Category: Music This Week

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.

Local music news & events

• Museum music: The weekly Art After Work series continues with rootsy quintet Hickory Horned Devils holding forth in the Currier’s Winter Garden, with food and drink specials on offer. The acoustic group is all-New England — almost, as singer-guitarist John Sawyer is Tennessee-born and Georgia-raised. They offer “a lively blend of old-time, Americana, alt-country, and blues, with the occasional pop song thrown in for good measure.” Thursday, Feb. 17, 5 p.m., Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester, currier.org.

• Active rock: With over a decade together, Leaving Eden remains among the most dedicated bands in New England. Last year they released their ninth album, Fable, an effort that found them maturing but still delivering high-energy rock ’n’ roll — and a great cover of “The Rose,” with a significant contribution from new keyboard player Alyssa White, who collaborated on songwriting with guitarist and principal lyricist Eric Gynan. Friday, Feb. 18, 9 p.m., Angel City Music Hall, 179 Elm St., Manchester, angelcitymusichall.com.

• Not Kansas: In a mashup inspired by urban legend, GoodFoot presents Pink Floyd’s iconic Dark Side of the Moon LP as the classic movie The Wizard of Oz screens in the background. Lore holds there’s an amazing synchronicity between the two works of art, though Floyd drummer Nick Mason told MTV in 1997 that the idea was “absolute nonsense,” adding that rather than Oz, “it was all based on The Sound of Music.” Saturday, Feb. 19, 9:30 p.m., Peddler’s Daughter, 48 Main St., Nashua, thepeddlersdaughter.com.

• Holy sound: The upcoming Realm of God as Jazz Party monthly worship service is a Mardi Gras celebration that the church’s Facebook page said is “inspired by the God-with-us as much in our joy as in the penitential mood of Lent that will follow.” Pastor and vocalist Emilia Halstead is joined by Ed Raczka and Chuck Booth on percussion, Joey Placenti, Jim Wildman and Tim Wildman on horns, bass player Jock Irvine and Annelise Papinsick on accordion. Sunday, Feb. 20, 1 p.m., 177 N. Main St., Concord, concordsfirstchurch.org

• Electric youth: In a show originally scheduled for May 2020, Nickelodeon star JoJo Siwa finally brings her D.R.E.A.M. the Tour to New Hampshire. Along with her music and film output — she starred in 2021’s The J Team — Siwa appeared in the most recent Dancing With the Stars competition, part of the show’s first same-sex duo with Jenna Johnson, as the pair finished second to former NBA player Iman Shumpert. Tuesday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester, tickets $39.50 to $69.50 at ticketmaster.com.

Local music news & events

• Big stage: One of last year’s highlights was Phosphorescent Snack, the debut LP from Andrew North & The Rangers, an eclectic mix of jazz rock fusion and disciplined jam band sound, the latter exemplified by the Phish-adjacent “Aditi.” The group is a fixture on the local club scene, lately hosting the midweek open mic at Concord’s Area 23, but listening room evenings like this one upcoming are a special treat. Thursday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord. Tickets $15 in advance, $17 day of show at ccanh.com.

• Good deed: Homies Helping Homies benefits a venue employee and her friends recovering from a house fire. A long list of area artists will appear gratis, including DJ Closed Loop and Fermented Beats, hippie/funk bands Nicky O and Danny Berm, rappers Livid and Kinetic, metal acts Doomsayer and Infinite Sin, and acoustic sets from Brian Munger and Madison West, and several others. Friday, Feb. 11, 5:30 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, facebook.com/jewlnh.

• Double play: A throwback evening features Panorama: A Tribute To The Cars and a set of Black Crowes music from The Amoricans. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, The Cars were at the forefront of the emerging New Wave in the late ’70s; sadly, two of the original members have passed, so a reunion won’t happen. Saturday, Feb. 12, 9 p.m., Stumble Inn, 20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, panorama.rocks.

• No thanks: Guests are encouraged to wear all black at the 12^th Annual Anti-Valentine’s Day Party, a gathering for those who turn up their noses at the season’s Hallmark and Whitman’s Sampler displays. Featuring a curated playlist of ’80s mope rock like Smiths, New Order, Psychedelic Furs and non-optimistic Cure, it’s a celebration of bitterness, an ode to burning greeting cards while deleting the OK Cupid app. Monday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm. St., Manchester, facebook.com/theshaskeenpub.

• Groove thang: Formed onstage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Dumpstaphunk is descended from that city’s royal bloodlines. Over nearly two decades together, the band has had guest appearances from Carlos Santana, Bob Weir, George Clinton and others. Their latest album is 2021’s Where Do We Go From Here; its title track marked the 15th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Wednesday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, tickets $25 to $55 at ticketmaster.com.

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.