Social on the Seacoast: Portsmouth Rocks April 17 – 21
The festival’s robust programming has everything to do with the Music Hall’s extraordinary curatorial team, headed by Executive Director Patricia Lynch. “Following the success of 2012’s inaugural festival, we were emboldened to add more diversity this year—a multi-layered spectrum of acts and events that expands on our themes and adds depth to the lineup,” she says.
“The multi-dimensional aspect really makes this year’s festival fresh and unique,” adds Deputy Director of Programming and Performing Arts Curator Thérèse LaGamma. “There’s something special about seeing an artist in the landmark Historic Theater, with its phenomenal acoustics, and then walking across the street to the Loft for a talk with noted photojournalist Joe Stevens, whose incredible images of Rock and Roll legends have just been digitized.”
“The range this year is extraordinary,” says LaGamma, who recently returned from scouting hot new acts at the renowned South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in Austin. “From the American country sound of icon John Prine to the innovative, music-layered harmonies of Dirty Projectors and from the soulful rock of singer-songwriter Aimee Mann to the 21-year-old prodigy Sarah Jarosz playing banjo, mandolin, and guitar—it’s a sensational lineup. And I can’t wait to hear the unique voice of emerging folk-rock star Sharon Van Etten, one of the artists I saw at SXSW at few years ago and whose star is continuing to rise. I expect she will not disappoint!”
Adds LaGamma “We’re also excited to be celebrating our enormous wealth of local talent.” Artists with New England roots include the Ben Baldwin Trio (Friday’s festival party for passholders), Nat Baldwin (Dirty Projectors), Sarah Jarosz and Chris Trapper (both opening for John Prine)—PLUS, two round robins of local artists that feature Guy Capecelatro III, Peter Squires, Mara Flynn, and young musicians from the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center (PMAC), among many others.
All of this is wrapped in the vibrant, historic, walking town of Portsmouth— “with a creative, innovative vibe that makes it a very special city,” says Lynch. Notes LaGamma: “Portsmouth is built for festivals! It’s all here—fabulous restaurants, shops, and hotels, and musically savvy audiences who expect the best. We’re thrilled that the festival gives us the opportunity to continue putting Portsmouth on the map for patrons and artists alike.”
Go here for a complete festival schedule. I can’t wait to see you there!