The devilish mayhem of Halloween is over, but there is still plenty of fun to be had this first weekend of November. Here are some highlights.
Wrong Brain’s Cosmic Prom
People Skills is among the acts performing at Wrong Brain’s Cosmic Prom in Newington on Saturday.
Since occupying its headquarters in Dover last fall, the Wrong Brain artist collective has been doing great things, hosting concerts, exhibitions, and other events that promote the work of emerging Seacoast artists. This weekend, supports of the arts can give back to Wrong Brain while partying in outer space. The Cosmic Prom fundraiser party takes place Saturday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m. at Shogun Japanese Steakhouse in Newington. There will be food, a full bar, prom photos, and cosmic decorations, along with music from People Skills and others. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. For more information, click here.
Portsmouth Literary Festival
Portsmouth’s first ever literary festival takes place Saturday.
Last year, Portsmouth Public Library held its first ever Local Author Day, and Strawbery Banke Museum hosted its first ever Children’s Author Festival. This year, the two events are joining forces for the first ever Portsmouth Literary Festival on Saturday, Nov. 5. Local Author Day takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the library, with readings from works for adults. The Children’s Author Festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Strawbery Banke, with games, prizes, and book-related activities. Both events are free and open to the public. For details, click here.
Electric Jam at The Press Room
The Amorphous Band will lead an electric jam at The Press Room on Friday, kicking off the bar’s 40th anniversary month.
The Press Room first opened its doors on Daniel Street in November of 1976, and the Portsmouth pub has been welcoming locals to its cozy confines ever since. The bar and restaurant has been perhaps the Seacoast’s most consistent staple for live music over the last four decades, with entertainment seven nights a week. They’ll celebrate that tradition tonight, Nov. 4, with a Seacoast Electric Jam featuring local favorites the Amorphous Band and mystery guests from around the region. The show starts at 10 p.m. on Friday; tickets are $5-$7. More info here or here.
Art ’round the Seacoast
Look Don’t Touch by Michael Dandley is among the new works on display at Nahcotta in Portsmouth.
It’s the first Friday of the month, and that means downtown Portsmouth galleries will be unveiling new exhibits during Art ’Round Town. There are several other art happenings coming up this weekend across the Seacoast, including an art opening and gallery talk at the Lamont Gallery in Exeter on Friday and Saturday, a reception at Buoy Gallery in Kittery on Friday, an open studio at Chases Garage in York on Saturday, a reception at Portsmouth Public Library on Sunday, and a new show at the Franklin Gallery in Rochester that opened this week. Check out The Sound’s roundup of weekend art highlights here.
Just say Yes in Kittery
Dreadnaught performs the music of Yes at The Dance Hall in Kittery on Saturday. photo courtesy of Dreadnaught
British prog-rock band Yes has been perking up ears for, oh, roundabout half a century now (see what we did there?). On Saturday, Nov. 5, starting at 7:30 p.m., four esteemed local acts will take part in “A Tribute To Yes: Southside of the Seacoast” at The Dance Hall in Kittery, Maine. Dreadnaught, Equal Time, Seth Warner, and Future Memory will offer their own interpretations of Yes songs, implementing styles ranging from folk to rock to free jazz. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. For more information, click here.