Pondering Judd and Scalawag rock Biddy’s

Dover-based country-rock band Pondering Judd will follow up an invigorated performance at Biddy Mulligan’s last month with another show at the Irish pub on Saturday, March 21. This time, Judd will be joined by Manchester-based Americana band Scalawag. 

Fronted by singer and guitarist Martin England, Pondering Judd has released six albums since forming in 1993 and has toured across the nation. The band won three consecutive Spotlight Awards for Best Rock Band on the Seacoast from 2004 to 2006.

Hailing from such familiar area bands as The Makem and Spain Brothers, Marty Keystone, Full Tilt Boogie and The Freeks, the four members of Scalawag have been performing in New England for about 15 years. The band solidified its sound in 2002 and released its debut album, “Wheel on Steel,” in 2006.

The show begins at 9 p.m. at Biddy Mulligan’s, 1 Washington St., Dover, 603-749-1100. For more on Pondering Judd, visit www.ponderingjudd.com. For more on Scalawag, visit www.scalawagmusic.com.

Unbunny returns for show in Portsmouth

Former Portsmouth resident Jarid del Deo will return to the Seacoast to take the reigns of his locally-born band Unbunny during a show at ellO gallery & shop on Thursday, March 19. Joining Unbunny in Portsmouth will be local artists Guy Capecelatro III, Paper Birds and Gregg Porter.

Now based in Seattle, del Deo is an indie folk-rock artist with a gentle voice oft compared to Neil Young and a sad, wistful style likened to Elliot Smith. With Unbunny, the singer-songwriter and guitarist has released five albums, most recently “Snow Tires” in 2004. His guests at ellO are mostly former collaborators from his Seacoast days.

The show begins at 8 p.m. at ellO gallery & shop, 110 State St., Portsmouth, 603-433-9110. Jarid del Deo will also play a few songs on Capecelatro’s radio show on 106.1 WSCA at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18.
For more on Unbunny, visit www.myspace.com/unbunny.

Two Old Friends in Stratham

Old pals Mac McHale and Emery Hutchins will offer an evening of Irish and traditional country music at Wiggins Memorial Library in Stratham on Tuesday, March 24. Known as Two Old Friends, the pair of multi-instrumentalists and vocalists will sing harmonies while playing banjo, guitar, mandolin, concertina, bodran and octave mandolin.

Mac and Hutch, as they are affectionately known, were the original founders of Celtic folk act Northeast Winds, with whom they toured and recorded for 15 years. McHale is also the founder of Mac McHale & the Old-Time Radio Gang, while Hutchins also performs with the Irish group Angel Band. Made possible by a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council, the show in Stratham will feature Irish sea songs, string instrumentals and some popular sing-a-longs.

The music begins at 6:30 p.m. in Wiggin Memorial Library, 10 Bunker Hill Ave., Stratham, 603-772-4346. For more on Two Old Friends, visit www.thebluegrassstore.com/2_old_friends.htm.