Two local arts festivals highlight this weekend’s top events. There’s also some other great art, theater, and music coming to area venues. Learn more below.
Marco Benevento
It’s always a party when innovative piano maestro Marco Benevento comes to town. His next Seacoast gig is at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth on Friday, May 18, at 8 p.m. Playing a mix of rock, psych, and jazz, Benevento rarely fails to work up an audience and get people dancing. Joining him in Portsmouth are local favorites Gretchen & the Pickpockets, who are celebrating the release of their latest album, “Falling Rising.” Tickets are $18-$20; learn more here.
Exeter Arts & Music Fest
The second annual Exeter Arts & Music Festival brings some 15 musical acts to downtown Exeter, as well as a large selection of arts and food vendors, cultural exhibits, and kids’ activities. It takes place Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with most events and vendors setting up in Swasey Parkway. There’s also a pair of kickoff concerts on Friday, May 18, at 5 and 7:30 p.m. There’s a $10 suggested donation; learn more here.
Indonesian Spring Bazaar
Indonesian Community Connect (ICC) is hosting the first of what it expects to become an annual spring bazaar on Saturday, May 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Idlehurst Elementary Cafetorium in Somersworth. Guests will have a chance to learn about Indonesia and experience its unique culture with vendors serving Indonesian food, a language exchange, arts, crafts, fashion, and live performances. The event is free and open to the public; for more information, click here.
Eight Photographers in China
In 2017, a group of photographers traveled to China with Tillman Crane, who had recently exhibited at the National Art Museum of China. Those eight photographers — Jean and Marc Bara, David Puig, Ellen Slotnick, Andrew Crane, Hal Lichtin, Carol Schiraldi, David Speltz, and Tillman Crane — are showing their photos from the trip at Camera Commons in Dover through June 30. An opening reception takes place Saturday, May 19, from 1-4 p.m. For more information, click here.
Summit Indie Fest
The first ever Summit Indie Fest features music from four local and regional acts from New England. The lineup includes two Seacoast bands: soul rockers Gretchen & the Pickpockets and Americana group Young Frontier, and two bands from Boston: folk and bluegrass group Damn Tall Buildings and folk-punk band Troll 2. It takes place Saturday, May 19, at 6 p.m. at Portsmouth Book & Bar. Proceeds go to a youth development program in Lawrence, Mass. Learn more here.
For a full calendar of local events, click here.