Bring mom out to a show! There’s a lot going on over Mother’s Day weekend.
Thieves and Po’ Boys at The Word Barn
Folk favorites The Ballroom Thieves have embarked on an intimate duo tour that will bring them to The Word Barn in Exeter for two performances on Friday, an early show from 6-8 p.m. and a late show from 9-11 p.m. New Orleans-flavored septet Soggy Po’ Boys follow on Saturday from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $25. Learn more here.
Firehouse Center: ‘The Lightning Thief’
The Firehouse Center for the Arts kicks off its outdoor Summer Series this weekend with “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.” Adapted from Rick Riordan’s bestselling book, it’s at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury May 12-21. Show times are Friday through Sunday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $5. Learn more here.
PMAC Jazz Night at The Music Hall Lounge
Faculty from the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center will pay tribute to a jazz legend at its 16th annual Jazz Night. An all-star lineup of local musicians will transform The Music Hall Lounge in Portsmouth into a New York-style jazz club as they honor late saxophonist Wayne Shorter on Friday at 7 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $35. Learn more here.
World music at The Dance Hall
Champion fiddler Mari Black and her acoustic trio play their “Fiddling Around the World” concert at The Dance Hall in Kittery on Friday from 7:30-9 p.m. ($17-$22). An album release show follows on Saturday from 7:30-9 p.m., featuring Randy Armstrong & WorldBeat Marimba and Ben Baldwin & The Stairwells ($25-$29). Learn more here.
Loads of live music at The Stone Church
Singer-songwriter Rhett Miller, frontman of Old 97’s, joins local hero Jon Nolan at The Stone Church in Newmarket on Friday at 8 p.m. ($25-$30). Legendary rockers The Figgs play an early show on Saturday from 4-6 p.m. ($20), followed by Grateful Dead tribute Rainbow Full of Sound with opener Shells & Vine at 8 p.m. ($20). Learn more here.
Graham Nash at The Music Hall
As a founding member of both The Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, singer Graham Nash has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not once but twice! Also a solo success, the Grammy Award-winning legend will perform live at The Music Hall in Portsmouth on Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $58-$98. Learn more here.
Hard rock on the Button Factory Stage
Two regional bands will share the Button Factory Stage for a rockin’ show at WSCA Portsmouth Community Radio on Saturday from 8-11 p.m. Instrumental progressive metal band Manuel, a Portland-based act set to release a new EP on May 19, will split the bill with Boston-based hard rockers Alien Ultrasound. Tickets are $10. Learn more here.
Moms on the Run 5K Run/Walk
Zebra Crossings, a local organization that supports children with chronic health conditions, will present its annual Moms On The Run 5K Walk/Run on Sunday from 9-11 a.m., starting from Dover High School. Participants of all ages are invited to take part. Proceeds support Zebra Crossings’ camp programs for kids. Learn more here.
Mother’s Day brunches in Portsmouth
Treat the moms of your life to good food and live music in downtown Portsmouth on Sunday. The Press Room is offering a Mother’s Day Brunch with jazzy Beatles tribute band MetaBeat starting at noon ($15-$20). Portsmouth Book & Bar is hosting a Mother’s Day Jazz Brunch featuring the Sharon Jones Trio starting at 1 p.m. ($15)
Farayi Malek Quartet at Green Acre
As part of its Creative Power of Unity art theme, Green Acre in Eliot is hosting a concert with vocalist, composer, and educator Farayi Malek and her quartet (featuring Brad Barrett on bass, Jacob Means on mandolin, and Tyson D. Jackson on drums) on Sunday from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are on a sliding scale up to $20. Learn more here.
See the full calendar for more local events.