New Blues Prodigy in Concert at Park Theatre
Veronica Lewis part of theatre's 100th anniversary celebration
JAFFREY, New Hampshire (April 18, 2022) Blues legend Jonny Lang broke onto the music scene in a big way at a very young age. He had a Grammy-nominated album by the time he was 17. Article upon article said he may only be a teenager, but he has a seasoned blues musician's voice and musical ability.
The same is being said for an 18-year-old young woman from the Monadnock Region whose career is skyrocketing. A pianist, singer, and songwriter, Veronica Lewis has dazzlingly sprung onto the music scene. Her first album, "You Ain't Unlucky," debuted at #2 on Billboard, #1 on iTunes, and #1 on Roots Music Report. Additionally, she is nominated for two 2022 Blues Music Awards (Best Emerging Artist and Pinetop Perkins Piano Payer of the Year).
Veronica Lewis is in concert on Friday, April 29, at the Park Theatre in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. She will be performing in the acoustically acclaimed, 333-seat Eppes Auditorium. Her concert is part of the theatre's 100th anniversary celebration weekend.
Lewis's achievements seem impossible at this young age but are very true. American Blues Scene said, "Every now and again, a young spitfire artist comes along and changes the game or at least ups the ante. Lewis does both." American Songwriter called Lewis "one of the most promising torchbearers of American rock 'n' Roll."
The Park Theatre concert with Veronica Lewis is at 7:30pm on Friday, April 29. Tickets are $25-$29. For details and tickets, go to theparktheatre.org/100anniversary or call the box office at (603) 532-8888. The Park Theatre performing arts center is located at 19 Main Street in downtown Jaffrey, NH. The facility is fully accessible.
In honor of the centennial occasion, The Park Theatre has established a special fund to help outfit the remaining sound, lighting, rigging and operational needs for the new theatre. Called The 100 Fund, tax-deductible donations can be made by going to park100fund.com.
Photo courtesy of the Park Theater
Comedy Central Comedian To Perform at Park Theatre
Jim McCue is headliner at April "Monadnock Knock-Knock" live stand-up show
JAFFREY, New Hampshire (April 19, 2022) The laughs continue in Jaffrey at The Park Theatre's April edition of their live stand-up comedy show, Monad Knock-Knock, on Thursday, April 21 at 8:00 p.m.
This month the headliner comedian is Jim McCue, a mixture of witty "A-list material" and his ability to work off-script has earned Jim McCue the title "Boston's King of Crowd Work!" It's not only his height of six foot six that makes Jim stand head and shoulders above club comedians of the "stick-to-the-script" variety. Jim blends thought-provoking material and uncanny improv skills with a style that encourages audience participation. No two shows are ever the same!
Jim has been featured on Comedy Central, Comcast Comedy Spotlight, NBC's "Last Comic Standing," RedEye on Fox news, Live at Gotham AXS TV, and "Roughing It" on NESN in his native New England. Jim also founded and currently runs The Boston Comedy Festival. He works in top comedy clubs in Boston, Las Vegas, New York, Dublin, Montreal, and Edinburgh.
Jim McCue went viral this year with his DryBar special "nothing personal" which has had over 3 million views, he has been featured on Comedy Central, Comcast Comedy Spotlight, NBC's "Last Comic Standing," Live at Gotham AXS TV, and "Roughing It" on NESN in his native New England.
Jim will be joined by featured comedian, Rich McCabe. Greg Boggis is host of the evening. The theatre's bar will be open for the event.
Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at theparktheatre.org, (603) 532-8888, or the box office. The Park Theatre performing arts center is located at 19 Main Street in downtown Jaffrey, NH. The bar will be open for this event. The facility is fully accessible.
Photo courtesy of the Park Theater
Events at Nova Arts Next Week
Nova Arts is proud to continue in person entertainment at 48 Emerald St in Keene NH!
On Wednesday, April 27, Deer Scout and Derek Russel Fimbel will be performing. Thursday, April 28 is a Honkytonk Night featuring The Rear Defrosters. Friday, April 29 StompBoxTrio will be playing.
Deer Scout was formed when lead singer Dena Miller was a freshman in college. Coming from a family with a rich folk influence Miller's distinctive playing and voice shines though, by creating tension-building string arrangements, droning pull-off riffs, and rattling drum play complicate the mix, channeling Americana and lo-fi forebears like Cat Power. Though the stillness in Miller's arrangements may give an initial sense of smallness, Deer Scout's songs are like dollhouse miniatures, laden with complexity. Through Miller's open-hearted yearning, Deer Scout's music feels at once safe and limitless.
Derek Russell Fimbel is a folk artist from New England where he discovered all the musical stylings he'd eventually lend his talents to. With influences from indie artists like Ben Kweller and folk songwriters like Gregory Alan Isakov, Derek performs his genuine songs in a blend of the contemporary and the traditional. With gentle but hard hitting, emotional vocals and writing along with dynamic, atmospheric guitar playing, Derek always has listeners' ears glued to his music, silently awaiting the next line.
The Rear Defrosters are essentially the house band here at Nova Arts, and we couldn't be happier about it. Come and see what all the fuss is about as the band, led by Michael Roberts, explores a wealth of country and western, classic honky tonk, and bluegrass.
StompBoxTrio is a Western MA-based group that blends classic 20th-century American blues, rock and soul music with 21st-century mojo to create a sonic, soulful, hip-shaking juggernaut all their own. Composed of vocalist and percussionist, Evelyn Harris (of Sweet Honey in the Rock), Guitarist, composer,vocalist, and producer John Cabán, and Paul Kochanski on upright bass, vocals & foot tambourine.
Tara Greenblatt's lyrics are potent, relevant, and soul stirring. Tara's band weaves lush arrangements and harmonies into her songs. Her words and music touch the souls of her listeners and explore our human connection to the natural world. Evocative and honest, the subject of her songs delve into personal experiences making the listener feel deeply. Her music and live performance put the listener in touch with themselves, with the light and shadow sides of being human, and with the pulse of life.
For these events doors open at 7:00 p.m. and music begins at 8:00 p.m. Tickets for these events can be purchased on our website novaarts.org, under the event tab. Don't forget to get your tickets to this year's Thing in The Spring, 35 bands on two stages over four days.
Nova Arts is supported by and under the fiscal sponsorship of Arts Alive.
Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts awards $58,134 in grants through their Racial Equity Grant Program
FITCHBURG, MA (April 13, 2022) - The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts (CFNCM), a public charity serving the philanthropic interests of donors in the north central region of the Commonwealth, has awarded $58,134 in grants through the Racial Equity Grant Program, which is focused on advancing racial justice and equity in the region by providing grants to nonprofit organizations that serve and empower communities of color and address systemic and institutional racism.
"These grants will help nonprofit organizations working to advance racial equity through youth empowerment, social justice, awareness, education, training and other innovative approaches that empower communities of color," said Stephen Adams, president of the Community Foundation. "We hope these grants will encourage others to support racial equity through the North Central Racial Equity Fund."
The breakdown of grants is as follows:
- $10,000 to Making Opportunity Count in Fitchburg
Funding will support the continued implementation of racial equity and social justice programs into the Youth Innovation Center's core programming portfolio. - $10,000 to Three Pyramids in Fitchburg
Funding will support six weeks of training to empower and share ideas, information and resources with multiracial community residents and youth. - $10,000 to the YWCA, Central Massachusetts in Worcester
Funding will support Racial Equity Workshops for nonprofit leaders, which aims to help leaders begin the work of dismantling racism in their organizations and communities. - $7,500 to Leominster High School
Funding will support a new speaker series: Celebrating the Success of Women of Color. Diverse leaders will speak to Leominster High School students about struggles, successes and advice as women of color serving their communities. - $5,634 to the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden in Harvard
Funding will support increasing outreach and engagement strategies centered around diversity. - $5,000 to the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust in Athol
Funding will support a collaboration with Nipmuc Cultural Preservation, Inc. to create cultural respect and use agreements, resource inventories, forest management and rematriation plans. - $5,000 to the Spanish American Center in Leominster
Funding will support hiring a consultant to conduct anti-racist work for the organization. - $5,000 to The Farm School in Athol
Funding will support The Farm School to build relationships with the Nipmuc people, deepening their analysis and historical understanding of systematic oppression linked to land disposition. They will also provide access and eventually offer to transfer approximately 180 acres of land currently owned by The Farm School to the Nipmuc people.
To support the North Central Massachusetts Racial Equity Fund, visit cfncm.org and click "Donate."
About Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts
The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts is a public charity that manages philanthropic funds established by individuals, families, businesses and non-profit organizations. We help philanthropists invest in the communities and causes they care passionately about. For more information, visit cfncm.org.