., Meredith, $45 at eventbrite.com.

• Five strings: Though she began her musical career in bluegrass — Alison Brown was for a brief moment in the late ’80s a member of Alison Krauss & Union Station — she’s taken the banjo to another place in recent years. Her eponymous quintet performs a local show. Brown weaves jazz, Celtic and other influences into “a sonic tapestry.” Friday, April 18, 7 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $33 at palacetheatre.org.

• Funny guy: Still going strong in his fifth decade telling jokes, Lenny Clarke began as the open mic host at Cambridge’s Ding Ho Restaurant in the early ’80s, when the scene was booming. Clarke went on to acting success, appearing in films like There’s Something About Mary and starring in his own sitcom, Lenny. Friday, April 18, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $35 at tupelohall.com.

• Indie night: An eclectic evening of music downtown, with The Doldrums atop the bill, a raucous band with Green Day and Killers punk ’n’ polish energy belying its name. For something completely different, Regals is a country rock quintet owing a debt to Townes Van Zandt and Gram Parsons. Still Sleeping makes its debut, and Birds, In Theory is a sonically furious powerhouse with smart lyrics. Saturday, April 19, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $10 at the door, 21+.

• Two tone: Defying the odds, Canadian ska punk band The Planet Smashers are still alive and well after 32 years — at one point, the group disbanded because they couldn’t find their drummer. In 2016, lead singer Matt Collyer fractured his neck and wrote a love song about it. It’s on their ninth album, 2024’s Too Much Information. Collyer is the only founding member still in the band. Wednesday, April 23, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $21 at dice.fm.

• Join the band: On a tour that includes stops at five New England high schools, Dallas Brass performs music ranging from classical to Broadway, swing and American standards. The ensemble has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and other vaunted venues. For a show in Derry, they’ll welcome Pinkerton Academy students to play, along with local middle schoolers. Thursday, April 10, 7 p.m., Stockbridge Theatre, 5 Pinkerton St., Derry, $15 and up, 437-5210.

• Crowd work pro: Few comedians incorporate an audience into their act quite like Paula Poundstone. She has a knack for finding something to talk about with just about anyone, anywhere; her act has a handful of jokes and a lot of back and forth. She moves easily from topic to topic like a Beetle at a car rally, keeping her sets as fresh as the fans that regularly return to see her perform. Friday, April 11, 7:30 p.m., Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $25 and up at ccanh.com.

• Mixed up music: One of the more unique tribute acts on the scene, Pink Talking Fish imagines what a mashup of three bands — Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish — might sound like. For an upcoming show they’re playing it a bit straight. For the 50th anniversary of Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, they’ll recreate the album in the first set, and do their thing to it the next set. Friday, April 11, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, $20 at rochesteroperahouse.com.

• Return to base: A Concord favorite and current ex-pat working in Nashville, Senie Hunt returns for a brief regional tour that includes a show with his electric blues rock Project in a downtown showcase. Known for his percussive guitar sound, Hunt’s heavier effort is a blend of originals and covers, drawing inspiration from The Allman Brothers Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. Saturday, April 12, 7:30 p.m., BNH Stage, 60 S. Main St., Concord, $24 at ccanh.com.

• Back and forth: Lean and limber blues rock trio The Record Company would have been right at home in a ’70s milieu that produced Cactus, ZZ Top and Three Man Army. Foundational blues influences like Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon are filtered through the lens of no-nonsense rock for a muscular sound. Their latest effort, 2023’s The Fourth Album, is a fierce rendering of this approach. Sunday, April 13, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $45 at tupelohall.com.

• Jimi jamming: The Hampton Beach concert season kicks off with Experience Hendrix. A packed slate of guitarists pay tribute to the “Purple Haze” legend, including Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Black Label Society’s Zakk Wylde, Eric Johnson, Devon Allman (of the Allman Betts Family Revival), Samantha Fish and Grammy winner Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. Thursday, April 3, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, $69 and up at ticketmaster.com.

• Big belters: Benefitting A Better Way To Help, Ladies Sing the Blues is a triple bill of talented singers. Janiva Magness turned a tragic origin story into a career as a singer, songwriter and author, Danielle Miraglia is also renowned for her guitar and stomp box skills, and Cheryl Arena’s skill set includes harmonica playing. The charity helps patients recovering from severe brain injuries. Friday, April 4, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $40 and $50 at tupelohall.com.

• Charlie’s back: Paying tribute to country rocker Charlie Daniels, FiddleFire makes its debut at a Mill District brewpub. The group is fronted by Vinnie Mirisola and promises “creative narratives” while recreating the music of Daniels, who joined his first band when Elvis was coming up. His fame grew in the early ’70s while touring with the Allman Brothers. Saturday, April 5, 9 p.m., Stark Brewing Co., 500 N. Commercial St., Manchester, facebook.com/TheFiddleFireBand.

• Southern man: The weekly Rap Night Manchester welcomes Long Way From Home, a tour originating in Richmond, Virginia. It’s led by Reppa Ton, now in his 20th year as a hip-hop artist, producer and director. He’s joined by fellow Richmond rappers Skinny Hendrixx (the MC, not the California band) and TRIG. DJ Myth spins, with hosts Eyenine and Shawn Caliber. Sunday, April 6, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com/RapNightManchester.

• Anniversary nights: To perform their 1999 box set 69 Love Songs, The Magnetic Fields will do two downtown shows. Stephen Merritt was inspired to write the “miniaturist epic” after hearing a Manhattan gay bar piano player “grapple with Stephen Sondheim” and deciding to try theater music. The work was initially conceived as a drag queen revue. Tuesday, April 8, and Wednesday, April 9, 7:30 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $53 and up at ccanh.com.

• Song man: A fixture on the New England roots scene since the mid-’90s Willy Porter has three New Hampshire shows upcoming, one at a venerable brewpub and restaurant’s weekly series. Porter’s most recent album is 2023’s The Ravine, with the sweet father and son bonding song, “Baseball on the Radio.” Singer, songwriter and painter Tom Pirozzoli opens the show. Thursday, March 27, 7:30 p.m., Flying Goose, 40 Andover Road, New London; 526-6800 for reservations.

• Big pair: The White Stripes formed a few years before Sirsy launched, and while the upstate New York duo may not be in the running for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, their raw power is undeniable. Guitarist Rich Libutti plays a weathered Rickenbacker through a multitude of pedals while Melanie Krahmer furiously pounds on the drums and sings with the energy of Janis Joplin reborn. Friday, March 28, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester. More at sirsy.com.

• Funk fun: A double bill for locals to love has UP – The Band and The Kenny Brothers sharing the stage and players for a raucous, funked up basement party. The two recently did an energetic Seacoast show. UP is led by Eric Reingold, with fellow JamAntic Freeland Hubbard and Johnny Santana on guitars, Wayne Summerford playing drums, and guests often joining in. Friday, March 28, 9 p.m., Penuche’s, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord, facebook.com/penuches.concord.

• Dad jokes: The state’s longest-running comedy club hosts Mike Hanley, who in his bio sums up his riffs on parenthood thusly: “If you are married you will laugh at Mike’s hysterical stories. If you are single you will want to stay that way.” A joke about accidentally confusing a tube of Desitin with toothpaste, and how the poison control helpline responded, lands perfectly. Saturday, March 29, 8:30 p.m., Headliners at Doubletree, 700 Elm St., Manchester, $20 at headlinersnh.com.

• Irish mist: Keep basking in a green glow with Altan, considered one of Ireland’s finest musical exports, led by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. Their most recent album, Donegal, celebrates the county where they formed, a bustling part of Ireland’s folk scene. The record is also the first with new fiddler and singer Claire Friel, who takes a lead vocal on “Faoiseamh a Gheobhadsa.” Sunday, March 30, 3 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $49 at ccanh.com.

• Wine and comedy: An eclectic wine bar celebrates its third year with Mona Forgione, who leans into motherhood for laughs. She got into standup late in life, initially to talk about a pair of surgeries gone wrong, and has a colorful history that includes a stint in the roller derby. Klia Ververidis opens, ahead of her slot at New York’s Laughing Buddha Comedy Festival. Thursday, March 20, 8 p.m., Vine 32 Wine + Graze Bar, 25 S. River Road, Bedford, $25 at eventbrite.com.

• Java jam session: A monthly coffeehouse gathering features a headliner set from The Treetellers, an acoustic string trio led by Scott Heron of married bluegrass duo Green Heron, on banjo, mandolin and vocals, with guitarist Joey Clark, who also sings and plays harmonica, and upright bassist Larry Houghton. The show kicks off with an open mic; signups at 6 p.m. Friday, March 21, 8 p.m., Highland Lake Grange Hall, Route 11 and Chase Hill Road, East Andover, andovercoffeehouse.org.

• Before The Beatles: Early on, the Fab Four were a five-piece, with drummer Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe on bass. Though Ringo Starr replaced him, Best continues the raw sound The Beatles had during their days at Liverpool’s Cavern Club and in the raucous Hamburg, Germany, bar scene. An area show from Best and his band includes music and memories from the days prior to world fame. Saturday, March 22, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $50 and up at tupelohall.com.

• Junk rock jubilee: Thirty years after a trio of Goffstown High kids played drums in a talent show, Recycled Percussion continues its unique junk rock sound, and a local show celebrates the anniversary of the group, which went from a humble start to playing shows across the globe, including a years-long Las Vegas residency following their big run on America’s Got Talent. Saturday, March 22, 3 and 7 p.m., Dana Center, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, $50 and up at anselm.edu.

• Poetry and music: Soon after graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2010, Liz Longley was regularly selling out area venues months in advance, powered by sensitively crafted songs like “Unraveling” and the metaphor-rich “Camaro.” . Sunday, March 23, 7 p.m., Word Barn, 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, $19 at portsmouthnhtickets.com.

By Michael Witthaus

mwitthaus@hippopress.com

Stories and dance: Michael Londra brings his PBS series Ireland With Michael to the stage. The show blends music, dance and stories, as the Emmy-nominated Voice of Riverdance shares his affinity with them, backed by a traditional Irish band and dancers. Thursday, March 13, 7 p.m., Stockbridge Theatre, 5 Pinkerton St., Derry, $35 and up at stockbridgetheatre.com.

• What’s up sweetcakes? Enjoy jazz inspired by a popular anime series at Cowboy Bebop Live. Japanese composer Yoko Kanno’s music helped drive the edgy Japanese series, from her earworm theme song “Ask DNA” to the jumping jazz number that opened the 2001 movie, “TANK!” An all-star 14-piece ensemble performs in support of the big-screen multimedia presentation Friday, March 14, 8 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $39 at etix.com

• Long green weekend: Four days of St. Patrick’s fun commences with Shamrock & Roll-themed music bingo from DJ Paul Corwin on Friday night, with Celtic band Loch Mór and the Pogues-inspired Rebel Collective the next day. Sunday, it’s music from the Reel McCoys and a set from McGonagle School of Irish Dance. Dan Fallon performs on the big day. Friday, March 14, through Monday, March 17, Biergarten, 221 DW Highway, Merrimack; schedule at budweisertours.com.

• Canyon lady’s prime: Drawing primarily from her 1970s heyday, The Linda Ronstadt Experience is a stirring tribute. American Idol Season 15 contestant Tristan McIntosh is convincing on ballads like “Long Long Time” and “Blue Bayou,” the Roy Orbison song she made her own, and shines on the early hit “Different Drum.” She’s a believable doppelgänger for Ronstadt as well. Saturday, March 15, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $39 at palacetheatre.org.

• Cross-Canadian Celtic: Hailing from Ontario, The Glengarry Bhoys occupy a unique musical intersection, blending Highland Scots, Irish and French Canadian idioms for a thrilling and energetic performance. Given the Celtic flavor of the band’s sound, they’re an especially popular item around St. Patrick’s Day, where they perform plenty of traditional songs along with their original material. Sunday, March 16, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $39 at tupelohall.com.