There’s lots of art, music, and theater coming to local venues this weekend. Here are some highlights.
Art ‘Round Town in Portsmouth
It’s the first weekend of May, and that means there’s lots of new art to explore in downtown Portsmouth during Art ‘Round Town on Friday from 5-8 p.m. The Kennedy Gallery will be opening a show titled “Shellscapes,” featuring coastal modern art by Erin Rigney that explores the atmospheric designs in seashells. Learn more here.
‘Dispatches from the Border’ at 3S
A new exhibit at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth offers photographic narratives on the war in Ukraine. “Dispatches from the Border” features work by Anastasiia Zazuliak, a Ukrainian photographer living in Poland, and Seacoast resident Patrick Patterson. The opening reception is Friday from 5-8 p.m. The show runs through May 29. Learn more here.
Maddoc Johnson Quartet at The Word Barn
The Maddoc Johnson Quartet is a local group of queer musicians who explore themes of love, loss, and self-discovery through jazz, blues, poetry, and other forms of expression. Led by pianist and trumpeter Maddoc Johnson, the group will perform live at The Word Barn in Exeter on Friday from 7-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. Learn more here.
PMAC Jazz Night at The Music Hall
The Portsmouth Music and Arts Center’s 15th annual Jazz Night takes place at The Music Hall on Friday from 7:30-9 p.m. Faculty from the PMAC Jazz Institute will play music by composers Horace Silver, Mary Lou Williams, and Charles Mingus. The centerpiece is a celebration of Mingus’ 100th birthday. Tickets are $25. Learn more here.
‘An Inspector Calls’ at NHTP
The final show in the New Hampshire Theatre Project’s current season is J.B. Priestley’s 1945 classic “An Inspector Calls,” a mystery set in 1912. Directed by Genevieve Aichele, it’s on stage in Portsmouth May 6-22. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays from 8-10 p.m. and Sundays from 2-4 p.m. Tickets are $26-$30. Learn more here.
Concerts at The Dance Hall
The Dance Hall in Kittery is hosting some world-class acts for two shows this weekend. First up on Friday from 8-9:30 p.m. is dynamic New York-based jazz ensemble The Nu Band (above, $15). Then on Saturday from 7:30-9 p.m., Randy Armstrong and WorldBeat Marimba join with Ben Baldwin and the Stairwells ($20). Learn more here.
‘Our Town’ at the Seacoast Rep
An American classic opens this weekend at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre. Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer-winning drama “Our Town” is on stage in Portsmouth May 5 to June 4. Show times are generally Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $32-$52. Learn more here.
Concerts at The Stone Church
It’s another packed weekend of music at The Stone Church in Newmarket. Local soul favorites Truffle perform on Friday from 8-11 p.m. ($20). During the Zion Hill Jam Fest on Saturday, five bands will perform on the outdoor stage from 3-9 p.m., followed by three more on the indoor stage ($10-$18). Rock guitarist and singer Jesse Kramer and special guest Proelium Acoustic wrap things up on Sunday from 4-6 p.m. ($12). Learn more here.
Mouth Almighty IV at MrSippy
The fourth edition of Mouth Almighty arrives at MrSippy BBQ in Rochester on Saturday from 8-10:30 p.m. An all-star lineup of local performers will take the stage to share a mix of live music, spoken word, and comedy. The $15 ticket price also includes tasty hors d’oeuvres from MrSippy (cash bar available). Learn more here.
Mike Cannon at Cisco Brewers
New York-based comedian and actor Mike Cannon headlines the next installment of Ten Trophies’ comedy series at Cisco Brewers Portsmouth on Saturday from 8:15-9:45 p.m. Cannon has earned recent acclaim for his comedy album “Life Begins” and his starring role in the Amazon Prime movie “Timing.” Tickets are $25. Learn more here.
See the full calendar for more local events.