The Sweetback Sisters have a sound that carries with it hints of the past with influences ranging from Patsy Kline to Jimmie Rodgers. They’re a terrific sextet of multi-talented musicians: Emily Miller, Zara Bode, Jesse Milnes, Ross Bellenoit, Stefan Amidon, and Peter Bitenc. If you like old timey, spirited country music that is able to rock a little harder than usual, this band is sure to put you in a good mood. This year they have been on the festival circuit performing to diverse audiences at SXSW music festival and opening up shows for giants like k.d.lang. They’re heading to Green River Festival in Greenfield, MA this summer, following their performance at The Music Hall Loft on Friday July 13 at 7pm & 9pm. You don’t want to miss this self-described “renegade retro band”—and if you love yodeling as much as I do, you’re in for a treat. I recently talked with Emily Miller about the band’s background, musical roots, and creative songwriting process.Read More
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By Peter Squires
On April 21st, my band, The Farthest Forests, was lucky enough to perform at The Music Hall. As local musicians, this was a distinct honor – how many of us ever get the chance to perform for hundreds of people in such a beautiful, historic setting? What’s more, we had the honor of meeting and sharing the stage with the fantastic Felice Brothers and the otherworldly O’Death, and as part of the first ever Portsmouth Singer Songwriter Festival, we get to say we shared a place in history with the legendary Merle Haggard and Roseanne Cash. We are extremely lucky to have been given the opportunity to play a part in such a momentous occasion.Read More
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By Patricia Lynch, Executive Director & Lead Curator
This winter when in New York hunting for artists and acts to bring to The Music Hall I got to see Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Carnegie Hall. They were celebrating 50 years in the business and I have to admit I flashed back to being a little girl in Central Illinois and being taken to my first concert by my mother to experience real New Orleans Music—Preservation Hall Jazz Band.Read More
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By Thérèse LaGamma
I’ve been listening to Billy Bragg’s music—especially his Mr. Love & Justice and Mermaid Avenue recordings—and I can’t tell you how excited I am to hear his performance at The Music Hall’s Historic Theater on Saturday, June 30 at 8pm. Arguably the U.K.’s most famous activist singer-songwriter of modern times, Billy’s first set celebrates Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday by exploring and expanding the Guthrie songbook—he was one of a handful of musicians who had access to the Guthrie archives. His second set will be pure Billy. I recently talked with the London-based star about his music, his politics, and his connection to Woody’s legacy. Read on for a fascinating conversation.Read More
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Individual tickets to the Portsmouth Singer Songwriter Festival (April 20 - 22) go on sale Wednesday March 7 at noon for everyone-individual tickets are on sale to members right now. We’ve got Merle Haggard, The Felice Brothers, O’Death, The Farthest Forests, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Elsa Cross, a ton of local Singer Songwriters (who’ll be announced this week) performing in the Round Robin, and to cap the weekend off, Rosanne Cash.Read More
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