Category: Music This Week

• Threefer: A monthly gathering of original performances preceded by food and wine, the next Songwriter’s Roundup has Nashville-based Mary Moore, who released her latest EP, An Honest Thing, last year, along with singer-songwriter Caitlin Piper, whose diary-like debut LP In Cursive is getting good notices. As always, the event is hosted by Katie Dobbins. Thursday, July 30, 7 p.m., Hermit Woods Winery, 72 Main St., Meredith, $12 and up, hermitwoods.com.

• Loafing: Drawing from throwback acts like Love and Buffalo Springfield, The Whole Loaf delivers a cocktail of rock, psychedelia and jazz-infused blues, not to mention a bit of Link Wray-channeling twang. Perhaps that’s why they paired a cover of “Folsom Prison Blues” with their rumbling, raucous 2025 jam-out “Garage Floors.” The band plays a downtown show with Vale’s End and Headfirst. Friday, July 31, 7:30 p.m., BAD BRGR, 1015 Elm St., Manchester, thewholeloaf.net.

• Tenth: A Derry couple decided to harness a tragedy, their son’s suicide, into a positive force and created Pizzastock to help families and individuals with mental health problems. Ten years later, the organization is making a difference, and an annual concert is its biggest public event. This year it features a dozen bands on two stages — fitting, as Jason Flood was an avid musician. Saturday, Aug. 1, noon, Pinkerton Academy (next to football field), 5 Pinkerton St., Derry, Pizzastock.org.

• Youthful: Fresh off winning this year’s Granite State Blues Challenge, The Blues Express will travel to Memphis for the International event in January. Anchored by Nick Spencer, who’s 18 but called Old Soul by bassist Mickey Maguire, the father figure of the young band, they’re a powerhouse. An album produced by Tom Hambridge called Choose Love is due for release soon. Sunday, Aug. 2, 8 p.m., Andres Institute of Art, 106 Rte. 13, Brookline, $25, andresintitute.org.

• Tracklist: When playing live for fans less focused on music than screaming got old, The Beatles retreated to the studio, first making Revolver. To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Deconstructing The Beatles host Scott Frieman will lead a song-by-song journey through the album, with audio and video clips, along with a look at the innovative studio tricks they used. Tuesday, Aug. 4, 6:30 p.m., The Sawyer Center, 37 Academy Quad, New London, $25 and up, centerforthearts.org.

• Sunset trip: An original music-centric summer concert series continues with Cold Engines, who recently dropped two new albums, Madman and Flower Covered Hills the Return. The latter is the fourth installment of a set that commenced in 2021, and it moves through many moods. The lead track, “Have It All,” has the mark of a great Prince ballad, with earnest falsetto vox and come-hither lyrics. Thursday, July 23, 6 p.m., Swasey Parkway, 316 Water St., Exeter, coldengines.com.

• Totally rad: For those who still want their MTV, Neon Wave has it covered, doing ’80s bands like Depeche Mode, The Fixx, Duran Duran and others. Their take of Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night” is a highlight, and they also do a banging version of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.” Led by Brien Sweet, who also fronts a Bowie-only tribute act, they look and sound the part. Friday, July 24, 8 p.m., Derryfield Country Club, 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, neonwaveband.com.

• Mountain air: Enjoy a day of jam-leaning performers at the inaugural Kinfolk Music & Arts Festival. Ex-Twiddle member Mihali headlines, with reggae acts Joe Samba and Roots of Creation featuring. Rounding out the bill are Gordon Martin, King Kyote, Strange Machines, Mike Jetti Trio, Nate Ramos and Steve Rondo, with food trucks, artisans and a beer garden. Saturday, July 25, 11 a.m., Ragged Mountain, 620 Ragged Mountain Road, Danbury, $75, ticketleap.com.

• Rocking hard: Past a 2024 lineup shuffle that moved Edgar Troncoso from bass to lead vocals, Prospect Hill is back on track, releasing two versions of “Victim” last year, one featuring Taproot’s Stephen Richards. Both appear on Blood in the Water, an EP that arrived in April. They play an 18+ local show with Saved By Skarlet, Valoria, Johnnie G & The Royalty and Hush $$$. Saturday, July 25, 8 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $25, prospecthillmusic.com.

• Local lights: A regular song circle named after a Chris Stapleton song, the latest White Horse Songwriter Round has singer, guitarist and lyricist Ian Galipeau, who just released “Numbered Days,” a lovely tune about holding on to the good times. Expect other original performers for the late afternoon get-together, which was created and is hosted by another area talent, Charlie Chronopolous. Sunday, July 26, 5 p.m., Riley’s Place, 29 Mont Vernon St., Milford, rileysplacellc.com.

• Get together: North and South join musical forces as April Cushman & Shelly Fairchild perform an intimate show in downtown Concord. Hometown girl Cushman regularly sings the national anthem at Patriots games. The Mississippi-born Fairchild has had success getting her songs on hit shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Riverdale and recorded by artists like Little Big Town. Thursday, July 16, 7 p.m., Cantin Room (BNH Stage), 16 S. Main St., Concord, $36, ccanh.com.

• Rock hard: Known for their high-energy, visually driven shows, melodic hard rock outfit Sygnal to Noise tops an intense, four-band metal bill. The Biddeford, Maine, band, whose résumé includes tours alongside Cold and Smile Empty Soul, are joined by guitar-driven Manchester band Day to Attend, Throttle Hyde and Jesse Rutstein. Expect a night of raw, riff-heavy rock at the 18+ event. Friday, July 17, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $12, eventbrite.com.

• Blues power: Seacoast stalwarts YellowHouse Blues Band are enjoying a moment, having sold out a few local venues of late, while energizing crowds at Concord’s recent Market Days. The nine-piece band features multiple vocalists and a roof-raising horn section. The band covers classics like Stevie Winwood’s chugging ’60s hit “Gimme Some Lovin’” as well as Howlin’ Wolf and Aretha Franklin. Saturday, July 18, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $35, tupelohall.com.

• Hibbing bard: Now in its fifth year, Bob Dylan’s Rough & Rowdy Tour has support from Jimmy Vaughan & the Tilt-
A-Whirl Band and gospel-infused singer Brittney Spencer, who broke out singing “Blackbird” with Beyoncé on Cowboy Carter. At recent shows, Dylan reworked “All Along the Watchtower” into a slow blues number and leaned into a lot of newer material. Saturday, July 18, 7 p.m., BankNH Pavilion, 108 Kimball Road, Gilford, $35 and up, ticketmaster.com.

• Roots couple: Nashville husband-and-wife duo and three-time Kerrville finalists Twangtown Paramours perform an afternoon set in an atmosphere befitting their rootsy sound. Guitarist Mike T. Lewis’s credits include a Korean pop hit of all things, while MaryBeth Zamer is a veteran of the Washington, D.C., folk scene who once sang backup in “Songbird” Eva Cassidy’s band. Sunday, July 19, 4 p.m., Old Meeting House, 1 New Boston Road, Francestown, bandsintown.com.

• Summer sounds: The Levitt AMP Manchester Music Series kicks off with Dyer Davis, a rocking singer-songwriter that Downbeat called “one of the most promising up and comers” in his genre. Upcoming at the free weekly outdoor event are Gentlemen Brawlers, Domenic Marte, Kyshona, Old Hat Stringband, Stephen Kellogg, Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise and The Soggy Po’ Boys. Thursday, July 9, at 5 p.m., Veterans Memorial Park, 723 Elm St., Manchester.

• Blues rockers: Lowell-based blues rock trio Sons Lunaris makes its first appearance in downtown Suncook, blending ’60s- and ’70s-steeped rock into a sound described on the band’s website as “melting psychedelia over hard-bodied blues.” Their influences range from Howlin’ Wolf to Pink Floyd, and they also brag that Bruce Macomber, who produced the Yardbirds, is among their fans. Friday, July 10, at 7 p.m., Pembroke City Limits, 134 Main St., Suncook, sonlunaris.com.

• Funny business: A night of standup comedy is topped by two winners of the Ladies of Laughter competition, Poppy Champlin and Jane Condon. Alumni of the contest, which first happened in 1998 at a New Jersey YWCA, expanding the next year to clubs, casinos and Madison Square Garden, include Amy Schumer, Melissa Rauch, Tammy Pescatelli, Erin Jackson and Zarna Garg. Saturday, July 11, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $40, palacetheatre.org.

• Fiddle forward: When she arrived at Berklee College of Music a few years back, fiddle player Louise Bichan planned to study a bit and then return to Scotland, where the band she was in was gaining momentum. The connections she made in Boston changed her mind, though, and she’s been here since, leading her trio and collaborating on other projects like Hildaland. Saturday, July 11, at 6 p.m., Fletcher Murphy Park Stage, 28 Fayette St., Concord, Free, ccmusicschool.org.

• Songwriters swap: When both were starting out, Marc Cohn & Shawn Colvin worked with the same producer on their debut albums. Currently, the two singer-songwriters are sharing the stage for a show that’s part concert and conversation. Audiences on the tour have described a warm, unhurried evening built on the pair’s decades-long friendship as much as individual songbooks. Sunday, July 12, at 7 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $66 and up, etix.com.

• Swamp thing: Get a head start to the weekend with Louisiana Delta blues guitarist Tab Benoit performing in the Lakes Region. With ferocious fretwork and gritty, soulful singing, the four-time Grammy nominee’s latest studio album, his first in 13 years, hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts. Blues-rock power trio The Cold Stares, known for fuzzed-out guitars and classic riffs, open the show. Thursday, July 2, at 7 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, $46 and up, etix.com.

• Pre-Fourth: Building on a rep for playing ’90s indie rock faves, Dotted Lines recently released “Hollow,” an original about being on the wrong end of a breakup with a dreamy sonic fury that should appeal to fans of Foo Fighters. Among the covers in the quartet’s set are “Dreams” by the Cranberries — a bold choice — Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So,” and “Open House” by Bombay Bicycle Club. Friday, July 3, at 8 p.m., Fody’s Tavern, 9 Clinton St., Nashua, linktr.ee/dottedlinesband.

• Beyond Sublime: The annual Independence Day show from Badfish returns. A bunch of URI pals formed the tribute act a few years after Sublime lead singer Scott Norwell died from a heroin overdose, with no thoughts of lasting past college, and 25 years later it’s still going strong. They’ve even added a few excellent original songs “in the spirit” of the Long Beach reggae rockers. Friday, July 3, at 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, $29, casinoballroom.com. 18+.

• Dinner songs: Along with teaching math to East Boston high schoolers, Patrick Synan is a talented singer-songwriter whose music explores themes of emotional growth and complicated relationships in a style that echoes Noah Kahan and John Mayer. His ode to a gone-too-soon cousin, “Tommy’s Song,” is achingly beautiful, and the lively “Family Tree” is also a gem. Saturday, July 4, at 6 p.m., Murphy’s Taproom & Carriage House, 93 Route 101, Bedford, patricksynan.com.

• Crunky night: An eight-act hip-hop bill is topped by Brokencyde, a New Mexico duo who originated crunkcore, a fusion of hip-hop beats and screamo vocals. They’re joined by West Coast experimental rap-punk duo WhoKilledXIX and Las Vegas trap metal act Oni Inc., along with regionally based openers Set Fire to the Hive, CMPUTERGRL, Muda, Adderall XR and Trading Tombstones. Monday, July 6, at 6 p.m., Bungalow Bar & Grill, 333 Valley St., Manchester, $24, dice.fm.

• Chicken man: During the pandemic, when his business travel corporate job went to Zoom, Joe Fenti found the funny in a fake company he created called Fenti Fried Chicken, posting a series of increasingly popular TikToks. His Jeremy Allen White “Yes, Chef!” bit got 12 million hits. He left workaday life for standup comedy and hasn’t looked back. Partner, his first special, just came out on YouTube. Friday, June 26, 8 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St, Concord, $39, ccanh.com.

• Blues therapy: After two comedy shows, Manchester’s newest venue offers music, with Tom Hambridge, a multiple Grammy winning drummer, including for this year’s traditional blues album, Buddy Guy’s Ain’t Done With the Blues. His own LP, Down the Hatch, was the recent nominee for Blues Rock Album of the Year as well. New England favorites Blues Express open the show. Saturday, June 27, 7 p.m., Queen City Center, 215 Canal St., Manchester, $35, eventbrite.com.

• Sail away: Celebrate summer’s start as the Scott Spradling Band plays Yacht Rock With a Twist, a brassy take on the genre that wasn’t when songs like “Ride Like the Wind” and “Rosanna” were new; two filmmakers coined the name for a documentary. At least one musician didn’t love it — Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen, who had a two-word NSFW answer when asked for a comment. Saturday, June 27, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $34, palacetheatre.org.

• Helping hands: To benefit a Manchester-based charity, the Pinnacle Foundation Country Fest features Whiskey 6 Trio, a rare appearance from local hero and The Voice veteran Josh Logan, Slip Shot, and Justin Bethune. The sixth annual fundraiser aims to fight homelessness, promote financial literacy and a path to homeownership, and support area veterans. Sunday, June 28, 12:30 p.m., Auburn Pitts Bar & Grille, 167 Rockingham Road, Auburn, $25, pinnaclefoundationnh.org.