pianist Jim Brickman heads to ROH

Music fans looking for some pre-Valentine’s Day romance can catch pianist and songwriter Jim Brickman at the Rochester Opera House on Wednesday, Jan. 4, beginning at 8 p.m. His appearance in Rochester comes just a couple of weeks after the release of his latest CD, “Ultimate Love Songs: The Very Best of Jim Brickman.”

Brickman is known for his pop-style piano and romantic compositions, including chart-topping recordings like “Valentine,” “The Gift,” Love of My Life” and “Peace.” Over the course of his career, Brickman has released six Gold and Platinum selling albums. He has had a number of adult contemporary radio hits and received a Grammy nomination in 2003. Brickman has collaborated with such artists as Martina McBride, Kenny Loggins, Carly Simon, Herb Alpert, Michael Bolton, Olivia Newton-John and others. He has now released more than 20 albums, every single one of which includes a large picture of him on the cover.

Tickets to the concert are $36. The Rochester Opera House is at 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, 603-335-1992. For more information, visit www.rochesteroperahouse.com.

The Opera House is also offering a “romantic getaway package” including two tickets to the show, a deluxe mini-suite at the Holiday Inn Express in Rochester and a dinner with a 10 percent discount at Fat Tony’s Italian Grill. The package is $140 to $160. Call 603-994-1175.

Cabin Fever concerts in Rollinsford

Hosts Susie Burke and David Surette will bring the Cabin Fever Concert Series back to the Elysium Arts Folk Club in Rollinsford for three shows this winter. The series begins on Saturday, Jan. 31, when Burke and Surette join singer-songwriter and guitarist Brooks Williams.

The series began last winter, featuring collaborations between local and regional musicians in an intimate “house concert” setting. Burke and Surette, fresh off the release of their 2008 album “When the Small Birds Sweetly Sing,” plan to continue the series with a range of folk artists this year.

Other installments of the series come on Saturday, Feb. 28, when Burke and Surette join singer Dawn Boyer and guitarist Brett Hartenbach; and Saturday, March 21, when the pair collaborate with folk duo the Short Brothers.

All shows begin at 8 p.m. and cost $12. The Elysium Arts Folk Club is in the Lower Mill at Salmon Falls, 1 Front St., Rollinsford. For more information, call 207-384-8151.

hard times, good music at The Press Room

Perhaps the one bright side to economic crises is that they tend to produce some good music. Classic blues and folk tunes like “Brother Can You Spare a Dime,” “Nobody Knows You When you’re Down and Out,” “One Meatball” and others all came out of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

In recognition of the current economic crisis, Larry Simon and The Seacoast All-Stars will replicate some Depression era songs at The Press Room in Portsmouth on Saturday, Jan. 31. Guitarist Simon and his 14-piece ensemble will present “Hard Times: Songs of the Great Depression” beginning at 8 p.m.

The evening will also include a comedy set featuring Chris Elliott and John Brenemean conducting a “Daily Show”-style fake news broadcast, complete with phony interviews of hobos, Wall Street bigwigs and Al Qaeda operatives. Comics Matt Shirley and Frances will provide supporting monologues.

The Seacoast All-Stars consists of Simon, Scip Gallant, Mike Barron, Chris Stambaugh, Cynthia Chatis, Frank Laurino, Shawn Russell, Ayanna, Alan Chase and Chris Elliott. Special guests Joanne Connolly, Jon Nolan, Don Davis and Matt Langley will join the band at The Press Room.

Volunteers from Seacoast Local’s (H)EAT Campaign will be on hand to collect donations to raise money for food and oil assistance for needy families. The Press Room is at 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, 603-431-5186. There is a $5 cover. —MK
local music at Me & Ollie’s

Local bands NSI and Breakfast Song will play a free all-ages show at Me & Ollie’s in Portsmouth on Friday, Jan. 30, in an effort to promote the Seacoast music scene. The show begins at 7 p.m. in the café at 10 Pleasant St. near Market Square.

The two bands welcome other area musicians to stop by and exchange contact information, pass out fliers for their own shows and mingle with fellow artists. Local business owners are also invited to check out the music and get in touch with bands about booking shows at their own venues. Rick Dirck of Portsmouth Community Radio will be on hand to make an announcement about bolstering the Seacoast music scene by uniting artists, business owners and promoters.

Composed of Shane Watkins, Scott Lanphear, Brian J. Martin and Joe Harding, NSI is an experimental rock band with quirky and creative compositions due for release on a debut CD this year. Breakfast Song is a Portsmouth-based indie folk and pop duo composed of Seth Gooby and Isis Alis.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/nsimusic or www.myspace.com/breakfastsong or call 603-436-7777.

The Twitch plays new tunes at The Page

Rock band The Twitch will play songs from its latest CD during a show at The Page in Portsmouth on Friday, Jan. 30, beginning at 9:30 p.m.

The band has developed a reputation as a hard rocking cover band with an arsenal of classics by everyone from AC/DC to Neil Diamond, Lynyrd Skynyrd to Stevie Wonder, Bad Company to Sublime and many others.

During the band’s five years of performing around the Seacoast at weddings, parties, bars and clubs, The Twitch has also developed original material. Recorded over a single weekend at Rocking Horse Studio in New Hampshire, the group’s untitled debut album features 11 tracks of hard rock and modern pop.

The Page Restaurant and Bar is at 172 Hanover St., Portsmouth, 603-436-0004. The Twitch also has an upcoming gig at Kelley’s Row in Dover on Saturday, Feb. 7. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/thetwitchonline.