Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• Pickers’ pick: A new band of bluegrass aces, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway is led by the award-winning guitarist and songwriter; the quintet encored a recent Seattle show with twanged-up take on Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Also on the bill is Bella White, a 20-year-old singer and multi-instrumentalist whose debut album Just Like Leaving was called “sublime Appalachian heartbreak” by Rolling Stone. Thursday, March 31, 7 p.m., 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, $22 to $25 at eventbrite.com.

• Jazzy folk: The four-piece band River Sister came together after an open mic revealed the preternatural connection of singers Elissa Margolin and Stefanie Guzikowski. They melded so well that they formed almost by acclamation. Rounded out by upright bassist Nate Therrien and drummer PJ Donahue, their music is a wonderful blend of folk traditions and jazz rhythms, pure harmony wed to musical complexity. Friday, April 1, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $15 at ccanh.com.

• Blues man: Though he often sounds like he was plucked from a century ago, Guy Davis didn’t grow up in hardscrabble times. The singer, guitarist and actor has said he learned the blues tradition at first as a Vermont college student. He has a solid knack for channeling masters like Howlin’ Wolf and Blind Willie McTell, however. Saturday, April 2, 8 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $25 at palacetheatre.org.

• Sound machine: A rare live appearance from prog rock duo Delusive Relics is part of an event dubbed Synthwave Night that will feature selections from their second album, The Blind Owl. The show also stars Bosey Joe, the electronic groove pairing of looping wizard Aaron Jones and sax player Curtis Arnett, who will headline their own showcase in downtown Concord at Bank of NH Stage in early June. Saturday, April 2, 8 p.m., Area 23, 254 N. State St., Unit H (Smokestack Center), Concord. See delusiverelics.com.

• Lunar tunes: In a new video filmed in an open field, percussive guitarist Senie Hunt covers George Ezra’s “Budapest” and makes it his own, with elegant, quick fills and hypnotic rhythm. Hunt is back home from his current Nashville base to play shows, including one at a colonial-era estate owned by Moonlight Meadery, who also makes beer and cider; it often hosts area musicians — see the schedule on their website. Sunday, April 3, 2 p.m., Over The Moon Farmstead, 1253 Upper City Road, Pittsfield, overthemoonfarmstead.com.

Local music news & events

• Request filler: An audience-driven event with a big screen catalog of over 200 songs, Max Weinberg’s Jukebox is the definition of a crowd-pleasing show. The E Street Band drummer and ex-Conan bandleader helms a quartet that readily knocks out requests ranging from the Beatles to the Stones to, naturally, plenty of the Boss’s favorites. Each show is different, but every one of them is a delight. Thursday, March 24, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, tickets $49 to $115 (meet & greet) at palacetheatre.org.

• Still one: Formed in 1972, Orleans began inspired by an eclectic mix of styles including Meters and Neville Brothers styles roots music — hence the name — but the group found success with pop rock staples like “Dance With Me” and “Still The One.” They’ve endured some bumps along the way, including one member taking four years off to serve in Congress, and the death of key member Larry Hoppen, but they’re still playing. Thursday, March 24, 7:30 p.m., Dana Center, 100 Saint Anselm Dr., Manchester, $45 at anselm.edu.

• Bright beats: Enjoy an evening of dance music, luminescence and craft beer at the Pipe Dream Glow Party. Unleash the child within with glow sticks and face painting, as the W.A.P. DJ Trio entertains. The group consists of DJ ACHE, MC Mikey P&W and Wounded Wing. It’s the first time the veteran-owned brewery has done such a bash, with blacklights, pulsing rhythms and the energy of a big city discotheque. Friday, March. 25, 6 p.m., Pipe Dream Brewing, 49 Harvey Road, Londonderry, pipedreambrewingnh.com.

• Special night: Comedy fans looking to be a part of history should check out Juston McKinney in his upcoming show. Known for riffing on fatherhood and the foibles of New England, McKinney will be filming a new comedy special called On The Bright Side, his first since 2018’s Parentally Challenged, which was taped in Manchester. He’s done them for Comedy Central, Netflix and Amazon Prime. Saturday, March 26, 8 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $29.50 at ccanh.com.

• Party on: What once was a day’s celebration grew to a week and then a month — why not more? After Manchester’s end-of-March St. Patrick’s Parade, head across town for a post-event party, with Solitary Man performing traditional Irish music, joined by step dancers from Murray Studio, and more merriment from the AOH Hibernians Pipe and Drum Band. All proceeds from the bash benefit the Post’s baseball program. Sunday, March 27, noon, Henry Sweeney Post No. 2, 251 Maple St., Manchester, sweeneypost.org.

Local music news & events

• Green scene: An ideal accompaniment to St. Patrick’s Day, Black Pudding Rovers are in their 21st year playing Irish music, from traditional songs to Van Morrison. Piano player, guitarist and singer Mike Becker recalls that BPR was the house band at TR Brennan’s, “until that restaurant burned down after a hot performance.” The afternoon event includes food and drink specials — grab a Guinness. Thursday, March 17, 4 p.m., Moe Joe’s Family Restaurant, 2175 Candia Road, Manchester, eatatmoejoe.com.

• Different duo: The fortuitous pairing of John Oates and Guthrie Trapp began when both were playing the Telluride Bluegrass Festival a few years back. Oates was briefly stepping away from his work with Hall & Oates to sit in with Sam Bush and guitarist Trapp was playing in Jerry Douglas’s band. They jammed a bit, forming a bond that blossomed during the pandemic. A brief tour including a local stop is the result. Friday, March 18, 8 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 617 Main St., Laconia, $39 to $89 at ticketweb.com.

• Metal triplet: Both a rock concert and a show of force, Korn performs with the equally muscular Chevelle and Code Orange. With their eponymous debut album, Korn defined a genre that one critic said “articulated a generational coming-of-angst.” They released a new album, Requiem, in February, led by the single “Start the Healing.” Chevelle’s latest is last year’s space-themed NIRAITAS. Saturday, March. 19, 6:30 p.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester. Tickets are $49.50 to $115 at ticketmaster.com.

• Tapas tunes: Enjoy small-plate delicacies and tunes from The Incidentals, a four-piece with a set list ranging from Frank Sinatra to the Ramones. Whether that includes a punk version of “My Way,” is unclear, although Sid Vicious did cover it back when. The restaurant is highly regarded for inventive shareable dishes, and a bar that extends its Grateful Dead theme with a grapefruit-flavored Sugar Magnolia martini. Sunday, March 20, 4 p.m., Stella Blu, 70 E. Pearl St., Nashua, stellablu-nh.com.

• New’s old: Born from creator Scott Bradlee’s self-described “old soul,” Postmodern Jukebox blends old-school jazz with contemporary songs in a way that’s singularly unique. Singer Hayley Reinhart covering Radiohead’s “Creep” in a Dinah Washington mode is stunning and scintillating, as is Olivia Kuper Harris, Sara Niemietz and Therese Curatolo reinventing the Spice Girls’ ’90s pop hit “Wannabe.” Wednesday, March 23, 8 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $39 to $109 at ccanh.com.

Local music news & events

• Heartworn: Maine-based musician Seth Warner presents Highway Kind: A Celebration of Townes Van Zandt, an evening honoring the author of “Poncho & Lefty,” “Waiting Around To Die” and other timeless songs. Over a brief but iconic career, the Texas native was covered by an Americana who’s who, including Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, the Cowboy Junkies and Steve Earle, who named his son after him. Thursday, March 10, 8 p.m., The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, $10 at pressroomnh.com.

• Rocking: Las Vegas stalwarts Adelitas Way perform with support from West Coast alt-metal band Gemini Syndrome at a downtown venue well suited to their full-on sound that has some big-name ticketed events on the horizon. Well-known for their churning mid-aughts single “Invincible,” the band recently released a new EP, Rivals. They reportedly got their name from a Tijuana bar that was their last stop on a long, scary weekend. Friday, March 11, 9 p.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, $22 at ticketmaster.com (21+).

• Celtic: March is always a busy month for Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki and his trio, premier purveyors of Irish music. Along with a showcase event in Concord at week’s end, the master fiddler will play an intimate show of traditional tunes backed by bass player Chris Noyes and guitarist Matt Jensen at a museum dedicated to preserving Manchester’s industrial heritage. Saturday, March. 12, 2:30 p.m., Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St., Suite 103, Manchester, $20 at manchesterhistoric.org (reservations required).

• Gather: Several local bands perform at Music Fest 22, an event sponsored by Henniker Brewing. The lineup includes Contoocook favorites Hometown Eulogy, with mandolinist Brian Peasley and guitar/harmonica player Taylor Pearson along with Joe Leary, David Graham and Benjamin Harris, and the band Two Minute Warning. Craft beer pours, food and raffles are all part of the fun. Saturday, March 12, 3 p.m., American Legion Post No. 81, 169 Bound Tree Road, Contoocook, americanlegionpost81.org.

• Progeny: Apples that didn’t fall far from the tree, Teddy Thompson & Jenni Muldaur perform classic country duets, following up their Teddy & Jenni Do Porter & Dolly EP released last year. Thompson is the son of folk legends Richard and Linda Thompson, whom he musically reunited for 2014’s Family, a disc that also included his sister and half-brother. Muldaur is the daughter of pioneering roots singer Maria Muldaur. Sunday, March 13, 7 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $30 at ccanh.com.

Local music news & events

• Beach mood: With frigid temperatures lingering, the Kenny Chesney tribute act No Shoes Nation provides a glimpse into summer months ahead. Led by singer-guitarist Danny “Wray” Bergeron, the behatted band recreates the loose, laid-back vibe of a Chesney show, a popular bit at the winery they’re returning to after selling it out last year. Dinner reservations are available at LaBelle’s Americus Restaurant. Thursday, March 3, 7:30 p.m., LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111, Derry, $35 at labellewinery.com.

• Country time: A powerful double bill has headliner Michael Ray preceded by New England Music Award winner Annie Brobst. The Florida-born singer-songwriter is known for “Whiskey and Rain,” “Get To You,” “Kiss You In The Morning” and other hits; his latest release is Higher Education. Boston’s Brobst has received multiple NEMA plaques, most recently earning Act of the Year honors in 2021. Friday, March 4, 6 p.m., Granite State Music Hall, 546 Main St., Laconia, $25 to $75 at ticketweb.com (21+).

• Boss band: Taking their name from a Born To Run deep track, The Last Of The Duke Street Kings are a Montreal tribute act focused on Bruce Springsteen. Their repertoire includes the usual favorites, but a typical setlist offers rarities only found in completist box sets and bootlegs, and runs from his early days to newer selections like “Radio Nowhere.” Saturday, March 5, 8 p.m., Pasta Loft, 241 Union Square, Milford, $10 at eventbrite.com (groups of four, six and 10, with 10 individual bar seats available).

• Funny night: With nearly five decades in the trenches, Steve Sweeney has earned the title King of Boston Comedy. He featured prominently in When Stand Up Stood Out, a documentary of the 1980s scene. Sweeney is also a successful actor, landing roles in movies like Celtic Pride, There’s Something About Mary and Me, Myself & Irene. He played himself as an aspiring talk show host in 2018’s well-reviewed Sweeney Killing Sweeney. Saturday, March 5, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $25 at tupelohall.com.

• Eighties redux: Best known for providing a title song to teen rom com Pretty In Pink, Psychedelic Furs made a half dozen albums over the MTV decade. Hits like “Love My Way” and “The Ghost In You” charted generational angst via what one writer labeled “witty, poetic, pugnacious onslaughts seared out of punk then sashayed beyond New Wave.” In 2020, they released Made of Rain, their first new LP in nearly three decades. Wednesday, March 9, 7:30 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $29 to $49 at ccanh.com.

Local music news & events

• Laugh night: With the news that its namesake venue got an eviction stay, Comedy Out of the ‘Box happens with sets from headliner Jay Chanoine, with feature acts Robbie Partridge and Ro Gavin; the show is hosted by Chad Blodgett. After interior tenants of Steeplegate Mall were given notice, the innovative storefront performance space got word that it can live another day, but the future remains uncertain. Thursday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m., Hatbox Theatre, 270 Loudon Road, Concord, $16 to $22 at hatboxnh.com.

• Summer vibe: With cabin fever past the pain point, the Halfway to Bernie’s Party held a stone’s throw from the busy beach bar should be a treat. The funky Over the Bridge headlines; with a new album, the event doubles as a release show. Also on hand are Vermont rapper Jarv and rock steady favorites The Feel Goods, with Green Lion Crew spinning tracks and hosting. Friday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m., Wally’s Pub, 144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton Beach, wallysnh.com.

• Helping hands: An afternoon jam session hosted by Hank Osborne is a fundraiser for fellow performer and current Nashville cat Senie Hunt. Detecting a burning smell in his car recently, the percussive singer-guitarist stopped and got out as it went up in flames. The car and thousands of dollars’ worth of gear were a total loss. The venue promises to chip in $100 for anyone who writes and performs an original song about a flaming car. Saturday, Feb. 26, 1 p.m., Area 23, 254 N. State St., Concord, theareas23.com.

• Local power: In a homecoming show originally set for last November, metal powerhouse Sepsiss performs. It’s a step up for the Manchester band, who were slated to open for OTEP at the postponed event. Now, the reigning NEMA winners are headlining, with support from Inverter, Sixteen X Twenty, Able Blood and Badtude. Saturday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $10 to $75 at eventbrite.com.