Live music in Portsmouth, NH

RGC Theatre returns this summer with a Princess Party for Josie’s Family Jams, presented by ConvenientMD. This live show for children celebrates beloved princess songs with onstage performances, group sing along moments, and playful interaction. Performers share familiar melodies and stories centered on bravery and kindness, creating a welcoming experience for princess fans of all ages. The event takes place in the park at the Prescott Park Arts Festival in Portsmouth. No reservations are required, and a donation is recommended.

Catch Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, a Broadway-style musical with songs from the original and a fresh, modern retelling of the classic story. The show includes reserved seating options, including table and blanket reservations, with different seating/placement rules for each. General admission donations do not include reserved seating.

At The Music Hall Lounge, Mary Fahl, formerly of October Project, shares the expressive vocals that first brought her wide recognition as lead singer and co-founder of the NYC chamber-pop group known for lush harmonies and sweeping melodies. Her earthy contralto has earned acclaim for its otherworldly power, and her songs carry a cinematic depth with a gothic romantic streak that even inspired a scene in Anne Rice’s The Wolves of Midwinter. Beyond her work with the band, she has written and recorded music for film, including the theme to the Civil War epic Gods and Generals, explored arias and medieval Spanish repertoire for Sony Classical, and crafted a full-album reinterpretation of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Recording on her label Rimar Records, Fahl received an Indie Acoustic Award for the live album recorded at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, filmed for PBS, and a 2020 Independent Music Award for the holiday collection Winter Songs and Carols. Her immersive Blu-ray From the Dark Side of the Moon, mixed by Bob Clearmountain, earned a 2021 listener-voted honor in immersive audio and was named Immersive Album of the Year by Life in Surround. Her current project, Can’t Get It Out of My Head, revisits formative influences with fresh takes on songs by artists such as Pink Floyd, George Harrison, the Moody Blues, ELO, The Rolling Stones, and Neil Young.

DJ Chad Banks brings a live DJ set to Thirsty Moose Taphouse - Portsmouth.

Fruition brings tight three part harmonies, road tested chemistry, and a rootsy blend that moves from front porch folk to full band fire to The Press Room on the Something More Tour. Their music has reached the Americana charts and reflects more than 15 years of collaboration among three songwriters and five longtime bandmates who build songs around rich vocal layers and a collective approach. The set draws from How To Make Mistakes, their first studio release in four years, tracked live with the whole band playing together, no overdubs, and seventeen songs captured in seven days. Co-produced by the group, the album showcases three distinct lead voices and a wide palette that spans rock, soul, folk, pop, acoustic textures, and electrified arrangements. Formed in Portland in 2008 and forged on street corners and countless stages, Fruition regrouped after time off the road in 2020 and channeled that renewed focus into songs that range from pedal steel tinged folk rock to spacious Americana and campfire ballads. Titles like Lonely Work, Scars, Get Lost, Can You Tell Me, and Never Change hint at the breadth of their sound while keeping an honest, live in the room feel. All ages are admitted. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of.

Joe keeps the piano bar lively every Saturday as part of a weekly series. Please note there is one Saturday when it will not be held.

Category 5 performs live at Thirsty Moose Taphouse - Portsmouth.

Enjoy live modern country music at Lobster in the Rough with a band performing in a contemporary country style.

At Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club, Larry McCray, a 2024 inductee into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame, brings modern blues marked by gritty, soulful vocals and commanding guitar. His newest album, Heartbreak City, produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, opens a more personal chapter and showcases his breadth, moving from tender, soul-leaning ballads to high-energy blues. On that record, tracks like Bye Bye Blues nod to the roots that shaped him, while Bright Side blends feeling with a touch of humor. The release follows 2022’s Blues Without You, which climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Blues chart. Born in Smackover, Arkansas and raised in Michigan, McCray has refined his sound over decades on the road and in the studio, working alongside artists such as B.B. King and Buddy Guy.

Clipper Tavern hosts karaoke with KJ-Dave O. back on the mic. Choose from a large song library and sing solo or pair up for a duet, supported by a friendly crowd and a solid sound system. The bar is fully stocked, there is a happy hour later in the night, and the kitchen serves a full menu with a late night option after that. It also works well for birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, or an easy night out with friends. The venue is open 365 days a year.

Enjoy a lively evening of music bingo filled with laughs and lighthearted competition. It is free to participate, prizes are available, and there will be plenty of music. Bring friends, grab a drink, and try to complete your card before everyone else.

At The Goat Portsmouth, Music Bingo puts a musical spin on the classic game by swapping numbers and letters for song titles and artists. It is free to play, with prizes awarded in every round, and typically moves through two to three quick games to keep the momentum up. A DJ plays familiar tracks while players mark their cards, and the first to connect five squares in a line vertically, horizontally, or diagonally calls bingo and wins. The format suits casual music fans and competitive players, and it makes for a relaxed night out with friends. No music knowledge is required, just listen and enjoy.

Set sail for an industry night on the water featuring Suncruiser and Patron. Enjoy music and specials on drinks during this alternating Monday cruise. Industry guests can pick up tickets ahead of departure at Barrio Portsmouth and Legends Barbecue. Only cash is accepted.

A high-spirited children's music party led by Mr. Aaron invites both kids and grown-ups to move and dance. The set features songs such as All My Friends Are Giants, The Bog, and Gravity Can't Hold Me Down, delivered with the lively presence that led New Hampshire Magazine to name him the best children's performer. With years of stage experience, he brings creativity and enthusiasm to concerts, albums, and videos. Beyond family shows, he records music, offers private lessons, and teaches weekly music and art classes at his Rattlebox Kids classroom in Concord, New Hampshire. He also tours with the 90s alt-rock group Luscious Jackson and has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and on VH1.

Beachfront reggae fills Lulu’s at The Nevada Hotel on Long Sands Beach in York, Maine, with the award winning Dis N Dat Band at the center of the action. The lineup features Trinidadian steel pan artist Sista Dee and Rangotan, a four time Grammy nominee and former drummer for Black Uhuru and Sugar Minott. A covered deck provides clear views of the music and the shoreline, with heaters for cooler spells and fans for warmer days. Tiki cocktails and tacos al pastor prepared on an el trompo, described as Maine’s first, add to the vibe alongside the bright sound of steel pan on the sand. Seating is walk in only and first come, first served, and reservations are not accepted. Parking behind The Nevada is reserved for hotel guests, and visitors to Lulu’s should plan to use street parking.

Live music with Bill Gearin happens every Tuesday throughout the summer. Food and drinks are available from the York Beach Eats food truck and 12 taps featuring house-made beer and cocktails.

UNDERCOVER closes out Riverside Music & Market at Eliot Boat Basin with the grand finale. Enjoy a free outdoor concert with space to sing, dance, and celebrate on the lawn. Alongside the live music, vendors, crafts, and food trucks will be available.

Undercover, a party band from Southern Maine, delivers a high-energy show that spans classic hits and today’s anthems. Expect an upbeat set with lots of chances to sing along and dance.

Part of the Tuesdays on the Terrace outdoor summer concert series, Kids' Rock Night brings live music to Strawbery Banke amid historic homes and gardens. The Clemenzi Crusaders perform with Sages Entertainment, offering a lively set with acoustic and Americana influences and more. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to relax on the grass and enjoy the show. Admission is free for members, $8 for nonmembers, and free for children under 3. Concerts take place rain or shine. If weather becomes an issue, the performance moves to the lecture hall in the Lawrence J. Yerdon Visitors Center, where seating is limited.

The James Hunter Six brings timeless rhythm and soul to Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club as British singer, songwriter and GRAMMY-nominated bandleader James Hunter marks his first album with Easy Eye Sound. Guided by Hunter's gritty voice and crisp songwriting, the six-piece band shifts with ease from hard-driving R&B to slow-burning ballads. The new record, Off The Fence, includes a rare duet with longtime collaborator Van Morrison, highlighting a career built over more than three decades on stages ranging from intimate rooms to large festivals. Known for worldwide touring, Hunter and his group have also shared the stage in support of artists such as Mavis Staples, Aretha Franklin, BB King, Etta James and Bonnie Raitt.

Enjoy a weekly piano bar with Joe Thomas. The series takes place on Wednesdays and highlights live piano entertainment.

Jordan Smart performs at The Press Room with special guest Autumn Hollow. The Kentucky folk singer-songwriter is known for an unvarnished voice and songs that range from intimate reflections to incisive, socially aware satire, shaped by influences that include John Prine, Malvina Reynolds, Phil Ochs, Barbara Dane, and Woody Guthrie. Autumn Hollow, the Boston Americana and roots rock group led by Brendan Murphy, blends driving energy with vivid storytelling and memorable hooks, nodding to Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and The Band while maintaining a modern indie edge. The group has been nominated for Boston Music Awards and has drawn positive notice from The Boston Globe, and its album Say No More highlights a broader, more adventurous sound. This all-ages event offers tickets at $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the show.

Matteo Mancuso brings his jazz and jazz-fusion sound to Jimmy's Jazz and Blues Club in Portsmouth for an evening show. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, and the page notes that there are only a few left.

Live music takes center stage at The Goat in Portsmouth with a performance by Rob Pagnano.

Every Thursday, Lulu's hosts live acoustic sets at The Nevada hotel on Long Sands beach. This weekly series features unplugged performances.

The Loading Dock Concert Series at 3S Artspace welcomes Dave Hunter and the Seven Hundred for an outdoor, all-ages show that is free to attend, with a suggested donation of $12. This summer run of Thursday performances highlights rising regional artists and longtime favorites in a relaxed setting where drinks are available and the music pairs with a Portsmouth evening outdoors. Formed in 2025 after two decades of original music making in the Northeast, the band revives standout songs from Dave Hunter’s former award-winning group, The Molenes, while unveiling new material in an amped-up Americana style. The Molenes released three albums and an EP between 2005 and 2015, drew praise on numerous year-end lists for Americana and alt country, reached the Top 40 on the Americana Music Association radio chart and the Top 20 on the Freeform American Roots chart, placed songs in films and network television, and earned airplay and reviews in more than a dozen countries. Listeners and critics alike were drawn to the group’s energetic playing and vivid storytelling rooted in the byways and overlooked corners of American life. Dave Hunter leads on guitar and vocals, joined by Chris Kelly on guitar and vocals, Steve Barlock on bass and vocals, and Joe Welsh on drums and vocals. The group is recording toward a full-length release planned for July 2026, following the singles It Made the Greatest Sound and Leaving Westbrook, with a debut album titled Tamp That Fever Down slated for mid-summer 2026. You can sample much of the set by revisiting The Molenes’ albums Good Times Comin’, Songs of Sin and Redemption, and This Car is Big on major streaming platforms while the new release takes shape. While attending a concert in the series, the Gallery, Lobby Gallery, and Shop at 3S are open to explore, and the galleries are always free to the public. The Loading Dock Concert Series is supported by St. Mary’s Bank, with additional support from grants through the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and its Geoffrey E. Clark and Martha Fuller Clark Fund, and the Little Bay Fund, along with lead sponsors AC Hotel Portsmouth, The Brook, The Kane Company and Tidemark, Katzman Contemporary Projects, Raka, Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel, and Stirling Brandworks.

Enjoy a summer outdoor concert on the Loading Dock featuring Dave Hunter and the Seven Hundred. Doors open at 6:30 PM, with the show starting at 7:00 PM. This is an all-ages event with first-come seating and lawn space, and beverages will be available. The concert runs about 1.5 hours, and it’s rain or shine.

At Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, Devon Allman presents a career-spanning concert honoring 20 years since his first album. The 20 Years Strong Tour revisits key moments from across his work, blending selections tied to The Allman Betts Band, Devon Allman’s Blues Summit, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Honeytribe, and his Rollers collaboration with Donavon Frankenreiter, along with favorites from the Allman Brothers Band. Allman first drew wider attention with Honeytribe, then co-founded the acclaimed supergroup Royal Southern Brotherhood. He has since built an independent path that respects blues traditions and the jam-band scene while embracing a contemporary sound and original songwriting. This show showcases his mix of Southern rock, blues, soul, and open-ended improvisation, delivered with top-tier musicianship and the electrifying live presence shaped by multiple albums and years of touring.

At The Press Room, a stacked indie rock showcase brings together XO, Little Oso, Husbands, and Fun City Fan Club for a night of varied sounds. XO is a Portland, Maine duo that blends emo and shoegaze with lush guitars and hazy textures. They trade vocals and layer harmonies, keeping a raw, personal core even as the music drifts into dreamy space, as heard on the Spirit Looking Out EP. Little Oso, also from Portland, grew from a bedroom recording project into a full live band. Their songs pair shimmering guitars with soft, nostalgia-tinged writing that balances intimacy and lift, reflected on Happy Songs and the debut album How Lucky To Be Somebody. The Boston group Husbands leans into slowgaze and guitar weight, moving between shoegaze blur and slowcore restraint. Releases such as New England Casket Co. highlight spacious arrangements and a DIY recording approach rooted in the regional underground. Fun City Fan Club rounds out the bill with jangly guitars, off-kilter hooks, and playful, left-field songwriting that draws on college rock and lo-fi traditions, all carried by a loose, collaborative spirit and a proudly DIY streak. This is an all ages show with tickets priced at $12 in advance or $15 the day of.

Catch Devon Allman for an evening of surf rock, modern blues, southern rock, and blues rock at Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club in Portsmouth. The show starts at 7:30 PM.

Get ready for a night of classic hits with KC and the Sunshine Band. The show will be held inside the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton.

This event features live music on The Goat's stage in Portsmouth with Isaiah Bennett.