It’s mid-summer and the Seacoast is alive with music. Lots of great concerts and other festivities are coming up this weekend. Here are some of the highlights.
Nihco Gallo Trio in Kittery
Local vibraphonist Nihco Gallo has assembled a new trio known as The Bad Year Boys, featuring tap dancer Ayan Imai-Hall and bassist Scott Kiefner. They’ll perform music from the first half of the 20th century during an outdoor concert on the lawn of the Kittery Community Center on Thursday from 6-7 p.m. Presented by The Dance Hall, the show will include swing standards, lush tangos, and Brazilian choro. Tickets are $15. Learn more here.
Anna Tivel & Kaiti Jones
A pair of acclaimed singer-songwriters will perform an outdoor concert at The Word Barn Meadow in Exeter on Thursday from 7-9 p.m. Portland, Ore.-based folk-Americana artist Anna Tivel is a past winner of both the Kerrville Songwriting Contest and the Telluride Bluegrass Troubadour Contest. Massachusetts-based musician Kaiti Jones is fresh off the release of her latest album, “Tossed.” Tickets are $20. Learn more here.
Akrobatic at The Press Room
The Press Room’s extended closure during the pandemic was a devastating blow to the local music scene. Thankfully, the Portsmouth venue is back in the business of live music! Boston-based hip-hop artist Akrobatik, who makes up half of the hip-hop duo The Perceptionists, plays The Press Room on Thursday at 9 p.m. Joining him on the bill are The Incredible Chucks, Prawb, and DJ Chad Banks. Tickets are $10-$15. Learn more here.
Loading Dock Concerts
The Loading Dock Concert series continues this weekend with two of the Seacoast’s most beloved bands taking the outdoor stage at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth. First up on Friday is New Orleans-flavored septet Soggy Po’ Boys, who play an early show at 6 p.m. and a late show at 8 p.m. Then, on Saturday, the jazz aficionados of the Sojoy Quartet play an early show at 6 p.m. and a late show at 8 p.m. Tickets are pay-what-you-choose tables.
Concerts at The Stone Church
The Stone Church in Newmarket presents a packed lineup of local acts this weekend. Jam band Slack Tide plays an outdoor show with Daves of Thunder on Friday from 6-9 p.m. ($15). Grateful Dead tribute act Bearly Dead plays three sets on Saturday, a matinee from 3-5 p.m. ($25), an evening show from 6-9 p.m. ($30), and a late show at 10 p.m. ($20). Bluegrass pickers Jake Davis and the Whiskey Stones play outside on Sunday from 3-5 p.m. ($20).
Relaxation in the Meadow
The Word Barn Meadow in Exeter is hosting several events to feed your mind, body, and spirit. On Saturday from 9-11 a.m., The Soul Sessions features Barre, yoga, meditation, and journaling ($85). On Sunday from 4:30-5:30 p.m., Poetry in the Meadow features award-winning poets Jennifer Militello and Matt W. Miller ($5 suggested donation). On Monday from 5:30-6:30 p.m., Chetana Parmar leads Yoga in the Meadow ($10 minimum donation).
Exeter Arts & Music Fest
The July edition of the Exeter Arts & Music Fest is dedicated to family fun. Dubbed the “Summer Fam Jam,” the event features live music, dance performances, artist vendors, kids activities, a youth theater showcase, local food, yoga, and more. It all takes place on the grounds of Swasey Parkway in Exeter on July 17 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person or $20 per family; advance reservations are encouraged.
OldHat Stringband at PMAC
The first installment of the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center’s new concert series sold out last weekend. Up next is Maine-based acoustic string trio OldHat Stringband, featuring Whitney Roy on guitar and vocals, Amanda Kowalksi on upright bass, and Steve Roy on mandolin, fiddle, and vocals. They’ll perform outside under the tent in the PMAC parking lot on July 17 from 3-4 p.m. Tickets are $10 ($5 for kids under 18). Learn more here.
Seacoast West African Dance & Drum
The Seacoast West African Dance & Drum performance originally scheduled for July 1 was postponed due to weather. The new date is Saturday from 6-7 p.m. at John Paul Jones Park in Kittery. The act consists of percussionist Namory Keita, who is from Guinea, and native New Englander Liz Fowler, who studied dance in Guinea. The show is presented by The Dance Hall, where Keita and Fowler hold classes. Tickets are $15. Learn more here.
Under the Arch: Peter Mulvey
Singer-songwriter Peter Mulvey, who arrived in Boston by way of Milwaukee (with a stop in Dublin), has developed a loyal national following in the indie folk-rock scene. He’ll take his turn in The Music Hall’s Under the Arch concert series on Sunday. Mulvey will play two outdoor sets in front of the theater on Chestnut Street in Portsmouth, an early show from 5-6 p.m. and a late show from 7-8 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person, sold by the table.
See the full calendar for more local events.