Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• Rocket mannish: American Elton stars piano player Bill Connors, a tribute performer who looks a lot like the object of his impersonation, He’s been on America’s Got Talent and Legends in Concert doing his best Captain Fantastic and has received raves for inhabiting the subtleties of Sir Elton in voice and manner, along with bringing the bling, with costume selections that evoke different stages of a legendary career. Thursday, Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $29 at palacetheatre.com.

• Triple topper: An end-of-week comedy show stars Will Noonan and two more standups routinely found at the top of the bill, Jody Sloane and Joey Carroll. The three perform at an Italian eatery that’s part of a trend making Headliners, New England’s largest comedy franchise, even bigger. Friday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Tuscan Kitchen, 67 Main St., Salem, $30 at tuscanbrands.com.

• Probiotic music: The first kombucha brewery in New Hampshire also offers music, with rising indie acts Lily Byrd and Molly McDevitt. Byrd blends dreamy electro-pop with folk music sensibilities on songs like “Don’t Move” and “Better Now,” both from her 2018 EP Numbers. McDevitt, whose hushed vocals will appeal to fans of Beth Orton and Holly Humberstone, is equally evocative. Saturday, Oct. 1, 8 p.m., Auspicious Brew, 1 Washington St., Suite 1103, Dover, $10 at auspicious-brew.square.site.

• Roots bookends: Along with fronting North Coast band Over the Bridge, Mike Forgette keeps busy playing solo, including a brunch and evening set at a country-themed downtown restaurant. Forgette’s originals blend roots and hip-hop, as evidenced by the lovely, spiritual “Grain of Sand.” For shows like these he’s covering others, including a smooth take of Marshall Tucker’s “Can’t You See.” Sunday, Oct. 2, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St, Manchester. See facebook.com/mike.forgette.9.

• Heritage act: There are powerful bloodlines running through North Mississippi All-Stars, starting with brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, who formed the group in 1996. The lineup has shifted over the years and currently includes Lamar Williams Jr., son of the Allman Brothers bassist, along with Jesse Williams, who’s played with well-known acts like Al Kooper, Johnny A. and the New Black Eagle Jazz Band. Wednesday, Oct. 5, 8 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, tickets $20 to $65 at jimmysoncongress.com.

Local music news & events

• Bon voyage: A side project of a musician known for his percussive guitar exploits, Senie Hunt Project plays its final show of the season. The solid blues rock combo is a definite departure from the fingerpicking brilliance of his debut CD, Song Bird, with danceable grooves ideal for this early autumn street party. With summer’s end, the Sierra Leone-born, Concord-raised Hunt will spend more time in his new home, Nashville. Thursday, Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m., Warner Main Stage, 16 E. Main St., Warner. See seniehunt.com.

• Release bash: Local indie singer-songwriter Benjamin Harris celebrates his debut album, Blue, with a basement show, joined by a bevy of area musicians. As Harris strums his six-string, the title track, a meditation on mental health, asks: If all things happen for a reason, then where’s the lesson? “What was I supposed to learn?” sings Harris, who at the event is joined by Kaedance Dae, Chris Sammon and Alfredo Benavides. Friday, Sept. 23, 9 p.m., Penuche’s Ale House, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord. See facebook.com/benjaminharris57

• Community: An evening of regional acts is topped by Promise Game, a southern New Hampshire quintet that blends melodic riffs with a Rage Against The Machine edge on its first video, “Thanks For the Anxiety,” followed by the punk rock energy of all-female Girlspit. Rounding out the lineup are two Boston bands: Sweetie, a quartet who had a song played on Rocky Rhino Radio in the U.K. last year, and Indoor Friends. Saturday, Sept. 24, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $5 at the door, 21+.

• Family affair: To borrow a phrase from Michael Franti, reggae music is the sound of sunshine, and Dis-N-Dat Band is an excellent embodiment of that sentiment. With over 20 years together, the group is led by the ebullient Sista Dee on steel drums and vocals, surrounded by family members — her husband Rangotan Smith, formerly with Black Uhuru, along with her son on keyboards and her daughter sharing vocal duties. Sunday, Sept. 25, 4 p.m., Penuche’s Pub, 4 Canal St., Nashua. See facebook.com/DisnDatBand.

• Listen & learn: A music analysis seminar hosted by Cody Pope & Byron G is both a listening session for the duo’s debut collaborative album, Meet Me In Gate City, and a breakdown of how it was made. The two will go in depth on their writing process, the instruments used and, according to a press release, “entendres, cultural references, creative influences, song structure, creative process [and] songwriting stories.” Wednesday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m., Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St., Nashua. See cody-pope.com.

Local music news & events

• Laugh night: Enjoy Third Thursday comedy with Matt Barry, joined by James Hamilton, Gilman Seymour and Jonah Simmons. Barry is now in his second decade of doing standup after trying it out at the Shaskeen in 2011. He mixes jokes about underemployment, living in his parents’ house and smoking weed — the latter less prominent since cannabis is legal more places. Thursday, Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m., SoHo Asian Restaurant & Bar, 49 Lowell Road, Hudson, $18 in advance, $20 at the door; email [email protected].

• Rock out: Performing their only New Hampshire show, Winger rolls out their hits, including “Seventeen,” Can’t Get Enough,” “Headed For A Heartbreak” and “Miles Away.” Formed in NYC during the halcyon days of hair bands, their glam and prog metal mix was all over MTV for a while before they split in the mid-’90s. They re-formed in 2001 and have made a few albums since. Leaving Eden opens the show. Friday, Sept. 16, 6 p.m., Granite State Music Hall, 546 Main St., Laconia, $29.99 and up at ticketweb.com, 21+.

• Helping out: A benefit for Ukrainian Refugee Relief features Foreigners Journey, a tribute act that covers two classic rock groups, co-headlining with Seacoast Idol favorite Jordan Quinn. The double doppelgänger band is led by singer Keith Carmichael, who pulls off the feat of switching between Lou Gramm doing “Urgent” and “Hot Blooded” and Steve Perry singing “Lights” and “Don’t Stop Believing.” Saturday, Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m., Stockbridge Theatre, 44 N. Main St., Derry, $41 at stockbridgetheatre.com.

• Female energy: Enjoy an afternoon set from Caylin Costello, a singer and guitarist who recently opened both days of the RoC The Range Festival. She learned her first song, “House of the Rising Sun,” at age 12, and started hitting a local open mic a few years later, doing her first paying gig at 17. She’s built a solid calendar playing covers and originals, despite the challenges of being a woman in an often male-dominated scene. Sunday, Sept. 18, 4 p.m., Stonecutters Pub, 63 Union St., Milford. See facebook.com/caylincostellomusic.

• Read & play: A night of poetry and music is helmed by Myles Burr, author of Therapy Is Expensive So I Wrote This Book Instead, and editor of a few anthologies. Featured poets include Claire Conroy, Mikayla Cyr, Allison J. Hall, Mike Nelson, Lillian Zagorites and Dana Brooks. The evening’s musical element includes hip-hop from Sig Shalome, a West Coast transplant who recently released an eponymous EP. Wednesday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m., The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, $10 at eventbrite.com, 21+.

Local music news & events

• Hometown girl: Twice NEMA-nominated singer-songwriter Maddi Ryan is an unabashed Granite State booster, but she has only a few shows scheduled in her home state this month, including Thursday, Sept. 8, 6 p.m., 603 Brewery, 42 Main St., Londonderry, more at maddiryan.com.

• Laugh bash: The latest installment of Friday Night Comedy at The Rex has headliner Chris Dimitrakopoulos, a Greek-American comic and self-described amateur rapper. Friday, Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $25 at palacetheatre.org.

• Triple bill: A downtown showcase in Nashua is topped by Mistaken for Strangers, a southern New Hampshire alt rock band that formed in 2016. Also on hand is Faith Ann Band, and Dank Sinatra. Saturday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m., Nashua Garden, 121 Main St., Nashua, $5 at the door.

• Country comfort: Australian-born singer Morgan Evans is currently on an East Coast run that stops at a Manchester venue well-suited to his high-energy modern country music. Sunday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, $25 at ticketmaster.com

• Rap gathering: An evening of New England’s top hip-hop talent, Ain’t No Half Steppin’ includes performances from headliners G Mack and New Country, along with King Sekou, MstyleZ, Ox Mattox, Frequency, Louie Cypher, Ermack Da Shogun, OB Wan, La Jota, Arabian Queen, Tayla Morgan and P Garci. The 21+ event is hosted by Jaccie Brown from The Iccy Show and includes a musical performance by DJ EASports. Sunday, Sept. 11, 8:30 p.m., 603 Bar and Grill, 1087 Elm St., Manchester, $10 at eventbrite.com, $15 at the door.

Local music news & events

• Joyful sound: A free after-work concert series in Manchester has Joel Cage performing, a singer, songwriter and Kerrville New Folk winner. At his last show at the venue, an audience member thanked him, saying she’d “needed some joy.” Upcoming are Kevin Horan (Sept. 8), Hickory Horned Devils (Sept. 15). Rebecca Turmel (Sept. 22 and Oct. 20)), Halley Neal (Sept. 29), Jessye DeSilva (Oct. 6), Paul Nelson (Oct. 13) and Joey Clark & The Big Hearts (Oct. 27). See Cage on Thursday, Sept. 1, 5 p.m., Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester, currier.org.

• Al fresco: A multi-genre celebration of rising regional acts, the annual Saltwater Roots Festival offers The Ammonium Maze celebrating the music of Percy Hill, led by former member Aaron Katz, with his life partner Sarah Blacker, Chris Sink and Dave Brunyak of Pink Talking Fish. Also on the bill are harmony-rich River Sister, which grew out of a jam at Dolphin Striker, and blues singer Julie Rhodes. Friday, Sept. 2, 6 p.m., Prescott Park, 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth, table reservations $65 at prescottpark.org.

• Claw rock: An end-of-summer bash with a carnival atmosphere, Lobster Palooza includes a cookout, all-gender bikini contest, and music from five musical acts, all competing for something called the Lobster Belt title. Along with that meaty battle of the bands, the all-day event has an early Oktoberfest stein host challenge, plenty of swag to give away, and a 50/50 raffle benefiting Make-A-Wish. Saturday, Sept. 3, 1 p.m., Makris Lobster & Steak House, 354 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, eatalobster.com.

• Fancy rascal: A former talk show host known for his empathy with guests, Craig Ferguson most recently emceed The Hustler. A clever game show that blended trivia questions with subterfuge, it only lasted one season. Now the Scotland-born comic is back doing standup, stopping by the Lakes Region to share his topical humor. Maybe he’ll comment on Britney Spears’ return — he stood up for the singer in her meltdown days. Saturday, Sept. 3, 8 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, tickets $39 to $99 at etix.com.

• Roots ragers: Enjoy a Labor Day weekend double bill on a giant beach facing deck as Fear Nuttin Band brings its metal-infused reggae rock to Hampton. Mixing elements of reggae, hip-hop, dance hall, hardcore and heavy rock, they’ve shared stages with SOJA, Toots and the Maytals, Kanye West, Sublime, Steel Pulse and others. They’re joined by the equally explosive Cape Cod group Crooked Coast. The 21+ show is free. Sunday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m., Bernie’s Beach Bar, 73 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, berniesnh.com.

Local music news & events

• Joke quest: Fresh from his annual Hampton Beach Comedy Festival, Jimmy Dunn spends the next few months in search of the next great standup bit. Think George Carlin’s “Seven Words,” Steve Martin’s “Excuuuse Me!” or Gary Gulman’s “State Abbreviations” for an idea of the iconic laugh he seeks. Dozens of comics will take their shot while Dunn, a regional treasure and McCarthys cast member, hosts. Thursday, Aug. 25, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, tickets $20 at ccanh.com.

• Farm fete: A weekly free concert series continues at a bucolic Lakes Region farm has Clandestine performing. Four UNH pals formed the improvisational funk, soul and jazz combo, which features sax, guitar, bass and drums. As students they appeared frequently at Stone Church, and they’ve recorded a few original tunes since graduating. The show offers wood-fired pizza and lemonade for sale. Friday, Aug. 26, 5 p.m., Beans & Greens Farm, 245 Intervale Road, Gilford, beansandgreensfarm.com.

• Blast off: Expect fireworks and lots of music ending with a performance by Recycled Percussion at an outdoor concert dubbed Sky Show. The family-friendly event hopes to draw a crowd in the tens of thousands. Performers include all-female Aerosmith tribute act Rag Dolls, guitar hero Gary Hoey, Dancing Madly Backwards and Living On A Bad Name covering Bon Jovi songs. Saturday, Aug. 27, noon, Arms Park, 10 Arms St. Manchester, free, with $50 and $110 VIP tickets available at chaosandkindness.store.

• Top floor: Ride to the top of the AC Hotel to enjoy live music from Bryan Killough & Chris O’Neill. The rooftop restaurant and bar offers sweeping views of the Piscataqua River, along with a nice variety of small plates and craft cocktails. Along with a busy solo schedule, Killough is known for his jazz band Zero Gravity, while O’Neill is a scene veteran who also plays Western swing with the Honey Bees. Sunday, Aug. 28, noon, Rooftop at the Envio, 299 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, $15 at rooftopportsmouth.com.

• Fab faux: In a departure from 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 amidst the park greenery as the group rolls through hits like “Love Me Do,” “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “Hard Day’s Night” and “Things We Said Today” in their trademark suits and boots — they’re one of best around. Wednesday, Aug. 31, 7 p.m., Emerson Park, 6 Mont Vernon St., Milford. See studiotwotributeband.com.