Category: Music This Week

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.

Local music news & events

• Piano man: Mixing music, commentary and an overhead piano camera, Frederick Moyer offers an immersive program that’s split between classical and jazz. The performance begins with selections from Bach, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff and Gershwin. The second half includes note-for-note transcriptions of Oscar Peterson, Chick Corea and Bill Evans, and music from Turkish composer Goksel Baktagir. Thursday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 461 Main St., New London, $25 at summermusicassociates.org.

• Twang trifecta: A treat for the boot-scooting crowd, the Nazville Country Weekend kicks off Friday night with DJ Terry spinning a range of hits new and old, followed by American Ride, a Maine-based band named after a Toby Keith song that covers modern acts like Zac Brown and Chris Stapleton. Closing things out on Sunday is regional favorite the Eric Grant Band, mixing familiar hits with tasty originals. Friday, Aug. 19, to Sunday, Aug. 21, 4 p.m., NazBar and Grill, 1086 Weirs Blvd., Laconia, more at naswa.com.

• Heavy double: One of the longest-running tribute acts around, Battery-Masters of Metallica began when Canadian hard rockers Disaster Area were told they were too heavy for their home country. They headed south in 1993 and rose to the top of the doppelganger heap, even opening for Metallica once. The group’s local show is sponsored by Blackened, a whiskey branded by the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers. Saturday, Aug. 20, 8 p.m., Angel City Music Hall, 179 Elm St., Manchester. See facebook.com/batterymetallicatribute.

• Barn blues: The honesty of the crew putting on a blues-themed Barn Dance is admirable — a press release for the twilight confab states that dancing is “admired, but not required.” That said, before the Blue Monkey Band starts to kick out the jams,, Jody Underwood will lead a brief class called Faking It On the Dance Floor With a Partner (how to lead, follow, and not step on each other’s feet). Sunday, Aug. 21, 5 p.m., Little Corner Farm, 1040 Old Hillsboro Road, Henniker, $15 at rootedfree.com.

• Outdoor music: The latest in Goffstown’s Concert on the Common series has music from Paul Lussier, a singer, guitarist, occasional John Lennon double and veteran of the regional scene, with a set including classic rock covers. He may also sprinkle in a few originals from his rock musical in progress, You Are My Song. The family-friendly event includes food and drink for purchase. Monday, Aug. 22, 6 p.m., Goffstown Town Common Park, Elm Street, Goffstown, goffstownmainstreet.org.

Local music news & events

• Dad jokes: One of the reasons comedian Robbie Printz welcomed the birth of his first child over a decade ago was the prospect of having new jokes for his act. Printz was inspired by an Eddie Murphy show to break into comedy, deciding to parlay a childhood spent making up his own SNL skits into a career telling jokes. He’s appeared on Comedy Central and won the Boston Comedy Fest. Rob Steen hosts an under-the-tent show. Friday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m., Tuscan Kitchen, 67 Main St., Salem, $30 at tuscanbrands.com.

• Prankster pop: A wildly adventurous combo for over two decades, SeepeopleS is readying the release of a new album later this fall featuring help from Morphine’s Dana Colley and Jerome Deupree, Nikki Glaspie and Nate Edgar from Nth Power and Dave Matthews collaborator Tim Reynolds, and a few others. The “anti-genre” band appears at a favorite area spot with Way of the Headband and Lucid Elephants. Saturday, Aug. 13, 9 p.m., Stone Church, 5 Granite St., Newmarket, $15 at stonechurchrocks.com, 21+.

• Shady music: Performing outdoors under the Bridge Street bridge, the Shawna Jackson Band is a country rock band led by a local singer with roots in gospel music, back for a second act after taking a long break to raise a family. Members include Oklahoma-born guitarist Dan Messick and fellow axe man Bruce Stone, a Granite State native who spent a decade playing the Highway 49 circuit in California. Saturday, Aug. 13, 6 p.m., Stark Brewing Co., 500 N. Commercial St., Manchester. See shawnajacksonband.com.

• Rock show: The twice pandemic-postponed Goo Goo Dolls tour is finally underway, with support from alt rockers Blue October. They’re one of Buffalo’s best-known bands and a big reason the movie City of Angels was even watchable, and their new album, Chaos In Bloom, is being hailed as a return to their early sound. The shows are also getting good reviews — “a true feeling of being alive,” wrote one critic. Sunday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m., Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, $25 and up at ticketmaster.com.

• Morning song: Early Sunday acoustic concerts continue in central Concord with Ryan Williamson, a homegrown singer-songwriter who jumped into performing after his mother tricked him into playing an open mic night. Now one of the busiest musicians in the area, he’s a one-man band who covers a range of material; a mashup of Lee Brice’s “Hard to Love” and Tom Petty’s “Learning to Fly” is a set standout. Sunday, Aug. 14, 10 a.m., White Park, 1 White St, Concord. More at walkerlecture.org.

Local music news & events

• Sweet and local: A showcase for the original music of singer-guitarist Mary Fagan, The Honey Bees trio include Chris O’Neill on electric guitar and Jock Irvine playing bass. Drawing from the breadth of 20th-century Americana, they offer a mix of early jazz and Western swing, along with rock-tinged folk and chestnuts such as Ernest Tubb’s classic “Walkin’ The Floor Over You” and Billie Holiday’s “Me, Myself and I.” Thursday, Aug. 4, 7 p.m., Eagle Square, North Main St., Concord. See honeybeesband.com.

• Bring the doom: A triple bill leans toward the heavy side with Street Trash, a punk band unafraid to cover a GG Allin song should the moment demand it, and Dead Harrison doing its first hometown appearance in a while. Adding to the fun, DH will perform in their original configuration, as a trio. Rounding out the night is Abel Blood, a Granite State quartet that sounds like Captain Beefheart showing up for an Iron Butterfly rehearsal. Friday, Aug. 5, 8 p.m., Nashua Garden, 121 Main St., Nashua, $5 at the door, 21+.

• In the round: A singer-songwriter showcase under Portsmouth’s downtown arch has Dan Blakeslee, Kate Redgate and Chad Verbeck swapping tunes. Blakeslee is fresh off his role as Newport Folk Festival’s official busker, a gig that had him joining Anais Mitchell, Natalie Merchant and other luminaries for a rendition of an Elvis Costello song on the same stage where Joni Mitchell later played a historic set. Saturday, Aug. 6, 8 p.m., The Arch, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, $50 and up (two- to six-person tables) at themusichall.org.

• Weird folk music: A neighborhood craft brewery that regularly hosts local talent presents Bird Friend in an afternoon concert. The trio of Geoff Himsel, Carson Kennedy and Andrew Eckel bills itself as “a loose collective of friends and relatives.” The group recently released “Summer Slow Dance,” a dirge-y song that’s equal parts sweetness and dread, with echoes of the Velvet Underground in its Nico days. Sunday, Aug. 7, 4 p.m., To Share Brewing Co., 720 Union St., Manchester, tosharebrewing.com.

• Funky al fresco: Enjoy an early evening outdoor show with Queen City Soul. With area mainstay George Laliotis on drums and vocals, keyboard player Chis Sink, Travis Shelby on guitar and Justin Greenberg playing bass, the group effortlessly finds a groove, moving between familiar tunes and adventurous jams to arrive at a sound that melds funk, jazz, blues and, as their moniker implies, soul. Tuesday, Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m., Angela Robinson Band Stand, Main and Crescent streets, Henniker, henniker.org.

Local music news & events

• Gator rock: Formed in late ’60s Jacksonville, Florida, Blackfoot took a long road to their most well-known hits, “Train, Train” and “Highway Song.” They opened for The Who at the Silverdome and carved out a niche as a Southern rock band with a heavier edge while enduring multiple lineup changes. The current touring unit consists of “ambassadors” hand-picked by original lead singer Rickey Medlocke. Thursday, July 28, 8 p.m., Angel City Music Hall, 179 Elm St., Manchester, $20 at the door.

• Getting down: With a member who sings, beatboxes and simultaneously plays up to four keyboards, Sophistafunk is a dance floor-filling powerhouse. They’ve worked with the late Bernie Worrell and Motley Crüe’s Tommy Lee, among others. In 2016 they provided the theme song for a game show hosted by Guy Fieri, a few years after Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives visited Funk ‘N Waffles, a Syracuse restaurant owned by the band’s Adam Gold. Friday, July 29, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $20 at the door.

• Twofer show: A pair of veteran singer-songwriters performs in Concord. Peter Mulvey and Mark Erelli both have new records coming. Mulvey and SistaStrings are set to release Love Is The Only Thing on Aug. 12, while Erelli’s fan-funded Lay Your Darkness Down drops later this fall. The latter was made as Erelli was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease that threatened to blind him. The Kickstarter effort brought in twice what he’d asked. Saturday, July 30, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 Main St., Concord, $25 at ccanh.com.

• Country kid: A singer-guitarist who splits his time between Nashville and New England, Chris Dagnese brings a hybrid sound as well to his music. He’s down home on acoustic guitar, singing about small-town life, but he’ll kick out the rock jams with his band Dags. The group’s new single “Sorry I Missed Your Call” is solidly in the wheelhouse of the current John Mellencamp-informed brand of country. Sunday, July 31, 4 p.m., Millyard Brewery, 125 E. Otterson St., Nashua. See @dagsmusicnow on Instagram.

• World music: Touring in support of his new album Les Racines, Vieux Farka Touré is a guitarist who’s been called the “Hendrix of the Sahara.” Over five critically lauded records, he’s pushed the boundaries of traditional West African music. The new release explores the traditional Songhai music of Northern Mali, what Westerners call “Desert Blues.” He’s also collaborated with Dave Matthews and jazz guitarist John Scofield. Tuesday, Aug. 2, 8 p.m., The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, $28 at eventbrite.com.

Local music news & events

• Funny night: Third Thursday laughs continue with Chris Tabb topping the bill along with Liam Hales and area favorite Nick Tocco. Tabb is the House MC at Foxboro’s Comedy Scene who cites Bernie Mac as a key influence, and a favorite at clubs throughout New England. Hales is a burly New Hampshire native who returned home recently after spending 15 years in L.A. Thursday, July 21, 7:30 p.m., SoHo Asian Restaurant & Bar, 49 Lowell Road, Hudson, $18 in advance, $20 at the door; email comedyonpurpose@gmail.com.

• Retro al fresco: New Orleans’ French Quarter is imported to New England by Soggy Po’ Boys. The vintage musical collective combusted into a group 10 years ago on Fat Tuesday and quickly became a Tuesday night fixture at Dover’s now-closed Barley Pub. They perform an outdoor courtyard set at that city’s Children’s Museum. The show is adults only and includes a snack box and cash bar. Friday, July 22, 6 p.m., Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington St., Dover, $15 at childrens-museum.org.

• Giant step: Possessing skills as both performer and musicologist, Taj Mahal arrived on the Southern California scene in 1964 and settled into the venerable Ash Grove club in Venice Beach, where he formed The Rising Sons with Ry Cooder and guitarist Jesse Lee Kincaid. The Rolling Stones caught him at the Whisky A Go-Go one night and recruited him for their Rock & Roll Circus TV special. Saturday, July 23, 8 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, $50 and $100 at ticketmaster.com.

• Country kid: A singer-guitarist in the mold of Brad Paisley, Frankie Ballard also had the distinction of having Kip Moore and Chris Stapleton write a song for him. A good guy, Ballard recently went back to his high school in Battle Creek, Michigan, for their bicentennial and taught a guitar class for students there, helping them learn the Johnny Cash classic “Ring of Fire” and throwing out the first pitch at a ball game. Sunday, July 24, 8 p.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, $25 at ticketmaster.com.

• In the park: Enjoy free outdoor music as the 19-piece Compaq Big Band performs with guest vocalist Marina Evans. Bring a blanket or lawn chair for the early twilight show, but be prepared to get up and dance, as the boisterous ensemble moves through swing, ballads, foxtrots, Latin and even a few Top 40 songs. Evans is a North Shore native who began singing at a young age and has appeared all over the world. Wednesday, July 27, 7 p.m., Emerson Park, 6 Mont Vernon St., Milford. See compaqbigband.com.