UPCOMING EVENTS
TYPE OF EVENT
Sharp Dressed Men
Details
Come enjoy a fun-filled, belly-laugh-inducing evening with a PLAY READING of the award-winning comedy Sharp Dressed Men by G Matthew Gaskell, local playwright. To add to the fun, since this play is centered around a wedding day, we decided to offer some wedding reception vibes!– after the show, enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbles AND a wedding cupcake deliciously made by Bizzy Bee’s Sweet Treats… all included with the price of your ticket!
About the play:
Back in high school, Bill and Lorraine fell in love. Then came Henry. Then came George. Then came Tom. Now, after 30 years it's time for Mom and Dad to finally tie the knot. Today's the big day. Everything must be perfect. We're at the church... there's 90 minutes... and their sons are in charge.
About this event:
This is the farewell performance of this version of Sharp Dressed Men, as playwright G Matthew Gaskell will be rebooting this play– and the entire Sharp Dressed Men series composed of multiple comedies.
For this farewell play reading, we’re elated to be bringing back some of the original cast from early productions…
Featuring:
G Matthew Gaskell as Henry
Andy Fling as Tom
Christopher Savage as George
Becky Fowler as Rhonda
Jamie Bradley as Victor
Meredith Caple as the Minister
Scott Caple as Bill/Dad
What people are saying:
"The style of this comic marathon is somewhere between Seinfeld and Monty Python... This comedy is wild throughout."
-Maine's Journal Tribune
“The laughs are about circumstances and personalities colliding in a believable manner; and that's the charm this piece seduces you with, the element of familiarity. You're sure you know a few of these folks. And thanks to the performances, you WANT to.”
-Seacoastonline.com
“Gaskell, a keen observer of the human condition in his role as a playwright (the SHARP DRESSED MEN trilogy, AS TIME GOES BY, YE MERRY GENTLEMEN, RAY OF LIGHT, WHERE'S WALDO, BACKGROUND CHECK and more) just can't write his plays any other way: he serves up the funny until you expose your soft underbelly laughing, then comes up from the dark depths and slides the point home with something that's keen enough to cut, but not blunt enough to bludgeon. If it bedevils us, Gaskell's not afraid to write about it: whether a key moment in one of his plays turns out funny, poignant, or a bit of both, is anyone's guess as to what's going to come at you- but that's also part of the fun.”
-Caught In The Act Blogspot, Michael J. Curtiss
Event Sponsored by Bizzy Bee's Sweets & Treats
Save the Date:
Don’t miss the next offering by Gaskell– the newly minted version of the holiday comedy Ye Merry Gentlemen at the Players’ Ring in Portsmouth this coming November 2025!
$17 advance | $22 day-of | $12 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Little Wings
Little Wings w/Special Guest Ben Troy
Kyle Field is a visual artist and the songwriter behind the 25-years-running group Little Wings. Over the course of more than a dozen albums, he has written a classic cannon of songs that continues to gain listenership to this day. Working without the help of powerful record companies, the songs have earned their place viscerally, person by person, creating a cherished and loyal following around the world. Little Wings continues to release records at an incredible clip and shows no signs of slowing, the songs keep growing. His latest and greatest High on the Glade was recorded with legendary producer Kramer.
October’s Yankee Charms IV is Little Wings’ fourth tour with the New England rhythm section of bassist Nat Baldwin and drummer Peter McLaughlin. It celebrates the limited edition vinyl-only “Little Wings: Live in New York,” available exclusively at merch tables on this tour and through the Tandem Coffee Good Thing Vinyl club.
"...Kyle Field, the Golden State’s mercurial troubadour, is back with a vengeance—songs of vaudeville and villainy, renewal and rebirth."
-Perpetual Doom
$17 advance | $22 day-of
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Darwin's Waiting Room
DARWiN’S WAiTiNG ROOM (DWR) returns to the Seacoast for an epic night of sketch comedy! DWR is a collection of veteran actors and comedians who perform original scripted comedy for general audiences. Enter the unique DWR playground of silliness and laughter where you’ll meet talking slugs, ambassadors from the Silly Provinces, mole men, and more.
$15 advance | $20 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Dorks in Dungeons
Prepare for a night of unpredictable adventure as Dorks in Dungeons takes The Dance Hall’s stage! This hilarious, fantasy-inspired, improv comedy show brings dragons *and/or* dungeons, goblins *and/or* ghouls, wizards *and/or* snakes wearing top hats—we let the dice decide.
Follow a team of perfectly capable adventurers through spontaneous challenges, bizarre encounters, and epic (or disastrous) quests—all made up on the spot. And hey, you might even help shape the story! Will the heroes triumph? Will chaos reign? Roll in and find out!
About Dorks in Dungeons:
Dorks in Dungeons is an internationally renowned fantasy improv troupe. Following the traditions of tabletop Role-Playing Games (RPG’s), Dorks in Dungeons uses comedic long-form improvisation to create memorably hilarious characters who face challenges brought to them by a pit of improv actors. Audience members have the power to change the course of the show with their suggestions and the coveted Reroll Token.
$13 advance | $18 day-of
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
A Night of Stand-Up
A NIGHT OF STAND-UP debuts at The Dance Hall for an incredible evening of Headliner-focused stand-up comedy. RACHEL FEINSTEIN, star of two Netflix specials– Big Guy (about her marriage to an NYC Fire Chief) and Only Whores Wear Purple– will close out the show, with Comedy Central comic (and now Kittery local) REBECCA DONOHUE opening the event.
Recommended for ages 18+; parental discretion is advised.
About RACHEL FEINSTEIN:
Rachel Feinstein is a nationally touring comedian and actress. AV Club says “Feinstein’s acute observations create silly, sympathetic characters keeping her subtly, exquisitely attuned to her audience." Rachel’s NETFLIX one-hour special, “Big Guy” premiered in the top ten in 2024. Rachel also recurred on the Steven Soderbergh Amazon series RED OAKS and on Judd Apatow’s HBO comedy CRASHING. Her past credits include TRAINWRECK, TOP FIVE, CONAN, THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON and she has co-hosted THE VIEW on multiple occasions, and several appearances on INSIDE AMY SCHUMER for which she won a WGA award. You may also remember Rachel co-hosting alongside Shaq on UPLOAD WITH SHAQUILLE ONEAL. Feinstein has also lent her voice to Adult Swim’s VENTURE BROTHERS and the phenomenally successful GRAND THEFT AUTO video game franchise.
About REBECCA DONOHUE:
Rebecca Donohue is a comedian, writer, and a comedy producer. She has appeared on Comedy Central, VH1, and a variety of cable networks that no longer matter because we only watch things on our phone now. She won a spot on a USO TOUR for the US Navy through the Boston Comedy Festival and has performed in 30 out of the 50 states. As a writer, Rebecca received an Emmy nomination for her work on the Discovery+ show Book of Queer. As a producer, her digital series I Want My Stuff Back, also received an Emmy nomination. Rebecca currently creates originals and develops talent for The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz – a top 10 comedy-sports show in the US.
$25 advance | $30 advance | $20 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Rock My Soul
Roots-based, raise-the-rafters Rock My Soul comes to The Dance Hall! Join us for a spirit-soaring evening of spirituals, Civil Rights songs, soul, blues, pop, and Americana. Hear all flavors of American music influenced by the African American tradition, and learn about how they all connect.
For over 20 years, Rock My Soul has established itself as a musical force in northern New England. With its unique brand of rousing, raise-the-rafters music, the group has garnered an ever-growing following and has performed to packed houses throughout New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. Rock My Soul has been featured on TV shows NH Chronicle and 207, as well as Maine Public Radio, and one of its songs was included in the PBS documentary Freedom Songs: Music of the Civil Rights Movement.
Rock My Soul’s concerts attract hundreds of fans, who often dance in the aisles to a sound that is at once traditional and contemporary. The group is tight and polished, yet has the immediacy and soulfulness of the old-school roots sound it seeks to revive. Guaranteed to be a foot stomping, hand clapping good time.
$20 advance | $25 day-of | $12 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
2025 Seacoast Jazz Festival: Kickoff Concert
The Dance Hall, in partnership with Seacoast Jazz Society, is excited to host the first ever "Kickoff Concert" for this year's (42nd Annual) Seacoast Jazz Festival.
Jesse Tait Trio Featuring Jess Tait (piano), Tyson Jackson (drums) and Greg Loughman (bass). Mr. Taitt is a multifaceted pianist, composer, arranger, and educator with a rich musical journey. Jesse is Assistant Professor in the Harmony and Jazz Composition Department at Berklee College of Music and Lecturer of Jazz Piano at Dartmouth College.
Band of Primates Longtime collaborators Josh Gagnon and Hunter McKay are excited to bring their new group, Band of Primates, to The Dance Hall. From big bands to ska bands, the two seacoast natives have been making music together since 2010. This project combines a variety of distant yet harmonious influences: ‘90s Alternative, bands like Kneebody and the Bad Plus, and Free Improvisation of the mid-twentieth century. The group explores original music and covers in an electrified, chordless quartet setting.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The festival has a tremendous history on the seacoast. The first festival was held in 1983 under the name, Portsmouth Jazz Festival. For over 25 years, it was known as the Tommy Gallant Jazz Festival, to honor legendary local jazz pianist and composer, Tommy Gallant. In recent years it has become the Seacoast Jazz Festival in the hopes to expand the jazz festival’s reach in the future as a destination event featuring acclaimed jazz artists from around the globe. The Seacoast Jazz Society was formed in 1990 and its mission is to promote jazz through community outreach and education, to support local musicians, and to provide scholarships for young artists.
$20 advance | $25 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Neave Trio
Portsmouth Athenaeum Presents:
Neave Trio
The GRAMMY®–nominated Neave Trio has earned praise for its engaging, cutting-edge performances. New York City’s WQXR explains, "'Neave' is actually a Gaelic name meaning 'bright' and 'radiant', both of which certainly apply to this trio's music-making."
Formed in 2010, the Neave trio includes violinist Anna Williams, cellist Mikhail Veselov, and pianist Eri Nakamura. Their 2022 album Musical Remembrances was nominated for a GRAMMY in the Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble category. Musical Remembrances features Rachmaninoff, Brahms, and Ravel. It is the Neave Trio’s fourth album with Chandos Records.
Neave has performed at many esteemed festivals worldwide, including Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 92nd Street Y, Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Norfolk and Norwich Chamber Music Series (United Kingdom), and the Samoylov and Rimsky Korsakow Museums' Chamber Music Series in St. Petersburg (Russia).
The concert is a presentation of Portsmouth Athenaeum Chamber Music 2025
$30 General Admission | $10 Student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
SOME Fest 2025
Welcome to SOME Fest — a bold, family-friendly celebration of music, art, and community in the heart of Kittery, Maine. Set against the charm of this coastal town, SOME Fest brings together an eclectic mix of sounds and visuals for a day that’s all about creativity and connection.
From gritty indie/punk bands to seasoned rockers, the lineup spans local talent and well-known names. You’ll also find a pop-up gallery and multimedia arts market, including Wrong Brain, a NH based nonprofit arts collective known for championing emerging voices.
This year, we’re proud to showcase music from students at PMAC (Portsmouth Music and Arts Center), along with other rising stars from across New Hampshire.
It’s loud. It’s creative. It’s community.
Welcome to SOME Fest.
Featuring performances by: Oceanator, Washer, Rong, Grub Lord, Qvickdraw, Rick Rude, fiveighthirteen, and MORE! Full Lineup TBA
SOME Fest is funded in part by New Hampshire State Council on the Arts
Thank you to our supporting partners and collaborators: Wrong Brain, Portsmouth Music and Arts Center
$20 advance | $25 day-of | $15 student (12-18 y/o) | Free under 12
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket {even for cash sales} + cc processing fees)
Jazz Casual: Ayan Imai-Hall Quartet
The culmination of jazz music and tap dance is a tradition that has been passed down through the music. Enjoy an evening of Jazz and Tap Dance through the American songbook and Bebop era compositions.
Jett Tachibana - Sax
Asa Meyer-Waldo - Bass
Zak King - Drums
Ayan Imai-Hall - Tap Dance
About Ayan Imai-Hall:
Ayan is a tap dancer from New Hampshire. Ayan has toured across North America over the years with numerous companies and shows, most recently with Jumaane Taylor’s “Supreme Love” and Christina Carminucci’s “Solidarity Series.” In 2012 Ayan was awarded an NHSCA Traditional Arts Grant with Blues musician, TJ Wheeler. Since then, Ayan has strived to bring the dance to the music throughout the New England Seacoast.
About Jazz Casual:
Jazz Casual is dedicated to the preservation of a distinctly American art form and related improvised musics. Showcasing an eclectic array of local, national and international talent, the series supports the advancement of this art form by programming artists who are writing original works and uniquely arranging traditional music in progressive and imaginative ways.
$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
The New Grown-Ups w/Helen & Rose
Hailing from the Boston area, The New Grown-Ups are an octet taking a modern twist on American Roots music. They blend Traditional Folk, Country, Blues, Celtic, Old time, Originals, Bluegrass, and Pop into a snafu of contemporary acoustic music. The band has toured regionally around New England, and has an infectious onstage energy that comes with loving to perform, and being around each other.
"...Skilled musicians with electrical rollicking enthusiasm..."
-Bluegrass Today
Helen & Rose: Helen Kuhar (guitar, vocals, harmonium) and Rose Jackson (fiddle, vocals) come together to bring you driving traditional tunes from New England, Quebec, Ireland, and France, old songs with contemporary relevance, and contemporary songs with traditional sensibilities harmonized with voices, fiddle, guitar, and harmonium.
$18 advance | $23 day-of | $12 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Jazz Casual: Clifford Cameron's Vinyl Quartet
Clifford Cameron's Vinyl Quartet plays music almost exclusively from the 60s and 70s reimagined in a modern improvisatory setting. Any genre is on the table and each take of every song is unique. Played in a beautiful, mellow and contemporary context, music from The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Bob Marley, serve equally as artistic inspiration and as a cornerstone for the Vinyl Quartet's repertoire.
Listen and download their debut full length album HERE.
Emma Jane Page vocals
Nicholas Thompson-Brown bass
Alex Ouellette drums
Clifford Cameron on piano.
About Jazz Casual: Jazz Casual is dedicated to the preservation of a distinctly American art form and related improvised musics. Showcasing an eclectic array of local, national and international talent, the series supports the advancement of this art form by programming artists who are writing original works and uniquely arranging traditional music in progressive and imaginative ways.
$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Jazz Casual: The Josie Lawrence Collective
After the passing of the great Astrud Gilberto, bossa nova pioneer, Josie set out to honor the late singer through writing original compositions based on her life. So came her debut album, Komorebi. From up-tempo sambas to eerie bossa ballads, Komorebi displays a beautiful range of Brazilian jazz through the lens of original compositions. Join us to hear these originals by her jazz quintet, plus a mix of jazz standards and bossa nova classics.
Josie Lawrence vocals
Clifford Cameron piano
Asa Meyer-Waldo bass
John Suntken drums
Jesse Beckett-Herbert tenor sax, flute
About Jazz Casual: Jazz Casual is dedicated to the preservation of a distinctly American art form and related improvised musics. Showcasing an eclectic array of local, national and international talent, the series supports the advancement of this art form by programming artists who are writing original works and uniquely arranging traditional music in progressive and imaginative ways.
$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Django By The Sea Festival 2025
Join us for this 10th Anniversary Festival! DBTS is the premiere Django Reinhardt Celebration in New England, featuring internationally renowned musicians in a truly intimate setting. Not to be missed!
FRIDAY 10.03.25 @ 7:00PM :
Rhythm Future Quartet
SATURDAY 10.04.25 @ 7:00PM :
The EarRegulars w/Atla + Matt DeChamplain opening
SUNDAY 10.5.25 @ 2PM :
"Django's Campsite All-Star Jam"
In collaboration with Kit & Supply Co.
**For more info about the festival and bio for each artist, visit:
ONE NIGHT/DAY PASS:
FRIDAY 10.3.25 $25 Advance | $30 Day-of
SATURDAY 10.4.25 $35 Advance | $40 Day-of
SUNDAY 10.5.25 $15 Individual | $20 Family pass (incl. 2 adults + children)
TWO NIGHT PASS:
FRIDAY + SATURDAY $55 Advance | $65 Day-of
VIP PASS:
FRIDAY - SUNDAY $100
plus access to Saturday's VIP Meet & Greet, and a Donation to The Dance Hall.
Jazz Casual: Gideon Forbes' Ploceus
Drawing on his extensive experiences in the jazz and Arabic music worlds, Gideon Forbes new project, Ploceus, showcases original music & arrangements that draw on the rich improvisational and compositional features of these two music traditions. Gideon's recent projects include Nortonk, which released its eponymous debut album on Biophilia Records in May 2021, and Orchestra Farha, an acoustic-electric ensemble that focuses on 1970's Arabic music from Egypt and around the Arab world. Gideon collaborates with the New York Arabic Orchestra, Takht al-Nagham, The Brooklyn Nomads, Habibi Gün, Firas Zreik, Sami Abu Shumays, and Karim Nagi.
About Jazz Casual: Jazz Casual is dedicated to the preservation of a distinctly American art form and related improvised musics. Showcasing an eclectic array of local, national and international talent, the series supports the advancement of this art form by programming artists who are writing original works and uniquely arranging traditional music in progressive and imaginative ways.
$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Jazz Casual: Jamie Saft Trio
Jamie Saft has collaborated with the greatest masters of music including Iggy Pop, Bad Brains, Roswell Rudd, Hamid Drake, Wadada Leo Smith, Steve Swallow, and Bobby Previte. The Jamie Saft Trio has performed at legendary venues in the US including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Village Vanguard. Saft’s trios have been featured at major festivals worldwide including in San Sebastián, Spain, Moscow, all over Europe, South America, Australia, Canada, and Japan. Saft was the pianist for the John Adams opera “Ceiling/ Sky” and has been featured on recordings by a diverse array of artists including the B52s, Beastie Boys, Marshall Allen, and Cyro Baptista.
For this special concert at The Dance Hall, Saft’s trio will feature a diverse array of music from the Great American Songbook including compositions by Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, and John and Alice Coltrane. This formation of the trio first played together in 1990!!! A rare opportunity to see the Jamie Saft Trio right here in Maine!
Jamie Saft- Fender Rhodes
Tim Kelly- bass guitar
John Mettam- drums
About Jazz Casual:
Jazz Casual is dedicated to the preservation of a distinctly American art form and related improvised musics. Showcasing an eclectic array of local, national and international talent, the series supports the advancement of this art form by programming artists who are writing original works and uniquely arranging traditional music in progressive and imaginative ways.
$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Jazz Casual: Sad Bastards / Loose Standards
Sad Bastards / Loose Standards
Record Release Concert
A killer record. A deep, moving, swinging hybrid of sacred music, blues, and jazz, that at times verges into something akin to gospel noir. "We Pass for What We Are" echoes the Charlie Haden / Hank Jones masterpiece "Spirituals," but also brings listeners back to Albert Ayler, in its acknowledgement of suffering and promise of a joyful transcendance. Time and Mercy offers an uncommonly cathartic musical experience well suited to hard times like these.
- Joe Keohane, music journalist for the Boston Globe
The trumpet and piano duo Sad Bastards / Loose Standards are proud to release their sophomore album "We Pass for What we Are" to the world this Fall. The record is a celebration of the unlikely intersection of Spirituals, grunge and indie rock, hymnody, and avant-garde jazz. Equally featuring the music of Nirvana and Big Thief alongside early Christian chant and Appalachian sacred melodies, the duo brings the listener along for the joyride of their constant pursuit of a musical grand unification theory.
Area men Chris Klaxton and Mike Effenberger join forces to plumb the depths of the great American songbook of jazz standards, the lesser American songbook, Spirituals, new standards, and the good and bad news of this post-tonal musical world. “To plumb the depths” comes from the concept of lowering a lead weight into the ocean on a long rope to establish the water’s distance downward. To do so one would be required to drop the weight to the very bottom, extending the line entirely until the answer is found. May it be so.
Preview the record here: Preview: We Pass For What We Are
Chris Klaxton
chrisklaxton.com
@klaxto
Mike Effenberger
theletterf.org
About Jazz Casual:
Jazz Casual is dedicated to the preservation of a distinctly American art form and related improvised musics. Showcasing an eclectic array of local, national and international talent, the series supports the advancement of this art form by programming artists who are writing original works and uniquely arranging traditional music in progressive and imaginative ways.
$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Hanneke Cassel Trio
Effervescent and engaging, Boston-based fiddler Hanneke Cassel’s fiddle music fuses influences from the Isle of Skye and Cape Breton with Americana grooves and musical innovations. She has performed and traveled across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Hanneke’s music is a blend of the contemporary and traditional, described by the Boston Globe as “exuberant and rhythmic, somehow wild and innocent, delivered with captivating melodic clarity and an irresistible playfulness.”
The Hanneke Cassel Band features Jenna Moynihan on 5-string fiddle and Keith Murphy on guitar/vocals. Jenna Moynihan is regarded as one of the best of the new generation of freestyle fiddlers. Versatile and inventive, her fiddling style draws strongly from the Scottish tradition, but is influenced by American, Irish, and Swedish styles. She has performed as a soloist with The Boston Pops, has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and CBS Sunday Morning, and has toured with The Milk Carton Kids and the Old Blind Dogs. An assistant professor at Berklee College of Music, Jenna performs as part of a duo with harpist Màiri Chaimbeul and is the regular fiddler for the Seamus Egan Project.
Newfoundland-born guitarist Keith Murphy is a rhythmic powerhouse on guitar and a traditional singer of rare finesse. A native of Newfoundland, he has lived in New England for many years where he has been an influential presence in the traditional music scene through his work with many respected bands, as a tune writer and as director of the Northern Roots Festival in Brattleboro, VT. He has four solo recordings of traditional songs, the most recent being Bright as Amber (2023).
Together, the Hanneke Cassel Band creates a cutting-edge acoustic sound that retains the integrity and spirit of the Scottish tradition.
$24 advance | $30 day-of | $18 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
**EARLY BIRD PRICING AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
Ben Garnett Trio feat. Brittany Haas
For Ben Garnett, the acoustic guitar is naturally cinematic. “It has this ability to build a world for other instruments to inhabit,” Garnett muses. His forthcoming album, Kite’s Keep (2025), features artfully constructed compositions brought to life by acoustic music luminaries like Darol Anger, Brittany Haas (fiddle), Ethan Jodziewicz, Paul Kowert (bass), and Chris Eldridge (guitar). “My dream was to shine a light on these pervasive, yet often overlooked, abilities of the instrument; to demonstrate that a ‘guitar record’ can actually showcase the guitar as this world-building, ensemble instrument, rather than merely a lead instrument.” Shifting its aperture from folk to bluegrass, pop to jazz, classical to avant-garde, Kite’s Keep rarely settles into any one particular genre; rather, it relishes the in-between spaces, revealing its innovations not through spectacle, but through the quiet power of storytelling in motion.
“You think you’ve heard it all until Ben Garnett comes along to show us how much more there might be.”
— PREMIER GUITAR
“Garnett has a beautiful, curious, deep mind.”
— CHRIS ELDRIDGE (PUNCH BROTHERS)
$24 advance | $30 day-of | $18 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
**EARLY BIRD PRICING AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
Jazz Casual: Miles Ahlstrom's "DCA"
Miles Ahlstrom's "DCA"
DCA is a modern electric jazz trio. It began with the spark of instantaneous chemistry through a shared love of listening and bold communication. Each member inhibits a deep sense of supportive musicianship that grants the confidence to walk on their own musical tightrope. Based in New Hampshire and New York, the group blends original compositions with explorations of tunes by artists ranging from Steve Swallow and Pat Metheny, to Death Cab for Cutie and Radiohead. Their sound is energetic, fearless, and conversational, with a focus on dynamic interplay. DCA is committed to displaying the arc of composition through the playfulness of improvisation.
About Jazz Casual:
Jazz Casual is dedicated to the preservation of a distinctly American art form and related improvised musics. Showcasing an eclectic array of local, national and international talent, the series supports the advancement of this art form by programming artists who are writing original works and uniquely arranging traditional music in progressive and imaginative ways.
$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Jazz Casual: Man On Land ft. Lihi Haruvi
Man on Land ft. Lihi Haruvi
“Man on Land displays not only individual virtuosity but a kind of group composure that comes from deference to form, narrative, and a warm ensemble sound.”
--Jon Garelick, Arts Fuse
Man On Land is a jazz collective formed in 2009 by longtime musical cohorts Greg Loughman, Austin McMahon and Brian Friedland. For their new album, Echo The Hills, they have teamed up with Lihi Haruvi on sopranino and soprano saxophone for a collection of engaging and melodic modern jazz featuring compositions from each band member.
“For the last 15 years Man On Land has been demonstrating that the musical whole can be even greater than the sum of the parts. All three write beautifully and their rapport is uncanny. Adding a new melodic voice to this rich ecosystem, Lihi Haruvi's dextrous sopranino sounds like it belongs, in the best way. The delight the four share in playing together is its own lively presence on the bandstand. I can't wait to hear more.”
––Mark Redmond, Presenter, Mandorla Music
About Jazz Casual:
Jazz Casual is dedicated to the preservation of a distinctly American art form and related improvised musics. Showcasing an eclectic array of local, national and international talent, the series supports the advancement of this art form by programming artists who are writing original works and uniquely arranging traditional music in progressive and imaginative ways.
$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
The Bang Group: Nut/Cracked
It’s The Nutcracker, but definitely not as we know it. The Bang Group has taken every little girls favorite Christmas show and torn it limb from limb. Mixing Tchaikovsky’s original score with music by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller and others, the company turns the sugar coated ballet into a percussive piece of dance theatre. Expect tap dancing, singing and some unusual pointe shoe activity. Nothing is sacred as Nut/Cracked twists and melds various dance traditions into an ode to American eclecticism which honors the power of the human urge to dance while riding Tchaikovsky’s voluptuous waves of rhythm.
David Parker’s Bang Group first brought the house down with their performance of Nut/Cracked at The Dance Hall in 2016. This hilarious rendition of the storied holiday production is performed to perfection by a company of exquisitely trained artists.
The Bang Group, a rhythm based, theatrical dance company based in New York City, tours extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe.
$25 advance | $30 day-of | Student $15
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
The Bang Group: Nut/Cracked
It’s The Nutcracker, but definitely not as we know it. The Bang Group has taken every little girls favorite Christmas show and torn it limb from limb. Mixing Tchaikovsky’s original score with music by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller and others, the company turns the sugar coated ballet into a percussive piece of dance theatre. Expect tap dancing, singing and some unusual pointe shoe activity. Nothing is sacred as Nut/Cracked twists and melds various dance traditions into an ode to American eclecticism which honors the power of the human urge to dance while riding Tchaikovsky’s voluptuous waves of rhythm.
David Parker’s Bang Group first brought the house down with their performance of Nut/Cracked at The Dance Hall in 2016. This hilarious rendition of the storied holiday production is performed to perfection by a company of exquisitely trained artists.
The Bang Group, a rhythm based, theatrical dance company based in New York City, tours extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe.
$25 advance | $30 day-of | Student $15
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Hardcore Night - Breakaway Takeover
Hardcore Night - Breakaway Takeover of The Dance Hall
Catalyst
Awfully Pretty
I Have No Mouth
Told Not to Worry
Doors 5:30pm
$15 advanced | $20 day-of
All Ages
Welcome to Holland!?
Welcome to Holland!?: A Theatrical experience like no other.
Step into a world of resilience and inspiration with Welcome to Holland!?—a breathtaking multidisciplinary flamenco performance that will touch your heart and ignite your spirit.
Join us for a transformative 75-minute journey that beautifully intertwines flamenco, poetry, humor, and film, celebrating the incredible strength of caregivers. Experience the story of an immigrant mother as she navigates her unique "Holland!?"—a landscape reshaped by trauma. Watch as everyday objects transform into powerful symbols of hope, guiding her through challenges and illuminating the path to belonging. This transformative journey challenges stereotypes about motherhood and disability, shedding light on the diverse experiences of caregivers and fostering empathy towards non traditional families.
Don’t miss this immersive theatrical experience that invites you to reflect, connect, and celebrate a world where we all belong.
Laura Sánchez is an award-winning flamenco artist, creator, choreographer and educator originally from Cádiz, Spain. She began her flamenco education as a child and received professional training from the Dance Conservatory of Madrid. Laura holds a Professional Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapies from Lesley University where she developed an emerging therapeutic dance practice, Expressive Flamenco©. She presents this work internationally and continues to serve annually as Guest Professor for the Lesley University Expressive Therapies Master’s Program. Her most recent research work was published at the Journal of the American Dance Therapy Association in 2021.
This performance is funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.
$20 advance | $25 day-of | $12 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Boston Dance Theater: Pinnacle Works
Under the co-artistic direction of Jessie Jeanne Stinnett and award winning, Dutch-Israeli, choreographer Itzik Galili, Boston Dance Theater (BDT) is Boston’s first contemporary dance repertory company with international ties at the leadership level. With a commitment to presenting works of socio-political relevance, BDT matches the talents of Boston-based dancers with those of acclaimed global choreographers, broadening the scope of contemporary dance practice and performance in our city. BDT is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt charity as of 2019.
“Some of the best contemporary dance the nation has to offer” -WBUR
Itzik Galili (The Netherlands, Israel), Marco Goecke (Germany), and Alessandro Sousa Pereira (Brazil, Denmark) have each been decorated by royalty for their unique contributions to the performing arts. Through a special relationship with Galili, Boston Dance Theater (BDT) is the only dance company in the world that performs a full evening by these distinguished choreographers. Man of the Hour, Memories, and Chameleon by Galili “explode through [the dancers] physicality.” Pereira created Delicate Blue and Awa for the dancers of BDT, set to original music. Goecke’s Peekaboo is a playful conclusion: “It’s a fun piece for BDT’s accomplished dancers and a fun end to the evening.” (press quotes from The Boston Globe).
$20 Advance | $25 day-of | $12 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Movement Before The Movement
Movement Before The Movement with Catherine Stewart
We're partnering with multi-disciplinary artist Catherine Stewart as part of her Institute Project with the Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion® Institute to bring this workshop for embodied expression, connection, and collective power to the community.
Movement Before The Movement is designed to reconnect you with your body as a site of emotional intelligence, resistance, and resilience. Through a series of guided prompts, you’ll explore gesture, bodily autonomy, and movement-based storytelling to uncover personal truths and tap into individual action. The process centers on physical sensation over explanation, asking: What does the body know before the brain makes a decision?
This event is ideal for those seeking to:
● Activate self and community through embodied dialogue and co-creation.
● Support wellness, self-inquiry, and emotional regulation via somatic practice.
● Integrate arts-based approaches to advocacy, liberation, and healing.
This workshop requires no previous movement experience and is suitable for adults of all identities, body types, and movement backgrounds. The facilitation approach is trauma-informed, consent-forward, and non-hierarchical, offering each participant full agency over their experience. Be sure to wear clothes comfortable to move in.
If cost is a barrier, please reach out directly to facilitator Catherine Stewart at catherine@makecreatemore.com
*Please note photography may take place during the workshop to capture images as part of Catherine’s Fellowship project with the Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion® Institute. If you prefer to opt out of your likeness being captured, you can connect with Catherine that evening.
Movement Before The Movement was funded in part by New England Foundation for the Arts’ New England Dance Fund, with generous support from the Aliad Fund at the Boston Foundation. Catherine's participation in the Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion® Institute was supported in part by New England Foundation for the Arts’ Public Art Learning Fund, with funding from the Barr Foundation.
About the Facilitator
Catherine Stewart is a multidisciplinary artist, playwright, and founder of Make Create More, a platform for participatory arts experiences that spark cultural dialogue and collective healing. Her work blends theater, dance, film, and installation to animate public space and provoke societal transformation. A recipient of numerous awards and funding from diverse stakeholders, she has collaborated with changemakers across the U.S. and U.K. to build projects at the intersection of embodiment, justice, and public life.
About the Curriculum in Motion® Institute
Catherine is currently a Fellow with the Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion® Institute, a program dedicated to placing dance artists in extended, meaningful engagement with communities. Rooted in a pedagogy that values relationship-building, co-authorship, and reflection, the Institute supports artists in facilitating site-specific choreographic investigations in nontraditional settings—from classrooms to public spaces. Movement Before The Movement is part of her Fellowship project, exploring social dance, civic engagement, and somatic truth-telling.
TICKETS ARE $8.00
SPACE IS LIMITED TO 30 PARTICIPANTS.
Block Party! Bluegrass & Brews
Join us at The Kittery Block Party for Bluegrass + Brews!
The Dance Hall will be THE stage for bluegrass and old-time music at the Kittery Block Party. Free entry. All ages!
Visit us outside the hall at the Block Party to sign up for our mailing list and get a ticket for a free beer (offer valid for ages 21+)
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
11:00am - Joe K. Walsh + Alex Rubin
12:30pm- Breakin' Strings
2:00pm- The Any Which Way (ft. Scott Heron, Dave Talmage, Jed Rosen)
Breakaway Collab.
Collab with our friends at Breakaway
Collapsed Skull
Cartridge
Zero Survive
Zinc
Komatite
Doors- 5:30pm
All Ages
$15 General Admission
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
The Hazel Project
The Hazel Project pays tribute to the music written or recorded by bluegrass pioneers and legendary musicians, Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard. Hazel and Alice tackled subjects from social injustice to the hardships of workers, as well as love and loss. With Betsy Heron (fiddle), Gretchen Bowder (banjo), Whitney Roy (guitar), and Lindsay Lassonde (bass), The Hazel Project features sweet soaring harmonies and tasteful tunes – traditional grassroots music to fill your heart and soul.
$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Springtide
Springtide is: Willy Clemetson on fiddle and foot percussion, Elsie Gawler on cello and fiddle, and Ethan Tischler on guitar. We are musicians, songwriters, and central figures in the Mid-Coast Maine fiddling scene. We combine a love of high energy traditional Celtic and Scandinavian fiddle music, heartfelt original tunes and songs, and spacious creative improvisation to produce our unique trio: Springtide. We aim to lift audiences with the music of the landscapes we come from, drawing inspiration from the tidal rhythms and creative energies of the coastal land we’re grateful to call home.
$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
MetaBeat
MetaBeat is a project created by life-long Beatles fans Les Harris, Jr (Drums) and Mark Shilansky (Keyboards), to explore the music of the Beatles and their contemporaries in an improvisational and historically interesting context. The repertoire includes songs recorded and written by the Beatles, as well as Beatles solo material and collaborations, and music which was inspiring to the Beatles.
The "Meta" aspect of the band comes in the arrangements, as an early Beatles tune will be rendered in a late-period style, or vice-versa, and in medleys and "mashups" in the style of the Giles and George Martin remix project "Love." This band should appeal to die hard Beatles fans, who will revel in the musical references and attention to detail, as well as fans of jazzy, improvised music and groove.
Band Leader Mark Shilansky says, “I call the Beatles band "The Meta-Beat," because we play "meta" versions of Beatles tunes... jazzified, or combined into interesting medleys and mash-ups, or tunes that the Beatles wrote with other people.”
The current lineup:
Taylor O’Donnell (Berklee, Phillips Exeter faculty) on vocals;
Chris Klaxton (UNH faculty) on trumpet, guitar and vocals;
Mark Shilansky (Berklee, UNH faculty) on piano and vocals;
Les Harris Jr.(UNH, USM, Phillips Exeter faculty) on drums and vocals;
Eric Byers (Berklee faculty) on guitar and vocals;
Mark Poniatowski (Berklee Faculty) on bass
$17 advance | $22 day-of
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Truffle
THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!
Together for nearly 40 years, Truffle are passionate players and entertainers who are in it for the long haul; it’s what they do and who they are! Their travels have taken them to all but ten states in the US; and now tour the New England region constantly.
The ongoing list of international acts they have supported is huge: Dave Matthews Band, Little Feat, Phish, The Band, Blues Traveler, The Radiators, Buckwheat Zydeco, Spin Doctors, Arlo Guthrie, Merl Saunders, Baba Ulatundje, New Riders Widespread Panic and Toots and the Maytalls. They have released five full length albums, as well as numerous compilations. Their latest is a studio release “That’s Right:” Roots, and Soul music with strong songwriting makes for truly unique Truffle sound all their own.
$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Neil Pearlman
Multi-instrumentalist, producer, step dancer and host of the TradCafe podcast, Neil Pearlman is a vital and distinctive voice in contemporary folk music. Described as “a tremendous pianist” on BBC Radio Scotland and “a force to be reckoned with” by WGBH’s Brian O’Donovan, Neil is best known for his groundbreaking approach to the piano in Celtic music. Motivated by a deep musical curiosity and a love of collaboration, his playing is continually evolving and spontaneous without losing its roots in the traditional piano styles of Atlantic Canada, New England and Scotland. He has appeared internationally at major festivals such as the Newport Folk Festival, Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Celtic Colours in Cape Breton and the Orkney Folk Festival and has recorded or performed with luminaries of traditional folk music including Natalie MacMaster, Darol Anger, Seamus Egan and Alasdair Fraser.
Neil’s deep love of the Gaelic music traditions has seen him welcomed into spaces that few other Americans have been. He was selected for the 2025 Shannon Residency at Beinn Mhabu in Cape Breton and has performed and guest lectured at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at University of Limerick, Ireland and the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton, Scotland. His first solo piano album Refractions features frequently on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and BBC Radio Scotland and his 2020 release with Shetland fiddler Kevin Henderson received 5 stars from Scotland’s national newspaper The Scotsman.
In addition to touring regularly with Kevin Henderson, the Pine Tree Flyers, and as a solo pianist, Neil teaches at festivals throughout North America and Europe and has guest lectured at Berklee College of Music, Northeastern University and the aforementioned University of Limerick. He co-directs an annual St. Patrick’s Day concert with Katie McNally at Groton Hill Music Center and releases podcasts and video collaborations with musicians from around the world through his production company TradCafe.
$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 Student
Old Hat Stringband
Based out of Southern Maine, Old Hat fuses tight vocal harmonies with a driving acoustic rhythm section. With a sound draws from folk, old time, bluegrass, and country traditions, the band is comprised of Whitney Roy (Guitar, Vocals), Steve Roy (Mandolin, Fiddle, Vocals), and Amanda Kowalski (Bass) and special guest Julie Metcalf (Fiddle).
Whitney’s lilting vocals provide the backbone of the vocal blend, while her solid rhythm guitar anchors the band’s pulse. Steve is a veteran of New England’s acoustic music scene, and has performed and toured with many of the acoustic world’s top acts. Amanda is one of the more sought after bass players in the worlds of bluegrass and old time music, and her rhythmic drive and energy on stage are second to none. Their debut album was released in 2022 and features 10 original compositions by Steve and Whitney Roy.
Old Hat has performed on world class stages such as Prescott Park Arts Festival, Ossipee Valley Music Festival, Portsmouth Music Hall, Stone Mountain Arts Center and Wind Gap Bluegrass Festival.
$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Arts & Drafts
Arts & Drafts Spring Craft Market comes to Kittery!
There will be an assortment of local vendors specializing in everything from ceramics, jewelry & leatherwork, to fine art, prints, handmade accessories and more! With beer from Tributary Brewing on tap and snacks by donation from Chubby Oven NH, we're gearing up for an all-around great time.
Entry is free and open to all!
Rafa Moreno and Vibra Tropical
THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!
We are a creative, inspiring collaboration of Rafa Moreno (singer and song writer) and Stephen E. Whitney (a longtime professional percussionist).
Rafael Moreno is a Panamanian singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and educator. He started his professional career in 2000 and has recorded three studio albums; he was lead singer, songwriter, and producer for Orquesta Sociedad Anόnima from 2011 to 2019 and was an actor and TV host from 2010 to 2019 in Panama.
Stephen is a band leader who started Vibra Tropical as the house band for La Fabrica Central in Cambridge MA in 2017. Rafa and Stephen started working together in 2021. Vibra Tropical is an engaging 10 to 12 piece, international, intergenerational salsa band whose members are Berklee students and graduates plus professional musicians from all over New England. We perform Rafa’s original compositions and his arrangements of classic salsa standards and get audiences dancing!
Brad Smith – piano
Eduardo Ramirez - bass
Kristalis Sotomayer - flute
Yibran Aponte - trumpet
Mark Hamilton - trombone
Sam Padua - trombone
Luis Portalatin - baritone
Pedro Sanjur - timbal
Stephen E. Whitney - conga
$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
PMAC Teen Rock, Blues, and Jazz Show
Join PMAC for the Spring 2025 Teen Rock, Blues, and Jazz Show, featuring *SEVEN* amazing teen ensembles! Come be amazed by sets from three Teen Rock Band groups, two Rock 101 groups, and two Teen Jazz Ensembles.
About PMAC:
Portsmouth Music and Arts Center (PMAC) is a 501c3 nonprofit community music and arts school serving the Seacoast. PMAC’s mission is to build community through the arts by providing all people with the opportunity to achieve their full creative potential, regardless of their age, ability, or economic status. We accomplish this through high quality music and visual arts education programs and by creating ensemble, performance, and exhibition opportunities for students, professionals, and audiences.
PMAC's Teen Ensemble program covers a variety of genres, instruments and is open to a variety of playing levels. For more information about PMAC’s teen ensemble opportunities and more, please visit pmaconline.org.
$10 general admission (children 12 and under free)
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Kat Wallace w/ High Horse
Kat Wallace is a Boston-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter. Her affinity for original music has her working and recording with a myriad of touring bands, most notably as the fiddle player in Rachel Sumner and Traveling Light. Her debut solo album, Grand Design, set to be released early in the year of 2025, captures Wallace’s musings on world's ending, sailing across the western ocean, and moving on. Her timeless lyrics and virtuosic guitar playing are the foundation of this record and grounded in traditional Celtic and American folk repertoire.
High Horse is a progressive-acoustic boy band based in Boston, known for their unique blend of Bluegrass, Old-time, and Celtic music infused with the energy of alternative rock. They draw from their varied musical backgrounds to explore and perform original compositions as well as tunes from diverse folk traditions. Their music is a captivating fusion of genres, showcasing their technical and compositional skill and their passion for pushing musical boundaries. Comprised of four friends, three bows, and one pick, High Horse delivers a rollicking romp of great vibes, virtuosic chops, and tight vocals.
$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Havana Libre (Film)
The Dance Hall presents Havana Libre as the next installment of it's burgeoning film series, "inFocus film".
FILM SYNOPSIS
In Cuba, where people fled en masse from Fidel Castro’s regime, surfing and other water activities have been banned for decades. Today, surfing exists in a murky legal gray area and is viewed with suspicion by the Cuban authorities.
Despite these challenges, a group of passionate Cuban surfers is determined to carve out a place for surfing in the country's culture of athletic excellence. Frank is one of the most established surfers and to many the best surfer on the island. Yaya is a community leader and surfer who has made it her mission to ensure that the next generation can surf freely. When surfing is announced as an official sport for the Tokyo Olympics, they see their chance to bring their sport out of the shadows and on to the world stage. What follows is a tale of underground surfers building their own boards from scratch, dodging the authorities as they travel the island looking for the perfect wave, and attempting to legitimize their passion by persuading the Cuban authorities to field an Olympic team.
When Frank is invited to participate in a qualifier event out of the country, he must decide whether to compete, which would mean embarking on an illegal journey and risking permanent separation from his wife and newborn baby. Yaya is similarly torn when she is invited to participate in a surf symposium in Hawaii. Havana Libre is a story of people following their passion at great danger to themselves and ultimately begs the question: what would you risk to chase your dreams?
run time: 84min
Plus Q+A with the filmmaker!
$15 General Admission
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
PMAC Jazz Institute Show
Join PMAC for the Spring 2025 Jazz Institute Show, featuring the Jazz Pioneers, Brewery Lane Big Band, Wednesday Teen Jazz Ensemble, and Saturday Teen Jazz Ensemble.
About PMAC:
Portsmouth Music and Arts Center is a 501c3 nonprofit community music and arts school serving the Seacoast. PMAC’s mission is to build community through the arts by providing all people with the opportunity to achieve their full creative potential, regardless of their age, ability, or economic status. We accomplish this through high quality music and visual arts education programs and by creating ensemble, performance, and exhibition opportunities for students, professionals, and audiences.
PMAC's Adult Ensemble program covers a variety of genres, instruments and is open to a variety of playing levels. For more information about PMAC’s adult ensemble opportunities and more, please visit pmaconline.org.
$10 general admission (children 12 and under free)
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Foxglove + Cilla Bonnie
Foxglove is a 5-piece indie folk/soul band from southern Maine, led by singer/songwriter Laura Fox, who writes about love, the lack thereof, and the in-between. Her songs and her voice are soothing and soulful—if you’ve ever loved someone, you’ll surely connect with her heartfelt lyrics.
She’s joined by seasoned players:
Whitney Roy, vocals + acoustic guitar (Old Hat Stringband, Fox + Roy, The Hazel Project)
Jim Dozet, electric guitar (Tourist Attraction, Crown Jules, Press Project)
Roland "Lefox" Nicol, upright bass (Rhye, Rusty Boys, Jon Nolan & Good Co)
Rick Habib, drums (The Kate Redgate Band, Jon Nolan & Good Co, North Village)
Cilla Bonnie is a working bass player, singer and songwriter. Over the past 20 years she’s played, toured and recorded in numerous projects from Maine to Los Angeles. In 2020 she released her fourth recording project, ‘August’ with her bandmates Emmett Harrity (keys) and John Suntken (drums). Cilla Bonnie’s music is a blend of R&B-inspired groove and structutal rock. In addition to her solo project, Cilla currently plays bass for the 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest Winner, Alisa Amador and Boston-based soul artist Ali McGuirk.
$17 advance | $22 door | $10 Student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
PMAC Adult Rock and Blues Show
Join PMAC for the Spring 2025 Adult Rock and Blues Show, featuring the Classic Rock Band, Alt Rock Band, Roots Rock Blues and Beyond I, and Roots Rock Blues and Beyond II bands.
About PMAC:
Portsmouth Music and Arts Center is a 501c3 nonprofit community music and arts school serving the Seacoast. PMAC’s mission is to build community through the arts by providing all people with the opportunity to achieve their full creative potential, regardless of their age, ability, or economic status. We accomplish this through high quality music and visual arts education programs and by creating ensemble, performance, and exhibition opportunities for students, professionals, and audiences.
PMAC's Adult Ensemble program covers a variety of genres, instruments and is open to a variety of playing levels. For more information about PMAC’s adult ensemble opportunities and more, please visit pmaconline.org.
$10 general admission (children 12 and under free)
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Club d'Elf
THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!
Club d'Elf has been helping audiences lose track of time for twenty five years with its mesmerizing synthesis of Moroccan traditional music and electronic, dubbed-out funk. Circling about bassist/composer Mike Rivard and drummer Dean Johnston, each Club d'Elf performance features a different line-up, drawn from a constellation of some of the most creative improvisers from the jazz, DJ, rock & world music scenes of Boston, NYC and beyond.
The band's music draws from a startlingly wide spectrum of styles, including jazz, hip hop, electronica, avant garde, prog-rock and dub. Under the tutelage of member Brahim Fribgane (who hails from Casablanca) the band has absorbed Moroccan trance music, which is now an essential part of the mix. Diverse audiences are drawn to Fribgane’s mesmerizing oud stylings, and Rivard’s commanding playing of the Moroccan sintir. Trance forms the central core of the Club d’Elf aesthetic, weaving together the band’s various influences.
In April 2022 the band released its latest album, 'You Never Know', which rose to #2 on the Relix chart. The record unfurls upon kaleidoscopic clouds of spiced smoke, shifting from chopped dub-jazz through trance epics that reimagine Boston as a city of bazaars. Club d’Elf pay tribute to the music and musicians who have been primary influences, with half the album being covers of gnawa, Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul, Moroccan band Nass el-Ghiwane, and Frank Zappa. The other half consists of original music inspired by Rivard's personal journey into darkness following a near death experience in the remote jungle of the Peruvian Amazon.
"You Never Know is a wide ranging romp, full of serenity, chaos, longing, improvisation and peerless musicianship inspired by music from India and Morocco as well as the maverick jazz of Miles Davis and Frank Zappa." - Banning Eyre, Afropop Worldwide
$20 advance | $25 day-of | $15 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Jason Anick Trio
Fiddle, guitar, and bass—it’s a combination as old as the hills. But follow Jason Anick, Max O’Rourke and Greg Loughman into those hills, and you’ll find yourself taking unexpected turns and discovering vistas you never knew were out there. It’s a new brand of acoustic music they make—traditional instrumentation spinning ear-catching melodies, channeling the wit and spontaneity of three irrepressible musical storytellers.
Virtuoso fiddler, Jason Anick, grew up listening-in on his Dad’s bluegrass rehearsals and competing in fiddle contests around his native New England. Jason went on to study jazz at the Hartt School of Music, where he was recruited by Grammy winning guitarist, John Jorgenson, to join his renowned, world-touring quintet. Through the John Jorgenson Quintet, as well as his own subsequent projects, Jason rose to the top ranks of jazz violinists, earning himself a position at Boston’s prestigious Berklee School of Music. But all along, he kept an ear out for the right opportunity to apply his formidable improvisational and compositional chops to the roots music of his youth. His long time musical collaborator, Greg Loughman, a top-call Boston bassist with an affection for both jazz and international folk music, was an obvious choice. Berklee student at the time, Max O’Rourke—a guitarist and composer with an insatiable harmonic curiosity—made an impression on Jason and Greg while playing together in the Rhythm Future Quartet. They recognized they had a chemistry well-suited to the artistic freedom afforded by the trio format, allowing them to explore and pull from multiple genres to create an exciting and sophisticated musical conversation that has been wowing audiences since 2017.
$20 advance | $25 day-of | $12 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Dreaming at The Dance Hall
Let's dream ourselves forward together into The Dance Hall’s bright future!
We hope you'll swing through any time between 3:00 - 5:00PM for complimentary light snacks provided by Neighborhood Business Partners Black Birch, Blue Mermaid, and Pepperrell Cove; creative engagement stations offering the opportunity to share your ideas and excitement for this special place; and a hosted conversation starting at 3:30PM when we'll dream ourselves forward together into The Dance Hall’s bright future!
Guiding questions for the day will include:
What is your favorite thing about The Dance Hall?
What would you like The Dance Hall to stop, start, and/or continue doing?
In a dream world, what kind of space would you like The Dance Hall to be?
We'll also be sharing some hot-off-the-press news regarding new initiatives happening at The Dance Hall this year that we know you won't want to miss!
*Light snacks and non-alcoholic drinks provided at no cost. Beer, wine, and cider available for purchase.
FREE - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Year-round Metal Enjoyment
Year-round Metal Enjoyment explores the New England origins of North American freight train graffiti, tracing the narratives of several members of the prolific YME and Circle T crews, and giving unparalleled access into the fastest growing subculture in the graffiti movement. Both snapshot of a fading history and love-letter to the trains themselves, Year-round Metal Enjoyment captures the voices, faces and thoughts of artists, railfans and train-workers alike, while showcasing the unlikely beauty of the trains in their environment. runtime 96min
Director/Cinematographer: Jeff Griecci
Writers/Co-Producers: Ian Carlsen, Jeff Griecci
$15 general admission | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Jazzputin
Jazzputin
(a very 4/20 Easter)
Jazzputin is an uncanny and at times diabolical combination of genius half wits, raised in families of jazz, hillbilly music, old timey this and thats, and a good chunk o' church music. And sometimes Cindi Lauper. And Primus. And Cypress Hill. And FRRRREEEEEEEE IMPROVISATION????!
We hope Jazzputin appeals to the sentimental (semi-mental), freewheeling, tune whistling hobo in all of us.
We can't think of a better way to celebrate a 4/20 Easter.
Steve Roy - Bass, voice
Nick Mainella - Tenor sax
Jimmy Dority - Guitar
Chris Klaxton - Trumpet
Mike Effenberger - Accordion
Jim Rudolf - Drums
$15 advance | $420 day-of
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Lookie Lookie
THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!
Lookie Lookie is an eight piece band devoted to Latin Bugalu, a style pioneered by Puerto Rican musicians in New York in the 1960s. Fusing rhythm and blues and American pop into the Afro-Caribbean music matrix, such artists as Pete Rodriguez, Joe Cuba and Richie Ray topped the Latin charts in the US and Latin America. Joe Cuba even scored on the pop charts with “Bang Bang” and “Sock It To Me Baby.” Bugalú is the mother lode of fun, and Lookie Lookie has been wowing club and festival crowds all over New England with it.
The members of Lookie Lookie have distinguished pedigrees in the Boston and international music scenes. Leader, saxophonist and vocalist Russ Gershon has performed at the Sanctuary previously with his Grammy-nominated jazz group the Either/Orchestra; E/O conguero and vocalist Vicente Lebron, who has played with the greats from Celia Cruz on down leads the rhythm section; timbales player Rick Barry toured for years in Bim Skala Bim, an essential band on the 1980s US ska scene; percussionist Ken Winokur founded the internationally recognized silent film accompaniment group the Alloy Orchestra; bassist Gregory Ryan has played with jazz great Billy Harper and Harold Mabern; vocalist/percusionist Jorge Arce is has been a force in Puerto Rico and Boston for forty years; saxophonist/flutist Ted DeColo has toured with Mighty Sam McLean; the group is rounded out by trumpeter Eric Ortiz.
On top of all the instruments are the voices. In the tradition of folk musics like Puerto Rican Bomba and even garage rock, which was an ingredient in the original bugalú, all the members of Lookie Lookie sing, in chorus (“coro” in Spanish) and by passing lead vocals around, in Spanish and English. Fun is the heartbeat of Lookie Lookie – the musicians delight in conjuring the psychedelic vibe of the 1960s while anchoring it in heavy Latin grooves at tempos that everybody can dance to. You don't need salsa chops or double jointed hips to get out on the floor and bugalu, and if you don't feel like dancing – there's plenty of musical substance for your ears.
$17 advance | $22 day-of + fees
Erica Brown & The Bluegrass Connection
Erica Brown and The Bluegrass Connection is a five-piece band featuring some of the finest musicians in New England. The band features award winning fiddler and singer Erica Brown, Matt Shipman on mandolin, Lincoln Meyers on guitar, Eli Gilbert on banjo and Kris Day on bass. A fun and energetic band, they incorporate a unique and diverse blend of original and traditional music from their Bluegrass, Folk and Country influences. As a band of renowned and respected musicians in their own right, together they form a bluegrass powerhouse of vocal and instrumental expertise that have delighted audiences all over the Northeast and Canada.
Their latest album “Blue Pine Moon” has been well received by fans, critics and musicians alike. The album contains thoughtful, original songs from both Shipman and Brown and other carefully chosen songs from the Bluegrass tradition. Grammy award winning bluegrass songwriter Rick Lang says it is a “...must have for any lover of good Bluegrass music!”
“... a stellar band featuring some of the finest pickers you could hope to find.”- Joe K. Walsh
$20 advance | $25 day-of | $10 Student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Sound Suggestions
Sound Suggestions is the soul child of Seacoast music veterans Tim Webb and Thom Keith. This collective explores the off-Main-Street jazz borne of the late 60s-to early 80s. Featuring a repertoire from composers like Stanley Cowell, Dick Griffin, Billy Harper and Bobby Hutcherson, Sound Suggestions offers creative music that excites, touches the soul, and often grooves like hell.
With Terry Beaulieu on trumpet, Thom Keith on saxophones, Mark Lyons on piano, Tim Webb on bass, and Zac Hansen on drums, the band offers an energetic and synergistic approach to this music.
$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Billy Wylder w/Skye Darling
THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!
From the front-lines at Standing Rock to the archaic streets of Jerusalem, the Sahel Desert to Carnegie Hall, music has been the source of strength for Billy Wylder. The band features Avi Salloway (Bombino/Hey Mama/Avi & Celia) joined by an inspired cast of singular artists who have performed across six continents including concerts at Coachella, Newport Folk Festival, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Montreal Jazz Fest, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center.
The music weaves together American folk and rock with sensibilities from the Sahara Desert, exploring new musical space akin to Devendra Banhart, Beck, and Tinariwen. Billy Wylder’s new recordings evoke musical evolutions built on grooves informed by ancient African rhythms, art-rock textures, expansive guitars, violins, synths, and drum machines. Salloway’s lyrics flow with inspiration from mythical songwriting hero Leonard Cohen, while threading together more abstract imagery reminiscent of Thom Yorke.
Billy Wylder has performed and collaborated with renowned artists including Jack Johnson, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Bombino, The Low Anthem, and Pete Seeger.
“Art rock band Billy Wylder carry the torch of the niche dug out by Talking Heads and their groundbreaking album "Remain in Light." -WBUR
Opening the show is the NH’s own Skye Darling. Skye is a young professional violinist and singer-songwriter based in Boston, Massachusetts with a passion for improvisation and exploring new ideas. Currently, Skye is freelancing, recording her own album, studying jazz and maqam, directing a children’s choir, and teaching private lessons all while pursuing her Masters in Violin Performance at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
$17 advance | $22 day-of | $12 Student + fees
Väsen
Väsen
Mikael Marin and Olov Johansson have, after 37 years of interaction and touring, refined their sound and their stage presence to the extent that today they are unique in their kind. With their playful and perfect interplay, they seem to defy the laws of physics in what appears to be a telepathic communication.
The music is intense and full of humour. They create their very own musical language which in its appeal is as modern as it is ancient. With the foundation firmly rooted in the traditional music of Uppland, they have always looked curiously at new musical goals.
Olov & Micke have played together since 1983 when they met at Oktoberstämman in Uppsala and discovered that they had a large common repertoire and a similar way of playing. It turned out that Micke had learned from Ivar Tallroth in Uppsala and Olov had learned from Curt Tallroth in Harbo. They had been introduced to the rich Bohlin / Tallroth tradition by the two brothers. Olov & Micke started playing intensively together and released their first recording, "Det rister i Örat," in 1985. They have played an incredible amount together over the years in Väsen. Now they go on adventures among old fine musicians, stories and trad tunes and at the same time they continue to break new ground. They perform on a variety of stringed instruments, including a silverbasharpa, oktavharpa, three-rowed Nyckelharpa, violoncello da spalla and a blue electric viola.
$30 advance | $38 day-of | $20 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)