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Live Music

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Live Music Performance at Nova Arts / Brewbakers

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There’s plenty of live music happening across the Monadnock region. Whatever your tastes are you’re likely to find something you’re interested in! From intimate chamber music and singer-songwriter events to regional folk music in authentic settings. Come check out the intimate experiences of music when you Discover the Monadnock region.


FOLK, ROCK & ALTERNATIVE MUSIC

The Monadnock region offers more than classical concerts! For a rendezvous with folk, rock, and blues singer-songwriters, look into the Peterborough Folk Music Society. Their annual season, lasting from spring until fall, lures talented musicians from across the continent. Find them at four of our region’s arts venues including The Park Theatre, the Peterborough Players Theatre, and Bass Hall at the Monadnock Center. In the first week of September, spend a Saturday listening to local musicians and bands at the Keene Music Festival. Several stages pop up around downtown and keep the town buzzing for hours! For rock, blues, and general finger-picking of the utmost quality, look into the Peterborough Concert Series, held at the Town House! Looking for a low-key, community-oriented environment? Check out the latest from Nova Arts. This non-profit organizes eclectic live music events at the Brewbakers Cafe in Keene. Nova Arts hosts the annual Thing in the Spring music and arts festival! For more forays into the euphoric offerings of the region, look into the annual Northlands Music and Arts Festival. This two-day music extravaganza gathers 15 blues, rock & classic rock, country, and folk artists to play for crowds filling two stages at the Cheshire Fairgrounds in Swanzey. The festival also organizes installation and performance art, crafts from local artisans, and a beer garden! The Colonial Theatre and Showroom regularly host musicians among other programs and performers.

CLASSICAL

The Monadnock region is home to several classical musicians and organizations, all excited to share their love for their craft with their community. Ashuelot Concerts is dedicated to increasing the audience for chamber music through education and outreach in schools. Find them performing in venues across the region including The Park Theatre, Stonewall Farm, and Alyson’s Orchard! You’ll get a lovely description of the selected music’s background during the concert. Visit the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music for another chance to develop your appreciation for classical music. Their resident string quartet performs across the country and internationally. Catch them during their annual season at the historic Concert Barn in Nelson. Love the outdoor festivities? Music on Norway Pond in Hancock regularly organizes holiday season concerts on the common. They are also known to collaborate with renowned artists and organizations, including Vermont’s Yellow Barn for the Young Artists’ Program! Also a staple in the region for mentoring youth, The Walden School offers a Young Musicians Program. Concerts performed by students, faculty, and resident teaching artists alike are open to the public at their location in Dublin! Think classical music is only for the elite few? Think again! Electric Earth Concerts regularly offers free performances – check out one of their “Open Doors” concerts, sponsored by the NH State Council on the Arts!

CHORAL MUSIC

Have a love for singing? Look into one of our region’s many choruses to experience or even participate in a concert! Music on Norway Pond also presents performances by their Festival Singers ensemble and Kiddo Chorale! Visit the Monadnock Chorus in Peterborough to witness the Chamber Singers, whose mission is to widen the reach of choral music to local churches, municipal buildings, and assisted living communities, among others. Look into their concerts to be swept away by renditions of Bach, Mozart, Haydn, and many more! The Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs provide music education to young musicians in New Hampshire and surrounding states. Children ages k-12 develop appreciation for classical music, form deep friendships, and even get the opportunity to travel internationally! Be sure to check out the Monadnock region’s talented kids at their fall season performances! Not a kid and want to sing? No problem! For over 40 years, The Keene Chorale has brought together singers from all generations and walks of life. The Chorale holds open auditions for two annual concerts. Don’t be afraid to share your love of singing with this community choir – reading sheet music is not a requirement! The region also offers performances of faith-based music including the choirs at UCC Peterborough or the First Congregational Church in Milford. Check them out to catch their next inspirational concerts!

For a calendar of upcoming events visit Discover Monadnock. There you can sign up for the weekly cultural events newsletter to get the week’s roundup straight to your inbox.

About our Guest Blogger:

Arts Alive contributed this post. They are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization creating and supporting a sustainable landscape for the arts in the Monadnock region. Through memberships, creatives and artlovers can connect at fun meetups, go on artist field trips, attend workshops, and hear about all the great opportunities for creatives and creative businesses in our region. The whole community is welcome to join Arts Alive for the annual Keene ArtWalk each June, Ewing Arts Awards each July to celebrate arts of excellence in our region, and our Arts Track sessions at the national Radically Rural summit in September. Learn more and become a member at monadnockartsalive.org

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