Author: Vickie & Peter

Vickie grew up in Iowa. Lived in Silicon Valley & NYC. Peter has lived all over (NJ, NY, CH, IN, CA, MA, etc.) We chose to live and raise our family in Gloucester. Owners of gimmesound.com & Van Ness Group. Producers of gimmeLIVE concerts.

Block Party Dates Announced. Will Hunt New Artistic Director.

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Block Party Head, Valerie Marcley, sent along the good news . . .

It’s Party Time Gloucester! Block Party Dates Announced
Will Hunt Accepts Artistic Director Position

Will HuntThe Downtown Gloucester Block Parties will be held July 20, August 17 and September 21 beginning at 6 pm. Main Street transforms into an entertainment mall with live performances, al fresco dining, stores open until 11 pm and Kids’ Town for the youngsters.

Block Party organizers are thrilled to announce Will Hunt as the new Artistic Director. Hunt is a skilled musician familiar with performers from Cape Ann and beyond. He has equipped and been technical director for Block Party stages. Hunt contributes innovative vitality to the Block Parties.

“I’m pleased to take on the role of artistic director this year. I’m planning some exciting new bands and performers as well as favorites from previous years.”

Chief Blockhead, Valerie Marcley states, “Will has the talent and knowledge we need to become an even better event.”

Lucinda Seigel has accepted the post of Merchant Liaison, helping the stores organize for the three parties. “Lucinda is very sharp, has international business experience and is a skilled organizer with wonderful enthusiasm!” states Marcley.

To take part in the dynamic Block Party Series please contact the following.
Those who wish to perform contact Will Hunt at:whuntrock@gmail.com
Main Street Merchants contact Lucinda Seigel:lseigel1@gmail.com
Restaurants contact Mark McDonough:northshorerestaurantgroup@gmail.com
Sponsor and donation inquiries to Judith Brackley:jbrackley2@comcast.net
Press, Vendors, Suggestions & all other inquiries contact: glostablockpahty@gmail.com

The Block Party welcomes performers in all genres including theater, comedy, music and dance. Street performers are also invited. 

The Downtown Gloucester Block Party Series is a project of

the non-profit Cape Ann Business Incubator.

www.glostablockparty.com

Free Wine Tasting next Thursday @ The Cave on Main St 4-6pm

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

You really don’t want to miss this — plain & simple.  If you’ve been to The Cave, you know what we mean.  If you haven’t , you’re truly missing out on a new Main Street gem.  Check them out ahead of time and mark next Thursday 5/23 4-6pm on your calendar.

The Cave

Sugar & Spice Tasting

Clothbound

May 23rd from 4-6

Join us at The Cave for beautiful Italian wines, sumptuous cheese and salts from the waters off Marblehead. Complimentary. Hope to see you there.

The Cave
44 Main Street
Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
978-283-0896

When does “the season” start? Today!

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Live music is already playing at Motif #1 Day (see Motif #1 live music schedule here).  Brad Byrd headlines at 4pm in Dock Square.  All free!

Then it’s a HUGE night on Cape Ann.  You can’t possibly see it all, so you’re gonna have to choose.  See the full live music lineup here.  Aren’t you glad you live in a community with a vibrant local live music scene?  Twenty Two local artists performing today alone!

Crowell Chapel is a gem of a venue in Manchester and tonight you can see award-winning Boston singer/songwriter Meg Hutchinson with local rising star, Joe Wilkins opening.   Get tickets here.  Here’s a taste of Meg:

Top Boston Area Blues artist Gracie Curran to open Gloucester Blues Fest

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

This just in from Bob Hastings of the Gloucester Blues Festival:  Hailed by Alternate Roots Magazine as one of the top 20 Boston Bands Right Now, Gracie Curran & the High Falutin’ Band will open the Gloucester Blues Festival on August 10.

This April’s Noise Magazine proclaimed, “Gracie is one of the best blues divas on the local scene.”  Bob says she’s likely to join Lydia Warren during her set.  It’s the blues.  Who knows what will happen.  See videos of the rest of this year’s Blues Fest lineup in this post.

Gracie and the band won the 2013 Boston Blues Society’s Blues Challenge and is a Boston favorite.  Here’s a video them at Johnny D’s, one of my favorite places to go when I lived in Sommerville in the late ’70s / early ’80s.

Gloucester & Cape Ann Featured on Chronicle Tonight

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Last month, we previewed Chronicle star Ted Reinstein’s new book (see post here) with Motif #1 on the cover.

Tonight’s Chronicle at 7:30pm on Channel 5 previews his book for the first time on TV — and it features a segment on Gloucester & Cape Ann.  Don’t Miss it!

After the show, take advantage of this gorgeous weather and check out over a dozen artists playing live tonight around Cape Ann tonight.  See the full schedule here.

The Big, BIG STRUM Saturday, May 18

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

The Big, BIG STRUM
Saturday, May 18
The Gloucester House
63 Rogers Street
Gloucester, MA
Doors @7pm

Purchase tickets ($20-advance, $22-at the door)
The Gloucester House – 978-283-1812
Gloucester Music – 978-281-4874
Fly at the Rhumb Line Tonight!

 

Special Guest on Local Music Seen with Allen Estes

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Dave Foley & Rich Holerook came to the North Shore for a special taping of Local Music Seen with Allen Estes.  The show airs on Cape Ann TV Channel 12 Wednesday (tonight), at 6:30pm and it airs again Friday at 1:30pm and Sunday at 6pm.

Rich Holerook, Allen Estes, Dave Foley
Rich Holerook, Allen Estes, Dave Foley

Music for Hump Day & KBMG At Jalapeños on Thursday

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

I know it’s Hump Day and it looks like it’s going to rain, but get out tonight.  Fly as Ron Schrank as his special guest, Dennis Monagle has the amazing Dejas and you never know who is going to join John Rockwell.  See the full list here

KBMG will be at Jalapeños on Thursday to make up for the Water Main break.  Call now to make your reservation so you can welcome Dan King back to Gloucester.  Make your reservation now – 978-283-8228!

jalalpenos

Breaking News – Water Service Interuption on Main Street 5pm – 9pm from Hancock St to Washington St.

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

From City of Gloucester Website:

As a result of the work being done at the intersection of Main/Wash/Rogers Streets a broken gate valve has been discovered and is being repaired. Water service on Main Street from Hancock Street to Washington will be interrupted from 5pm – 9pm this evening (May 14th)

We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your patience as the crews work as quickly as possible to make the necessary repairs.

No KBMG at Jalapenos tonight ~ Check out the other great music tonight here

All Restaurants Closed from Hancock to Washington Street

KBMG back at Japapenos ~ Time to Plan for Summer Concerts!

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Think Ahead. Cape Ann top shows are selling out more often. You may not be able to wait till the last minute this summer! But you might get into Jalapenos to welcome Dan King back, if you call now 978-283-8228!   See complete live music listings here.

And don’t forget What time is it, Mr Fox? is playing Shalin Liu get your tickets now!

There is great music happening every night on Cape Ann -so get out and appreciate all the great music and musicians.

PODCAST: Allen Estes interviews Poco founder Rusty Young ~ See Poco on Friday @ Shalin Liu

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

The band who popularized country-rock and influenced the Eagles is coming to Shalin Liu on Friday and we were lucky enough to get Rusty Young, one of the band’s founders on the phone to talk about their new music and Friday’s show.

Local legend Allen Estes interviewed Rusty by phone and we’ve got the podcast of that interview right here.

[audio http://gimmesound.com/_media/Rusty.mp3]

There are still a few seats left for the Poco show at Shalin Liu on Friday, but they aren’t likely to last, so click here to get them now.

Remember back to Happy Days of the of the 50’s!

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Check out all the music happening on Cape Ann Here

What Kind of Music Do You Want to Hear Tonight?

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

There is so much going on tonight, I’m not sure how to decide what to do.  There is everything from paino bar ~ Brazilian ~ jazz ~ Beethoven ~ Rock ~Reggae ~ DJ Dance Party.  So get out there and enjoy all the great music on Cape Ann.  See Full List here

intergenerational benefit

Wow! What a weekend of great music starting tonight!

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

For all those guitar enthusiast Jason Vieaux is at Shalin Liu tonight.  His playing has been described as “spun magic,” creating cinematic vistas with a single instrument. Gramophone hails Vieaux is “…among the elite of today’s classical guitarists.”

Here are some of the weekend highlights: See the full schedule Here

The Runaround at the Rhumbline – Friday Night
Rabbit Foot at Minglewood – Friday Night
Cape Ann Symphony at Manchester High School – Saturday Night
Hoodoo Revelator at Captain Carlo’s – Saturday Night
Soul Rebel Project – Reggae at Minglewood – Saturday Night
Dub Apocalypse – At Madfish (opening weekend) – Saturday Night

Singer vs. Crowd

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

The deck is open.  We eat outside because Cape Ann Brew Pub is full inside.  People had come to hear Chelsea Berry and her friends and to support Boston Strong.  

After dinner, there’s room to stand inside to see the music.  It’s a relaxed, fun, lively atmosphere.  But it’s loud.  People are talking over the music.  You’ve been there right?  The band turns up.  The crowd talks louder.  It begins to feel like a contest.  Most musicians hate this.  They’d rather be playing to a listening crowd.  

Chelsea sings her song, “Blues House”, which is about this very problem.  From the back, it’s hard to hear her over the crowd.  But it’s too loud in there to carry on a conversation either.  I’ve always puzzled about this singer vs. crowd phenomenon.

Then something magical happens.  Chelsea sings her signature a cappella song, “King of Rome” and does something unexpected.  She leaves the mic.  Chelsea’s powerful voice is still heard over the din.  And the sheer power of her presence and performance begins to quiet the crowd.  Finally all you can hear is Chelsea’s soaring song about Charlie and his racing pigeon accompanied by the clanging of pots and pans in the kitchen as if it were an off-stage percussion section.

Singer vs. crowd.  Singer wins.  But so does the crowd.  Live music takes you to a place you simply cannot experience any other way.

BTW: This is the 100th anniversary of the 1001 mile race from Rome to England that Charlie Hudson’s racing pigeon, The King of Rome, won in 1913.

Glosta Strong supports Boston Strong Tonight

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

You know you’ve won over Joey when he starts a podcast with a joke about how much we love Chelsea Berry (listen to podcast here) and then within a week he’s promoting one of her events (see that post here).

Chelsea has a way of channeling what we’re all feeling through her music and tonight will be one of those magical moments when you’ll get to witness Gloucester’s top talent find hope in tragedy and do some real, tangible good in the process.  Come down to Cape Ann Brewing tonight at 5pm and experience the transformative power of music.

To get you in the mood, here’s a wonderful video by another one of Gloucester’s rising stars, Inge Berge.  How lucky we are to live in a community filled with such talented people who enrich our lives every day!  Let’s vow never to take them for granted.

Heroic Music for Mother’s Day ~ Beethoven “Eroica” & Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Check out this spectacular Cape Ann Symphony program for this Saturday 5/11 at Manchester High sent from Heidi Dallin of Cape Ann Symphony.   Don’t forget Kids under 19 are FREE!
CASMay13WHAT CAN BE MORE THRILLING THAN HEROIC MUSIC?

Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky

Beethoven’s Symphony № 3 (“Eroica” or “heroic” in Italian) was the first of his three great so-called heroic symphonies. Beethoven initially dedicated it to Napoleon but then rescinded the dedication when Napoleon crowned himself Emperor.

Tchaikosvsky’s orchestral Serenade is infinitely romantic: he conceived it as an homage to Mozart, whom he idolized, and declared it to be written “from the heart”. It was an instant success at its premiere in 1880 and has been an important part of the symphonic repertoire ever since.

The Program:

TCHAIKOVSKY Serenade for Strings

BEETHOVEN Symphony № 3 “Eroica”

Ticket Information for This Fabulous Mother’s Day Concert 

BeethovenRESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW for the May 11th Concert at 8pm, Manchester Essex Regional High School.
Adults $35 per person
Seniors $30 per person
Young Adults 19-24 $20 per person
Children under 19 Free

The Manchester Essex Regional High School is at 36 Lincoln Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. DIRECTIONS  

Beverly expects “largest crowd we’ve ever assembled” for Idol Homecoming at 3pm today

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

If you’re an American Idol fan, you might just want to cross the bridge this afternoon.

Angie Miller, who was graduated from Beverly High School last year, will be honored in a parade starting at Beverly City Hall today at 3pm ending with a free concert in the south fields at Beverly High School at 4pm.

The Beverly Patch reports that Beverly Mayor Bill Scanlon said he expects “thousands of people” for the “largest crowd we’ve ever assembled” during his 18 year tenure as Mayor.

Here’s a video of Angie performing Rihanna’s hit Diamonds

Then tonight there’s plenty of excellent music in Gloucester.  See the full schedule here.  Captain Carlos welcomes Jenny Dee and the Deelinquints back for what should be a great show.