Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• St. Pat’s prep: It’s getting close to shamrock time, so get ready with Enter the Haggis. A truly international band — they were formed in Toronto with musicians from Portland and Philadelphia — the Celtic-flavored rockers released their album The Archer’s Parade in early 2020 just as the pandemic hit. They livestreamed a few shows, then got back on the road to resume as an energizing live act. Friday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord. Tickets $18 general admission, $25 reserved at ccanh.com.

• Solo turning: Though weather postponed his band’s recent show, Mindset X front man Steve Haidaichuk will perform as his alter ego The Deviant at the same downtown venue; their appearance is now moved to April 9. Playing alone, the singer-guitarist offers a decades-spanning set of songs that inspired him to become a musician, from Eagles and Billy Joel to One Republic — as the name implies, it’s a slight departure from prog rock. Friday, Feb. 4, 9 p.m., Angel City Music Hall, 179 Elm St., Manchester, angelcitymusichall.com.

• Salsa time: A Brazilian steakery turns up the heat with Latin Night, an evening of music and dance led by Eleganza Dance Company. The regular First Friday affair begins with a 45-minute bachata dance lesson, followed by DJ Jersey spinning salsa, bachata, cha-cha and kizomba tunes into the night, along with a performance by Eleganza Ladies. Friday, Feb. 4, 9 p.m., Gauchos Churrascaria Brazilian Steakhouse & Butchery, 62 Lowell St., Manchester, gauchosbraziliansteakhouse.com. Tickets are $10 at the door.

• England calling: To mark a half century since the release of Aqualung, Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre will play the iconic 1971 album in its entirety, with a band that includes former Tull members Clive Bunker on drums and Dee Palmer on keyboards. With timeless tracks including the title cut, “My God” and “Cross-Eyed Mary,” it’s arguably the best effort from a catalog that included some real greats, from Stand Up to War Child. Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $45 at tupelohall.com.

• Home quarters: After years of playing Las Vegas residencies, junk rockers Recycled Percussion decided to build their own venue, closer to their roots. Chaos & Kindness Experience opened last year, and features frequent appearances from the group that shot to national fame on America’s Got Talent, along with shows from other acts and unique events like an upcoming Tattoo Festival in March that will blend dance music and mass inking. Sunday, Feb. 6, 2 p.m., The CAKE, 12 Veterans Square, Laconia, $35 to $110 at tix.com.

Local music news & events

• Open-ended: A monthly series of improvisational rock, The Cyrus Sessions is hosted by Slack Tide’s Chris Cyrus, who brings the bona fides for a night of jamming. The upcoming gathering features a fellow band member of Cyrus’s, drummer Jake Smith. The venue is an Italian steakhouse offering craft cocktails and “elevated pub fare,” and the event takes place in a recently renovated music and function room. Thursday, Jan. 27, 6 p.m., Luk’s Bar & Grill, 142 Lowell Road, Hudson. See slacktideofficial.com.

• Real deal: Settling into New England like a weather front, Keb’ Mo’ performs several shows in the region over the next month, including one in downtown Portsmouth. Following that, he’ll join fellow bluesman Joe Bonamassa on a cruise to the Bahamas. The five-time Grammy winning singer/guitarist’s shows are soulful, evocative affairs; he recently released a new album, Good To Be, with an infectious title track. Friday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m., The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, $48 to $159 at themusichall.org.

• Tom tribute: Anyone looking for the heart of Saturday night will enjoy the Tom Waits Tribute organized by Granite State of Mind maven Rob Azevedo, with local musicians covering the L.A. bard. Todd Hearon will do “Ol’ 55,” while Chris Peters takes on “Downtown Train” and “Jersey Girl.” Other performers include Keith Sanders, Chris Howe, Joe Clark Beaupre, Paul Driscoll and the lovely duo Rockwood Taylor. Saturday, Jan. 29, 4 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com/theshaskeenpub.

• London calling: Performing via livestream from London’s Docklands District, The Smile is Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, along with Tom Skinner of British jazz group Sons of Kemet. Playing in the round, it’s the first time the trio will do new music live. Yorke said the name comes from a Ted Hughes poem – “Not the smile as in ‘ahh!’, more ‘The Smile’ as in, the guy who lies to you every day.” Saturday, Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m., O’neil Cinemas, 24 Calef Highway, Epping, $20 at oneilcinemas.com.

• Shock rock: Among music’s many subgenres, horror punk is exemplified by Blitzkid, a West Virginia band led by TB Monstrosity, a singer-guitarist who calls to mind Popeye’s Bluto at the end of a long weekend. The group formed in the late 1990s and broke up 10 years ago, but they’re back for a reunion show at a venue that on Saturday, Jan. 29, will also host a benefit for an employee who lost all her belongings in a house fire. Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $17 to $250 at eventbrite.com.

Shows

• Dave Gererd and Tim Theriault Thursday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m., Stone Church

• Anthony Geraci & the Boston Blues All-Stars Thursday, Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Venue

• An Evening with Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m, Palace Theatre

• Red Hot Chilli Pipers Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

• Ambrose Akinmusire Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• The Dave Matthews Tribute Band Friday, Jan. 21, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• Fred Hersch Trio Saturday, Jan. 22, at 7 and 9:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club

• Funtcase & SweetTooth Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Jewel Music Venue

• Amulus/The Chops Saturday, Jan. 21, 9 p.m., Stone Church

• Who’s Bad (tribute to Michael Jackson) Saturday, Jan. 22, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

• Beechwood & Boomsoss Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

• The Skunk Sessions Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Portland Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Series Sunday, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Citizen Cope Tuesday, Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m., Music Hall

• Eddie 9V Wednesday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Nicholas Payton Thursday, Jan. 27, 7 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Juggalo Jump-Off (Insane Clown Posse tribute) Thursday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m., Jewel Music Venue

• Bearly Dead Thursday, Jan. 27, 9 p.m., Stone Church

• Alicia Olatuja Quintet Friday, Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues

• Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives Friday, Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

• Keb’Mo’ Friday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m., Music Hall

• Classic Stones Live Friday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• Brandon “Taz” Niederauer Saturday, Jan. 29, 7:30, Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues

• The Bulkheads/Adrienne Mack-Davis/Villains Row Saturday, Jan. 29, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Superunknown: A Tribute to Chris Cornell Saturday, Jan, 29, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• Rachel & Vilray Saturday, Jan. 29, 8 p.m., The Historic Theatre/Music Hall

• Blitzkid The Reunion Kickoff Tour Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., Jewel

• Joel Ross Quintet Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Juston Cohn & Dario Castro Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., Stone Church

• Mike Block Trio Thursday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m., Stone Church

• Shemekia Copeland Thursday, Feb. 3, at 7 and 9:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Foreigners Journey (tribute to Foreigner and Journey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

• King Solomon Hicks Friday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• The Soggy Po’ Boys Friday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Enter the Haggis Friday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

• Phil Vassar Friday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

• Cowboy Junkies Friday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m., The Historic Theatre/Music Hall

• Tusk (Fleetwood Mac Tribute) Friday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• The Brother Brothers Saturday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, Concord

• Cash Unchained — The Ultimate Johnny Cash Tribute Saturday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m., Cap Center

• Mike Girard’s Big Swinging Thing Saturday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

• Lucky Chops Saturday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz

• Sister Dee & Dis N’ Dat Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre — Aqualung 50th Anniversary Tour Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• Mike Dawes and Yasmin Williams Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

• Pink Talking Fish (Pink Floyd/Talking Heads/Phish tribute band) Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 6, 1 p.m., The Historic Theatre/Music Hall

• Taylor O’Donnell Monday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m., Johnson Theatre, UNH Durham

• Bird Friend/Mike Cote Wednesday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m., Stone Church

• Peter Parcek Band Wednesday, Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues

Local music news & events

• Local lights: A music-friendly taphouse and grill kicks off a new weekly series, NH Music Collective Artist Showcase. The first show offers singer-songwriter Paul Driscoll, one-man band Ryan Williamson and country singer April Cushman, riding high on the release of her new album, The Long Haul. NHMC shines a light on the region’s original music, as well as providing booking services, artist development and production. Thursday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m., Area 23, 254 N. State St. (Smokestack Center), Concord, thearea23.com.

• Soulful time: Dance away the winter/pandemic blues with Mica’s Groove Train, a six-piece R&B band with an edge. The band is led by charismatic singer and keyboard player Yamica Peterson, a ubiquitous presence on the regional scene with solo and ensemble shows, a collaboration with guitarist Don Severance in the Mica-Sev Project and the father-daughter duo Family Affair, with fellow scene fixture Pete Peterson. Friday, Jan. 21, 8:30 p.m., Strange Brew Tavern, 88 Market St., Manchester. See micasgroovetrain.com.

• Slight detour: While sipping the house special, mimosa-adjacent Sledgehammer, enjoy Paul Wolstencroft on keys for an early event, dubbed Slightly Stoopid Brunch after the band he joined in 2013. Their history dates back to SoCal’s early surf punk scene; late Sublime singer Bradley Nowell discovered them during a stint at a rehab clinic run by the mother of co-founder Miles Doughty. Wolstencroft also plays with Organically Good Trio. Saturday, Jan. 22, 9 a.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, goatnh.com.

• Original play: For their first hometown appearance since last summer, Married Iguana is joined by regional standouts The Humans Being and Earthmark for a rollicking event presented by local promoter Jigs Music. Their debut EP includes one of the best songs to come out in 2021; “Go With The Flow” chugs along like a rolling party bus, aided by scorching guitar licks from front man and main songwriter Brett Higgins. Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $10. See facebook.com/JigsMusic.

• The junction: Learn about the intersection between classical music and jazz at Up Close & Personal, a six-concert series featuring a sumptuous prix fixe dinner and chamber music from the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra. The upcoming event’s centerpiece is Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” arranged for piano quartet, performed on the venue’s Steinway by Boston pianist Tianhong Yang. Sunday, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, $75 at ticketmaster.com.

Shows

• Karrin Allyson Friday, Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• EJ Oulette and Crazy Maggie/Carol Coronis Friday, Jan. 14, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Blood, Sweat & Tears Saturday, Jan. 15, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

• Recycled Percussion Saturday, Jan. 15, 4:30 & 7:30 p.m., Music Hall

• Enox/The War Within/Tactiles/Okami Saturday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue

• Vanessa Collier Saturday, Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club

• Dueling Pianos Saturday, Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m., Franklin Opera House

• Morgan James Saturday, Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre

• Beau Sasser Trio/Slack Tide Saturday, Jan. 15, 9 p.m., Stone Church

• Beatlejuice Saturday, Jan. 15, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• Tom Chapin Wednesday, Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club

• Dave Gererd and Tim Theriault Thursday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m., Stone Church

• Anthony Geraci & the Boston Blues All-Stars Thursday, Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Venue

• An Evening with Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m, Palace Theatre

• Red Hot Chili Pipers Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

• Ambrose Akinmusire Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• The Dave Matthews Tribute Band Friday, Jan. 21, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• Fred Hersch Trio Saturday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club

• Funtcase & SweetTooth Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Jewel

• Amulus/The Chops Saturday, Jan. 21, 9 p.m., Stone Church

• Who’s Bad (tribute to Michael Jackson) Saturday, Jan. 22, 2 and 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

• Beechwood & Boomsoss Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

• The Gilmour Project Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• The Skunk Sessions Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Portland Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Series Sunday, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Citizen Cope Tuesday, Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m., Music Hall

• Eddie 9V Wednesday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Nicholas Payton Thursday, Jan. 27, 7 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Juggalo Jump-Off (Insane Clown Posse tribute) Thursday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m., Jewel Music Venue

• Bearly Dead Thursday, Jan. 27, 9 p.m., Stone Church

• Alicia Olatuja Quintet Friday, January 28, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues

• Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives Friday, Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

• Keb’Mo’ Friday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m., Music Hall

• Brandon “Taz” Niederauer Saturday, Jan. 29, 7:30, Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues

• The Bulkheads/Adrienne Mack-Davis/Villains Row Saturday, Jan. 29, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Rachel & Vilray Saturday, Jan. 29, 8 p.m., The Historic Theatre/Music Hall

• Blitzkid The Reunion Kickoff Tour Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., Jewel

• Joel Ross Quintet Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Shmeika Copeland Thursday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Foreigners Journey (tribute to Foreigner and Journey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

• King Solomon Hicks Friday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Enter the Haggis Friday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

• Phil Vassar Friday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

• Cowboy Junkies Friday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m., The Historic Theatre/Music Hall

Local music news & events

• Comedy tonight: A solid lineup of local standup is led by snarkmeister supreme Jay Chanoine, with support from Mike Gray, Ronnie Partridge and Claremont comic Chad Blodgett. Mona Forgione of event presenter Gone Rogue Productions hosts the gathering, and there’s no better remedy for the Omicron Blues than an evening of jokes, as giggling past the graveyard is easier than whistling. Thursday, Jan. 13, 7:30 p.m., Backyard Brewery, 1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, $15 at eventbrite.com.

• Twisting tunes: Adding music to a made-in-heaven blend of artisan pretzels and craft beer, Jessye DeSilva is among the regional performers slated to appear through March in downtown Manchester. Upcoming in the weekly series are Ramez Mataz (Jan. 21), Paul Nelson (Jan. 28), Jim Dozet (Feb. 4) and Kevin Horan (Feb. 11). Local treasure Alli Beaudry stops by for a solo appearance on Feb. 25 and is joined by Nick Phaneuf on March 11. Friday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m., The Hop Knot, 1000 Elm St., Manchester, thehopknot.com.

• Holiday redux: Keep the seasonal spirit alive with Morgan James: A Very Magnetic Post Christmas, rescheduled from early December. The singer draws from her album, containing skillfully curated nuggets like William Bell’s “Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday” and “Backdoor Santa,” the latter from the 1968 Atco Records holiday compilation Soul Christmas, along with standards and a few winning originals. Saturday, Jan. 15, 8 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $25 to $65 at palacetheatre.org.

• Remembrance: Though the show happens just below the borderline, Rock In Peace – A Tribute To Chucky Tester is very much a New Hampshire happening, as four of the state’s bands gather to honor a beloved member of its music community, who passed too soon. Prospect Hill, A Simple Complex, Mindset X and Blindspot all perform, which proceeds going to the late drummer and band leader’s family. Sunday, Jan. 16, noon, A-Brews Tap & Grill, 1794 Bridge St., Unit 1A, Dracut, Mass., $20 at ticketleap.com

• Jam together: Led by the woman who put the Mama in Mama Kicks back when, Monday’s Muse is back, an open session topped by a local artist every week, with a house band including Lisa Guyer, John Mederios, Geoff Bates, Nate Comp and Steve Baker. This week’s featured guest is Devin Cordeiro; with Bob Vose on Jan. 24 and bona fide rock star Charlie Farren closing out the month on Jan. 31. Monday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m., Stumble Inn Bar & Grill, 20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, stumbleinnnh.com.