Tag: Benefit for Meetinghouse at Gloucester UU Church

Meetinghouse Green

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni
Photography by Molly Haley, mollyhaley.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2021

THE EARLY RISERS PERFORM FRIDAY JULY 16 AT MUSIC ON MEETINGHOUSE GREEN
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation presents The Early Risers, Vermont folk duo Ashley Storrow and Putnam Smith,
in a free Friday evening concert on Meetinghouse Green at the corner of Middle and Church Street, July 16 at 6:00 p.m.
The Early Risers’ original work features vocal harmonies and lyrical arrangements for banjo, guitar, mandolin, piano, and
shruti box. Free-will donations go to Backyard Growers, the evening’s featured local non-profit partner, connecting people
and communities through access to healthy food. Local food vendor for the evening is the Common Crow. The 2021 summer
music series is dedicated in memory of Harry Hintlian for his encouragement, generosity, and for making the Meetinghouse
a net zero building. For more information, a full schedule of upcoming concerts, and to sign up for the GMF newsletter,
visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

Ashley Storrow and Putnam Smith began separate careers as singer/songwriters but joined forces in 2015 to form The Early Risers.
The duo has performed across the continent from Maine to Texas, California, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Their 2019 debut
album, Making Life Sweet, was listed as #1 on the national Folk DJ Charts. The Early Risers music lingers in the heart, mind, and
imagination, and one reviewer noted, “Their music is comfort food.”

CONCERT DESCRIPTION
Music on Meetinghouse Green, now in its sixth season, features nine free Friday evening concerts with great music, favorite foods
from local vendors, and benefits a different North Shore non-profit organization each week through free-will donations from the
audience. Concert goers bring lawn chairs and blankets to spread out across the spacious green. Performances are handicap accessible,
parking on the Green is limited to persons with disabilities only.

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2015, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to preserving the landmark building as a civic hub, entertainment
venue, and community center. In addition to its work to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, GMF is currently raising funds to restore
Meetinghouse Green to provide a safe and more flexible outdoor concert and event venue.

OUR SPONSORS
Thanks to our Sponsors all the series’ expenses, such as for the musicians, are pre-paid. 100% of the free-will donations go to our non-profit community partners.

Platinum             John & Janis Bell, J.J. & Jackie Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank, J. Linzee Coolidge, Scobie Ward

Gold                      BOMCO, Michael & Mary Ann Bresnan, Landesign, Inc.

Silver                  Anonymous, Tom Burger & Andrée Robert, JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Pat Johnson & Jeff Henderson, Susan McKain & Ken Steiner, Charles Nazarian, John & Sandra Ronan
Bronze                Jerry Ackerman, Karen Bell, Pamela Bynum & Henry Ferrara, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Frederick Cowan, Richard Gardner, Rev. Janet Parsons, Dick Prouty,
Joe & Maggie Rosa, Peter & Kathleen Van Demark, Kathleen Williams, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer & Michael Dyer

 

Big weekend for local music stars: Tonight @ 7:30, Tomorrow AM @ 9

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

HenriCDCoverTonight at Beverly’s Larcom Theatre, Gloucester’s Henri Smith releases his first CD in a decade (recorded live at the Larcom in March) with a concert celebration that will, of course, include dancing a traditional New Orleans Second Line parade in the aisles.

Vickie and I produced the CD and Vickie designed the CD case and disc.

This will be your last chance to get your CD signed by Henri and the band before the holidays.  Very good seats still available in the balcony (here) and a few good seats also left in the orchestra (here).

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L-R: Allen Estes, Aurelia Nelson, Charlie Farren

Tomorrow morning Allen Estes & Charlie Farren are Aurelia Nelson’s guests on her 104.9 show Curtain Up at 9am (Worth getting up for!)

You get to hear a new song and a taste of the Solstice experience you can expect next Saturday 12/20 when they perform with young, rising Boston Blues star, Danielle Miraglia in a benefit for Gloucester’s UU Church Meetingbouse Restoration.  This will be a festive night of original rock, blues and Americana music with a few traditional holiday sing-along favorites.  Tickets are still available.  Get them here.

 

BREAKING NEWS: Charlie Farren to headline Cape Ann Winter Solstice – Get Tix Tomorrow (SAT) At the Cape Ann Farmers Market Before they go on sale to the public

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Just Announced: Boston Rock Star Charlie Farren of FARRENHEIT and THE JOE PERRY PROJECT will headline this year’s Cape Ann Winter Solstice concert hosted by Allen Estes with Rising Boston Blues Star Danielle Miraglia (who blew the crowd away with James Montgomery at this year’s Celebrate Gloucester benefit for The Open Door).

You can get tickets to this very special event at The Cape Ann Farmers Market’s first Indoor Market is tomorrow (SAT) 10am – 1pm at Gloucester’s UU Church. Just go to the Farmers Market and look for the UU Church table.

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John Sebastian on Aurelia Nelson’s 104.9 Radio Show, Curtain Up tomorrow at 9AM

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

North Shore 104.9’s Curtain Up host, Aurelia Nelson welcomes Rock n Roll Hall of Famer John Sebastian, of The Lovin’ Spoonful as her guest tomorrow (SUN) morning at 9AM on 104.9FM.

John is a wonderful storyteller, so this show is certainly worth getting up for.  You’ll get a taste of the kind of stories you’ll hear in between his #1 hit songs when he performs next Saturday 9/13 at Gloucester’s UU Church Meetinghouse. GET TICKETS HERE.

Karen McDonald, star of “Doubt” opening at Stoneham Theatre next Friday is Aurelia’s other guest.

What a powerhouse show this will be!

 

You have until noon tomorrow to save $10

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

EntrainPoster_900bJust because tomorrow’s Entrain concert will help raise money for Gloucester’s UU Meetinghouse Restoration Fund doesn’t mean you should pay more than you have to.

Yesterday we told you the minute a few good seats were released for John Sebastian (they were gone within an hour of our post).  Today we’re giving you fair warning that $20 advance tickets for Entrain will be gone by noon tomorrow.

So get down to the Liquor Locker tonight or when they open tomorrow at 8am.  Or get advance tickets online here.

Big week in Gloucester for Brian Alex

Posted on by Vickie & Peter
Brian Alex on Local Music Seen with Allen Estes

You know that Gloucester’s music scene is going places when we can attract a star like Entrain’s Brian Alex three times in the same week!

Tonight (WED) he’ll be the featured guest on the Cape Ann TV show “Local Music Seen with Allen Estes” airing at 6:30pm.  And if you miss it, you can watch the whole show on-line here.

Tomorrow, you can see him live at The Rhumb Line 8:30pm with Dave Sag, John Keegan, John Hyde, Mark Earley and Ephraim Lowell.

Then on Saturday, he’ll be fronting the ENTRAIN benefit for Gloucester’s UU Church Meetinghouse at 8pm (save $7.25 if you get tickets here).  It’s a good week to get a taste of Brian’s extraordinary and versatile talent!

There’s something primal about drums — Feel it SAT @ Gloucester’s UU Church Meetinghouse

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

EntrainPoster_900bArchaeologists have dated instruments back at least 37,000 years. They figure the first ones were likely made long before that and were probably flutes and drums.  Suffice it to say that when we hear and feel drums, most of us react instinctively by moving — even if it’s just a little bit — and our consciousness changes a little bit too.  This Saturday, you can feel what I’m talking about at Gloucester’s UU Meetinghouse when we present ENTRAIN.  In case you haven’t guessed, it’s the perfect venue to experience drums for lots of reasons.  Built in 1806, it’s the oldest standing church building in Gloucester; it’s made of wood; the acoustics are spectacular!

Don’t wait until the last minute.  Get your tickets now and save $10.

More music to benefit Gloucester’s UU Church Meetinghouse

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Thanks, to everyone who came out to support Gloucester’s UU Church Meetinghouse Restoration last Saturday — and especially to 3rian King, Chelsea Berry, Renee Dupuis, Joe Cardoza, Brendan Burns, Meff & Dennis Monagle, who delivered a stellar performance that had the crowd swaying and singing to “All You Need Is Love!”

Next Saturday we change it up a bit and ROCK THE MEETINGHOUSE with Martha’s Vineyard-based, six-piece ENTRAIN, featuring founder/drummer Tom Major and lead singer/guitar wiz Brian Alex, for their only North Shore concert this spring.  As Entrain’s conga/djembe/trombonist Sam Holmstock says, “The most important thing that we try to do with our music is bring everybody together in the spirit of peace, love, fun and a ton of drums!”  Nothing more to say, really.  Just watch the video (get tickets here) 

Last chance to save money on tomorrow’s Beatles Benefit for UU Meetinghouse Restoration

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Just because it’s a benefit doesn’t mean you can’t save a little money by getting your tickets on-line.  Go for it.

You’ll recognize the songs, but experience them in a wonderfully new way as they are interpreted by some of Cape Ann’s finest singer/songwriters. And you’ll continue to help restore one of Gloucester’s best-loved landmarks.

As quoted in today’s Gloucester Daily Times, “It’s such a historical landmark for religious freedom and freedom of thought,” said King. “This is a place we need to preserve.”  We agree.  Please join us.  And save a bit of money by getting your tickets now, right here.

“Too much of a good thing … can be wonderful”

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

You probably know this as one of Mae West’s most famous quotes and on Friday, she’ll be proven right once again.  Just like our Solstice benefit at Gloucester’s UU Meetinghouse, this Friday, when 3rian King, Chelsea Berry, Renee Dupuis and others come together for a fresh take on The Beatles, we’ll have so much talent on stage that you could honestly complain it’s too much of a good thing.  But you won’t complain, will you?  Nope.  You’ll thank your lucky stars that you live in a town so full of talent that you can enjoy top quality entertainment all year long!  Or, you’ll kick yourself for not getting tickets and missing the show.  Which one will it be?  Get tickets here.

More fun with Radio Ads & Adobe Premiere

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Some of you may remember the last time I added visuals to a radio ad and made a video.  Well I’ve done it again for our UU Meetinghouse benefit next Friday, April 25 featuring local stars 3rian King, Chelsea Berry, Renee Dupuis, Joe Cardoza and Dennis Monagle with Boston-based Meff and Brendan Burns, all of whom “come together” as The Number Nines for a fresh take on The Beatles.  

CREDITS: Music by The Number Nines; radio ad produced by Jay Foss of Northshore 104.9;  most of the photos by Louise Welch & Philip Doyle;  the Number Nines logo by 3rian King.  Poster design by Vickie Van Ness.

Vickie wants me to choose between Hendrix & The Beatles, but I won’t do it!

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this year, you already know that 2014 is the 5oth anniversary of The Beatles’ appearance on Ed Sullivan.  I begged my parents to let me stay up and watch the show — and they agreed.  (Kids went to bed earlier in those days.)

It was a thrill!  Most everybody on my block was already a Beatles fan and the next day, we were utterly devoted.  We all started saving up for the next record.  Being the 5oth anniversary of what CBS billed as “The Night That Changed America”, you’ve also probably seen lots of Beatles tribute bands playing around.  Next Friday (April 25), Top area musicians come together (yes, pun intended) to help raise money for Gloucester’s UU Meetinghouse as The Number Nines — but this is no tribute band.  Rather, it’s three top Gloucester singer/songwriters: 3rian King, Chelsea Berry and Renée Dupuis, joined by Boston‐based multi‐instrumentalist Meff and guitarist Brendan Burns with Gloucester’s favorite rhythm section: Dennis Monagle and Joe Cardoza.  They’ll perform their own originals plus fresh takes on The Beatles, like this soulful interpretation of “I Want To Hold Your Hand” featuring Chelsea Berry on vocals:

So, we can all agree that The Beatles are the greatest rock band ever, right?  “Not so fast,” quips Vickie.  “What about Jimi Hendrix?”
“What about him?” I reply.
“You’re always saying he’s the greatest rock guitar player, who ever lived.”
“Well, of course he is.” [Here’s one of my Hendrix favorites]

“So how can The Beatles be the best rock band ever?”
“Oh come on.  I can’t choose between The Beatles and Hendrix!”

So the next night, April 26, our friend Jon Butcher is bringing his powerful new show, The Jon Butcher Axis: Celebrating the Music of Jimi Hendrix to the Larcom Theatre for their Boston area debut.  Check out Jon’s version of another one of my favorite Hendrix tunes:

I’ll be at both.  You can be too.  You don’t have to choose.

Get The Number Nines tickets here.  Get Axis tickets here.

BREAKING NEWS: You asked for it, you got it: Another extravaganza at Gloucester’s UU Meetinghouse APRIL 25

Posted on by Vickie & Peter
Image by Louise Welch, 3rian King &Vickie Van Ness

Finally, we can answer all the people who ask, “When are you going to produce another concert at the UU Meetinghouse?” Gloucester singer, songwriter, performer, creative genius, 3rian King has put together a spectacular show with other top Gloucester talent, including Chelsea Berry, Renee Dupuis, Joe Cardoza & Dennis Monagle, plus Brendan Burns & Meff  from Boston (together known as The Number Nines) and we’re presenting this extravaganza at Gloucester’s UU Meetinghouse on Friday April 25th at 8PM.  Just like the Cape Ann Solstice Concert, this show will support the Meetinghouse Restoration Project.  Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of the show and went on sale TODAY.  Get them at the UU Church Office at 10 Church St, at The Liquor Locker on Main & Rogers or on-line here.  Our Solstice show was full and seating is limited so don’t wait.  Get your tickets TODAY!

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Get your Cape Ann Solstice tickets tomorrow at the Middle Street Walk

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Tomorrow is what Winter in Gloucester is all about.  Stroll downtown from 8am – 4pm and take in our historic city’s wonderful, eclectic architecture, do some shopping, eat, make an ice sculpture — or s’mores, listen to music, sing carols, (see music schedule) take some tours — you can even get a tree (see full Middle Street Walk event schedule).  Plus you can get your Cape Ann Solstice tickets at City Hall and the Unitarian Universalist Church.  Don’t wait until the last minute — and don’t say we didn’t warn you.  If you can’t get downtown tomorrow, get tickets here.

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UPDATE: Cape Ann Winter Solstice Benefit Concert – Saturday Dec 21

Posted on by Vickie & Peter
L-R: Matt Leavenworth, Dave Mattacks, Allen Estes Wolf Ginandes photo: Renata Greene
L-R: Matt Leavenworth, Dave Mattacks, Allen Estes, Wolf Ginandes ~ photo: Renata Greene

Cape Ann’s top musicians come together this holiday season to celebrate the Winter Solstice and help raise money for Gloucester’s historic UU Meetinghouse Restoration Project.  Local legend, Allen Estes, is back with Matt Leavenworth on guitar and fiddle, Wolf Ginandes on bass and Fairport Convention founder Dave Mattacks on drums — all of whom brought us a magical night at the Larcom Theatre in October.

Sharing the stage with Allen and his band are some of Cape Ann’s top performers, from have a dozen genres, who come to celebrate the power of music to bring people together and lift our spirits.

Willie Loco Alexander & The Raztones
Fly Amero Gordon Baird
Inge Berge Charlee Bianchini
Ken Bonfield Dan King
T Max Michael O’Leary

Special Appearance: Gloucester Police Chief, Lenny Campanello sings Springsteen.

The entire concert will be taped for a Local Music Seen Christmas Special to be shown on Cape Ann TV.

TICKETS
Available at: Church Office
Liquor Locker
Online here
General Admission
$20 Advance
$15 Child/Senior
(under 12/over 65)
 
Reserved Pews
(online or call 978-525-9093)
$225 Center Pew Seats 12
$195 Side Pew Seats 10

GET TICKETS NOW

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