Lemonheads frontman Dando heads to Dover: Former Lemonheads frontman Evan Dando, whose fame flourished and faded during the alternative rock era of the 1990s, will perform a solo show at the Dover Brick House on Friday, March 11. He’ll return to the Seacoast with Juliana Hatfield on Saturday, March 26, for a gig at the Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury, Mass.

Dando, who recently celebrated his 44th birthday, grew up in the Boston area and started The Lemonheads as a punk outfit in the mid 1980s. In the early ’90s, after several lineup changes, the group signed with Atlantic Records and released its major-label debut, “Lovely,” showcasing a new alt-rock sound.

The popularity of alternative rock reached its summit around 1992, the same year The Lemonheads release their biggest album, “It’s a Shame about Ray.” Riding the success of an up-tempo cover of Simon & Garfunkle’s “Mrs. Robinson,” the album was eventually certified gold platinum, as was its follow-up, “Come on Feel the Lemonheads.”

The band split up a few years later as Dando battled drug addiction and vanished from the spotlight. He launched a solo career in the early 2000s, returning to prominence with the 2003 album “Baby I’m Bored.” He later reunited with The Lemonheads to release an eponymous record, as well as an album of covers called “Varshons.” 

Mark Lind of The Ducky Boys will open the show in Dover, followed by the Seacoast’s own punk rocker Geoff Useless. The show begins at 9 p.m. on March 11 at the Dover Brick House, 2 Orchard St., Dover, 603-749-3838. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 day of show.  

English rock band Gomez will open for Dando and Hatfield on March 26. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the Blue Ocean Music Hall, 4 Oceanfront North, Salisbury, Mass., 978-462-5888. Tickets are $32.50 to $60. 

Martin Sexton on his way to Salisbury: Soulful singer-songwriter Martin Sexton, who performed at the Rochester Opera House in November, will return to the Seacoast for a show at the Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury, Mass., on Saturday, March 12.

A native of New York, Sexton’s recording career began in the early 1990s with the self-produced demo “In the Journey.” He built his name with a series of subsequent recordings, including “Black Sheep,” “The American,” “Wonder Bar,” and “Live Wide Open.” He launches his own label, KTR, in 2002, and his career reached new heights in 2007 with his most successful album to date, “Seeds.” Sexton’s latest studio release, “Sugarcoating,” came out in 2010. 

The show begins at 8 p.m. on March 12 at the Blue Ocean Music Hall, 4 Oceanfront North, Salisbury, Mass., 978-462-5888. Tickets are $45.

The Loft set to open with rock, writing and comedy: The Seacoast’s newest performing arts venue will open its doors in early April with a concert from indie rock band Buffalo Tom. The Music Hall Loft in downtown Portsmouth has scheduled concerts and events throughout the month.

Located at 131 Congress St., just around the corner from The Music Hall, the 120-seat room will host music, theater, dance, literature, comedy, and other events. It will also offer educational programs, workshops and artist receptions for all ages.

Three signature series will launch in April, beginning with Live @ the Loft, a live radio show presented in collaboration with New Hampshire Public Radio. National and regional singer-songwriters will perform in front of a live and radio audience, with interaction from host and local musician Bob Lord.

Boston-based trio Buffalo Tom, who just released their eighth CD “Skins,” will kick off the series on Saturday, April 2, beginning with a live radio broadcast at 8 p.m. The band will perform songs and converse with Lord about their artistic process. A post-broadcast set will follow at 9:30. Tickets are $18 to $22.

Other installments of Live @ the Loft include Frazey Ford on Saturday, April 9 ($18 to $22), Stew and the Negro Problem on Saturday, April 16 ($22 to $25), and Patty Larkin on Saturday, April 23 ($18 to $22). All events begin at 8 p.m.

The Writers in the Loft series, presented in partnership with RiverRun Bookstore, kicks off on Wednesday, April 13. Newburyport author Andre Dubus III will present his new memoir “Townie” and participate in a Q&A beginning at 7 p.m. The program is similar to The Music Hall’s Writers on a New England Stage series but in a smaller, more intimate setting. Tickets are $37 to $40 and include a copy of the book and a chance to get it signed, as well as a bar beverage.

Currents at the Loft, a series consisting of music, spoken word, dance, comedy, and integrated arts from regional artists, begins on Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30. Super Secret Project, a comedic music team that recently unveiled its follow-up video to the viral sensation “Granite State of Mind,” will perform at 7 and 9 p.m. on April 29 and at 7 p.m. on April 30. Tickets are $19 to $23.

The Loft will also host a free community open house on Sunday, April 10, from 2 to 8 p.m. Guests can get a peek at the new space and enter a raffle to win a pair of tickets to a performance at The Loft.

Tickets to all April events are on sale now to Music Hall members and will be available to the general public beginning March 12. Call 603-436-2400 or visit www.themusichall.org.

 

 

< Prev		Next >