As this eclectic group of songwriters makes their way to the Star Island Writers in the Round Retreat, they are excited to come together for an intimate evening of performances.

The show is in the round, 3 performers will be on stage at a time, taking turns singing songs and sharing stories. With songwriters Shiloh Hawkins, Jonathan Fraser Lessard, Craig Werth, Jocelyn Mackenzie, Peter Squires, and Guy Capecellatro III.

$15 general admission | $8 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Portsmouth Athenaeum Presents: Neave Piano Trio

The GRAMMY®–nominated Neave Trio has earned praise for its engaging, cutting-edge performances. New York City’s WQXR explains, "'Neave' is actually a Gaelic name meaning 'bright' and 'radiant', both of which certainly apply to this trio's music-making." 

Formed in 2010, the Neave trio includes violinist Anna Williams, cellist Mikhail Veselov, and pianist Eri Nakamura. Their 2022 album Musical Remembrances was nominated for a GRAMMY in the Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble category. Musical Remembrances features Rachmaninoff, Brahms, and Ravel. It is the Neave Trio’s fourth album with Chandos Records. 

Neave has performed at many esteemed festivals worldwide, including Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 92nd Street Y, Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Norfolk and Norwich Chamber Music Series (United Kingdom), and the Samoylov and Rimsky Korsakow Museums' Chamber Music Series in St. Petersburg (Russia). 

The concert is a presentation of Portsmouth Athenaeum Chamber Music 2025.

The Program:

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Trio élégiaque No.1 in G minor
Dora Pejačević:            Trio in C Major, Op. 29
Cecile Chaminade:     Trio No. 2 in A minor, Op. 34

$30 General Admission | $10 Student

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

The Dance Hall, in partnership with Seacoast Jazz Society, is excited to host the first ever "Kickoff Concert" for this year's (42nd Annual) Seacoast Jazz Festival.

Jesse Taitt Trio Featuring Jesse Taitt (piano), Tyson Jackson (drums) and Greg Loughman (bass). Mr. Taitt is a multifaceted pianist, composer, arranger, and educator with a rich musical journey.  Jesse is Assistant Professor in the Harmony and Jazz Composition Department at Berklee College of Music and Lecturer of Jazz Piano at Dartmouth College.

Band of Primates Longtime collaborators Josh Gagnon and Hunter McKay are excited to bring their new group, Band of Primates, to The Dance Hall. From big bands to ska bands, the two seacoast natives have been making music together since 2010. This project combines a variety of distant yet harmonious influences: ‘90s Alternative, bands like Kneebody and the Bad Plus, and Free Improvisation of the mid-twentieth century. The group explores original music and covers in an electrified, chordless quartet setting.

$20 advance | $25 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

About Seacoast Jazz Fest The festival has a tremendous history on the seacoast. The first festival was held in 1983 under the name, Portsmouth Jazz Festival. For over 25 years, it was known as the Tommy Gallant Jazz Festival, to honor legendary local jazz pianist and composer, Tommy Gallant. In recent years it has become the Seacoast Jazz Festival in the hopes to expand the jazz festival’s reach in the future as a destination event featuring acclaimed jazz artists from around the globe. The Seacoast Jazz Society was formed in 1990 and its mission is to promote jazz through community outreach and education, to support local musicians, and to provide scholarships for young artists.

Roots-based, raise-the-rafters Rock My Soul comes to The Dance Hall! Join us for a spirit-soaring evening of spirituals, Civil Rights songs, soul, blues, pop, and Americana. Hear all flavors of American music influenced by the African American tradition, and learn about how they all connect.

For over 20 years, Rock My Soul has established itself as a musical force in northern New England. With its unique brand of rousing, raise-the-rafters music, the group has garnered an ever-growing following and has performed to packed houses throughout New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. Rock My Soul has been featured on TV shows NH Chronicle and 207, as well as Maine Public Radio, and one of its songs was included in the PBS documentary Freedom Songs: Music of the Civil Rights Movement.

Rock My Soul’s concerts attract hundreds of fans, who often dance in the aisles to a sound that is at once traditional and contemporary. The group is tight and polished, yet has the immediacy and soulfulness of the old-school roots sound it seeks to revive. Guaranteed to be a foot stomping, hand clapping good time.

$20 advance | $25 day-of | $12 student

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

A NIGHT OF STAND-UP debuts at The Dance Hall for an incredible evening of Headliner-focused stand-up comedy. RACHEL FEINSTEIN, star of two Netflix specials– Big Guy (about her marriage to an NYC Fire Chief) and Only Whores Wear Purple– will close out the show, with Comedy Central comic (and now Kittery local) REBECCA DONOHUE opening the event.

Recommended for ages 18+; parental discretion is advised.

About RACHEL FEINSTEIN:

Rachel Feinstein is a nationally touring comedian and actress. AV Club says “Feinstein’s acute observations create silly, sympathetic characters keeping her subtly, exquisitely attuned to her audience." Rachel’s NETFLIX one-hour special, “Big Guy”  premiered in the top ten in 2024.  Rachel also recurred on the Steven Soderbergh Amazon series RED OAKS and on Judd Apatow’s HBO comedy CRASHING. Her past credits include TRAINWRECK, TOP FIVE, CONAN, THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON and she has co-hosted THE VIEW on multiple occasions, and several appearances on INSIDE AMY SCHUMER for which she won a WGA award. You may also remember Rachel co-hosting alongside Shaq on UPLOAD WITH SHAQUILLE ONEAL. Feinstein has also lent her voice to Adult Swim’s VENTURE BROTHERS and the phenomenally successful GRAND THEFT AUTO video game franchise.

About REBECCA DONOHUE:

Rebecca Donohue is a comedian, writer, and a comedy producer. She has appeared on Comedy Central, VH1, and a variety of cable networks that no longer matter because we only watch things on our phone now. She won a spot on a USO TOUR for the US Navy through the Boston Comedy Festival and has performed in 30 out of the 50 states. As a writer, Rebecca received an Emmy nomination for her work on the Discovery+ show Book of Queer. As a producer, her digital series I Want My Stuff Back, also received an Emmy nomination. Rebecca currently creates originals and develops talent for The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz – a top 10 comedy-sports show in the US.

$25 advance | $30 advance | $20 student  

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Prepare for a night of unpredictable adventure as Dorks in Dungeons takes The Dance Hall’s stage! This hilarious, fantasy-inspired, improv comedy show brings dragons *and/or* dungeons, goblins *and/or* ghouls, wizards *and/or* snakes wearing top hats—we let the dice decide.

Follow a team of perfectly capable adventurers through spontaneous challenges, bizarre encounters, and epic (or disastrous) quests—all made up on the spot. And hey, you might even help shape the story! Will the heroes triumph? Will chaos reign? Roll in and find out!

About Dorks in Dungeons:

Dorks in Dungeons is an internationally renowned fantasy improv troupe. Following the traditions of tabletop Role-Playing Games (RPG’s), Dorks in Dungeons uses comedic long-form improvisation to create memorably hilarious characters who face challenges brought to them by a pit of improv actors. Audience members have the power to change the course of the show with their suggestions and the coveted Reroll Token.

$13 advance | $18 day-of
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

DARWiN’S WAiTiNG ROOM (DWR) returns to the Seacoast for an epic night of sketch comedy! DWR is a collection of veteran actors and comedians who perform original scripted comedy for general audiences. Enter the unique DWR playground of silliness and laughter where you’ll meet talking slugs, ambassadors from the Silly Provinces, mole men, and more.

$15 advance | $20 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Little Wings w/Special Guest Ben Troy

Kyle Field is a visual artist and the songwriter behind the 25-years-running group Little Wings. Over the course of more than a dozen albums, he has written a classic cannon of songs that continues to gain listenership to this day. Working without the help of powerful record companies, the songs have earned their place viscerally, person by person, creating a cherished and loyal following around the world. Little Wings continues to release records at an incredible clip and shows no signs of slowing, the songs keep growing. His latest and greatest High on the Glade was recorded with legendary producer Kramer. 

October’s Yankee Charms IV is Little Wings’ fourth tour with the New England rhythm section of bassist Nat Baldwin and drummer Peter McLaughlin. It celebrates the limited edition vinyl-only “Little Wings: Live in New York,” available exclusively at merch tables on this tour and through the Tandem Coffee Good Thing Vinyl club. 

"...Kyle Field, the Golden State’s mercurial troubadour, is back with a vengeance—songs of vaudeville and villainy, renewal and rebirth."

-Perpetual Doom

$17 advance | $22 day-of

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Details

Come enjoy a fun-filled, belly-laugh-inducing evening with a PLAY READING of the award-winning comedy Sharp Dressed Men by G Matthew Gaskell, local playwright. To add to the fun, since this play is centered around a wedding day, we decided to offer some wedding reception vibes!– after the show, enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbles AND a wedding cupcake deliciously made by Bizzy Bee’s Sweet Treats… all included with the price of your ticket! 

About the play:

Back in high school, Bill and Lorraine fell in love. Then came Henry. Then came George. Then came Tom. Now, after 30 years it's time for Mom and Dad to finally tie the knot. Today's the big day. Everything must be perfect. We're at the church... there's 90 minutes... and their sons are in charge.

About this event:

This is the farewell performance of this version of Sharp Dressed Men, as playwright G Matthew Gaskell will be rebooting this play– and the entire Sharp Dressed Men series composed of multiple comedies.

For this farewell play reading, we’re elated to be bringing back some of the original cast from early productions… 

Featuring: 

G Matthew Gaskell as Henry
Andy Fling as Tom
Christopher Savage as George
Becky Fowler as Rhonda
Jamie Bradley as Victor
Meredith Caple as the Minister
Scott Caple as Bill/Dad

What people are saying:

"The style of this comic marathon is somewhere between Seinfeld and Monty Python... This comedy is wild throughout."
-Maine's Journal Tribune

“The laughs are about circumstances and personalities colliding in a believable manner; and that's the charm this piece seduces you with, the element of familiarity. You're sure you know a few of these folks.  And thanks to the performances, you WANT to.”
-Seacoastonline.com

“Gaskell, a keen observer of the human condition in his role as a playwright (the SHARP DRESSED MEN trilogy, AS TIME GOES BY, YE MERRY GENTLEMEN, RAY OF LIGHT, WHERE'S WALDO, BACKGROUND CHECK and more) just can't write his plays any other way: he serves up the funny until you expose your soft underbelly laughing, then comes up from the dark depths and slides the point home with something that's keen enough to cut, but not blunt enough to bludgeon. If it bedevils us, Gaskell's not afraid to write about it: whether a key moment in one of his plays turns out funny, poignant, or a bit of both, is anyone's guess as to what's going to come at you- but that's also part of the fun.”
-Caught In The Act Blogspot, Michael J. Curtiss

Save the Date:

Don’t miss the next offering by Gaskell– the newly minted version of the holiday comedy Ye Merry Gentlemen at the Players’ Ring in Portsmouth this coming November 2025!

$17 advance | $22 day-of | $12 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Hardcore Night - Breakaway Takeover of The Dance Hall

Catalyst
Awfully Pretty
I Have No Mouth
Told Not to Worry

Doors 5:30pm
$15 advanced | $20 day-of

All Ages

Welcome to Holland!?: A Theatrical experience like no other. 

Step into a world of resilience and inspiration with Welcome to Holland!?—a breathtaking multidisciplinary flamenco performance that will touch your heart and ignite your spirit.

Join us for a transformative 75-minute journey that beautifully intertwines flamenco, poetry, humor, and film, celebrating the incredible strength of caregivers. Experience the story of an immigrant mother as she navigates her unique "Holland!?"—a landscape reshaped by trauma. Watch as everyday objects transform into powerful symbols of hope, guiding her through challenges and illuminating the path to belonging. This transformative journey challenges stereotypes about motherhood and disability, shedding light on the diverse experiences of caregivers and fostering empathy towards non traditional families.

Don’t miss this immersive theatrical experience that invites you to reflect, connect, and celebrate a world where we all belong.

Laura Sánchez is an award-winning flamenco artist, creator, choreographer and educator originally from Cádiz, Spain. She began her flamenco education as a child and received professional training from the Dance Conservatory of Madrid. Laura holds a Professional Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapies from Lesley University where she developed an emerging therapeutic dance practice, Expressive Flamenco©. She presents this work internationally and continues to serve annually as Guest Professor for the Lesley University Expressive Therapies Master’s Program. Her most recent research work was published at the Journal of the American Dance Therapy Association in 2021.

This performance is funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.

$20 advance | $25 day-of | $12 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Under the co-artistic direction of Jessie Jeanne Stinnett and award winning, Dutch-Israeli, choreographer Itzik Galili, Boston Dance Theater (BDT) is Boston’s first contemporary dance repertory company with international ties at the leadership level. With a commitment to presenting works of socio-political relevance, BDT matches the talents of Boston-based dancers with those of acclaimed global choreographers, broadening the scope of contemporary dance practice and performance in our city. BDT is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt charity as of 2019.

“Some of the best contemporary dance the nation has to offer” -WBUR

Itzik Galili (The Netherlands, Israel), Marco Goecke (Germany), and Alessandro Sousa Pereira (Brazil, Denmark) have each been decorated by royalty for their unique contributions to the performing arts. Through a special relationship with Galili, Boston Dance Theater (BDT) is the only dance company in the world that performs a full evening by these distinguished choreographers. Man of the Hour, Memories, and Chameleon by Galili “explode through [the dancers] physicality.” Pereira created Delicate Blue and Awa for the dancers of BDT, set to original music. Goecke’s Peekaboo is a playful conclusion: “It’s a fun piece for BDT’s accomplished dancers and a fun end to the evening.” (press quotes from The Boston Globe).

$20 Advance | $25 day-of | $12 student

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Movement Before The Movement with Catherine Stewart

We're partnering with multi-disciplinary artist Catherine Stewart as part of her Institute Project with the Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion® Institute to bring this workshop for embodied expression, connection, and collective power to the community.

Movement Before The Movement is designed to reconnect you with your body as a site of emotional intelligence, resistance, and resilience. Through a series of guided prompts, you’ll explore gesture, bodily autonomy, and movement-based storytelling to uncover personal truths and tap into individual action. The process centers on physical sensation over explanation, asking: What does the body know before the brain makes a decision?

This event  is ideal for those seeking to:  

● Activate self and community through embodied dialogue and co-creation.

● Support wellness, self-inquiry, and emotional regulation via somatic practice.

● Integrate arts-based approaches to advocacy, liberation, and healing.

This workshop requires no previous movement experience and is suitable for adults of all identities, body types, and movement backgrounds. The facilitation approach is trauma-informed, consent-forward, and non-hierarchical, offering each participant full agency over their experience. Be sure to wear clothes comfortable to move in.

If cost is a barrier, please reach out directly to facilitator Catherine Stewart at  catherine@makecreatemore.com

*Please note photography may take place during the workshop to capture images as part of Catherine’s Fellowship project with the Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion® Institute. If you prefer to opt out of your likeness being captured, you can connect with Catherine that evening. 

Movement Before The Movement was funded in part by New England Foundation for the Arts’ New England Dance Fund, with generous support from the Aliad Fund at the Boston Foundation. Catherine's participation in the Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion® Institute was supported in part by New England Foundation for the Arts’ Public Art Learning Fund, with funding from the Barr Foundation.

About the Facilitator

Catherine Stewart is a multidisciplinary artist, playwright, and founder of Make Create More, a platform for participatory arts experiences that spark cultural dialogue and collective healing. Her work blends theater, dance, film, and installation to animate public space and provoke societal transformation. A recipient of numerous awards and funding from diverse stakeholders, she has collaborated with changemakers across the U.S. and U.K. to build projects at the intersection of embodiment, justice, and public life.

About the Curriculum in Motion® Institute

Catherine is currently a Fellow with the Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion® Institute, a program dedicated to placing dance artists in extended, meaningful engagement with communities. Rooted in a pedagogy that values relationship-building, co-authorship, and reflection, the Institute supports artists in facilitating site-specific choreographic investigations in nontraditional settings—from classrooms to public spaces. Movement Before The Movement is part of her Fellowship project, exploring social dance, civic engagement, and somatic truth-telling.

TICKETS ARE $8.00

SPACE IS LIMITED TO 30 PARTICIPANTS.

Join us at The Kittery Block Party for Bluegrass + Brews!

The Dance Hall will be THE stage for bluegrass and old-time music at the Kittery Block Party. Free entry. All ages!

Visit us outside the hall at the Block Party to sign up for our mailing list and get a ticket for a free beer (offer valid for ages 21+)

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
11:00am - Joe K. Walsh + Alex Rubin

12:30pm- Breakin' Strings

2:00pm- The Any Which Way (ft. Scott Heron, Dave Talmage, Jed Rosen)

Collab with our friends at Breakaway

Collapsed Skull
Cartridge
Zero Survive
Zinc
Komatite

Doors- 5:30pm
All Ages
$15 General Admission
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

The Hazel Project pays tribute to the music written or recorded by bluegrass pioneers and legendary musicians, Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard. Hazel and Alice tackled subjects from social injustice to the hardships of workers, as well as love and loss. With Betsy Heron (fiddle), Gretchen Bowder (banjo), Whitney Roy (guitar), and Lindsay Lassonde (bass), The Hazel Project features sweet soaring harmonies and tasteful tunes –  traditional grassroots music to fill your heart and soul.

$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Springtide is: Willy Clemetson on fiddle and foot percussion, Elsie Gawler on cello and fiddle, and Ethan Tischler on guitar. We are musicians, songwriters, and central figures in the Mid-Coast Maine fiddling scene. We combine a love of high energy traditional Celtic and Scandinavian fiddle music, heartfelt original tunes and songs, and spacious creative improvisation to produce our unique trio: Springtide. We aim to lift audiences with the music of the landscapes we come from, drawing inspiration from the tidal rhythms and creative energies of the coastal land we’re grateful to call home.

$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

MetaBeat is a project created by life-long Beatles fans Les Harris, Jr (Drums) and Mark Shilansky (Keyboards), to explore the music of the Beatles and their contemporaries in an improvisational and historically interesting context. The repertoire includes songs recorded and written by the Beatles, as well as Beatles solo material and collaborations, and music which was inspiring to the Beatles.

The "Meta" aspect of the band comes in the arrangements, as an early Beatles tune will be rendered in a late-period style, or vice-versa, and in medleys and "mashups" in the style of the Giles and George Martin remix project "Love." This band should appeal to die hard Beatles fans, who will revel in the musical references and attention to detail, as well as fans of jazzy, improvised music and groove.

Band Leader Mark Shilansky says, “I call the Beatles band "The Meta-Beat," because we play "meta" versions of Beatles tunes... jazzified, or combined into interesting medleys and mash-ups, or tunes that the Beatles wrote with other people.”

The current lineup:

Taylor O’Donnell (Berklee, Phillips Exeter faculty) on vocals; 

Chris Klaxton (UNH faculty) on trumpet, guitar and vocals;

Mark Shilansky (Berklee, UNH faculty) on piano and vocals;

Les Harris Jr.(UNH, USM, Phillips Exeter faculty) on drums and vocals;

Eric Byers (Berklee faculty) on guitar and vocals;

Mark Poniatowski (Berklee Faculty) on bass

$17 advance | $22 day-of

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!

Together for nearly 40 years, Truffle are passionate players and entertainers who are in it for the long haul; it’s what they do and who they are! Their travels have taken them to all but ten states in the US; and now tour the New England region constantly.

The ongoing list of international acts they have supported is huge: Dave Matthews Band, Little Feat, Phish, The Band, Blues Traveler, The Radiators, Buckwheat Zydeco, Spin Doctors, Arlo Guthrie, Merl Saunders, Baba Ulatundje, New Riders Widespread Panic and Toots and the Maytalls. They have released five full length albums, as well as numerous compilations. Their latest is a studio release “That’s Right:” Roots, and Soul music with strong songwriting makes for truly unique Truffle sound all their own. 

$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Multi-instrumentalist, producer, step dancer and host of the TradCafe podcast, Neil Pearlman is a vital and distinctive voice in contemporary folk music. Described as “a tremendous pianist” on BBC Radio Scotland and “a force to be reckoned with” by WGBH’s Brian O’Donovan, Neil is best known for his groundbreaking approach to the piano in Celtic music. Motivated by a deep musical curiosity and a love of collaboration, his playing is continually evolving and spontaneous without losing its roots in the traditional piano styles of Atlantic Canada, New England and Scotland. He has appeared internationally at major festivals such as the Newport Folk Festival, Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Celtic Colours in Cape Breton and the Orkney Folk Festival and has recorded or performed with luminaries of traditional folk music including Natalie MacMaster, Darol Anger, Seamus Egan and Alasdair Fraser. 

Neil’s deep love of the Gaelic music traditions has seen him welcomed into spaces that few other Americans have been. He was selected for the 2025 Shannon Residency at Beinn Mhabu in Cape Breton and has performed and guest lectured at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at University of Limerick, Ireland and the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton, Scotland. His first solo piano album Refractions features frequently on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and BBC Radio Scotland and his 2020 release with Shetland fiddler Kevin Henderson received 5 stars from Scotland’s national newspaper The Scotsman. 

In addition to touring regularly with Kevin Henderson, the Pine Tree Flyers, and as a solo pianist, Neil teaches at festivals throughout North America and Europe and has guest lectured at Berklee College of Music, Northeastern University and the aforementioned University of Limerick. He co-directs an annual St. Patrick’s Day concert with Katie McNally at Groton Hill Music Center and releases podcasts and video collaborations with musicians from around the world through his production company TradCafe.

$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 Student

Based out of Southern Maine, Old Hat fuses tight vocal harmonies with a driving acoustic rhythm section. With a sound draws from folk, old time, bluegrass, and country traditions, the band is comprised of Whitney Roy (Guitar, Vocals), Steve Roy (Mandolin, Fiddle, Vocals), and Amanda Kowalski (Bass) and special guest Julie Metcalf (Fiddle). 

Whitney’s lilting vocals provide the backbone of the vocal blend, while her solid rhythm guitar anchors the band’s pulse. Steve is a veteran of New England’s acoustic music scene, and has performed and toured with many of the acoustic world’s top acts. Amanda is one of the more sought after bass players in the worlds of bluegrass and old time music, and her rhythmic drive and energy on stage are second to none. Their debut album was released in 2022 and features 10 original compositions by Steve and Whitney Roy.

Old Hat has performed on world class stages such as Prescott Park Arts Festival, Ossipee Valley Music Festival, Portsmouth Music Hall, Stone Mountain Arts Center and Wind Gap Bluegrass Festival.

$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Arts & Drafts Spring Craft Market comes to Kittery!

There will be an assortment of local vendors specializing in everything from ceramics, jewelry & leatherwork, to fine art, prints, handmade accessories and more! With beer from Tributary Brewing on tap and snacks by donation from Chubby Oven NH, we're gearing up for an all-around great time.  

Entry is free and open to all!

THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!

We are a creative, inspiring collaboration of Rafa Moreno (singer and song writer) and Stephen E. Whitney (a longtime professional percussionist).

Rafael Moreno is a Panamanian singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and educator. He started his professional career in 2000 and has recorded three studio albums; he was lead singer, songwriter, and producer for Orquesta Sociedad Anόnima from 2011 to 2019 and was an actor and TV host from 2010 to 2019 in Panama.

Stephen is a band leader who started Vibra Tropical as the house band for La Fabrica Central in Cambridge MA in 2017. Rafa and Stephen started working together in 2021. Vibra Tropical is an engaging 10 to 12 piece, international, intergenerational salsa band whose members are Berklee students and graduates plus professional musicians from all over New England. We perform Rafa’s original compositions and his arrangements of classic salsa standards and get audiences dancing!

Brad Smith – piano

Eduardo Ramirez - bass

Kristalis Sotomayer - flute

Yibran Aponte - trumpet

Mark Hamilton - trombone

Sam Padua - trombone

Luis Portalatin - baritone

Pedro Sanjur - timbal

Stephen E. Whitney - conga

$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Join PMAC for the Spring 2025 Teen Rock, Blues, and Jazz Show, featuring *SEVEN* amazing teen ensembles! Come be amazed by sets from three Teen Rock Band groups, two Rock 101 groups, and two Teen Jazz Ensembles.

About PMAC:
Portsmouth Music and Arts Center (PMAC) is a 501c3 nonprofit community music and arts school serving the Seacoast. PMAC’s mission is to build community through the arts by providing all people with the opportunity to achieve their full creative potential, regardless of their age, ability, or economic status. We accomplish this through high quality music and visual arts education programs and by creating ensemble, performance, and exhibition opportunities for students, professionals, and audiences. 

PMAC's Teen Ensemble program covers a variety of genres, instruments and is open to a variety of playing levels. For more information about PMAC’s teen ensemble opportunities and more, please visit pmaconline.org.

$10 general admission (children 12 and under free)
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Kat Wallace is a Boston-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter. Her affinity for original music has her working and recording with a myriad of touring bands, most notably as the fiddle player in Rachel Sumner and Traveling Light. Her debut solo album, Grand Design, set to be released early in the year of 2025, captures Wallace’s musings on world's ending, sailing across the western ocean, and moving on. Her timeless lyrics and virtuosic guitar playing are the foundation of this record and grounded in traditional Celtic and American folk repertoire.

High Horse is a progressive-acoustic boy band based in Boston, known for their unique blend of Bluegrass, Old-time, and Celtic music infused with the energy of alternative rock. They draw from their varied musical backgrounds to explore and perform original compositions as well as tunes from diverse folk traditions. Their music is a captivating fusion of genres, showcasing their technical and compositional skill and their passion for pushing musical boundaries. Comprised of four friends, three bows, and one pick, High Horse delivers a rollicking romp of great vibes, virtuosic chops, and tight vocals.

$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

The Dance Hall presents Havana Libre as the next installment of it's burgeoning film series, "inFocus film".

FILM SYNOPSIS

In Cuba, where people fled en masse from Fidel Castro’s regime, surfing and other water activities have been banned for decades. Today, surfing exists in a murky legal gray area and is viewed with suspicion by the Cuban authorities. 

Despite these challenges, a group of passionate Cuban surfers is determined to carve out a place for surfing in the country's culture of athletic excellence. Frank is one of the most established surfers and to many the best surfer on the island. Yaya is a community leader and surfer who has made it her mission to ensure that the next generation can surf freely. When surfing is announced as an official sport for the Tokyo Olympics, they see their chance to bring their sport out of the shadows and on to the world stage. What follows is a tale of underground surfers building their own boards from scratch, dodging the authorities as they travel the island looking for the perfect wave, and attempting to legitimize their passion by persuading the Cuban authorities to field an Olympic team. 

When Frank is invited to participate in a qualifier event out of the country, he must decide whether to compete, which would mean embarking on an illegal journey and risking permanent separation from his wife and newborn baby. Yaya is similarly torn when she is invited to participate in a surf symposium in Hawaii. Havana Libre is a story of people following their passion at great danger to themselves and ultimately begs the question: what would you risk to chase your dreams?

run time: 84min

Plus Q+A with the filmmaker!

$15 General Admission

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Join PMAC for the Spring 2025 Jazz Institute Show, featuring the Jazz Pioneers, Brewery Lane Big Band, Wednesday Teen Jazz Ensemble, and Saturday Teen Jazz Ensemble.

About PMAC:
Portsmouth Music and Arts Center is a 501c3 nonprofit community music and arts school serving the Seacoast. PMAC’s mission is to build community through the arts by providing all people with the opportunity to achieve their full creative potential, regardless of their age, ability, or economic status. We accomplish this through high quality music and visual arts education programs and by creating ensemble, performance, and exhibition opportunities for students, professionals, and audiences. 

PMAC's Adult Ensemble program covers a variety of genres, instruments and is open to a variety of playing levels. For more information about PMAC’s adult ensemble opportunities and more, please visit pmaconline.org.

$10 general admission (children 12 and under free)
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Foxglove is a 5-piece indie folk/soul band from southern Maine, led by singer/songwriter Laura Fox, who writes about love, the lack thereof, and the in-between. Her songs and her voice are soothing and soulful—if you’ve ever loved someone, you’ll surely connect with her heartfelt lyrics. 

She’s joined by seasoned players:

Whitney Roy, vocals + acoustic guitar (Old Hat Stringband, Fox + Roy, The Hazel Project)

Jim Dozet, electric guitar (Tourist Attraction, Crown Jules, Press Project)

Roland "Lefox" Nicol, upright bass (Rhye, Rusty Boys, Jon Nolan & Good Co)

Rick Habib, drums (The Kate Redgate Band, Jon Nolan & Good Co, North Village)

Cilla Bonnie is a working bass player, singer and songwriter. Over the past 20 years she’s played, toured and recorded in numerous projects from Maine to Los Angeles. In 2020 she released her fourth recording project, ‘August’ with her bandmates Emmett Harrity (keys) and John Suntken (drums). Cilla Bonnie’s music is a blend of R&B-inspired groove and structutal rock. In addition to her solo project, Cilla currently plays bass for the 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest Winner, Alisa Amador and Boston-based soul artist Ali McGuirk.

$17 advance | $22 door | $10 Student

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Join PMAC for the Spring 2025 Adult Rock and Blues Show, featuring the Classic Rock Band, Alt Rock Band, Roots Rock Blues and Beyond I, and Roots Rock Blues and Beyond II bands.

About PMAC:
Portsmouth Music and Arts Center is a 501c3 nonprofit community music and arts school serving the Seacoast. PMAC’s mission is to build community through the arts by providing all people with the opportunity to achieve their full creative potential, regardless of their age, ability, or economic status. We accomplish this through high quality music and visual arts education programs and by creating ensemble, performance, and exhibition opportunities for students, professionals, and audiences. 

PMAC's Adult Ensemble program covers a variety of genres, instruments and is open to a variety of playing levels. For more information about PMAC’s adult ensemble opportunities and more, please visit pmaconline.org.

$10 general admission (children 12 and under free)
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!

Club d'Elf has been helping audiences lose track of time for twenty five years with its mesmerizing synthesis of Moroccan traditional music and electronic, dubbed-out funk. Circling about bassist/composer Mike Rivard and drummer Dean Johnston, each Club d'Elf performance features a different line-up, drawn from a constellation of some of the most creative improvisers from the jazz, DJ, rock & world music scenes of Boston, NYC and beyond.

The band's music draws from a startlingly wide spectrum of styles, including jazz, hip hop, electronica, avant garde, prog-rock and dub. Under the tutelage of member Brahim Fribgane (who hails from Casablanca) the band has absorbed Moroccan trance music, which is now an essential part of the mix. Diverse audiences are drawn to Fribgane’s mesmerizing oud stylings, and Rivard’s commanding playing of the Moroccan sintir. Trance forms the central core of the Club d’Elf aesthetic, weaving together the band’s various influences.

In April 2022 the band released its latest album, 'You Never Know', which rose to #2 on the Relix chart. The record unfurls upon kaleidoscopic clouds of spiced smoke, shifting from chopped dub-jazz through trance epics that reimagine Boston as a city of bazaars. Club d’Elf pay tribute to the music and musicians who have been primary influences, with half the album being covers of gnawa, Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul, Moroccan band Nass el-Ghiwane, and Frank Zappa. The other half consists of original music inspired by Rivard's personal journey into darkness following a near death experience in the remote jungle of the Peruvian Amazon.

"You Never Know is a wide ranging romp, full of serenity, chaos, longing, improvisation and peerless musicianship inspired by music from India and Morocco as well as the maverick jazz of Miles Davis and Frank Zappa." - Banning Eyre, Afropop Worldwide

$20 advance | $25 day-of | $15 student

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)