Gypsy jazz in Kittery
It was nearly 80 years ago that Django Reinhardt developed his unique jazz guitar technique, spawning the fiery style of music known as gypsy jazz. Reinhardt died more than 60 years ago, but artists from around the country will celebrate his music in Kittery Foreside this weekend. The Django by the Sea Gypsy Jazz Festival takes place Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9 and 10, at The Dance Hall.
The festival begins on Friday night with Mes Amis, featuring Maine-based guitarist and vocalist Steve Lynnworth. New York City’s Koran Agan Quartet, veterans of several international jazz festivals (including DjangoFest NorthWest), follows later that night.
Local trio Ameranouche kicks off the music on Saturday night, followed by nationally touring act The Rhythm Future Quartet (above). The quartet features festival co-founder and curator Jason Anick on violin, with “Finnish boy wonder” Olli Soikkeli on guitar.
Both shows are from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at The Dance Hall, 7 Walker St., Kittery, Maine, 207-703-2083. One-day passes are $25 in advance or $30 at the door; two-day passes are $40 in advance or $45 at the door. Visit thedancehallkittery.org.
Going gospel in Rye
The New England Gospel Ensemble features nine voices, but the choir’s sound is greater than the sum of its parts. The ensemble, featuring director Renese King, will perform at Rye Congregational Church on Saturday, Oct. 10, with pianist Mark Copeland.
Based in Boston, the New England Gospel Ensemble was originally formed in 1977 by a group of students from the New England Conservatory of Music. Over the years, the volunteer group has performed for hundreds of audiences.
Renese King has toured with the Boston Pops Orchestra and won a Boston Music Award for Gospel Artist of the Year in 2011. She is a staff member at the Berklee College of Music.
Mark Copeland plays piano around the world and has accompanied such artists as Patti Labelle, Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Brian McKnight, Carl Thomas, and others. He is a professor of music at Berklee.
The show is part of the Abendmusik Fine Arts Concert Series and will be followed by a gala reception with refreshments. There is a suggested donation of $15 per adult or $25 per family. Donations will be collected at the door on the day of the concert.
Rye Congregational Church is at 580 Washington Road, Rye, 603-964-4061. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.
Birdseye set to open
A new 200-plus-seat performance venue is about to open its doors in downtown Portsmouth. Birdseye Lounge, located in a 3,000-square-foot space in Vaughan Mall, hosts its first show on Monday, Oct. 12.
Founded by Michael Behrmann and Lee Consavage, the newly renovated space has a full bar and a large stage for live music, stand-up comedy, and more. The venue is booking local, regional, and national acts beginning this fall. They will also offer a full menu.
The first show on the schedule features Chicago-based musician Ezra Furman, who is touring internationally in support of his second solo album, “Day of the Dog.” The show begins at 9 p.m. on Oct. 12; tickets are $10 in advance or $15 day of show.
Other upcoming shows at Birdseye include Wild Adriatic on Oct. 16, The Mike + Ruthy Band on Nov. 6, Futurebirds on Nov. 7, and Dom Flemons on Nov. 11. They’re also launching a monthly comedy series, “The Laugh Lounge,” beginning Oct. 15 with headliner Dan Boulger.
For a full schedule of events, visit birseyelounge.com. To read a story The Sound published about Birdseye in April, visit soundnh.com/show-time.
Gasp is on the loose
It’s October, and that means freaky folk musician Doctor Gasp is spreading cheer and fear across New England. The 13th annual Halloween tour began Oct. 3 and continues through Halloween night, when Gasp plays a special show in Portsmouth.
Doctor Gasp is the villainous alter ego of area native Dan Blakeslee, who is now based in Somerville, Mass. The tour includes shows in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, and it concludes at the very venue where Doctor Gasp was born: The Press Room in Portsmouth.
According to Blakeslee, Gasp was conceived when Blakeslee played a song at The Press Room called “Witchtrot Road,” based on a road in his hometown of South Berwick, Maine. The song was a hit with the audience, and so Blakeslee created Doctor Gasp in 2002 to play spooky (and often humorous) Halloween songs. Gasp has been touring every October since.
The show at The Press Room on Saturday, Oct. 31, also features local band the Soggy Po’ Boys. It begins at 9 p.m., shortly after the Portsmouth Halloween Parade. For a full schedule of Gasp gigs, visit doctorgasp.com.
Rocking into parade season
Speaking of the Portsmouth Halloween Parade, organizers of the procession held the 11th annual (I Gotta) Rock Show at the Coat of Arms Pub on Monday, Oct. 5. The concert serves as a fundraiser for the parade. It was headlined by The Super Black Market Clash City Rockers, who played music by The Clash. Other acts in the lineup included Red Sky Mary, Kraken’s Beard, and The Damn Garrison.
During the show, it was announced that Monte Bohanan would serve as this year’s parade grand marshal. Bohanan, the director of marketing at The Music Hall, accepted his official sash from last year’s grand marshal, The Sound contributor Trevor F Bartlett.
Bohanan has invited a group of area residents to wear costumes based on the theme of “Burton’s Beasties,” dressing up as characters from director Tim Burton’s movies.
The parade takes place in downtown Portsmouth on Saturday, Oct. 31, beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, including a schedule of other parade-related events, visit portsmouthhalloweenparade.org.