Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• Big Eighties: Video killed the radio star, a cultural moment celebrated by cover band Fast Times. The quartet returns to the MTV era, complete with wild hair, angular jackets and keytar. This event, part of a community playground’s summer concert series, is for anyone who recalls a favorite VJ or couldn’t get enough of Human League, Dexy’s Midnight Runners or Loverboy — or those sad to have missed it. Thursday, July 22, 6:30 p.m., Field of Dreams, 48 Germonty Dr., Salem, facebook.com/FieldofDreamsSalemNH.

• Pickin’ picnic: A Concord Coalition to End Homelessness benefit, Bluegrass BBQ 2021 offers four rootsy acts, with a slate of victuals for omnivores like brisket, pulled pork, sausage and cowboy beans. With a name drawn from the John Prine song “Paradise,” headliner Peabody’s Coal Train is a Contoocook Valley supergroup. Paul Hubert, Whiskey Prison and Bow Junction also appear Saturday, July 24, noon, White Park, 1 White St., Concord. The show is free; pre-order food at concordhomeless.org.

• Tent music: Enjoy a scratch kitchen meal and al fresco serenading from David Corson, a singer-songwriter who’s been compared to Ray Lamontagne, Ed Sheeran and Matt Nathanson. Corson’s latest release is the single, “Did You Hear I Got Married?” The venue is a strong supporter of local music, with performers Thursday through Saturday at six locations, including their newest, recently opened in Concord. Saturday, July 24, 8 p.m., T-Bones Great American Eatery, 25 S. River Road, Bedford, tbones.com.

• Green scene: The Slakas play cover songs at a free outdoor show. The seasoned Nashua band’s set list is solidly in the classic rock era, with a mashup of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath among the highlights, though they also take on Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow” and Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” not to mention a lively Bee Gees/Michael Jackson medley.Tuesday, July 27, 7 p.m., (no rain date) MacGregor Park, 64 E. Broadway, Derry, theslakas.com.

Local music news & events

• Rolling on: One band hit hard by the recent pandemic was Enter the Haggis. Formed in Toronto with musicians from Portland and Philadelphia, the Celtic-flavored rockers were three shows into a celebratory release tour for their new album The Archer’s Parade when the curtain fell. They livestreamed a few shows, but now they’re back where they belong and where they’ve been for over two decades, on the road. Thursday, July 15, 6 p.m., Tupelo Drive-In, 10 A St., Derry. $75 per car, $20 per person (table) at tupelohall.com.

• Music romance: Betsy Green and Scott Heron formed Green Heron after meeting when their respective bands played a gig together, jamming all night and falling in love. Following two albums with mostly original songs — 2018’s Folk Heroes and 2019’s New Pair of Shoes — the pair recently completed Feet on the Floorboards, blending in covers to better reflect their onstage sound. Friday, July 16, 6 p.m., Twin Barns Brewing Co., 194 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, facebook.com/twinbarnsbrewing.

• Hopeful man: A State Department cultural ambassador with a TED Talk to his credit, Seth Glier has an atypical resume for a musician. His newest album, The Coronation, is due on August 20. Its title track was inspired by an optimism he felt during lockdown, a belief that “the x-ray of Covid” on society offered an “invitation for all of us to experience this new world, to try to build back even better.” Saturday, July 17, 6 p.m., Fletcher-Murphy Park, 28 Fayette St., Concord, tickets $12 ($8 livestream) at ccanh.com.

• Hot hybrid: Few combos boast a blend of genres like High Step Society, which lives at the intersection of The Cotton Club and Electric Daisy Festival. Eugene Weekly wrote, “they take it to the next level with a live horn sections, sultry singers and energetic dance beats that capture the excitement of the jazz age and rocket launch it a century into the future.” Funky favorites The Trichomes open the show. Sunday, July 18, 6 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, tickets $15 at eventbrite.com.

Local music news & events

• Chicken fried: Zac Brown Band guitarist Clay Cook performs solo after a 6:30 p.m. cocktail hour. Prior to joining the Grammy-winning country rock band, he formed the Lo-Fi Masters with John Mayer. The two met at Berklee, and Cook co-wrote Mayer’s breakout hit “No Such Thing” and a few other songs on his debut album. Cook was also a member of his uncle Doug Gray’s group, Marshall Tucker Band. Thursday, July 8, 7:30 p.m., LaBelle Winery Derry, 14 Route 111, Derry, $29 at labellewinery.com.

• Rock woman: Kick off the weekend with an al fresco performance from singer/guitarist Lisa Guyer. Fronting Mama Kicks in Manchester nightclubs for decades, making records with Boston (the band, not the city) guitarist Barry Goudreau, traveling the world backing Godsmack’s Sully Erna, and founding her own youth music empowerment program, Guyer is one of the region’s most accomplished musicians. Friday, July 9, 7 p.m., Auburn Pitts, 167 Rockingham Road, Auburn, facebook.com/LisaGuyerMusic.

• Celebration day: Christian pop rock band Right Hand Shade debuts its second album, Rise, in a devotional setting. The evening will feature the new disc in its entirety, along with a discussion of the inspiration for the songs — everything from Switchfoot to The Beach Boys — and the making of the album with Old Bear Records producer and co-writer Chris Hoisington. Saturday, July 10, 7 p.m., Centerpoint Community Church, 101 School St., Salem, tickets $5 to $35 at righthandshade.square.site.

• Last laughs: After eight years, a changing of the alt comedy guard as Joyelle Nicole Johnson headlines the first of eight weekly shows before Nick Lavallee and Dave Carter hand the night off to Ruby Room Comedy. Upcoming for the final run are Mark Recine (July 21), Louis Katz (July 28), Caitlin Reese (Aug. 4), Jordan Jensen (Aug. 11), Ray Harrington (Aug. 18), Dan Lamorte (Aug. 25) and SNL staff writer Sam Jay (Sept. 1). Wednesday, July 14, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $10 at the door, facebook.com/shaskeencomedy.

Local music news & events

• Folk romance: Named after a Cape Cod salt marsh, Crowes Pasture, the banjo/guitar duo of Monique Byrne and Andy Rogovin perform. Their most recent album, Slow It Down, was released in 2019 at Cafe Passim. Recently, they paid tribute to Bob Dylan with a gorgeous cover of his song “Forever Young.” They’ve also done elegant versions of Mary Gauthier’s “Mercy Now” and “Is This Love” by Bob Marley. Thursday, July 1, 8 p.m., Whipple Free Library, 67 Mont Vernon Road, New Boston. More at crowepastureduo.com.

• Adventure time: Amidst the zip lines, water slides and axe throwing, Sunday Ave will play an afternoon set of rock tunes. The southern New Hampshire trio debuted with the no-nonsense EP White Noise in 2019. They recently released a new single, “Friday Night Massacre,” which begins with a Peter Gabriel “In Your Eyes” vibe, then takes off into prog rock overdrive — Katatonia meets Metallica. Saturday, July 3, 1 p.m., Candia Springs Adventure Park, 446 Raymond Road, Candia, tickets $8 for music only.

• Spy music:  Band From U.N.C.L.E. is led by vocalist Gretchen Bostrom with her Silvertone & Ms. G partner Steve Coveney on guitar, with Brian Cutler and Warren Mannell on drums and bass. Expect to hear a healthy helping of ’60s rock, soul and R&B, from Stones and Beatles to Janis and Motown, along with selections from Phil Spector’s Brill Building hymn book. Wednesday, July 7, 7 p.m., Emerson Park, 6 Mont Vernon St., Milford, facebook.com/bandfromuncle.

• Winery tunes: Slurp a Seyval Blanc slushie and enjoy music from singer-songwriter Joel Cage to kick off the weekend. A veteran performer, Cage is an accomplished guitar player who won the Kerrville New Folk Competition’s top prize and played for a while in Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes. Playing solo, he brings the intensity of Pete Townshend on acoustic guitar, with Chris Smither’s lyrical sensibility. Friday, July 2, 6 p.m., Winnipesaukee Winery, 458 Center St., Wolfeboro, winniwinery.com.

Local music news & events

• Southern sound: Country rocking family band Parmalee performs on the deck for a beach crowd. Led by Matt and Scott Thomas, along with their cousin Barry, the group broke through with 2013’s Feels Like Carolina. Last year they received their first CMT nomination, for a video of their duet with Blanco Brown, “Just The Way.” Thursday, June 24, 8 p.m., Bernie’s Beach Bar, 73 Ocean Ave., Hampton, tickets $35 at ticketmaster.com.

• Shed season: Early shows at New Hampshire’s largest outdoor venue, including two from Brantley Gilbert, are socially distanced events with pod seating, but the amphitheater plans full-capacity events later in the summer, and many are sold out already. Gilbert recently released “Worst Country Song of All Time,” a goofy collaboration with Hardy and Toby Keith. Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26, at 7 p.m., Bank of NH Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, tickets $29 and up at livenation.com.

• Funday sun: It’s al fresco laughs as comedian Marty Caproni holds forth on a cozy restaurant’s outdoor deck. As cohost of the Good Advice For Bad Ideas podcast, Caproni welcomes guests like fellow comic Jessimae Peluso and explores getting better at bank robbing, grifting and other murky skills with purported experts. He’s opened for Russell Brand and Dave Attel. Sunday, June 27, 7 p.m., East Derry Tavern, 50 East Derry Road, Derry, tickets $25 via Venmo @woodiewheatonlandtrust.

• Pond party: One of the region’s most versatile musicians, fiddler Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki is joined by Matt Jensen on guitar for an early evening performance surrounded by history. Weaving traditional Celtic music with tuneful original songs, the pair present a lively repertoire that encourages dancing and singing along. Guests are asked to bring their own lawn chairs to watch the duo perform on the Puddle Dock terrace. Tuesday, June 29, 6 p.m., Strawberry Banke, 14 Hancock St., Portsmouth, $5 in advance at strawberrybanke.org.

Local music news & events

• Throwback time: A tribute band before they were cool, The Youngsters formed back in 1980, bonding over a shared love for the music of Neil Young. The group’s core members, Chris Williams, Jeff Guild and TJ Murphy, went on to pursue solo efforts, occasionally reuniting for shows like this one, a fundraiser for 10,000 Candles, which supports families coping with loss from suicide or addiction. Thursday, June 17, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, tickets $20 at palacetheatre.org.

• Lion laughs: After a successful initial event recently, Funny Friday continues with a three-comic bill led by Ray Harrington, who’s built a name for himself on the West Coast with an album on Standup Records and a special on Hulu, along with Mark Turcotte, organizer of the annual Maine Comedy Festival and a favorite in his home state. Rounding out the night is fellow Mainer Leonard Kimble. Friday, June 18, 7:30 p.m., Lions Club, 256 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, $10 at tplust.org.

• Boat sing: Specializing in the genre that arguably got its name from the Christopher Cross song “Sailing,” Boat House Row plays yacht rock, the mellow sound of the mid-1970s embodied by Cross, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins and Hall & Oates. Polished, smooth and designed for yuppies tied to docks at Newport or the Cape, it’s easily digested and washed down with champagne. Sunday, June 20, at 1 and 4 p.m., Tupelo Drive-in, 10 A St., Derry. Tickets are $22 per person or $75 per car at tupelohall.com.

• Fab faux: It’s The Beatles al fresco at a scaled-down Shea Stadium as Studio Two kicks off a summer series of concerts in a downtown Nashua park. The youthful tribute band faithfully recreates John, Paul, George and Ringo in their British Invasion days, before they stopped touring. Upcoming performers in the series include Catfish Howl on June 29, Twangtown in mid-July and B Street Bombers on Aug. 3. Tuesday, June 22, 7 p.m., Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua, gonashua.com.

• Hometown girl: Though she relocated to the West Coast in early 2018, MB Padfield always returns home for a summer full of beach shows like this one on a flatbed truck parked outside a Hampton bar. Padfield has had success with her own efforts — a new album, Surface, is in the works (she recently posted a song in progress on Facebook) — and with session work, like a co-write on Yeti Tactics’ Guest House, released last October. Wednesday, June 23, 9 p.m., The Goat, 20 L St., Hampton Beach. See mbpadfield.com.