The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on many industries and altered many futures forever. The industry casualties include office space, travel (especially the cruise ship industry), brick-and-mortar retail, higher education and more. These industries are going to need significant retooling to survive in the future. In the end I believe that we, as a nation, will be strengthened as a result of having gone through this. While that’s easy for me to say, try telling that to the millions who’ve lost their jobs, or, even worse, lost family members or friends.
An industry near and dear to me that was devastated over the past year was entertainment, especially live music. While some local venues like Tupelo Music Hall (Derry) came up with inventive ways to socially distance while providing live entertainment, many around the country saw their doors close and lights turned off for the better part of a year. But venues are opening up, tours are back on the road, and folks are gearing up to see their favorite acts.
Here in New Hampshire, we are blessed with some great venues. In addition to Tupelo we have the Hampton Beach Casino, the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (formerly Meadowbrook) in Gilford, and the Flying Monkey in Plymouth. These venues should be staples for every 603 music lover.
Tupelo Music Hall started as a smaller venue holding 200 to 300 people but sufficiently flourished to the point where they built a beautiful new 700-seat facility. If you haven’t been there, you’re missing out on a great venue to watch a show.
The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom has been entertaining New Hampshire folks and tourists for decades. It’s a beautiful old venue that seats about 2,000. They have had so many legendary shows there. I saw Tina Turner at the Casino when “What’s Love Got to Do with It” was the No. 1 song in America.
The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford is a large outdoor venue that seats 9,000. On beautiful New Hampshire summer nights it’s a wonderful place to catch a show.
The Flying Monkey in Plymouth is a former 1920s theater that seats about 700. It is yet another of Alex Ray’s amazing contributions to New Hampshire, which include the Common Man restaurants, the Tilt’n Diner and the fabulous facilities he has constructed at liquor stores and truck stops around the state.
Do yourself a favor and go see some great music in New Hampshire.
Fred Bramante is a past chairman and memtber of the New Hampshire State Board of Education. He speaks and consults on education redesign to regional, state and national organizations.