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.

Alchemy of Art Opening – Wednesday August 8th 5:30-7:30

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

From Jim Clyde:
“When the immortal Scottish poet Robert Burns penned the words….”the best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang oft agley…” he must have had the plein air painter in mind.

Many times I have set up my easel in the brilliant sun of a mid-winter day only to find a short time later that the temperature has dropped 20 degrees and the wind has created a chill factor that renders one’s fingers inoperable.  Struggle on or pack it up?

Or the refulgent summer sky deteriorates into overcast and thunderstorms.  Not wishing to confirm Franklin’s theory of electricity, I fold up my easel and head home.

But there is nothing quite like painting outdoors, or “en plein air”.  Under the tutelage of Gloucester painter/teacher David Curtis, I have gained an appreciation of outdoor painting and the spontaneity that it necessarily generates.  By the way, you can always identify a painting that’s been done en plein air…. There are bugs and grass in the paint!”

Jim Clyde

Come join us to see Jim and his work this coming Wednesday evening to Alchemy’s brick room gallery from 5:30-7:30 PM.  And when you’re done taking in the view, if you’re still feeling frisky stick around for some live music by John Rockwell and some ladies night delights.  Music from 7-9.

Save $12 by getting your Blues Festival tickets before midnight tonight

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

“GMG readers deserve the best price available!”  That’s what Bob Hastings said in an email to me this morning.  And he’s right.  Click here to get your tickets for $28 on-line by midnight tonight or pay $40 (cash or check) at the gate on Saturday.

Gate opens at 9am on Saturday.

Weather looks good.

And so do Shemekia Copeland and Kenny Neal, two of the big stars you’ll see at the show.

You really don’t want to bemoan the fact that you missed Gloucester’s first-ever Blues Festival do you?

Be smart, click now and save 12 bucks.

Now, there’s no reason to wait until Saturday for great music.  In fact there’s even more music this week than there was last week — and last week may have been a record-breaking week of music on Cape Ann.  See this week’s full music lineup here.

Joey may wanna kill me, but . . .

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

I have to say that, certainly from musical perspective, today’s Festival By The Sea in Manchester is the place to be.  [just a little back-peddling, here] Now that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go to the Sidewalk Bazaar in the morning.  And if you’ve taken my advice (given here) you went on Thursday too.  But I gotta hand it to Festival By The Sea Music Director Chris Langathianos.  He put together a DYNAMITE LINEUP headlined by one of my favorite artists: Chelsea Berry with her HOT new band!  Just in case you missed them at North Shore Music Theatre, watch the video below and then tell me you’d rather be anywhere other than Masconomo Park at 6 tonight — REALLY?

And for later tonight you’ve got another 15 artists and Cape Ann venues to choose from.  WOW! See the full live music lineup here.

Where will you be next Thursday (8/9) at 1pm?

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

St. Peter’s Square would be the right answer … so you can join Mayor Kirk, the Lt. Governor for the Harbor Walk Ribbon Cutting and a special walk led by the Mayor.

This isn’t your usual boring ribbon cutting event, folks.  It’s the kick off to an extraordinary weekend, culminating in Gloucester’s first Blues Festival and highlighting everything Gloucester has to offer from our proud fishing heritage and continuous working waterfront to art, music, food, literature, heroism and the spectacular natural beauty that inspires every one of us.

Much of this is embodied in the Story Moments on granite posts along the harbor walk, supported by an excellent website and phone apps built by Mike Ciolino (see notice of the website launch here).

And that website features a WALKING CINEMA starring one of Gloucester’s best singers: Ann Marie of the Bandit Kings, Safety (and who backed up Chelsea Berry at North Shore Music Theatre on June 28).

See Ann Marie in the Walking Cinema intro below:

I can’t even begin to list all the music THIS WEEKEND — it’s going on RIGHT NOW at the Sitewalk Bazaar.  Just check out the full live music schedule here.

BREAKING NEWS: Fly Amero’s touring band, Orleans, welcomes co-founder/songwriter/guitarist John Hall for a 40th Anniversary Concert in honor of Larry Hoppen at NORTH SHORE MUSIC THEATRE ON AUGUST 31

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

You saw it on GMG FIRST.  Just like you heard about the sudden, tragic death of Fly’s longtime friend and band-mate Larry Hoppen last week (see post here).

The next day, Fly demonstrated the healing power of music (see that story here) and on August 31, the healing continues as the show goes on (see details here).

All of us who know Fly are celebrating the band’s commitment to music in honor of their friend and brother by inviting John Hall, who wrote the multi-platinum #1 hits Dance With Me and Still the One to join them for this very special 40th anniversary concert (get tickets here).  Here’s a video of John making a special appearance with the band last year.

Now I hope you’re reading this on your phone because that means you’ve taken the day off and are out at the Sidewalk Bazaar and planning to visit the Farmers Market and take in some music this evening.  See today’s AMAZING live music lineup here.

(There may even be tickets left to see Fly and Allen Estes on The Lannon at 6:30 — and, finally, the weather looks good.  Call 978-281-6634 to find out).

Rudder Red Sox Raffle & Fundraiser for ALS

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

From Greg Halle:
This Saturday August 4th Rudder’s entire waitstaff will be donating between 20-50% of their tips to help support ALS research, a cause which is very close to our hearts. Our owner Dennis will be matching all their donations as well.

Rudder Red Sox Raffle & Fundraiser for ALS

We will also be raffling off box seats for 2 different Red Sox games in August…Raffle tickets are just $10.00

Winners will be contacted directly & will be announced on our facebook page and on Twitter

A big thank you to Ruby Wines & United Liquors for donating raffle prizes 🙂

Where: The Rudder at Rockyneck
When: Saturday, August 4th
Time:  Starts at 5:0pm

Sneak Peak at Tonight’s Local Music Seen with Allen Estes

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Tune into Cape Ann TV Channel 12 tonight at 6:30 to see three generations of Estes Boys. Here’s a short clip from the show that Lisa Smith just sent over.

If you’re not on vacation, find an excuse to take tomorrow off

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

There’s so much going on tomorrow that it’s just not a good day to be at work.

Gloucester’s Sidewalk Bazaar kicks off at 9am and must be better than ever — otherwise why would our boy Joey represent?

Click here to download the complete Sidewalk Bazaar Schedule

The Farmer’s Market starts at 3pm at Stage Fort Park — remember it’s ON, regardless of the weather.  And the knife guy (forgot his name) will be there this week.  I’m bringing my precious Sabatier French knife that I got in 1974 so he can fix the curve, which I have not been able to maintain properly because I only have a stone, not a grinder.  More on that later . . .

At 6:30pm Allen Estes and Fly Amero will be on the Schooner Lannon for a gorgeous Sunset Music Sail.  Call 978-281-6634 for tickets.  Seeing these two aboard the Lannon is a must.  No mics, no amps, no speakers.  You know you’re in the presence to world-class musicians when there’s literally nothing between you and the sound of voices and guitars.

For all of you who won’t fit on the Lannon, check out Nights on the Neck, which starts at 5pm.  This week you can see singer/songwriter and Noise founder/editor T Max at 8:45.

And of course there’s the Harbor Loop Concert starting at 6:30 — always a good time –and you can bring your kids and watch them dance.  If you video your kids dancing (or other kids) put it up on YouTube and paste the link in a comment to this post.  We’ll show it to all of Gloucester.

If that’s not enough, six other venues have music of all kinds.

But let’s not forget about tonight!  Fly Amero is back from Larry Hoppen’s memorial service and will host the great Inge Berge at Rhumbline.  Marina Evans joins Dennis Monagle at Minglewood.  Steve Caraway hosts an open mic at Catch 22 …

Whew!  I could go on and on.  See the complete live music schedule here.

Two Cable shows feature new music tomorrow (Wednesday)

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Two excellent shows premiere tomorrow (Wednesday) on Cape Ann TV Channel 12.  At 6:30pm, Allen Estes welcomes his family for a special, very lively Local Music Seen that’s sort of like a peek into the family living room.

Then at 7:30pm Blues Festival producers Bob Hastings and Paul Benjamin are Rick Sagall’s guest on Cape Ann Report — complete with footage of some of the stars of the festival.  See a preview of that very special show below.

Tonight you can see some of Cape Ann’s finest musicians for free and if you have tickets to  the sold out Ladysmith Black Mambazo concert at Shalin Liu, you’re in for a treat!  See the full live music lineup here.

Thought you had plenty of time to save $12 on the Blues Festival? Time is running out.

Posted on by Vickie & Peter
Henri Smith with an all-star band at North Shore Music Theatre 6/30/12
Henri Smith will open the Gloucester Blues Festival next Saturday 8/11 at 11am
photo by Paul Lyden

You’ve only got ONE MORE WEEK to purchase tickets for $28.  On-line ticket sales END next Monday (Aug 6).  After that, tickets will be $40 at the gate.  Get your tickets here.

It’s a big week for music on Cape Ann, with over 30 artists just through Friday.  Something for every taste — from Sea Shanties to South Africa to Soul to Sing-A-Long — performing in restaurants, pubs, schooners, parks, concert halls, theatres . . . even in the streets.  See full music lineup here.

“Wish I could be wrong that often and get paid that much”

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That’s what I hear people say when weather predictions fail, as they did this week.  The Harbor Loop Concert and Seafood Throwdown were both canceled on Thursday due to warnings of severe thunderstorms and flash floods.  Not a drop of rain fell.  The Farmers Market braved the storm that never was and now they all look like geniuses!  So next time the weather man or woman predicts severe weather on a Summer Thursday, go to Stage Fort Park and join the good people who put on the Farmers Market RAIN OR SHINE in defiance.

When light rain finally fell yesterday, the Zip Line Kid spent the entire time outside with a friend — not necessarily in defiance — neither of them seemed to care that it was raining.  Or perhaps they were inspired by it.  They got out a big barrel, filled it up with water, threw stuff in and went bobbing — reveling in the joy of childhood.  Joey would have gotten a good picture of it.  Vickie and I just sat on the porch with a glass of wine and relished the gentle warm rain on a midsummer night.

Regardless of what the unpredictable weather decides to hand us tonight, there’s plenty of good music around the Cape.  It’s going on right now and will continue into the wee hours.  See the full live music lineup here.

REGGAE BASHMENT ON THE HIGH SEAS – CANCELLED TONIGHT

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REGGAE BASHMENT ON THE HIGH SEAS HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY AUGUST 11TH DUE TO WEATHER. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCES AND WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO ROCKING THE BOAT ON AUGUST 11TH.   If you have any questions you can contact Lara 603 759 6487.  

How does Carlos do it all?

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

At 7pm Carlos Menezes (2nd from right on sax in the video below) leads Cape Ann Big Band at Shalin Liu (Call the box office 978-546-7391 to see if there are any tickets left).

Then at 9pm he’s at Cape Ann Brewery with The Runaround.  You’d think that he’d be exhausted after all that, but Carlos …?…  probably not.  He’ll have enough energy for a third gig starting at midnight, if you want to book him … 🙂

And he’s not the only performer doing two shows today.  Allen Estes will be in the courtyard at the Cape Ann Museum at 4pm and then at Heath’s Tea Room with Mike O’Connell at 7pm.

Because this is Gloucester, there are another dozen shows to choose from tonight.  See the full live music lineup here.

Fly Amero & his friends transform a dark day into a night of healing through music

Posted on by Vickie & Peter
L-R: J.B. Amero, Wolf Ginandes (behind J.B), Fly Amero, Dave Brown last night @ the Rhumbline

“How can you be here tonight?” was the question asked of Fly Amero by friends and fans who knew he had lost his dear friend of over 3 decades and band-mate Larry Hoppen, one of the founders of Orleans, who had died less than 24 hours earlier.

“The show must go on,” replied Fly.  “It’s not just a slogan, you know.  Everyone in the entertainment business takes it very seriously.  If Lance [Larry Hoppen’s brother, another Orleans founding member] had a gig tonight, he’d be there too.”

Fly began by delivering the terrible news for those who didn’t already know, followed by 3 Orleans classics.  By the time the crowd sang, with Fly, the last chorus of Dance With Me, we had all been lifted through Fly’s personal grief to a higher place only music can take you.

Then Fly’s friends began to share the stage with him: Wolf Ginandes on bass, Allen Estes on harmonica.  The energy shifted a little, from memorial to entertainment.  Finally J.B. and Dave Brown joined Wolf & Fly to bring the house down!

Fly thanked the crowd for sharing this “living room” with him during a difficult time.

Something special — indeed magical — was at work last night.  Everyone felt it.

Thank you, Fly, for using music and your extraordinary rapport with your audience to heal all of us a little bit last night.  We hope you were healed a little too.

Tomorrow’s Seafood Throwdown Postponed

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This just in from Seafood Throwdown organizer Sandy Farrell:

We are disappointed to have to postpone this week’s SeaFood ThrowDown at the Farmer’s Market. The National Weather Service is predicting a rough day tomorrow with rain, thunder, and strong wind gusts possibly in store for us. With all of the planning and effort around the tents, electricity, and audio- not to speak of the chefs, judges, set-up crew and audience, it seems prudent to not make a last minute decision.

We have a second event scheduled for Thursday, August 23rd; I am hopeful that this match will occur then but need to reconfirm with everyone involved. Our thanks to the many people who had graciously agreed to donate their time to making this event possible, Classic Cooks, Sugar Magnolia’s, Cape Ann Fresh Catch, The “Fillet King”, Beacon Street Farm, our Youth Judge Team, and not least of all, Peter Van Ness of gimme sound.com We hope to see you in August.

And, Niki Bogin, Market Manager wants to remind you that, regardless of the weather, the Market itself will be open from 3pm-6:30pm, and the parking is always free on Market days.

Larry Hoppen, one of the founding members of the band Orleans, passed away last night.

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

July shows are cancelled, but Lance Hoppen intends to finish the rest of this year’s tour in his brother’s honor with the first East Coast show at North Shore Music Theatre on August 31.   Our thoughts and prayers are with Fly and all of the band during this dark time.

Official press release from the desks of Lance Hoppen and George T. Gilbert, Esq

Larry Hoppen, one of the founding members of the band Orleans, passed away on July 24th, 2012. Born on Long Island, New York, Hoppen was 61 years old.

Larry Hoppen

Between 1969 and 1971, his Ithaca, NY- based band, Boffalongo, made two LPs for United Artists. The second included the original recording of “Dancin’ in the Moonlight”, later a hit by friends King Harvest. Soon after Boffalongo disbanded in late 1971, Larry got a call from (former US Congressman, D-NY, 19) John Hall, inviting him to come to Woodstock, NY to join with the late Wells Kelly and John to form Orleans which he did in early 1972. Larry’s younger brother, Lance, joined the band the following fall. Tens of millions know Larry’s uplifting tenor from the Orleans hits “Still the One”, “Dance With Me” and “Love Takes Time”.

Larry also performed and/or recorded with Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Livingston Taylor, Lulu, Graham Parker, Blues Traveler, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Michael Franks, Levon Helm, the late great Michael Brecker, the late great Chet Atkins, the late great Artie Traum, John Sebastian, Bela Fleck, Felix Cavaliere, Edgar Winter, Robbie Dupree, Spencer Davis, Rick Derringer, Mark Farner, John Ford Coley, Jimi Jamison, John Cafferty and many more notable artists.

Larry released 2 solo albums: “HandMade” and “Looking for the Light”, the latter being a flagship fundraising vehicle for his 501(c)3 nonprofit Sunshine for HIV Kids.

Larry was still touring with Orleans, including brother Lance and youngest brother Lane, and was scheduled to appear on Fox TV’s nationwide “Fox & Friends’ All-American Concert Series” show this coming Friday, July 27th.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Smith Hoppen and his daughters, Claire and Maeve, as well as his bothers, Lance and Lane and his sister, Lynda.

The Family asks that since Larry’s passion was feeding hungry people, his friends and fans can honor his memory by making a contribution to their local food bank in his name.

Patricia Smith Hoppen and her daughters ask the media to please respect their privacy at this difficult time.

Dennis Monagle welcomes the Dejas to Minglewood again ~ always a great show

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If you haven’t seen this enchanting duo, check them out tonight at Minglewood Tavern.  Rumor has it they may even perform at the next Block Party.  Stay tuned for word on that  . . .

If you want to be outside tonight, you have two great choices:  Remember, Conscious Reggae Band will be in Masconomo Park (rescheduled from yesterday) and Compaq Jazz Band at Stage Fort Park.  Get details and the full live music lineup here.

See Gloucester Legend, Fly Amero, on TV Friday Morning

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Tune in to Fox & Friends All-American Concert Series Live from Manhattan at about 7:30am this Friday (7/27) to see Fly’s band, Orleans, perform and be interviewed.  

The show starts at 6am.  Orleans will be interviewed at about 7:30am.  Then you’ll hear  portions of 4 to 5 tunes for lead-ins and lead-outs of the show.

At around 8:50, Orleans will perform and entire song for live broadcast.  The show ends at 9am, but immediately following there’s an on-line segment called After the Show Show, where Orleans will perform another 2 or 3 songs and be interviewed again.  Not sure if that will stream live or be posted later.  Here’s a link to it (Craig Morgan, featured guest on Friday 7/13, is at that link now).

If you’re not up that early, just tape it and watch at your leisure.  It’s always fun to see local talent on the National stage.  Way to go, Fly!