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June 2019 — Open Stage Night
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May 2019
 Joey Clark
We celebrated the release of his new album “Country’s What I Sing to Keep from Crying.”. A local singer / songwriter, Joey has a warm, smooth and clear voice and his songs are full of life stories and ballads which are truly poetry to music. He plays both finger and flat pick style guitar and adds a little harmonica from time to time. You can find his music on YouTube as well as many music streaming services. Join us for a great night of music and celebrate Joey’s album which is sure to be the first of many.
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April 2019 — Open Stage Night
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December 2017 and January 2018 — Open Stage Nights
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November 2017
 Chris George
Chris was involved in music groups in his early years of teaching high school in New Hampshire. Bands that he wrote for and performed in included “Staving Chain”, “The Stutter Brothers”, and “Conniption Fit and the Flying Fan Modules.” He lives in Portsmouth, NH and is a member of “Rock My Soul”, the New England gospel group. He also plays guitar and sings in a variety of organized and less organized gatherings of musicians. http://www.folkalley.com/openmic/artist.php?id=3767 http://chrisgeorge1.bandcamp.com |
 October 2017Scott Matsumoto
Scott Matsumoto is an acoustic fingerstyle guitar player who combines the styles of Andy McKee and Tommy Emmanuel. The result is a broad range of guitar songs that are both percussive and melodic; everything from two-hand tapping guitar pieces to covers of pop songs. Scott started as a folk singer/songwriter, but decided to go “all in” on the guitar: making all the music come through the guitar. The guitar is his band-in-a-box, Every sound in the band gets created out of the different parts of the guitar; there are no pedals or electronics. Follow Scott through his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ScottMGuitar/
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September 2017
Phil Duke
Over the past few years that Phil Duke (“The Jolly Codger” ) has been playing at the Spireside, he’s shared original songs and stories which often made us smile or laugh out loud (and, yes, occasionally groan). He has many stories about his childhood in England and his fascination with trains and all things mechanical. He also sings about the humorous people and pets he has known over the years. He has been a musician for most of his life and plays a variety of guitars and banjos, most of which he saved, made or modified is some way and each has its own interesting story. We never quite know what Phil will bring to the stage, but we always enjoy it!
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July & August 2017 — Open Stage Nights
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 June 2017Zak Trojano
After Zak got out of college, he wandering the country from the desert Southwest to Great Plains until he ran out of money.
After a while it seemed like he ought to write some songs, and he did: heavy songs with a light touch; an AM radio throwback voice and an intricate finger-style technique framed by a drummer’s rhythm and sharpened by years of immersion in the work of players as various as John Fahey, Merle Travis, and Chet Atkins. In over a decade writing, recording, and performing music professionally – sharing studios and stages with his band Rusty Belle, or supporting touring acts like Chris Smither, Kris Delmhorst, Jeffrey Foucault, and Peter Mulvey – Zak Trojano has evolved his own thing: a warm baritone paired with an old Martin guitar, floating above spare lines of cello and lap steel, horns and brushes, with a deceptively simple lyricism that on repeated listening shows that Zak doesn’t say much, but he’s worth hearing.
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May 2017
 Don Readel
Don aka The Singing Bus Driver of Maine at his ‘Day Job’ with Concord Coach Lines has 30 years experience of entertaining folks in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine as a soloist mostly. Don was part of the trio Driftwood Creek for one year back in 2015. Readel is currently singing and active at a new church in Antrim, NH called At The Cross. The Spireside Coffee House breaks a hiatus Don has been on, just gathering his thoughts about life and family and the balance it takes to make the music real. |
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April 2017
 Joel Cage
Once upon a time, Joel Cage was a different person, playing a different type of music, and treading another musical turf. Something happened and he quietly transitioned into an award-winning acoustic talent. During the past twenty years, he has only released a handful of albums [culminating with recent Eponymous, one of the best albums of 2013), but has chosen the well-worn path of traveling troubadour (much like Bob Dylan and his never-ending tours), performing hundreds of shows in concert, festivals, coffeehouses, clubs, churches, and bars with an indefatigable burst of vocal energy and guitar prowess. Each performance seems fresh, enhanced, and downright direct. In short, to fully appreciate this man’s talent, you MUST see him live! Now living in Meredith, New Hampshire, we recently corresponded to trace the steps he took be here & now. |
| December 2016 and January & February 2017 — Open Stage Nights |
November 2016  Phil Levesque Phil Levesque is a Goffstown, New Hampshire singer/songwriter. He performs uplifting music including light jazz standards and some original compositions. Brazilian sounds often find their way into Phil’s exceptional guitar-playing. |
October 2016 Monadnock Bluegrass Monadnock Bluegrass is a well seasoned bluegrass band based in New Hampshire that has played together over 13 years. The band provides an upbeat, energized performance in all settings. This group of talented musicians has developed a song list of traditional, contemporary and original bluegrass tunes allowing their musical abilities to shine. A mix of hard driving instrumentals and three part harmonies is always a must. Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers, Hot Rize and Herschel Sizemore are just a few of the groups whose songs they enjoy singing and playing. They are proud to have completed their first CD, “House Upon The Hill”. They are working on their second CD and hope to have it completed in 2017. |
| July & August & September 2016 — Open Stage Nights |
 June 2016 Naughty & Nice
Their original music speaks to all aspects of everyday life, from whimsical to poignant, serious to silly. Accompanied by stand-up bass, guitar and pennywhistle, their exquisite harmonies are the highlight of their performance. Sometimes irreverent, but never rude, they’re sure to appeal to all audiences! |
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May 2016
 Steve Z
Steve’s original songs are well-written and his deep, smooth voice and his calm (and funny) stage presence blend to produce a great show. Known for writing about loss and heartache, he also has lighter, uplifting songs in his repertoire and the audience is always left wanting more when his performance is over. We love Steve and you will, too – so come on in to the Spireside for a listen! |
 April 2016Steve Redic
Steve delights audiences around the state with the easy, conversational delivery of his poems. He has been a regular participant at Manchester’s Slam Free or Die, a performance poetry venue and is a member of the Hyla Brook Poets, sponsored by the Frost Farm Foundation. His poetry based on art earned him a place at the Currier Art Gallery’s “Inspired Words” series. Redic’s published poetry collection is entitled Out of the Rain-conversations with spaces between leaves. He and musician Don Watson have collaborated on a CD, “Welcome Home New Hampshire.” |
| March 2016 Open Stage Night |
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February 2016
 Entangled Strings
Entangled Strings (Steve Macdonald, Liz Kantz, David Greenwood, and Nick & Sharon Pangaro) had their world premier performance at Spireside. Together they emphasize tight harmonies and play folk, country and Americana songs. Each player is a veteran of the local acoustic music scene, having played in prior string bands and community events. Their songs reflect the times and trials of everyday people navigating the paths and choices of life on earth. |
 January 2016Decatur Creek
Jack Carlton, Steve Dionne, and Doug Farrell are each accomplished NH musicians, singer / songwriters, and performers who together are – Decatur Creek. They met as solo performers through local NH coffeehouses and open mikes, attracted by each other’s songwriting and musicianship. Their influences run from roots to Americana, country, singer/songwriter, folk, and rock, always with the focus on the songs. |
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December 2015
 Pat O’Brien
Singer / songwriter Patricia O’Brien plays guitar, banjo, tin whistle, and sings. She grew up in Boston, exposed to Irish traditional tunes and songs from an early age, and her music combines the sounds of Irish traditional and American folk music. She was a founding member and singer/songwriter for the women’s folk group Labrys. She also performed Irish traditional music in the US and Ireland with An Banna Ceoil and Agus Mise An. Presently she performs with Bradigan, a band that blends Irish, Scottish and American music, and Newgrange, a new band of old friends. Pat’s music reflects a blend of Irish traditional music and American folk music, and she has released several CD’s. She maintains an active solo performance schedule, singing original songs and telling stories that reflect her life adventures, her travels through Ireland, and her indelible sense of humor. http://www.patobriensongsandstories.com |
 November 2015
Jack Kid |
October 2015 Ken Hasselbrack
Ken Hasselbrack is a warm and talented musician with a wonderful repertoire of folk, Celtic songs and traditional ballads. He began playing guitar while in the navy, and hasn’t stopped since!. He has been strongly influenced by Tom Paxton, Tom Rush and other acoustic guitar players. He enjoys interpreting music within a historical context, and his subtle and fun sense of humor provided an entertaining evening. |
 September 2015
Sarah Jane Nelson
Sarah Jane is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who has been playing traditional music for folk festivals, New England contra dances, and other regional events for over two decades. She is an old-time fiddler, guitarist and vocalist with the duo High-Strung Strummers , a member of Banjos & Old Lace , and the pianist for Gypsy Minor , a dance band that is regularly featured at both the New England Folk Festival and the Down East Folk Festival each spring. She is also a finalist in “twin fiddling” at Lowell’s Banjo & Fiddle Contest. Learn more about her music at sjnelsonmusic.weebly.com. |
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August 2015
 Kangaralien Since their formation in 2004, Boston-based acoustic guitar duo Kangaralien has released four full-length albums, played at over 100 venues, and printed up some seriously snazzy stickers. Their music has its roots in progressive rock, jazz, classical, and bluegrass. If you listen close enough, you may even hear the faint smells of a kangaroo thinking of a spaceship. Check them out at kangaralien.com. They are performers with a sense of humor. But first and foremost, Steve and Eric are incredible musicians. They play a great variety of original works interspersed with some light banter and their amazing technical skills all combine to make a great show! |
 JULY 2015Click HorningNew London-based singer, guitarist and composer Click Horning will be joined by Joanie Horning on bass and rhythm guitar at the Spireside Coffeehouse and Open Mic in Dunbarton on Saturday July 18th. Click has been performing since his teens when he began playing folk songs, but after hearing Gram Parsons and writers like Bob Dylan, he decided to try his hand at writing songs. “It was the perfect blending of poems and music that intrigued me. I’ve always loved lyrics that tell a story.” He spent many years writing and performing in New York before returning to his beloved New Hampshire and now plays around New England. His songwriting is second to none, with songs recorded by Bill Staines, Harvey Reid and Robert John. Audiences are instantly drawn to Click’s warm stage presence, mellow sense of humor, rich vocal quality and top-notch numbers such as Oh Marie , December Nights , Wildflower , Row Your Own Boat , and Message of Love , to name a few. |
June 2015
Don Watson
Don is a singer/songwriter from Gilford, NH, whose music has been compared to John Denver, Jim Croce and Dan Fogelberg. His songs are upbeat, inspiring and easy on the ears. Don’s newest project “Welcome Home New Hampshire” is a collection of songs based on people, places and events of the granite state. Don partnered with Steve Redic, a poet and historian from Candia, NH in the writing of these songs. |
 May 2015
Rick Cooper and Pat Kenneally
Rick and Pat grew up less than a mile apart in the Boston suburbs in the 50’s and 60’s but only met in 2006 after each had developed a distinctive style. Together they deliver an entertaining mix of folk-rock, country and blues. The strains of early rock and roll along with some folk-pop in their performances cause fans to say they are wonderfully talented musicians who understand what entertaining a crowd is all about. Cooper and Kenneally have opened for Ernie and The Automatics, Ronnie Earl, and David Buskin & Robin Batteau, among others. Check out their webpage at www.myspace.com/cooperandkenneally for a sneak preview of their music. |
April 2015
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February 2015 
Kathy Nikitas Kathy started playing guitar and singing as a kid, and dropped music almost completely in her late 20’s and 30’s. Four years ago, she picked it back up with renewed passion, gusto, zeal … playing open mics in NH, ME, and MA, and getting her first solo shows at a little cafe in Lawrence MA. She’s the Kat of the band The JiveKats based out of Nashua, and has been having a blast bringing people out onto dance floors since the band was formed in 2012.
Come out to hear this cover girl deliver songs from the 1930’s to present day — an eclectic mix of rock, blues, pop… many tunes you’d never expect to hear done with an acoustic guitar! www.ReverbNation.com/KathyNikitas, www.ReverbNation.com/TheJiveKats, www.facebook.com/TheJiveKats |
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January 2015 |
December 2014 – Christmas Open Mic |
March 2015