Filtering by: “The Dance Hall”
SOME Fest 2025
Sep
13

SOME Fest 2025

Welcome to SOME Fest — a bold, family-friendly celebration of music, art, and community in the heart of Kittery, Maine. Set against the charm of this coastal town, SOME Fest brings together an eclectic mix of sounds and visuals for a day that’s all about creativity and connection.

From gritty indie/punk bands to seasoned rockers, the lineup spans local talent and well-known names. You’ll also find a pop-up gallery and multimedia arts market, including Wrong Brain, a NH based nonprofit arts collective known for championing emerging voices.

This year, we’re proud to showcase music from students at PMAC (Portsmouth Music and Arts Center), along with other rising stars from across New Hampshire.

It’s loud. It’s creative. It’s community.

Welcome to SOME Fest.

Featuring performances by: Oceanator, Washer, Rong, Grub Lord, Qvickdraw, Rick Rude, fiveighthirteen, and MORE! Full Lineup TBA

SOME Fest is funded in part by New Hampshire State Council on the Arts
Thank you to our supporting partners and collaborators: Wrong Brain, Portsmouth Music and Arts Center

$20 advance | $25 day-of | $15 student (12-18 y/o) | Free under 12

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket {even for cash sales} + cc processing fees)

View Event →
Jazz Casual: Jamie Saft Trio
Oct
26

Jazz Casual: Jamie Saft Trio

Jamie Saft Trio

Jamie Saft has collaborated with the greatest masters of music including Iggy Pop, Bad Brains, Roswell Rudd, Hamid Drake, Wadada Leo Smith, Steve Swallow, and Bobby Previte. The Jamie Saft Trio has performed at legendary venues in the US including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Village Vanguard. Saft’s trios have been featured at major festivals worldwide including in San Sebastián, Spain, Moscow, all over Europe, South America, Australia, Canada, and Japan. Saft was the pianist for the John Adams opera “Ceiling/ Sky” and has been featured on recordings by a diverse array of artists including the B52s, Beastie Boys, Marshall Allen, and Cyro Baptista.

For this special concert at The Dance Hall, Saft’s trio will feature a diverse array of music from the Great American Songbook including compositions by Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, and John and Alice Coltrane. This formation of the trio first played together in 1990!!! A rare opportunity to see the Jamie Saft Trio right here in Maine!   

Jamie Saft- Fender Rhodes

Tim Kelly- bass guitar

John Mettam- drums 


About Jazz Casual:

Jazz Casual is dedicated to the preservation of a distinctly American art form and related improvised musics. Showcasing an eclectic array of local, national and international talent, the series supports the advancement of this art form by programming artists who are writing original works and uniquely arranging traditional music in progressive and imaginative ways.

$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student

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

View Event →
Jazz Casual: Sad Bastards / Loose Standards
Nov
2

Jazz Casual: Sad Bastards / Loose Standards

Sad Bastards / Loose Standards 
Record Release Concert

A killer record. A deep, moving, swinging hybrid of sacred music, blues, and jazz, that at times verges into something akin to gospel noir.  "We Pass for What We Are" echoes the Charlie Haden / Hank Jones masterpiece "Spirituals," but also brings listeners back to Albert Ayler, in its acknowledgement of suffering and promise of a joyful transcendance. Time and Mercy offers an uncommonly cathartic musical experience well suited to hard times like these.

- Joe Keohane, music journalist for the Boston Globe

The trumpet and piano duo Sad Bastards / Loose Standards are proud to release their sophomore album "We Pass for What we Are" to the world this Fall.  The record is a celebration of the unlikely intersection of Spirituals, grunge and indie rock, hymnody, and avant-garde jazz.  Equally featuring the music of Nirvana and Big Thief alongside early Christian chant and Appalachian sacred melodies, the duo brings the listener along for the joyride of their constant pursuit of a musical grand unification theory.

Area men Chris Klaxton and Mike Effenberger join forces to plumb the depths of the great American songbook of jazz standards, the lesser American songbook, Spirituals, new standards, and the good and bad news of this post-tonal musical world.  “To plumb the depths” comes from the concept of lowering a lead weight into the ocean on a long rope to establish the water’s distance downward. To do so one would be required to drop the weight to the very bottom, extending the line entirely until the answer is found.  May it be so.

Preview the record here: Preview: We Pass For What We Are

Chris Klaxton
chrisklaxton.com
@klaxto

Mike Effenberger
theletterf.org


About Jazz Casual:

Jazz Casual is dedicated to the preservation of a distinctly American art form and related improvised musics. Showcasing an eclectic array of local, national and international talent, the series supports the advancement of this art form by programming artists who are writing original works and uniquely arranging traditional music in progressive and imaginative ways.

$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student

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

View Event →
Jazz Casual: Miles Ahlstrom's "DCA"
Nov
16

Jazz Casual: Miles Ahlstrom's "DCA"

Miles Ahlstrom's "DCA"

DCA is a modern electric jazz trio. It began with the spark of instantaneous chemistry through a shared love of listening and bold communication. Each member inhibits a deep sense of supportive musicianship that grants the confidence to walk on their own musical tightrope. Based in New Hampshire and New York, the group blends original compositions with explorations of tunes by artists ranging from Steve Swallow and Pat Metheny, to Death Cab for Cutie and Radiohead. Their sound is energetic, fearless, and conversational, with a focus on dynamic interplay. DCA is committed to displaying the arc of composition through the playfulness of improvisation.

About Jazz Casual:

Jazz Casual is dedicated to the preservation of a distinctly American art form and related improvised musics. Showcasing an eclectic array of local, national and international talent, the series supports the advancement of this art form by programming artists who are writing original works and uniquely arranging traditional music in progressive and imaginative ways.

$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student

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

View Event →
Jazz Casual: Man On Land ft. Lihi Haruvi
Nov
23

Jazz Casual: Man On Land ft. Lihi Haruvi

“Man on Land displays not only individual virtuosity but a kind of group composure that comes from deference to form, narrative, and a warm ensemble sound.” --Jon Garelick, Arts Fuse

Man On Land is a jazz collective formed in 2009 by longtime musical cohorts Greg Loughman, Austin McMahon and Brian Friedland. For their new album, Echo The Hills, they have teamed up with Lihi Haruvi on sopranino and soprano saxophone for a collection of engaging and melodic modern jazz featuring compositions from each band member.

“For the last 15 years Man On Land has been demonstrating that the musical whole can be even greater than the sum of the parts. All three write beautifully and their rapport is uncanny. Adding a new melodic voice to this rich ecosystem, Lihi Haruvi's dextrous sopranino sounds like it belongs, in the best way. The delight the four share in playing together is its own lively presence on the bandstand. I can't wait to hear more.”

––Mark Redmond, Presenter, Mandorla Music

About Jazz Casual:

Jazz Casual is dedicated to the preservation of a distinctly American art form and related improvised musics. Showcasing an eclectic array of local, national and international talent, the series supports the advancement of this art form by programming artists who are writing original works and uniquely arranging traditional music in progressive and imaginative ways.

$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student

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

View Event →
The Bang Group: Nut/Cracked
Nov
29

The Bang Group: Nut/Cracked

It’s The Nutcracker, but definitely not as we know it. The Bang Group has taken every little girls favorite Christmas show and torn it limb from limb. Mixing Tchaikovsky’s original score with music by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller and others, the company turns the sugar coated ballet into a percussive piece of dance theatre. Expect tap dancing, singing and some unusual pointe shoe activity. Nothing is sacred as Nut/Cracked twists and melds various dance traditions into an ode to American eclecticism which honors the power of the human urge to dance while riding Tchaikovsky’s voluptuous waves of rhythm.

David Parker’s Bang Group first brought the house down with their performance of Nut/Cracked at The Dance Hall in 2016. This hilarious rendition of the storied holiday production is performed to perfection by a company of exquisitely trained artists.

The Bang Group, a rhythm based, theatrical dance company based in New York City, tours extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe.

$25 advance | $30 day-of | Student $15

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

View Event →
The Bang Group: Nut/Cracked
Nov
30

The Bang Group: Nut/Cracked

It’s The Nutcracker, but definitely not as we know it. The Bang Group has taken every little girls favorite Christmas show and torn it limb from limb. Mixing Tchaikovsky’s original score with music by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller and others, the company turns the sugar coated ballet into a percussive piece of dance theatre. Expect tap dancing, singing and some unusual pointe shoe activity. Nothing is sacred as Nut/Cracked twists and melds various dance traditions into an ode to American eclecticism which honors the power of the human urge to dance while riding Tchaikovsky’s voluptuous waves of rhythm.

David Parker’s Bang Group first brought the house down with their performance of Nut/Cracked at The Dance Hall in 2016. This hilarious rendition of the storied holiday production is performed to perfection by a company of exquisitely trained artists.

The Bang Group, a rhythm based, theatrical dance company based in New York City, tours extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe.

$25 advance | $30 day-of | Student $15

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

View Event →

Little Wings
Jul
20

Little Wings

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)

View Event →
Welcome to Holland!?
Jul
11

Welcome to Holland!?

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)

View Event →
Truffle
May
30

Truffle

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)

View Event →
Neil Pearlman
May
25

Neil Pearlman

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

View Event →
Old Hat Stringband
May
23

Old Hat Stringband

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)

View Event →
Rafa Moreno and Vibra Tropical
May
17

Rafa Moreno and Vibra Tropical

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)

View Event →
Kat Wallace w/ High Horse
May
16

Kat Wallace w/ High Horse

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)

View Event →
Havana Libre (Film)
May
10

Havana Libre (Film)

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)

View Event →
Foxglove + Cilla Bonnie
May
9

Foxglove + Cilla Bonnie

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)

View Event →
Club d'Elf
May
3

Club d'Elf

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)

View Event →
Jason Anick Trio
May
2

Jason Anick Trio

Fiddle, guitar, and bass—it’s a combination as old as the hills.  But follow Jason Anick, Max O’Rourke and Greg Loughman into those hills, and you’ll find yourself taking unexpected turns and discovering vistas you never knew were out there.  It’s a new brand of acoustic music they make—traditional instrumentation spinning ear-catching melodies, channeling the wit and spontaneity of three irrepressible musical storytellers.

Virtuoso fiddler, Jason Anick, grew up listening-in on his Dad’s bluegrass rehearsals and competing in fiddle contests around his native New England.  Jason went on to study jazz at the Hartt School of Music, where he was recruited by Grammy winning guitarist, John Jorgenson, to join his renowned, world-touring quintet.  Through the John Jorgenson Quintet, as well as his own subsequent projects, Jason rose to the top ranks of jazz violinists, earning himself a position at Boston’s prestigious Berklee School of Music.  But all along, he kept an ear out for the right opportunity to apply his formidable improvisational and compositional chops to the roots music of his youth. His long time musical collaborator, Greg Loughman, a top-call Boston bassist with an affection for both jazz and international folk music, was an obvious choice. Berklee student at the time, Max O’Rourke—a guitarist and composer with an insatiable harmonic curiosity—made an impression on Jason and Greg while playing together in the Rhythm Future Quartet. They recognized they had a chemistry well-suited to the artistic freedom afforded by the trio format, allowing them to explore and pull from multiple genres to create an exciting and sophisticated musical conversation that has been wowing audiences since 2017. 

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

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

View Event →
Dreaming at The Dance Hall
Apr
27

Dreaming at The Dance Hall

Let's dream ourselves forward together into The Dance Hall’s bright future! 

We hope you'll swing through any time between 3:00 - 5:00PM for complimentary light snacks provided by Neighborhood Business Partners Black Birch, Blue Mermaid, and Pepperrell Cove; creative engagement stations offering the opportunity to share your ideas and excitement for this special place; and a hosted conversation starting at 3:30PM when we'll dream ourselves forward together into The Dance Hall’s bright future!

Guiding questions for the day will include:

  • What is your favorite thing about The Dance Hall?

  • What would you like The Dance Hall to stop, start, and/or continue doing?

  • In a dream world, what kind of space would you like The Dance Hall to be?

We'll also be sharing some hot-off-the-press news regarding new initiatives happening at The Dance Hall this year that we know you won't want to miss!


*Light snacks and non-alcoholic drinks provided at no cost. Beer, wine, and cider available for purchase.

FREE - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

View Event →
Jazzputin
Apr
20

Jazzputin

Jazzputin

(a very 4/20 Easter)

Jazzputin is an uncanny and at times diabolical combination of genius half wits, raised in families of jazz, hillbilly music, old timey this and thats, and a good chunk o' church music. And sometimes Cindi Lauper. And Primus. And Cypress Hill. And FRRRREEEEEEEE IMPROVISATION????!

We hope Jazzputin appeals to the sentimental (semi-mental), freewheeling, tune whistling hobo in all of us.

We can't think of a better way to celebrate a 4/20 Easter.

Steve Roy - Bass, voice

Nick Mainella - Tenor sax

Jimmy Dority - Guitar

Chris Klaxton - Trumpet

Mike Effenberger - Accordion

Jim Rudolf - Drums

$15 advance | $420 day-of

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

View Event →
Lookie Lookie
Apr
19

Lookie Lookie

THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!

Lookie Lookie is an eight piece band devoted to Latin Bugalu, a style pioneered by Puerto Rican musicians in New York in the 1960s. Fusing rhythm and blues and American pop into the Afro-Caribbean music matrix, such artists as Pete Rodriguez, Joe Cuba and Richie Ray topped the Latin charts in the US and Latin America. Joe Cuba even scored on the pop charts with “Bang Bang” and “Sock It To Me Baby.” Bugalú is the mother lode of fun, and Lookie Lookie has been wowing club and festival crowds all over New England with it.

The members of Lookie Lookie have distinguished pedigrees in the Boston and international music scenes. Leader, saxophonist and vocalist Russ Gershon has performed at the Sanctuary previously with his Grammy-nominated jazz group the Either/Orchestra; E/O conguero and vocalist Vicente Lebron, who has played with the greats from Celia Cruz on down leads the rhythm section; timbales player Rick Barry toured for years in Bim Skala Bim, an essential band on the 1980s US ska scene; percussionist Ken Winokur founded the internationally recognized silent film accompaniment group the Alloy Orchestra; bassist Gregory Ryan has played with jazz great Billy Harper and Harold Mabern; vocalist/percusionist Jorge Arce is has been a force in Puerto Rico and Boston for forty years; saxophonist/flutist Ted DeColo has toured with Mighty Sam McLean; the group is rounded out by trumpeter Eric Ortiz.

On top of all the instruments are the voices. In the tradition of folk musics like Puerto Rican Bomba and even garage rock, which was an ingredient in the original bugalú, all the members of Lookie Lookie sing, in chorus (“coro” in Spanish) and by passing lead vocals around, in Spanish and English. Fun is the heartbeat of Lookie Lookie – the musicians delight in conjuring the psychedelic vibe of the 1960s while anchoring it in heavy Latin grooves at tempos that everybody can dance to. You don't need salsa chops or double jointed hips to get out on the floor and bugalu, and if you don't feel like dancing – there's plenty of musical substance for your ears.

$17 advance | $22 day-of + fees

View Event →
Erica Brown & The Bluegrass Connection
Apr
18

Erica Brown & The Bluegrass Connection

Erica Brown and The Bluegrass Connection is a five-piece band featuring some of the finest musicians in New England. The band features award winning fiddler and singer Erica Brown, Matt Shipman on mandolin, Lincoln Meyers on guitar, Eli Gilbert on banjo and Kris Day on bass. A fun and energetic band, they incorporate a unique and diverse blend of original and traditional music from their Bluegrass, Folk and Country influences. As a band of renowned and respected musicians in their own right, together they form a bluegrass powerhouse of vocal and instrumental expertise that have delighted audiences all over the Northeast and Canada.

Their latest album “Blue Pine Moon” has been well received by fans, critics and musicians alike. The album contains thoughtful, original songs from both Shipman and Brown and other carefully chosen songs from the Bluegrass tradition. Grammy award winning bluegrass songwriter Rick Lang says it is a “...must have for any lover of good Bluegrass music!”

“... a stellar band featuring some of the finest pickers you could hope to find.”- Joe K. Walsh 

$20 advance | $25 day-of | $10 Student

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

View Event →
Väsen
Apr
11

Väsen

Väsen

Mikael Marin and Olov Johansson have, after 37 years of interaction and touring, refined their sound and their stage presence to the extent that today they are unique in their kind. With their playful and perfect interplay, they seem to defy the laws of physics in what appears to be a telepathic communication.

The music is intense and full of humour. They create their very own musical language which in its appeal is as modern as it is ancient. With the foundation firmly rooted in the traditional music of Uppland, they have always looked curiously at new musical goals.

Olov & Micke have played together since 1983 when they met at Oktoberstämman in Uppsala and discovered that they had a large common repertoire and a similar way of playing. It turned out that Micke had learned from Ivar Tallroth in Uppsala and Olov had learned from Curt Tallroth in Harbo. They had been introduced to the rich Bohlin / Tallroth tradition by the two brothers. Olov & Micke started playing intensively together and released their first recording, "Det rister i Örat," in 1985. They have played an incredible amount together over the years in Väsen. Now they go on adventures among old fine musicians, stories and trad tunes and at the same time they continue to break new ground. They perform on a variety of stringed instruments, including a silverbasharpa, oktavharpa, three-rowed Nyckelharpa, violoncello da spalla and a blue electric viola.

$30 advance | $38 day-of | $20 student

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

View Event →
Rasa String Quartet ft. Brian Shankar Adler
Apr
6

Rasa String Quartet ft. Brian Shankar Adler

Multidisciplinary percussionist Brian Shankar Adler and the Rasa String Quartet present: Redefining Home, a concert that celebrates each artists’ musical roots. Spanning from evocative Indian ragas and mysterious Argentine tangos to spirited Celtic fiddle tunes, this collaboration evokes the feelings of home and comfort inherent in our earliest musical memories, while also exploring the rhythmic connection across a wide array of genres. The program includes works by Kala Ramnath, Maura Shawn Scanlin, Astor Piazzolla, James Scott Skinner, and culminates in the world premiere of a new work for string quartet and percussion by Brian Shankar Adler, inspired by this unique collaboration.

Rasa String Quartet explores the musical space where classical and folk traditions intersect and influence one another. Formed in 2019, the Boston-based ensemble consists of violinists Emma Powell and Maura Shawn Scanlin, violist Kiyoshi Hayashi, and cellist Mina Kim, who are graduates of the New England Conservatory, the Shepherd School of Music, and Yale University.

Rasa String Quartet are winners of the 2022 Associazione Europea Di Musica E Comunicazione International Chamber Music Competition (Italy,) the 2021 Music Teachers National Association Chamber Music Competition (ATL,) the 2020 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition (OH,) and were the 2022-23 ensemble in residence at Phillips Exeter Academy.

They’ve collaborated with renowned folk musicians like celtic harpist, Maeve Gilchrist, Irish Fiddler, Liz Carroll, and singer-songwriter, Judy Collins, performed their own programs at various venues and festivals around the country, including the 2023 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, Celebrity Series, Rockport Music, WGBH, WBUR, and the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival, and have taught educational residencies at a variety of institutions like Walnut Hill School for the Arts, UMass Dartmouth, and Boston Music Project. 

By exploring the connection between music and storytelling at the heart of folk traditions, Rasa String Quartet delivers engaging and accessible programs that showcase works from a variety of cultures and highlight unknown composers. They seek to educate their audiences by contextualizing the genres, styles, and composers they present, inviting their listeners to approach both familiar and unfamiliar sounds with an open and curious mind.

In sanskrit, the term ‘RASA’ refers to the indescribable power of any art form to inspire strong emotions in the reader or listener. Learn more at: www.rasastringquartet.com

Brian Shankar Adler is an interdisciplinary percussionist and composer. Described as "a polyrhythmic force… New York City gritty yet still somehow capable of evoking the delicacy of a summer breeze…” (JazzTimes), his work transcends the terrain between genre and geographic region, asking: how can we find connection through rhythm? 

Adler has performed in caves, forests and adjacent glacial ice fields as well as Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center and The Stone. He has been recorded on over fifty albums including his solo works: For a Gallery on the Moon (Chant Records), Fourth Dimension (Chant Records), and his recent collaboration: Air SpaceCricket Cipher (Adhyâropa Records). With an equal focus on improvisational and compositional practices, he uses rhythm as a tool for collaboration.

$25 advance | $32 day-of | $15 student

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

View Event →
Soggy Po Boys
Apr
5

Soggy Po Boys

THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!                           

The Po Boys formed in 2012 to shake the walls of a local club on a Fat Tuesday but have honed their sound and become more than a Mardi Gras centerpiece. Exploring the vast musical traditions of New Orleans and expanding their repertoire to look beyond NOLA jazz, the band includes traditional Caribbean tunes (it’s been said that New Orleans is the northernmost city in the Caribbean), as well as Meters funk, soul, and brass band / street beat music. “...These guys have done their homework, worked it out on the bandstand and put in the hours in the studio. It all adds up to a party you can bring with you when you want to treat your friends to a real good time.” -Ben Schenck of New Orleans’ Panorama Jazz Band”.

Shaina Schwartz - Lead Vocals

Jim Dozet - Vocals / Guitar

Eric Klaxton- Clarinet/Sop. Sax

Josh Gagnon - Trombone

Nick Mainella- Tenor Sax

Mike Effenberger- Piano

Brian Waterhouse- Drums

Scott Kiefner- Bass





$17 adv | $22 day-of | $10 Student + fees

View Event →
POSTPONED Darlin' Corey w/ High Range
Mar
29

POSTPONED Darlin' Corey w/ High Range

This event has been POSTPONED. We are working with the artists to find a new date, which we'll follow up with as soon as it is decided!

Darlin’ Corey features the singing and playing of three well known musicians of the thriving music scene of Portland, ME. Award winning and accomplished fiddler and singer Erica Brown on fiddle, guitar, vocals, notable songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt Shipman on guitar, vocals, mandolin, bouzouki, banjo and Portland’s favorite bass player, Kris Day.

Their music is a unique blend of folk with influences from bluegrass and old time music. Together they create an engaging performance of thoughtful originals, traditional songs and songs that influenced them along the way.

With recent highlights including performances at prestigious venues and festivals like Stone Mountain Arts Center, Ossipee Valley and collaborations with The Bangor Symphony Orchestra, they continue to captivate audiences across the Northeast and Canada.

High Range is a New Hampshire-based band playing both original and cover songs featuring fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, upright bass and drums. Making music together since 1999.

"HIGH RANGE has forged a tight, compelling ensemble sound that is highly musical and thoroughly entertaining."

--David McCarty, Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine

Todd Jones – acoustic and electric guitar, banjo and vocals

Rob Kneeland – mandolin, drums and vocals

Ellen Carlson – fiddle and vocals

Steve Roy – mandolin and bass

Brendan Dowd – bass

Zac Francis – bass


View Event →
Modern Fools
Mar
28

Modern Fools

Modern Fools has a sound that is best described as "Cosmic Americana" with songs that blend the country rock of Gram Parsons with the song-craft and harmonies of Dr. Dog. The group's members have been making music with each other for upwards of 16 years. This iteration of Modern Fools took shape in 2019 and has continued to hone their particular brand of "dream country".

For fans of: The Band, Commander Cody, Bob Dylan, Dr. John, Neil Young

Coyote Smoke is a dynamic six-piece band hailing from New Hampshire, seamlessly blending the rich influences of blues rock, country, Americana, and outlaw tunes to forge a distinct and powerful sound. Inspired by artists such as Chris Stapleton, Sierra Ferrell, Nathaniel Rateliff, Shakey Graves, and Red Clay Strays, the band delivers a raw, soulful, and electrifying musical experience.



$15 advance | $20 day-of | $10 student

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

View Event →
Rachel Sumner + Traveling Light
Mar
14

Rachel Sumner + Traveling Light

Praised by audiences for her powerful, lonesome voice and haunting songs, Rachel Sumner carefully spins melodies that get caught in your head and delivers them “with an attitude and drive in her guitar playing...sure to strike a chord and dig deep into your heart. ” (Red Line Roots)

“METICULOUS SONGWITING” - NPR


Rachel may be best known as the former guitarist and singer-songwriter from bluegrass string phenom Twisted Pine, but it is in her recent venture as a solo artist that we are beginning to fully recognize her dynamism as a writer and performer. Whether she’s fronting her new band of lush, low-voiced strings or appearing with only a guitar, you’ll be mesmerized by her elegantly intricate arrangements and captivated by the delivery of each and every word. Now, you may be getting the idea that all of her songs are delicate, crystalline confessionals; they are most certainly not. Rachel is both a Willie Nelson and a Patsy Cline of indie-folk - writing the heartfelt but catchy songs and conveying their emotional complexity with candor and an achingly beautiful yodel. And it is her diverse love of pop, classical, country and everything in between that she draws upon to synthesize into her own unique sound.

“Though Sumner has roots in both the bluegrass and classical worlds, this is true-blue singer-songwriter folk through and through, too: achingly clear, and wide open to the world, with twang and tenderness enough to carry us through the fire of an unusually difficult year.” - Cover Lay Down

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

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

View Event →
The Hodes w/ Kent Allyn
Mar
8

The Hodes w/ Kent Allyn

This event was rescheduled from February 16th.

The Hodes “Fam” is a collaboration featuring Kittery Pointers Peggo and Paul Hodes, their daughter Ariana and Kent Allyn, the musical wunderkind of the seacoast. As a trio, Peggo and Paul have been performing, recording multiple albums and sharing beach bonfires at Seapoint Beach with Kent for years. Following an award-winning run of albums for children and families as Peggosus, they teamed up to record a series of acoustic oriented albums, “Patchwork Quilt, A celebration of The American Spirit”, which earned them a trip to perform at the White House, “Summer Nights” and the classic Holiday album, “Winter’s Light”. They released Peggo’s solo Jazz record, “In Love” on Parma’s Big Round Records imprint.

Their performances are always light-hearted and heartfelt featuring original folk songs, Americana, and classics. They’re joined once again by singer-songwriter Ariana Hodes. Ariana tore up the indie country charts a while back and writes really catchy songs about love and love lost. Her latest EP as “Ariana Hodes and The Longest Year” is on its way to cyber space. This annual “Valentine’s Day” show of love songs at The Dance Hall, has become a tradition to lift your spirits and make your heart sing in the depths of winter.

$15 advance | $18 day-of | $10 student

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

View Event →
Lena Jonsson Trio
Feb
15

Lena Jonsson Trio

Lena Jonsson Trio

The multi award winning Lena Jonsson Trio continues to break new grounds around the world with their unique mix of deeply rooted Swedish folk, jazz, American old-time and electro

acoustic sounds.

Lena Jonsson’s ability to balance this with innovative artistic sensibilities, sparkling joy of life and a charisma of a rock-star have made her one Scandinavia’s most visionary musicians. Together with guitarist Erik Ronström and bassist Krydda Sundström they create a virtuosic yet playful trio. In April 2023, the trio won Artist of the year at the Swedish Folk awards. Their album ”Stories from the Outside” won both a Swedish Grammis and the Manifest prize in 2021 and Album of the year by LIRA Music Magazine and song of the year by Swedish radio. They released their third album ”Elements” in June 2023.

"If you are already a fan of Lena Jonsson, you will be expecting an exciting mix of contemporary and traditional fiddle, American oldtime and Swedish dance music, folk rock and rockabilly funk: so this album won’t hold many surprises. If you are new to Jonsson’s music, welcome to a world of fine fiddling from both sides of the Atlantic."

— FolkWorld #65


$25 advance | $32 day-of | $15 students

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

View Event →
Sharon Jones: Remembering Sarah Vaughan
Feb
7

Sharon Jones: Remembering Sarah Vaughan

Sharon Jones is a legendary performer and native of Portsmouth, NH, where she shines as an original stand-out of the Seacoast music scene, with engagements throughout New England, in Boston and in New York.

An entertainer in the classical sense of the word, Sharon's versatility allows her to communicate with audiences in any setting. Her two- and three-piece ensembles will complement a social experience with intimate jazz music. With her band, Sharon gives a riff-driven high-energy R&B and Blues performance that gets the crowds dancing. Her passion for performance radiates, and her expressiveness embraces her audiences. Ending Sharon's concerts is a challenge as the audience begs for more!

"We love backing up Sharon. She's a star. She's a treasure. It's amazing to me that someone with her talent is still on the Seacoast," says Ken Ormes of The Downtown Express - the band that often accompanies Sharon. There is mutual delight for Sharon and her longtime followers when she performs for NH Seacoast audiences.

For this performance, Sharon pays tribute to the great Sarah Vaughan, joined by an all-star lineup:

John Hyde - Piano

Josh Schultz - Bass

John Medeiros Jr. - Percussion

Jason Palmer - Trumpet

$17 advance | $22 day-of

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

View Event →
Clara Rose & Raphaella Hero
Feb
1

Clara Rose & Raphaella Hero

Clara Rose and Raphaella Hero

Clara and Raphaella blend two unique voices into an inseparable whole in their revealing delivery of original music, traditional folk melodies, and improvisation. Their music represents a way of being together with presence, patience, compassion, embodiment, playfulness, and curiosity—elements that are central to the spirit of improvisation which characterizes their musical partnership. With every performance, they offer an invitation to simply be, holding space for healing not only in contemplation but in celebration. To put down what you carry, enter the present moment, and open yourself to joy in the safe embrace of acoustic sound, creative mastery, and grace. 

Embarking on their second tour as a duo, Clara and Raphealla will bring their music to new and old friends around New England, their goal to share brightness and warmth in community through the winter months.

learn more: https://www.heromusic.org/clara-and-raphaella



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

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

View Event →
Annie & the Fur Trappers - Swing Dance!
Jan
31

Annie & the Fur Trappers - Swing Dance!

SWING DANCE w/Annie & the Fur Trappers

Jen & Ray of Lindy Maine will be teaching the basics of swing before the show, so come early and learn a few steps! Open to all. 7pm. 

Annie and the Fur Trappers are a Boston based traditional jazz and blues band which formed in 2016. Originally founded in St. Louis, Missouri, the band currently includes clarinet, trumpet, trombone, bass, banjo, guitar, washboard, and violin. Annie and the Fur Trappers is dedicated to performing and preserving the music of the 1920s and 30s today. The band plays traditional jazz, delta blues, ragtime, and swing music. Their version of "Delta Bound" was selected to be displayed at the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience in Meridian, Mississippi. Annie and the Fur Trapper's original song "You Break It, you Buy It" was selected for the St. Louis Blues Society's 17 in 17 compilation album.

Annie and the Fur Trappers have performed at a variety of music festivals including the Big Muddy Blues Festival, The Whitaker Jazz festival The Apple Butter Festival, Cherokee Street Jazz Fest, HONK!TX, Musikfest, The Cherokee Street Jazz Crawl, and The Rosebud Cafe Music Festival, to name a few.

The band released their second studio album, Muskrat Ramble, on vinyl in 2019. The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Paul Niehaus IV at Blue Lotus Studios. The album includes a number of blues, traditional jazz, and swing favorites, and won an award as “Best Self-Produced Album” by the St. Louis Blues Society. The vinyl was pressed by Standard Vinyl. The band, relocating to the Boston area in 2020 during the global pandemic, the band has been working on recording a new album at PBS studios in Massachusetts.

$17 advance | $22 day-of

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

View Event →
Kotoko Brass
Jan
25

Kotoko Brass

THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!

Inspired by the traditional drum rhythms of Ghana, Kotoko Brass has created a unique, joyful, and improvisational style of West African dance music described by the BostonGlobe as “propulsive, infectious party music”. The drums provide the heart and soul of Kotoko Brass — merging syncopated African percussion polyrhythms with hard-hitting dance grooves on the drum set. The horns blend traditional sounds of New Orleans with the famous West African brass band sound heard from Ghana to Nigeria, and the guitar, keys, and bass evoke classic African and Caribbean styles of highlife, afro beat, and reggae.

A celebratory and energetic synthesis of music, people, and cultures fromaround the world, Kotoko Brass features musicians from Ghana, Antigua, Japan, and the United States playing together in unity. Kotoko Brass has shared the stage with An-gelique Kidjo, Red Baraat, Femi Kuti, the California Honeydrops, Vieux Farka Toure, In-nov Gnawa, Take 6, the Boston Pops, Rubblebucket, and more.

Attah Poku (percussion) was born and raised in Ghana inside the walls of the Asante King’s palace, and grew up to be a lead drummer in the king’s drum ensemble.

Michael Ofori (percussion) is a multifaceted performing artist from Ghana — his creative interests lie in African performing arts traditions including drumming, acting, and directing.

Ben Paulding (drum set) is an American percussionist who extensively lived and trainedin Kumasi, Ghana, and now directs the Fafali Ghanaian drum and dance ensemble atBrandeis University.

Brian Paulding (trombone) has traveled the world playing pop, soul, reggae, and calypso music in Turkey, Tunisia, Georgia, Germany, Trinidad, Canada, and across the United States.

Dillon Zahner (guitar) specializes in African guitar styles from across the continent, playing music from Mozambique, Senegal, and Mali in bands such as Kina Zore, M’Bolo, and Samba Lolo.

Yusaku Yoshimura (keys) is an internationally touring pianist who has performed and recorded with Earl Chinna Smith and shared stages with Patti LaBelle, Ledisi, and Lalah Hathaway.

M’Talewa Thomas (bass) came to the U.S. in the 90s from his home country of Antigua after touring the Caribbean for many years with leading calypso act Short Shirt.

Andy Bergman (sax) is a versatile andeclectic global musician who has toured the world performing with bands such as Iyeo-ka Okoawo, Guy Mendilow, and the Macrotones.


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

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

View Event →
FAR OUT: Life On & After the Commune (Film Screening)
Jan
24

FAR OUT: Life On & After the Commune (Film Screening)

Far Out traces the evolution of our little communal family from its urban origins in a left wing faction fight at Liberation News Service (LNS) through years of subsistence, back-to-the-land farming, to the re-awakening of our political and social activism through such things as community theatre and anti-nuclear organizing. Our story includes a dramatic act of home town civil disobedience, the building of a national movement, five nights of sold out anti-nuclear concerts at Madison Square Garden with the likes of Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Crosby, Stills and Nash and many others as well as a 250,000 person rally.

Far Out paints an intimate portrait of how this group of artists and activists dealt with the pressing issues of the day–gay and women's rights, sexual freedom, nuclear power, raising children, the role of the family–to the realities of life, relationships and money in an anarchic communal setting. It’s been a long, strange trip as the Grateful Dead put it and I’m glad that I was able to come along for the ride. And to document it.

A panel with film maker Charles Light and Verandah Porche to intro the film and do a Q@A after the showing.

$18 advance | $22 day-of | $12 student

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

View Event →
Primo Cubano
Jan
18

Primo Cubano

THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!

Primo Cubano plays traditional Cuban dance music dating back to the turn of the 20th century. SON is the most popular style to come out of Cuba and is the primary contributor to the blend of Latin styles today known as SALSA. It was first a music of the country people and eventually migrated to Havana, where it was urbanized and began to draw wider audiences.

After 16 years of learning and performing the national music of Cuba, Primo Cubano was invited to perform at the 2024 Havana Jazz Festival! They performed two shows at the festival and then invited to sit in at various bars and clubs throughout city. To their surprise, many Cuban musicians and people from the audience told them that Primo Cubano is the first band they have ever seen from the USA to come to Cuba and perform their music. Needless to say, it was an incredible honor for the band to be validated after all these years. 

Paul D’Alessio: Tres Cubano (a traditional, cuban, guitar-like instrument)

Marc Chillemi: Trumpet, Percussion, BG Vox

Lenny Hatch: Congas, Bongos, Percussion

Ryan Hergenhan: Timbales

Duane Edwards: Upright Bass

Primo Cubano interprets the classic Son Cubano with affinity, appreciation and inspiration bringing this vibrant music to life for audiences in Maine and beyond.

As the Soneros of Cuba say;  “Pa’ Goza!”

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

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

View Event →