Great New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival returns
Smoked meats and cold brews take center stage at the Great New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival, returning to Milford’s Hampshire Dome on Saturday, Aug. 13. With eats from more than a dozen local food trucks, the fifth annual event will feature one of the largest showings of food options in its history, along with a beer tent, live local music and artisan vendors.
“We sold out of barbecue last year, so we’re definitely adding more barbecue options,” festival organizer Jody Donohue said. “We’ll have lots of specialty foods this year, [from] different spices, seasonings and dips [to] hand-filled cannolis and fresh-squeezed lemonade on site.”
As during previous years, food trucks will be set up around the perimeter of the dome’s parking lot, with all kinds of offerings both local to New Hampshire and neighboring New England states. Prime Time Grilled Cheese, an attendee favorite since the festival’s inception for its specialty grilled cheeses, is back once again this year, as is Sweet Crunch Bakeshop & Catering Co., which will have its freshly baked cookies. Carla’s Coffee, a mobile trailer formerly known as Jayrard’s Java Cafe, is also carrying on its predecessor’s festival appearance with its Costa Rican coffees and espresso-based drinks, in addition to some smoothies and lemonades.
Photos courtesy of the Great New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival.
Newcomers to this year’s festival include The Big Bad Food Truck, which hails from the Seacoast and serves up an always changing menu of scratch-made barbecue comfort items, like beef brisket, pork shoulder, burgers, hand-cut fries and vegan alternatives like jackfruit. Grace’s Kitchen Pizza Truck — known for its specialty pizzas and smaller bites like hand-breaded chicken tenders and loaded Tater Tots — and Friends 4 OBA, which offers various Asian fusion street food options, are also joining the festival’s truck lineup for the first time. Piggy Sue’s Steakin’ Bacon, another new vendor, will be there with its signature “bacon steak” skewers, as well as poutine and fried ice cream.
A “libations tent” will feature a variety of signature craft cocktails, along with local beers from Frogg Brewing of Marlborough and Martha’s Exchange of Nashua, Donohue said. Dozens of vendors will be selling their wares both inside and outside the dome, including everything from handmade baskets, candles and jewelry to soaps, lotions and other personal care products.
Live music will be featured all day long, starting with Matt Bergeron from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by Brian Weeks from 1:45 to 4 p.m. and Peter Pappas from 4:15 p.m. through the end of the event. The “Kidz Zone” is also returning, with various activities available for the younger crowd, like free bounce houses, face-painting, bubbles and henna tattoos.
One activity brand new to this year’s festival, Donohue said, is a mobile ax throwing trailer — it’s brought to you by Axes on the Go, owned by Manchester’s RelAxe Throwing. There will also be indoor cornhole games available to play, and caricature artists are expected to attend.
“We try to incorporate fun for everybody and make it an event where you want to come and stay for a bit,” Donohue said.
Great New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival When: Saturday, Aug. 13, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Where: The Hampshire Dome, 34 Emerson Road, Milford Cost: General admission tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the gate (free for attendees ages 14 and under). Food and crafts are priced per item. Visit: gne.ticketleap.com/greatnewenglandfoodtruckmilford to purchase advance tickets online Free parking and an ATM are available on site. Seating will be provided, but attendees are welcome to bring their own chairs or blankets. No pets are allowed.
Featured photo: Photos courtesy of the Great New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival.
• Greek eats return: Join Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (68 N. State St., Concord) for its next boxed Greek dinner to go event on Sunday, Aug. 21, from noon to 1 p.m. Now through Aug. 16, orders are being accepted for boxed meals, featuring a Greek chicken kabob salad with pita bread and a Greek cookie for $20 per person. The event is drive-thru and takeout only — email ordermygreekfood@gmail.com or call 953-3051 to place your order. The church also has similar upcoming takeout events planned — a roast pork dinner will be served on Sept. 11, followed by a Greek meatball dinner on Oct. 9 and a stuffed peppers dinner on Nov. 3. Visit holytrinitynh.org.
• African flavors: Building on the success of its bi-monthly Taste of Africa dinners, Nashua’s Mola Foods (9 Simon St.) will launch Taste of Africa Lunch, a weekly series every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., beginning Aug. 11. According to a press release, the lunches will include your choice of one of two dishes from Africa — each from a different country — and an African dessert. “It provides more opportunities for people to experience African food, and it allows me to focus my takeout business primarily on Taste of Africa,” LaFortune Jeannette Djabea, a native of Cameroon who founded Mola Foods in 2016 and expanded into her current space in early 2021, said in a statement. Lunches, which can be pre-ordered online to enjoy inside Djabea’s space or for pickup, can also be customized for businesses. “I want to reveal the diversity, deliciousness and versatility of African food in a modern context,” she said. Meals are priced at $25 per person. Purchase tickets in advance at molafoods.com/africalunch.
• Food truck frenzy: The Town of Windham’s Recreation Department is holding a food truck festival at Windham High School (64 London Bridge Road, Windham) on Sunday, Aug. 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In addition to a diverse showing of eats from local food trucks, the event will feature a craft and vendor fair, a cornhole tournament, raffle opportunities and live music by the local cover group All Day Fire. Admission to the festival is free, with all foods and drinks from the trucks priced per item. Contact the Windham Recreation Department at recreation@windhamnh.gov or at 965-1208 for more details.
• Scrumdiddlyumptious: Get your tickets now to a Willy Wonka kitchen takeover dinner party happening at Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester) on Sunday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. The event will feature a screening of the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder, with a total of five special themed courses to be served throughout the movie. The menu is presented by chef Keith Sarasin of The Farmers Dinner. Tickets are $75 per person and include the movie viewing. There’s also a VIP wine pairing option for $110 that includes access to an early cocktail hour in the lobby bar. Visit chunkys.com to purchase tickets.
Jennifer Eby-McDonough is the owner of Elevation Twirling, a baton twirling studio in Nashua.
Explain your job and what it entails.
I’m in charge of making the schedule for classes, collecting tuition, maintaining the website and social media sites, creating the curriculum that our classes follow, as well as hiring and training staff members. I’m also in charge of all outreach to the community, as well as community events, picking out the music used for events and competitions, as well as costuming for each class.
How long have you had this job?
Elevation Twirling opened this summer …but I’ve been involved in twirling for over 30 years as a twirler, coach and judge. Before opening the studio, I’ve previously coached athletes at different studios in both team and individual events.
What led you to this career field and your current job?
During my twirling career I competed throughout the Northeast and at nationals held at Notre Dame University in Indiana. After retiring from competitive twirling, I quickly became a certified judge through the National Baton Twirling Association, and when an opportunity came up to coach at a local studio in the area, I quickly jumped on it.
What kind of education or training did you need?
There is no formal training to be a baton twirling coach, but you need to have a good background in twirling, and most coaches have made it to the advanced level within the competition world of twirling. You should also have knowledge in dance and or gymnastics.
What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?
I get to wear very comfy clothes. In the summer, I often wear athletic shorts and a tank top. In the winter I’ll wear yoga pants and a T-shirt, as well as sneakers. Closed-toed shoes are key as you don’t want a baton to hit your exposed toes. It will hurt; trust me.
How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?
Seeing as I just opened the studio I didn’t really have to deal with the pandemic and restrictions. Though, during the pandemic, I did judge a lot of online competitions. These were very different as they were either over Zoom on a certain day or we were given pre-recorded videos and would judge them within a certain time frame. These online competitions were great as they allowed … for twirlers all over the country to compete against each other while, before, they would probably not as contests are usually local and not all of them draw twirlers from different parts of the country. … The downside was not seeing the twirlers in person. This was something I really missed — the human interaction at contests, as well as the overall energy of being at a contest. You just can’t get that over Zoom.
What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?
Whether you win or lose, the most important thing is the lessons you learn from each other.
What do you wish other people knew about your job?
Twirling is more than tossing around a metal stick. It takes a lot of practice, dedication, blood, sweat and tears. What some people make seem easy is actually very tough, but the reason it looks so easy is all the countless hours they’ve put in to learn the trick or routine.
What was the first job you ever had?
I worked at the local YMCA as an after-school teacher.
What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?
Win or lose, the lessons you teach your students will [stay] with them for the rest of their lives.
Five favorites Favorite book: I read a lot of young adult books as I’m also a high school English teacher and am always looking for new books for my students to read. Favorite movie:The Harry Potter series. Favorite music: I like a variety of music and will often just listen to what’s on the radio or what others are listening to. Favorite food: Ice cream Favorite thing about NH: Within an hour, you can get to either the beach or the mountains and lakes, and I love both.
Featured photo: Jennifer Eby-McDonough. Courtesy photo.
A tale as old as time is coming to the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Beauty and the Beast will take place on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; and Friday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m., as part of the Palace’s annual Children’s Summer Series. Follow the story of Belle, a girl from a small town in provincial France, as she learns to live in an enchanted palace and slowly falls in love with the cursed prince who resides there. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.
This is the last week to be a part of Ariel’s world with the Peacock Players’ (14 Court St., Nashua) performance of The Little Mermaid Jr. Follow Ariel as she dreams to walk among human beings and meet her true love on the surface. The final dates and times for the shows are Friday, Aug. 12, and Saturday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 13, and Sunday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $18 for adults and from $12 to $15 for kids ages 12 and younger. Visit peacockplayers.org.
The Peterborough Players are bringing the fable The Emperor’s New Clothes to life at their new outdoor space, the Elsewhere Stage, on the grounds of the Players (55 Hadley St., Peterborough).
Performances will run Friday, Aug. 12, and Saturday, Aug. 13, with all shows starting at 10:30 a.m. The show follows a haughty, rich emperor who hires two tricksters to weave him new cloth from rare material. The show is performed by the Players Second Company, which features young professionals and is geared toward a younger audience. Tickets are $15 each for adults and $10 each for children, and are available online or at the door. Visit peterboroughplayers.org.
Hi-ho, hi-ho, it’s off to the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) we go for a production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The show is part of the Palace’s annual Children’s Summer Series. It follows Snow White, the fairest girl in the kingdom, as she tries to escape her jealous stepmother, the evil queen. The show will run Tuesday, Aug. 16, through Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and on Friday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.
Party time!
Celebrate the end of summer reading at the Hollis Social Library (2 Monument Square) with its annual Summer Reading Wrap Party on Friday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. The library will be hosting games at the Lawrence Barn Community Center, and the town’s fire department will come by for an ice cream surprise. Kids of all ages are invited. Admission is free, but registration is required. Register at hollislibrary.org.
A student’s airplane will take to the skies during PlaneFest! at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival will celebrate all things that fly, including a demonstration of “Aviation Toys We Can’t Sell You.” There will also be family fun games and activities, aircraft displays, and the Young Eagles program. The event is free to attend. Visit nhahs.org.
There will be more than just a fun beach day at the 15th annual Hampton Beach Children’s Festival, which runs from Monday, Aug. 15, through Friday, Aug. 19. Festivities will include magic shows, a costume parade, dancing, storytellers, balloons, ice cream and more. See the Aug. 11 issue of our sister publication, the Seacoast Scene, for a full list of festival events and attractions. Visit issuu.com/seacoastscene to access the e-edition for free.
Movie madness
Get your adventure hats on for Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (PG-13, 1981), the next “Pics in the Park” screening at Greeley Park (100 Concord St., Nashua) on Friday, Aug. 12, at dusk. The movie follows Indiana Jones, an American archaeologist from 1937, as he goes on a quest to find the lost Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can steal it for themselves. The movie is free to attend. Visit nashuanh.gov/546/SummerFun.
Grab your donkey for Shrek(PG, 2001) on Saturday, Aug. 12, at noon. As part of the Manchester International Film Festival, the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester) will be hosting a screening of the cult classic kids’ movie. The movie follows the ogre Shrek, who is hired by Lord Farquaad to rescue the beautiful princess Fiona from the tower she was locked in as a little girl. Visit palacetheatre.org to purchase tickets.
Summer fun
Learn all about the stars, planets and other astral bodies at the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department’s Uncharted Tutoring Space Art Program. Kids will use homemade rockets, paper lanterns and other art projects to learn and explore outer space. The program runs Monday, Aug. 15, through Friday, Aug. 19, from 10 a.m. to noon each day. The program costs $100. Register online at manchesternh.recdesk.com/Community/Program.
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats will have all kinds of family-friendly activities at their home games at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester) from Thursday, Aug. 11 through Sunday, Aug. 14. Fireworks, puzzles, and a University of New Hampshire Soccer Night are among this week’s promotions and games. Tickets range in price from $9 to $17 and can be purchased at nhfishercats.com.
We just purchased a new old home. In the shed was this bicycle. I can remember having one in the younger days. So I know it’s old! Is there any market for them now? Any information would be appreciated on what to do with it.
Carla
Dear Carla,
I had one of those Stingray bikes as well when I was young.
Bicycles are not really a category I’m that familiar with. I do know, though, that some are very collectible. I think I would start by getting all the information — maker, year and a photo. Then I would do research and/or bring it to a bike shop. A bike shop might have a customer base for old bikes as well. Doing research also might get you right into the hands of a Stingray collector. I would say the value is at least $50+.
So pursuing further seems like it could be worth it for you. I wish I could help more but, as I said, bicycles are in a specific field.
I hope you find it a new home and it becomes a treasure for you. I will do more research as well. I will get back to you with anything I find.
Just like kids on school vacation, your houseplants may want to go outside to play. And like your kids, don’t put them out in full sun all day without sunscreen. Well, there is no SPF 30 for houseplants, so you will have to make other accommodations.
If you haven’t brought out your houseplants, you may want to consider it now. Plants have widely differing needs for light, and many houseplants are popular because they can sit on a table in the living room without any direct light. These will do best on a covered porch for the summer, not on a sunny deck.
But even plants that thrive outdoors in full sun need to be introduced to the outdoors slowly. I have a potted fig tree that I bring into the house each winter. It drops its leaves and takes a snooze, so I keep it in a cold basement, which it seems to like. I water it once a month during the winter as the low humidity indoors would desiccate its roots if I didn’t give it a little water. Then in March I bring the fig upstairs into a cool, bright room. Soon its buds swell, and it produces leaves.
When all danger of frost is past, I bring our fig outside and put it on the deck we have on the north side of the house that just gets morning sun. After a couple of weeks of morning sun, I bring it down to the lower deck, which gets more sun, and it generally rewards me with a few tasty figs before frost. This year I put it into afternoon sun too early, and the leaves showed signs of sunburn. They yellowed, and a few got brown edges. It will recover, but it just reminds me how sensitive leaves are to strong sun. It may punish me with no figs this year.
If you are interested in growing figs, you should get a copy of Lee Reich’s book Growing Figs in Cold Climates. It covers cultivar selection, over-wintering and pruning techniques, even how to tell when your figs are ripe. It’s in paperback and is fully illustrated with nice photos. Lee lives in upper New York State and was an Associated Press garden writer until he recently retired. Check out his website and blog at www.leereich.com.
My potted banana tree has been outdoors on my north-facing deck for several weeks, and I keep edging it further out into the sun from time to time. It is a tropical plant and can take lots of sun, but once again, I am careful not to shock it with too much sun too early on. Unlike my fig tree, I bought it knowing that the banana is never going to produce fruit. But I love its big, wide leaves and that it brings up memories of my time in Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer.
If you have your houseplants outdoors, be sure that they are not getting over-watered by Mother Nature. When we got an inch and a half of rain I went around to look at my houseplants that are sitting in saucers and drained off excess water. Water in a saucer will get soaked up into a pot by capillary action or even greedy roots that sneak out through holes in the bottom of a pot. Most houseplants don’t need as much water as garden plants, and continually wet roots tend to rot.
What about insects getting on your houseplants if you let them outdoors? Yes, you probably will get some aphids on them. But other insects like ladybugs will probably keep them in check all summer. You will need to give your plants a brisk shower with the hose at the end of the summer to wash off any remaining aphids and/or their eggs. Or you can spray them with a dilute soap solution that will kill the aphids. Things like “Safer” brand insect killing soap are safe and approved for organic gardeners. It dissolves the fats in their outer shell, and they dehydrate and die.
Scale insects are another pest your houseplants may encounter while enjoying their life outside, though you can get them inside, too. Scale insects are a group of some 8,000 species of insects that suck sap from your plants, and may excrete honeydew that attracts a black mold that you might notice first.
Most scale insects are small, under a quarter of an inch in size, and have a wax mono-shell that covers them as they suck the plant’s juices. The shell can be one of many different colors. But if you see them early on, you can get rid of them easily by wiping them with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. I have only gotten them once.
Can you take your houseplants out of their pots and put them in the ground? You bet. But if you do, they will get bigger during the summer, and may not fit into their pots, come fall, or not so easily. But if you don’t mind potting up plants, and want your geraniums, for example, to really thrive, plant a few in the ground. Real soil and sun? It’s what houseplants dream of.
Featured photo: This fig leaf got sunburned and will never recover. Photo by Henry Homeyer.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• Last call for Footloose: It’s the final weekend to catch Footloose, this summer’s Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth; prescottpark.org, 436-2848) outdoor musical. The show runs in Prescott Park on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 12, and Saturday, Aug. 13, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m. See the website for information on general admissions (by donation) and reserving a blanket or a table.
• Last call for Samuel Lancaster Gerry’s exhibit: The exhibit “A Faithful Student of Nature: The Life and Art of Samuel L. Gerry,” featuring 38 paintings by the 19th-century artist (who depicted the White Mountains and the Old Man of the Mountain), will be on display at the New Hampshire Historical Society (30 Park St., Concord; 228-6688, nhhistory.org) through Saturday, Aug. 13, according to the website. The Historical Society is open Thursdays through Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• August art: Yasamin Safarzad is the artist behind the August Art on the Wall at City Hall exhibit, according to a Manchester Arts Commission Facebook post. The art hangs at City Hall (1 City Hall Plaza, near Elm Street, in downtown Manchester) which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A post about the exhibit on Safarzad’s website shows some of the pieces on display, including paintings and a yarn-based piece.
Create artist trading cards Members of the public can drop in on Saturday, Aug. 13, from noon to 3 p.m., to create artist trading cards for the residents at the Merrimack County Nursing Home at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). Trading cards are mini works of art the size of a baseball trading card. The gallery is hosting the New Hampshire Women’s Caucus for Art’s “Just North of Concord” art group for this event. The artists will have all the supplies you need to create the cards. Four stations will be set up and attendees can rotate to make cards using different art techniques. Artists will be on hand for guidance and inspiration. Guests can learn a new technique and create fun pieces of tiny art for a nursing home resident to choose and display in their room. The event is free and suitable for all ages. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.
• Opening night for Out There: The young performers of Andy’s Summer Playhouse (582 Isaac Frye Hwy., Wilton; 654-2613, andyssummerplayhouse.org) will present Out There, this season’s musical, described as “a new musical about aliens, astrophysics, theater and imaginary friends, asking questions of identity as community and as self,” according to the website. The curtain goes up Thursday, Aug. 11, at 7:30 p.m. The show also runs Friday, Aug. 12, and Saturday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. as well as next weekend (Thursday, Aug. 18, through Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m.). Tickets cost $10.60.
• Also at Andy’s: Andy’s Summer Playhouse (582 Isaac Frye Hwy., Wilton; 654-2613, andyssummerplayhouse.org) and Toadstool Bookshop will present an event with Tom Moore, one of the authors of the bookGrease, Tell Me More, Tell Me More: Stories from the Broadway Phenomenon That Started It All on Friday, Aug. 19, at 5 p.m. at Andy’s Summer Playhouse. Moore directed the original Broadway production, eight national tours and two London West End productions of Grease, according to a press release. The book is “a collection of memories and stories from over 100 actors and musicians, including the creative team and crew who were part of the original Broadway production and in the many touring companies it spawned.” See andyssummerplayhouse.org/grease to RSVP to the event.
• Hopkinton art show: Two Villages Art Society presents the work of three Rotary Club members in an exhibit titled “Pixels, Wood, Clay,” on display Friday, Aug. 12, through Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Bates Building (846 Main St. in the Hopkinton village of Contoocook). Hopkinton photographer Tony Gilmore captures nuanced images of nature and man-made objects, taken in his extensive travels with nonprofits. Wood turner Rick Manganello of Hudson creates wooden bowls and other objects. Caren Helm, owner of Pizzazz Pottery in Vermont, creates functional and sculptural hand-built and wheel-thrown stoneware.“Pixels, Wood, Clay” is open to the public free of charge Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. There will be an opening reception with the artists Saturday, Aug. 13, from noon to 2 p.m. Hopkinton musician Brad Myrick will provide music at the reception. For more information, including artist bios, visit twovillagesart.org.
• Stone wall workshops: Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury, 783-9511) is offering opportunities to work on restoring a section of natural stone walls at two-day hands-on Stone Wall workshops led by master stone artisan and mason Kevin Fife, who will discuss the history of stone walls in New England and show participants different types of walls throughout the Village. Some walls in New England date back to the mid-1600s. Two workshops are offered: the weekend of Saturday, Aug. 13, and Sunday, Aug. 14, or the weekend of Saturday, Aug. 27, and Sunday, Aug. 28, both from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. To enroll, visit shakers.org. The workshop includes materials, gourmet lunch and drinks each day. Tuition is $150 for returning participants and $250 for new participants.
Off-Broadway in Wolfeboro ReEntry: Actors Playing Jazz, directed by Academy Award-winner Estelle Parsons, comes to Wolfeboro for two nights, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, and Thursday, Aug. 18, at 7:30 p.m., at The Village Players Theater (51 Glendon St., Wolfeboro), a nonprofit community theater that welcomes onstage and non-stage members of all ages. ReEntry: Actors Playing Jazz is the story of six formerly incarcerated men who have come together after release from prison to start a theater group with a goal to keep them on the right side of the law. The performance is a benefit for Village Players Theater. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at village-players.com.
• From nuns to cats: Catch the final shows of the Interlakes Theatre (1 Laker Lane, Meredith; interlakestheatre.com, 707-6035) production of Sister Act this weekend. The show runs Thursday, Aug. 11, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 12, and Saturday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 14, at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $25 to $36. Then on Wednesday, Aug. 17, the theater’s production of Cats will begin with a show at 7:30 p.m. Be part of the Jellicle fun Wednesday, Aug. 17, through Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 21, at 5 p.m. as well as Thursday, Aug. 18, at 2 p.m.
• Cruel summer: Tickets are on sale now for the Actorsingers’ production of Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical at the Janice B. Streeter Theater (14 Court St., Nashua) on Friday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 27, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 28, at 2 p.m. Closely following the film’s plot, the show centers on the manipulative, revenge- and passion-fueled world of Manhattan elite teens Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil. It features a score full of the era’s top hits from Christina Aguilera, N-Sync, No Doubt, Boyz II Men, and more. Cruel Intentions contains themes that are not suitable for teens and children, according to the website. Tickets range from $18 to $20 and are now available online at actorsingers.org or by calling 320-1870.
ART
Exhibits
• JESSICA KELLY, a local artist, whose work will be featured at the New Hampshire Boat Museum (399 Center St., Wolfeboro, 569-4554, nhbm.org) in the museum’s gallery in August. Working in photography, the art depicts coastal scenes and other natural beauties. Kelly’s work is available for viewing with paid admission to the museum. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, and free for children under 13, members, and active military personnel.
• STANDING TOGETHER The Seacoast LGBT History Project holds its sixth annual show, titled “Standing Together,” at RiverStones Custom Framing and The Franklin Gallery (33 N. Main St. in Rochester; riverstonescustomframing.com) through Wednesday, Aug. 31. The Gallery is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit the Seacoast NH LGBT Facebook page, email seacoastnhlgbthistory@gmail.com or call RiverStones at 812-1488.
• “ARGHAVAN KHOSRAVI” Artist’s surrealist paintings explore themes of exile, freedom and empowerment; center female protagonists; and allude to human rights issues, particularly those affecting women and immigrants. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through Sept. 5. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.
• “MANAGING MISCELLANEA” The Lamont Gallery at Phillips Exeter Academy (11 Tan Lane, Exeter) hosts “Managing Miscellanea,” an art exhibition that draws from the gallery’s “undefined” collection. It centers around questions of defining and maintaining collections, and showcases unseen works from the storage vault, including works by Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Motherwell. The exhibition runs through Sept. 24, available for viewing during the gallery’s normal hours: Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free but reservations are required. For more information, visit www.exeter.edu/lamontgallery.
• “THE PEOPLE’S SCULPTOR: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOHN ROGERS” Exhibit celebrates the art of American sculptor John Rogers, who came to Manchester in 1850, and explores the influence that Manchester had on Rogers’ life and work. Presented by the Manchester Historic Association. On view now through September. Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester). Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18, and is free for kids under age 12. Call 622-7531 or visit manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.
• “WOOL: CONTEMPORARY FIBER ART EXHIBITION Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) through Sept. 2. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.
• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibition in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email tsink@concordnhchamber.com.
Fairs and markets
• GREELEY PARK ART SHOW The annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua. Sat., Aug. 20, and Sun., Aug. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit nashuaarts.org/greeleyparkartshow.
• CONCORD ARTS MARKET The juried outdoor artisan and fine art market runs one Saturday a month, June through October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Market dates are Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15. Rollins Park, 33 Bow St., Concord. concordartsmarket.net. The first market will be held on Saturday, June 11. Visit concordartsmarket.net/summer-arts-market.html.
Tours
• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour for more information.
THEATRE
Classes/workshops
• STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Monthly workshop series hosted by True Tales Live storytelling showcase. First Tuesday (except November), from 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual, via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit truetaleslivenh.org for more information.
Shows
• ROBIN HOOD The Winnipesaukee Playhouse Professional Company (33 Footlight Circle in Meredith; winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org) presents Robin Hood Wednesday, Aug. 10, through Saturday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $39 and $29.
• 2 PIANOS 4 HANDS about two performers as they grow from children to adults and featuring a variety of music styles, according to the website, opens Thursday, Aug. 4, at 7:30 p.m. and runs through Sunday, Aug. 14, at the Peterborough Players indoor stage (55 Hadley Road in Peterborough; peterboroughplayers.org, 924-7575). Tickets cost $47. Shows continue Tuesday, Aug. 9, through Saturday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 14, at 4 p.m.
• DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID Jr. Tickets are on sale now for the Peacock Players’ production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr., which will run Friday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 14, at the Court Street Theater (14 Court St. in Nashua). Shows on Fridays are at 7 p.m., Saturday shows are at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. The show is “our first ever student-produced title,” according to the Peacock Players website (peacockplayers.org), where you can buy tickets, which cost $15 to $18 (plus fees) for adults and $12 to $15 (plus fees) for kids. Or call the box office at 886-7000.
• BEAUTY & THE BEAST presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) through Thursday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.
• NUNSENSE, the musical that has been updated with new jokes, will be presented by the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7649) on Fridays, Aug. 12 and Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.; Saturdays, Aug. 13 and Aug. 20, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 to $20.
• SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 16, through Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.
• LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL JR.presented by Palace Youth Theatre summer camp at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Friday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m., and Friday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for kids.
• THE GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC SHAKESPEARE COMPANY presented by Granite Playwrights at the Hatbox Theatre (inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) from Aug. 19 through Aug. 28, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members.
• DISNEY’S FROZEN KIDS presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 23, through Thursday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.
• LES MISERABLES presented by the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org, 433-4472) teen company from Aug. 25 through Sept. 4, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for students and $30 for adults.
• SHREK THE MUSICAL presented by the Riverbend Youth Company at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford; svbgc.org/amato-center) from Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28.
• DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID, the season-opening musical at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588), will run Friday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 2. The shows run Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., with a show also on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 to $46.
Arts Build Community to host mural project in Manchester
By Katelyn Sahagian
ksahagian@hippopress.com
Manchester is gaining three huge murals, all approximately three stories tall, that will tell the stories of the Queen City’s residents. Arts Build Community, a nonprofit organization, is hosting the first Community Canvas, a mural program that will amplify local voices and highlight local culture through three giant canvases all around the Pearl Street parking lot.
The murals, which will be painted directly onto walls of participating buildings, will all be around 30 feet tall and anywhere from 20 to 50 feet wide. One will be at 1225 Elm St., the headquarters for Arts Build Community. Chase said that all of the murals will be maintained over the years to make sure the artwork lasts for as long as possible.
“If it was just a mural festival, it would be a cakewalk, but we’re trying to think about every level,” said James Chase, the founder of Arts Build Community and co-creator of Community Canvas.
Chase, who is also an art professor at New England College and a former member of the Queen City’s Arts Commission, said it was important for the program to focus on people in the community. He said that, more than just about creating art, it was about creating the representation locals wanted to have.
Chase worked with groups like My Turn and the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester to talk with the youth of the city. He said that one question asked during brainstorming was “what does home feel like?” This question, Chase said, opened the conversation to include more than just aspects of Manchester; it also looks at the people who live in it.
Chase said that brainstorming sessions with the city’s young people have led to a mural featuring not just symbolism and old mills in the artwork, but also more personal scenes, like a group of teens playing basketball and a portrait of one mother cooking.
“We really wanted [the] conversation to … be built by the community rather than for them,” Chase said, adding that having meaningful art that was community inspired was just as important as the artwork. “I think that those times in between are just as important as the end product.”
Part of the reason the project is 10 days long is that communicating these feelings and ideas to artists painting the murals has been challenging, Chase said. Because the artists primarily working on the murals are traveling to Manchester from as far away as Portugal, he said, they’ll need at least a full day to finish the plans.
That means that the first day of the festival, Thursday, Aug. 11, will be a day of finalizing the sketches, but also a chance for the professional artists to meet their assistants, local young art students and artists who will be doing a sort of residency program for the 10-day project.
Chase said that having young artists learn the ins and outs of mural work was a huge factor he wanted to explore with this first project.
“Some of the artists … are emerging artists who will be assisting these professional artists,” Chase said. “[The newcomers will] become the lead artists in the next evolution. Now that they have this skill set and this experience, … they can step forward and be the lead artists.”
On Saturday, Aug. 20, a small block party outside Art Build Community’s headquarters will host a meet-and-greet with the muralists. The party, which will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be a chance for everyone who helped inspire the artwork to talk to the artists and celebrate the end of this project, Chase said.
In addition to the meet-and-greet, a few food trucks, including Kona’s Shaved Ice, will be serving up goodies. There will be crafts for kids, as well as a face-painting station. With the end of the project, Chase said he wanted to continue the community feeling that has inspired the project since the beginning.
Chase said that the main goal was to make sure that the murals represented the locals and was something special for Manchester. He said that he wanted to make sure the residents felt like they were as much a part of the art project as the muralists were.
“We don’t want it to be just art for art,” Chase said. “We want it to reflect Manchester today. We brought the community in, and the conversations became bigger than ourselves.”
Community Canvas Mural Project Where: 1225 Elm St., Manchester When: Thursday, Aug. 11, through Sunday, Aug. 21 Visit: facebook.com/artsbuildcommunity
How a newcomer to the Queen City started the Manchester Craft Fair, all to get to know her new neighborhood
By Katelyn Sahagian
ksahagian@hippopress.com
Moving to a new city can be scary, especially as an adult. Kathy Daneman decided that instead of worrying about her big move from Brooklyn, New York, she would do what she does best: plan an event.
A brand-new craft fair will take Manchester by storm on Saturday, Aug. 13, simply because Daneman, one of the co-founders, wanted to get to know her new home city better.
“It’s so hard as an adult to move and find your people,” said Daneman, who has only resided in the Queen City for five months.
Daneman said when she first moved from Kansas as a little girl, her mother said she used to go running up and down the street, knocking on doors of their new neighbors asking for kids to be her friends. Now, Daneman said she’s using this festival to accomplish the same goal.
Daneman worked in the publishing industry in New York City and Boston for 25 years, and worked planning events for the last five. She was one of the organizers for events like the literary festival in New York, a celebration of local writers and books published in the Big Apple.
The first thing Daneman did upon coming to Manchester was join the library board. There, she met her co-founder of the Manchester Craft Fair, Kim Doherty. Together they set to work, hunting down artists and working with city officials to make this fair a reality.
“[Doherty]’s lived here all her life,” Daneman said. “She wanted a craft fair, something downtown so older people could be part of downtown, too.”
In approximately three months, Daneman and Doherty signed up 20 booths and two food trucks. They got everything in place to have the inaugural craft fair. While it is the first, Daneman hopes that it won’t be the last.
“Come buy crafts from a lot of amazing people,” Daneman said. “This particular fair, I hope it grows so we can do more things in the future.”
Vendors will be selling everything from macrame and hand-crafted jewelry to specialty brined pickles and bowls made from wound cloth. Daneman said that it was important to her to find people selling unique and unusual things, items that fit her style of artistic expression.
While there won’t be live music at the fair, Daneman said that she’d encourage any busker or street musician to come and perform at the park. She said that the whole operation was done without a budget, and she didn’t feel comfortable asking musicians to play music for free.
Daneman said that it was fitting that someone with her recent history of living in New York should have a hotdog cart at the event. Jose’s Hot Dogs Cart will be serving up sausages and vegan eatery The Green Beautiful will have assorted plant-based goodies.
The highlight of the event, Daneman said, will be the puppy pen filled with adoptable pups, sponsored by the Friends of the Manchester Animal Shelter. The pen will be there from 9 a.m. until noon. It may close earlier if all the fur babies find forever homes.
Daneman, who joked that she’ll be spending most of her morning with the dogs, said that she is excited to get to know more people in the city and make more cool friends.
“It’s been a good way to learn the city,” Daneman said. “There’re so many exciting people here. Isn’t this great, to all meet in Veterans Memorial Park and see neighbors you don’t normally see?”
Manchester Craft Fair Where: Veterans Memorial Park, 723 Elm St., Manchester When: Saturday, Aug. 13, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission: Free Visit: manchesterartsandcraftsfair.com
Featured photo: Some of the items available at this year’s Manchester Craft Fair. Photos courtesy of Kathy Daneman.
Test your knowledge at trivia night, live out your rock star dreams and win prizes by listening to your favorite tunes.
New Hampshire’s nightlife scene has plenty to offer, with games and events happening at local bars, restaurants and pubs nearly every night of the week. Check out where you can go to test your knowledge with trivia nights, live out your rock star dreams with karaoke nights, or even win prizes by simply listening to your favorite tunes with musical bingo.
Name that tune
Listen to music, win prizes during musical bingo
By Matt Ingersoll
mingersoll@hippopress.com
Musical bingo is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of letters and numbers like in a traditional game of bingo, you’re given a card filled with squares of song titles and recording artist names. The DJ or event host plays a clip of a song, and it’s your job to identify a match shown on your bingo card. In a normal game, the clips continue until the first player is able to match five squares in a row on their card, whether it be vertically, horizontally or diagonally.
Winners of a recent music bingo event at Backyard Brewery & Kitchen. Photo courtesy of Musical Bingo Nation.
It’s a weekly activity at area bars and restaurants that finds a happy medium between trivia and karaoke nights for its interactivity, said Gregory Nickerson, owner and founder of Musical Bingo Nation. Since launching in 2018, the entertainment company has grown to now host several public musical bingo events at venues across southern New Hampshire, as well as Massachusetts and Florida. Musical bingo is played every Wednesday night at Shopper’s Pub + Eatery in Manchester and at The Barnyard Venue in Candia, for instance, and on Thursday nights you can play at Backyard Brewery & Kitchen in the Queen City or at Main Street Grill and Bar in Pittsfield. All public musical bingo events are free to play, with the chance to win prizes. The company also offers private musical bingo events and even virtual events via Zoom.
Nickerson, a professional DJ for more than a decade playing in venues across New England, said he got the idea of launching Musical Bingo Nation after coming across the game online.
“I was really intrigued by the concept, because it created an engagement that I had never found at an event, other than playing the right music for a specific crowd that’s there for it,” he said.
Each game consists of different rounds, featuring songs that encompass a specific genre, decade or theme of music. You could be playing in a classic rock or reggae round, for instance, or a “one-hit wonders” theme — more than 50 different music rounds are featured across each event.
“We play enough of the song for the player to essentially try and figure it out, so songs like ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’ or ‘Crazy,’ by Gnarls Barkley, for instance … you can hear [the name] multiple times in the chorus,” Nickerson said. “There are a couple of cool things we do like that, to be able to help engage players that might not know the song off the top of their head. … It’s also a cool way to make new friends, because we encourage players at our events to ask the table next to them if they might not know the song, and one table could share a song with another.”
Musical Bingo Nation has a whole team of DJs and event hosts, and you’ll never know which themes will be featured at each public musical bingo event until you actually sit down and play.
“We like to make it a surprise, and that allows our hosts to be flexible too,” Nickerson said. “If we were planning on doing ‘top hits of the 2000s’ but it’s a classic rock crowd, then they can swap that. It allows us to … cater to whatever age, demographic or crowd is in front of us.”
Jennifer Mitchell of Good Vibes Music Bingo, which holds free public events at Salona Bar & Grill in Manchester on Monday nights and at Backyard Grill Burgers & Wings in Seabrook on Tuesday nights, said she got into hosting the game after trying it out as a player. Her games also randomly shuffle the theme of the songs played each night and, prior to the start of every game, players are given a free space that they can pick anywhere on their card.
“I give them anywhere from 20 to 30 seconds of the song, and typically in that amount of time will be the song title,” Mitchell said, adding that, depending on the venue, players sometimes may be allowed to use song recognition apps like Shazam or SoundHound to help them out.
Prizes normally include gift cards or certificates to whichever restaurant, bar or venue you’re playing in. Mitchell said she has also seen some venues give out scratch tickets, or various swag such as T-shirts, keychains and beer koozies. Salona Bar & Grill even has a cash coverall, or a jackpot cash prize that rolls over each week, for anyone who can mark every single square on their bingo card within a certain amount of songs played.
But while everyone loves winning prizes, Nickerson added that the game has also proven to be a fun way for players to broaden their musical knowledge and horizons.
“In my eyes, one of the reasons I started this company was because I felt like I was keeping music history alive … [and] all those songs that are essentially disappearing off the radio,” he said. “We’re keeping them in play on a regular basis to hundreds and sometimes thousands of people each week, so that was the beauty of it. … I feel like it’s the best music game out there.”
Where to play musical bingo
Here’s a list of local restaurants, bars and pubs where you can go every weeknight to try your luck at a game of musical bingo. Know of a spot not listed here? Let us know at music@hippopress.com to include in our weekly Music This Week listings.
Backyard Grill Burgers & Wings 5 Provident Way, Seabrook, 760-2581, backyardgrillnh.com When: Tuesdays, 7 to 9 p.m. Featuring: Good Vibes Music Bingo, jennifermitchellmusic.com
The Barnyard Venue 285 Old Candia Road, Candia, 483-4888, barnyardvenue.com When: Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Featuring: Musical Bingo Nation, musicalbingonation.com
Fody’s Tavern 9 Clinton St., Nashua, 577-9015; 187 Rockingham Road, Derry, 404-6946; fodystavern.com When: Tuesdays, 8 to 10 p.m. (Nashua); Thursdays, 8 to 10 p.m. (Derry) Featuring: JB Entertainment, find them on Facebook
The Goat Bar and Grill 142 Congress St., Portsmouth, 590-4628, goatnh.com When: Mondays, 7 to 9 p.m. Featuring: Musical Bingo Nation, musicalbingonation.com
JB’s on the Boardwalk 187 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, 926-1420, jbsnh.com When: Tuesdays, 8 to 11 p.m. Featuring: Music Bingo by Ironic, ironic.it/musicbingo
Logan’s Run Restaurant & Sports Bar 816 Lafayette Road, Hampton, 926-4343, logansrunrestaurant.com When: Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. Featuring: Game of Tunes, gametimetrivia.com
Main Street Grill and Bar 32 Main St., Pittsfield, 435-0005, mainstreetgrillandbar.com When: Thursdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Featuring: Musical Bingo Nation, musicalbingonation.com
McGarvey’s Saloon 1097 Elm St., Manchester, 627-2721, mcgarveysnh.com When: Wednesdays, 9 to 11 p.m. Featuring: Perfect Entertainment, perfectne.com
Saddle Up Saloon 92 Route 125, Kingston, 347-1313, saddleupsaloonnh.com When: Wednesdays, 7 to 9 p.m. Featuring: Musical Bingo Nation, musicalbingonation.com
Salona Bar & Grill 128 Maple St., Manchester, 624-4020, find them on Facebook @salona When: Mondays, 6 to 8 p.m. (no bingo on Sept. 5) Featuring: Good Vibes Music Bingo, jennifermitchellmusic.com
Shane’s Texas Pit 61 High St., Hampton, 601-7091, shanes-texas-pit.com When: Tuesdays, 6 to 9 p.m.
Whym Craft Pub & Brewery 853 Lafayette Road, Hampton, 601-2801, whym.beer When: Thursdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Featuring: Music Bingo by Ironic, ironic.it/musicbingo
Sing your heart out
A look at southern New Hampshire’s thriving karaoke scene
By Katelyn Sahagian
ksahagian@hippopress.com
Karaoke is more than just singing along to some song on an old stereo system into a half-dead microphone and reading lyrics from a tiny monitor. Many DJs and venues in New Hampshire take it to the next level, featuring specialty equipment and live bands.
George Cox of Cox Karaoke, based in Manchester, said that karaoke should feel like you’re a rock star playing your own concert.
“I love the fact that people can get up and perform in front of an audience,” Cox said. “It brings a lot of people together.”
While almost all karaoke nights will have singers choose a song from a list, sign up for a designated time and sing away, Cox said he tries to make the experience much more special. From a hard drive with more than 100,000 songs to sound systems that add layered vocal effects to the singers, Cox said he is focused on giving the best experience possible to performers.
“When you come to one of my shows, it sounds like a professional show,” Cox said. “It’s like singing at your own concert.”
Photo courtesy of George Cox Karaoke.
Cox was the DJ for Manchester Idol, a local singing competition held at The Goat Bar and Grill in Manchester earlier this summer. It was so popular, he said, that people came from as far as Boston, Connecticut and Rhode Island for their shot at winning a $3,000 grand prize.
“I couldn’t believe the amazing talent [of] the people who came,” he said. “There was a line out the door.”
Erica Fleury, one of the co-owners of The Goat, said that she had known the competition would be popular since she had competed in one years ago with a much smaller prize.
“We just wanted to give … a huge prize away to get some real talent to come out,” Fleury said, adding that Cox’s fans coming to the competition made it even more popular than she had hoped for it to be. “I was surprised it did even better than I thought.”
While there’s no set date yet, Fleury said she is planning to host another Manchester Idol competition sometime later this winter. Right now, karaoke will continue at The Goat through the summer. Fleury said that she wants to see how it does with college students to see if it’ll continue being a weekly event — or if it will slow down to every other week or stop altogether until the next competition.
Cox, who has been working as a karaoke DJ for a decade in southern New Hampshire, said that he’s seen nothing but a boom in popularity for the activity over the years. Even with the pandemic causing most events to close, Cox said that he worked with South Side Tavern, across the Queen City on South Willow Street, to set up an outdoor karaoke night.
“It was the biggest gig of my karaoke career,” Cox said. “I didn’t think people would show but it was packed. There were about 50 singers and a lot of newcomers.”
Fleury said that karaoke will be around for a very long time. She and her husband also own Wally’s in Hampton, where they have a live band performing the karaoke set. The goal, she said, is for you to feel less like you’re just singing for a crowd of people and more like you’re the headliner at your own concert.
“You’re able to be your alter ego when you get up there on stage,” Fleury said. “People like to do things when they go out other than just sit at a bar. It just gets the energy going in the room and livens up the night.”
Where to sing karaoke
Check out this list of venues in southern New Hampshire that offer karaoke. In most cases, singers can choose a song from a pre-selected list and sign up to sing at a designated time. Know of a spot not listed here? Let us know at music@hippopress.com to include in our weekly Music This Week listings.
American Legion Post 31 11 Charles St., Penacook, 753-9372, nhalpost31.org When: Fridays, 7 p.m. Featuring: JMitch Karaoke
Angel City Music Hall 179 Elm St., Unit B, Manchester, 931-3654, angelcitymusichall.com When: Sundays and Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Featuring: DJ Clashious Clay
The Bar 2B Burnham Road, Hudson, 943-5250 When: Mondays, 7 p.m.
Boonedoxz Pub 95 Park St., Northfield, 455-3755, find them on Facebook When: Fridays, 7 p.m. Featuring: DJ Oz
Fody’s Tavern 9 Clinton St., Nashua, 577-9015; 187 Rockingham Road, Derry, 404-6946; fodystavern.com When: Mondays and Thursdays, 9:30 p.m. (Nashua); Wednesdays, 7 p.m. (Derry) Featuring: DJ Rick (Nashua); DJ Jay (Derry)
The Goat Bar and Grill 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, 844-603-4628, goatnh.com When: Thursdays, 8 p.m. Featuring: Cox Karaoke
L Street Tavern 17 L St., Hampton, 967-4777, lstreettavern.com When: Wednesdays, 9 p.m. Featuring: DJ Jeff
Lynn’s 102 Tavern 76 Derry Road, Hudson, 943-7832, lynns102.com When: Thursdays and Fridays, 8 p.m. Featuring: DJ George Bisson
Millyard Brewery 25 E. Otterson St., Nashua, 722-0104, millyardbrewery.com When: Every other Thursday, 6 p.m. Featuring: Bobby Lane
Raga Contemporary Kitchen 138 Main St., Nashua, 459-8566, find them on Facebook @raganashua When: Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.
Saddle Up Saloon 92 Route 125, Kingston, 347-1313, saddleupsaloonnh.com When: Thursdays, 7 p.m. Featuring: DJ Jason
South Side Tavern 1279 S. Willow St., Manchester, 935-9947, southsidetavernnh.com When: Thursdays, 9 p.m. Featuring: Cox Karaoke
Stark Brewing Co. 500 N. Commercial St., Manchester, 625-4444, starkbrewingcompany.com When: Mondays, 8 p.m. Featuring: Cox Karaoke
Stonecutters Pub 63 Union Square, Milford, 213-5979, find them on Facebook @stonecutterspubmilfordnh When: Fridays, 9 p.m. Featuring: KJ-Dave O.
Tower Hill Tavern 264 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, 366-9100, towerhilltavern.com When: Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9 p.m. Featuring: DJ Tim and guest hosts
Knowledge is power
Flex your mental muscles during trivia night
By Hannah Turtle
hturtle@hippopress.com
Bill Seney, local host of the trivia event named “Best Weekly Bar Event” in Hippo’s readers’ poll this year, believes a good trivia contest comes down to two things.
“One: It’s interactive, there’s some competition, and people like that. Two: It’s kind of like dinner theater. It’s entertaining,” Seney said.
Trivia is easy to jump into. Everyone can participate because everyone knows something, but nobody knows everything. Typically, bar trivia is free to attend, the only price being that of the drinks and food offered by the bar. A typical bar trivia event lasts about two hours.
For Marc Chamberland of Game Time Trivia, the special ingredient to a successful trivia night comes down to the host. Game Time Trivia is a regular at several local spots, including The Thirsty Moose Taphouse in Merrimack (on Mondays) and in Manchester (on Wednesdays).
Photo courtesy of Marc Chamberland.
“They’ve got to be personable. They can’t be a robot reading questions, [and] they have to make it entertaining for everyone,” Chamberland said.
Chamberland’s trivia events, like many, consist of themed rounds. Teams answer a set of questions, turn in their answers, see how their scores rank in the group, and move to the next round, with scores accumulating. It’s a system that allows players with different skill sets all to show their stuff.
Seney, who hosts weekly trivia nights at The Hop Knot, Shopper’s Pub + Eatery and Backyard Brewery & Kitchen in Manchester, points to the art of writing the questions as the most important facet of a successful trivia night.
“What I’ve learned from hosting is that nobody is really there to get stumped,” he said. “You have to have good questions. Not too hard, [but] not too easy either. My criteria is this: People should have at least heard of the answer.”
He gave an example of how he goes about writing a question.
“If I ask, ‘College Dropout and Late Registration are two albums by what famous rapper?’ And the answer is Kanye West, you might not have known that, but at least you know who Kanye West is,” Seney said. “If I ask the question in the reverse order, ‘What are the names of Kanye West’s first two albums?’ You might think, ‘Well, I never would have gotten that.’”
Seney uses an online scoring system, allowing guests to submit answers through their phones.
With the formula perfected, it’s up to trivia-goers to create their teams and try their hand at bar glory. Seney’s Instagram page, @trivianightwithbillseney,shows the names of some teams celebrating their hard-fought wins. Champions include “Quiz Free or Die,” “The Boothday Truthers,” “Have Kids They Said – It’ll Be Fun They Said,” “Boys’n Berries,” and “Only Here for the Beer.”
Where to check out local trivia nights
Here are some of the local trivia offerings. Some trivia nights happen many but not all weeks; contact the venue before gathering your team for the evening. Know of a regular game night not mentioned here? Let us know at music@hippopress.com.
Area 23 254 N. State St., Concord, 760-7944, thearea23.com When: Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
The Bar 2B Burnham Road, Hudson, 943-5250 When: Wednesdays, 7 p.m.
Battle of the Breweries Trivia When: Third Thursday of every month, 7 p.m. Where: Join from Great North Aleworks (1050 Holt Ave., Manchester), To Share Brewing Co. (720 Union St., Manchester), Rockingham Brewing Co. (1 Corporate Park Drive, No. 1, Derry), From The Barrel Brewing Co. (1 Corporate Park Drive, No. 16, Derry), or Daydreaming Brewing Co. (1½ E. Broadway, Derry).
