Justin Uhlig wants to bring New Hampshire musicians together.
He produces the Barnstormers Music & Art Festival, a quarterly celebration of Granite State artists that’s currently found a home at The Stone Church in Newmarket.
“We’re trying to bring together people from different genres to network and play with people they normally wouldn’t,” Uhlig says.
Uhlig is a bassist and producer. He also plays in Yelloyuth, which, along with People Like You and a handful of other bands, is part of Barnstormers’ regular slate of performers. The latest edition of the festival, taking place Saturday, Jan. 23 at 3 p.m., features bands from the Seacoast and from Manchester.
“(Yelloyuth) plays in Manchester more than Portsmouth. There’s a great scene in Portsmouth, but (it’s) more about established bands. There aren’t really as many places to play in Portsmouth for up and coming bands,” Uhlig says.
One of his goals for Barnstormers is to give new bands a place to play and meet other musicians. The genres range from surf punk to psychedelic acoustic folk and beyond. Also on display is art from local artists. “I like to give people who have talent and have put the time in … a place to show off their stuff,” Uhlig says.
Uhlig hopes to keep building connections between musicians in the state and, soon, in Portland, Maine. He’s got a Portland edition of Barnstormers planned for the near future.
“The sky’s kind of the limit,” he says. — Larry Clow