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 Tait Trio Featuring Jess Tait (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.

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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.

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