Tickets for new Rockport Music concerts go on sale today

Here’s a press release from Rockport Music announcing new concerts.  Check them out!

New Concerts in Winter & Spring at Rockport Music

Rockport Music announces several new concerts added to our 12-13 Season.  Experience the highest quality of concerts and presentations year-round at the stunning, seaside Shalin Liu Performance Center.

On Friday, February 15 at 8 pm, rapidly rising star jazz pianist Yoko Miwa performs with special guest jazz vocalist Rebecca Parris for an unforgettable evening of music.  The Yoko Miwa Trio was voted the 2012 Best Jazz Act by the Boston Phoenix and debuted their fifth CD Act Naturally in Japan. Regularly playing sold-out shows in Boston and New York City, Jazziz Magazine hails that “Yoko Miwa displays unpretentious melodies, elegant phrasing, and the lyrical sensibility of a jazz poet.” Known as “First Lady of Boston Jazz,” vocalist Rebecca Parris has reached legendary status in the New England jazz scene performing with jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, and Woody Herman.  A nine-time winner of the Boston Music Awards, Parris’ latest CD You Don’t Know Me had Jazz Journal International proclaiming that she, “…delivers lyrics with care and affection, with wit and flair, and her phrasing is exemplary.” (Jazz Journal International)  Tickets: $15-28

On Sunday, March 3 at 5 pm, the Bill & Bo Winiker Sextet, a Boston musical institution, will perform at the Shalin Liu Performance Center.  Bo and Bill Winiker were taught how to play music, and specifically jazz, by their father at a very young age.  Now, over 50 years later, they have moved on to record with Billy Joel and perform with Aretha Franklin at President Clinton’s inaugural ball.  With a repertoire of over 15,000 songs they cover for special occasions, they are also true jazz musicians.  Fred Taylor, founder of Sculler’s Jazz Club, says Bill and Bo Winiker are, “…really underappreciated for their great jazz knowledge and performance.”  Tickets: $15-$28

On Friday, March 8, at 8 pm, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the world-renowned Celtic ensemble Cherish the Ladies, the most sought-after Irish American group in the country. For nearly 25 years, the six-member, all-female group has been collecting awards and accolades from fans and critics worldwide, including the BBC’s Best Musical Group and Top North American Celtic Group at the Irish Music Awards. They have shared the stage with celebrated entertainers like James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, and The Chieftains. On their latest release, Country Crossroads, they teamed up with stars Vince Gill and Nanci Griffith; and their recording with the Boston Pops, The Celtic Album, led to a 1999 Grammy nomination.  “The band brilliantly…exudes a tremendous joie de vivre and deep nostalgia.” (The Irish Times-Dublin)  Tickets: $27-$49

Singer/songwriter Catie Curtis performs on Saturday, March 9, at 8 pm.  An American singer-songwriter dubbed a “folk-rock goddess” by The New Yorker, Catie Curtis tours extensively in diverse settings from Chicago’s legendary Old Town School of Folk Music to the White House.  A Lilith Fair alum and former tour mate of Mary Chapin Carpenter, this urban-folk powerhouse is one of the best singer-songwriters recording today.  Many of her recordings have been featured on episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, Dawson’s Creek and other TV series.  “With a clear, deceptively gentle voice, she can turn on a dime and thrill the listener with unforeseen power and emotion.”  rollingstone.com  Tickets: $18-$32

Returning by popular demand, the 17-piece Cape Ann Big Band will delight audiences on Friday, March 29, at 8 pm, with jazz, swing, soul, and rock n’ roll that will make you want to dance.  Led by Carlos Menezes, the diverse 17-piece big band performs big band classics from a nostalgic era like “Mack the Knife,” “I’ve Got You Under my Skin,” and “Take the A Train.”  Tickets:  $19-$34

On Thursday, May 2, at 7 pm, NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! makes its cinematic debut with a live broadcast of its popular news quiz show beamed into hundreds of theaters across the U.S., including the Shalin Liu Performance Center. Host Peter Sagal and official judge and scorekeeper Carl Kasell will be joined on-stage by panelists like Paula Poundstone and Mo Rocca to play the quiz in front of a live audience. Enjoy the familiar segments “Who’s Carl This Time?,” “Bluff The Listener,” “Not My Job,” “Limericks,” “Lightning Fill in the Blank,” and other audience favorites–all written around the news of the week. These presentations are made possible by NPR, WBEZ-Chicago, and BY Experience.  Tickets: $22 general admission

Described as “riveting” (Chicago Tribune) and “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly), Patty Larkin, a “guitar driven songwriter,” performs at the Shalin Liu Performance Center on Sunday, May 5 at 5 pm.  A winner of an unprecedented 11 Boston Music Awards, Larkin has re-interpreted traditional folk and rock melodies with her distinctive vocals and guitar wizardry for over 25 years.  In her latest CD 25, she uses her remarkable guitar skills and creative vocals to rework her favorite songs in an acoustic, unplugged performance.  “A virtuoso guitar player and mood-shaper…She is also a superb slide guitarist whose mature work is comparable to the best of Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda Williams.”  The New York Times  Tickets: $18-$32

For tickets or more information on these and other concerts in the 2012-13 Season, please visit our website at www.rockportmusic.org.  Concerts are added throughout the year, so make certain you check the website for new additions.  Tickets are also available through the Box Office at 978-546-7391 or visiting 35 Main Street, Rockport, MA.  The Box Office is open Monday-Friday, 10am-4 pm.

Plunger Freezin For A Reason Pete Frates Benefit at Good Harbor Beach Photo From Donna Ardizzoni

Plunger Freezin For A Reason Pete Frates Benefit at Good Harbor Beach Photo From Donna Ardizzoni

John Rockwell ~ Alchemy ~ Back in the saddle again

John Rockwell

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas/Hanukkah/Festivus/solstice.

I surely did. Nora and I put a lot of miles on the family car as we performed in this year’s Christmas Revels, 16 shows celebrating the season with an Irish emigration theme. Aside from being a big success for the non-profit Revels, Inc., it was a total gas to be on stage with talented friends old and new in one of the nicest performance halls around, and to share it with my daughter. It was a big commitment for her, including missing several holiday traditions in our little seaside village of Rockport: the Christmas tree lighting, caroling parties, etc.

jrrr
As the memories of late nights, bleary-eyed travel, a grueling performance schedule and neglected family are supplanted by the echoes of fabulous choral music and shared traditions with new friends, I am happy to report I will return to my regular Wednesday gig (7-9 pm) at ALCHEMY in Gloucester, beginning January 2.

If you seek a thoughtfully prepared menu, excellent drinks, cozy atmosphere and my goofy antics, I think you’ll enjoy it:

http://www.alchemybistro.com/index.php

I’d like to thank Chelsea Berry, Charlee Bianchini, Joe Cardoza and RenĂ©e Dupuis for minding the musical store while I was away.

Finally, I am grateful for all of you who came to performances and supported live music this past year. It really is a joy to sing for you!

John

Here is a slide show of many scenes from the production, set to our recording of “Deck The Hall”. It’s hard to describe the intense feelings of community, mutual admiration, affection and sheer fun we all had as cast members. Thank you, Revels!

Origami T-Rex Skull

From the same book I used for yesterday’s post. It was a great Christmas present!

Fr. Matthew Green

 

New Year’s Rockport Eve is Just a Few Days Away!

NEW YEAR’S ROCKPORT EVE will entertain you with clowns, cowboys, magicians, musicians – classical, pop, jazz, Dixieland, folk, country, gospel swing and rock and roll – ventriloquists, dance, drama, puppets, and MUCH, MUCH MORE! And, we have planned a spectacular midnight event that will be a truly memorable welcome to the beginning of a new year.

Our buttons ($15 adults, $6 children 12 & under, 3 & under, free–no button needed) are now available. Buttons can be purchased at the following locations:

In Rockport:

John Tarr Store, Main St.

Smith hardware & Lumber at the Lumber Desk, 3 Station Square

Toad Hall Bookstore, Main St.

In Gloucester:

Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, Commercial St.

House of Raven, Main St.

Gloucester Music, Main St.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION: Can I buy buttons on the 31st?

Buttons also sold on December 31st at Spiran Hall (our headquarters) on the corner of Broadway & School Street from noon ’til 11pm.

Many of our inns, B&B’s, and motels will be open and we suggest you make your reservations early. Click on the Food/Lodging link for a list of Rockport Inns with links to many of their web sites courtesy of rockportusa.com.

As a non-profit organization, we are continually engaged in fundraising. Besides tax-free donations (which we would welcome – make checks payable to NYRE, Inc.), we are offering items for sale. Please click on the Store button on the site navigation to order NYRE souvenirs.

Click image for Schedule
Click image for Schedule

The Latest Wicked Tuna Promo

http://vimeo.com/56452862

Check out Dave Marciano’s Official Site-

Hard Merchandise

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And Dave Tuna.com’s site-

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Sailor Stans Open The Morning Of The Rocky Neck Plunge!

Brenda Malloy writes-

    Happy Day Joey~
    thought I’d let you know that Sailor Stan’s Restaurant on Rocky Neck will be open for business the morning of the swim serving breakfast to the hearty souls and cheerleaders and bystanders of the Plunge (and everyone else too, of course).  8am to 11am, breakfast is on!
    PEACE!

Community Photos 12/29/12

William Dorey Langer submits-

Hi Joey, Happy New Year to you and yours! Here’s my entry to the Annisquam Lighthouse Photo Exhibit — all the best —

lighthouse beach hdr1

My Next Cell Phone Case Is A Lobster

submitted by StopKickingMe and Keith Trefry-

Video at Mashable– Lobster iPhone Case is Truly a Work of Art

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Famous Artists Teach at The Hive

Famous local artists Ken Knowles and Caleb Stone will teach at The Hive this Jan.2013!

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Go to www.arthaven.org for schedules and check out www.kenknowlesfineart.com and http://calebstoneart.com for a peek at these extraordinary painters!


Mary Ann DeLouise

Fish on Fridays

The Fish on Fridays series is a collaboration between Gloucester photographers Kathy Chapman and Marty Luster. Look for various aspects of Gloucester’s centuries-old fishing industry highlighted here on Fridays.

This week we have photographs of Cod from the Cape Ann Seafood Exchange (http://capeannseafoodexchange.com) and tuna from the line at Connolly Seafoods (http://www.steveconnollyseafood.com

tunaChapmanPhoto MarketCod Color work © Kathy Chapman 2012
http://www.kathychapman.com

DSCF0145 copy DSCF0140 copy

B+W photos © Marty Luster 2012
matchedpairs.wordpress.com
slicesoflifeimages.wordpress.com

 

The Ocean and the Wind are in charge on Thursday

Here is a couple of pictures of surfers at Magnolia Harbor and the bridge at GHB closed.

Wall of water coming towards the surfer

December 27, 2012 wall of water

December 27, 2012 surfing on Magnolia Beach

GHB

December 27, 2012 Good Harbor Bridge