THE RIVER HOUSE RESTAURANT
CONCERT SERIES

Check back in May when we reveal the exciting lineup for The River House Restaurant Concert Series for 2012!

Until then, as an example of what to expect, here's what we offered last year!

 

 

 

TOM RUSH - (Thursday) June 23, 2011

Tom's impact on the American music scene has been profound, shaping the folk revival in the '60s and the renaissance of the '80s and '90s, with music that's left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor says "Tom was one of my main influences". His shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, sweet melancholy of ballads and passion of gritty blues. Don't miss his distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice that have made him a legend and lure to worldwide audiences.

LE VENT DU NORD - June 29, 2011

Canada's TOP multi-instrumental traditional band. These guys will have you dancing to the sound of fiddle and hurdy-gurdy, using an original repertoire and music that is fresh and bound to tradition. Hailing from Quebec, their strength is a sage presence that is energetic, dynamic, generous and in touch with the audience. This year, they won a JUNO Award (Canada's Grammy), on top of Album of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.

CHERYL WHEELER - July 6, 2011

A folk icon who must be seen to be appreciated. From her albums, you can tell she is a gifted songwriter with a beautiful voice, but this doesn't prepare you for how entertaining a performer she is. Cheryl is a natural storyteller with a sense of humor that will have you rolling with laughter. Even if you are not already familiar with Cheryl, you've probably already heard her music. Mixing keen insight with humor and pathos, Cheryl's songs have been covered by artists like Peter, Paul and Mary, Suzy Bogguss, Kenny Loggins, and more.

SHAWN COLVIN - July 13, 2011

Shawn Colvin stands out among female singer-songerwriters of today as a singular and enduring talent, with ten albums and three Grammy Awards (including Record of the Year, Song of the Year). This South Dakota-born folk-rocker is known for her unmistakable vocals and matchless guitar stylings, and offers music that is honest and warm-hearted. Don't miss this showcase of this incredible performer. Table Reservations (not the concert...first come, first serve blanket/chair area) are sold out for Shawn Colvin. Please call our office, 603-436-2848 or email info@prescottpark.org to be placed on the waiting list.

GREG BROWN - July 20, 2011

Yes, sir! We've been waiting years to present this folk icon. Greg Brown's songwriting has been lauded by many, and his songs have been performed by Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Shawn Colvin. With two Grammy Award noninations and more than a dozen albums, his trademark low, grumbly voice and witty, insightful, poetic lyrics have made him one of the most admired starts of the folks scene today!

TAJ MAHAL TRIO - July 27, 2011

Two-time Grammy winner and Blues legend comes to Portsmouth! Taj Mahal has proven himself to be "one of the most enduring figures in American blues" (Rolling Stone). In his teens, Taj performed with blues legend Howlin' Wolfe, Buddy Guy, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Muddy Waters, and as a mature artist became a fearless musical explorer and innovator, collaborating with Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, and such celebrated world musicians as India's V.M. Bhatt and African kora master Toumani Diabate. On this night with his longtime trio, Taj plays guitar, piano, and banjo, Bill Rich plays bass, and Kester Smith on the drums. Do not miss it. Table Reservations (not the concert...first come, first serve blanket/chair area) are sold out for Taj Mahal. Please call our office, 603-436-2848 or email info@prescottpark.org to be placed on the waiting list.

THE WAILIN' JENNYS - August 3, 2011 

By popular demand, the Jennys are BACK! Three extraordinary voices, two founding singer-songwriters, one singular vision. With a JUNO Award (Canada's Grammy), the Jennys have been captivating audiences with their intuitive and heart-stopping harmonies, engaging stage presence and an uplifting repertoire to become one of today's most beloved international folk acts. Catch the Jennys and you'll understand why they're one of Garrison Keillor's favorite and most frequent musical guests on Prairie Home Companion.

DAVID WAX MUSEUM - August 10, 2011

We LOVE to showcase something new and special. This IS it. This rising band has been "kicking up a cloud of excitement with their high-energy border-crossing sensibility" (The New Yorker). Recently anointed as Americana Artist of the Year (2010 Boston Music Awards), this band is "pure, irresistible joy" (NPR) and hailed by TIME for its "virtuosic musical skill and virtuous harmonies" after making them a top pick at South by Southwest this year (NPR picked their performance as the highlight of the entire Newport Folk Fest last year). Plain and simple, you've gotta love a band whose signature instrument is the jawbone of a donkey.

JONATHAN EDWARDS - August 17, 2011

Once you hear Jonathan Edwards' voice, you'll want to hear it again and again. His rich, warm tenor has a distinctively unique and natural quality. Edwards is perhaps most famous for his notable hit songs like Shanty and Sunshine - a deceptively upbeat song that was in fact a protest against the Vietnam War. Starting out opening for acts like the Allman Brothers Band and B.B. King, his career went on to include albums with Emmylou Harris and Jimmy Buffet.

HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN - August 24, 2011

 

Be prepared to be blown away. Picked by such artists as Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson to tour the globe, this Austin-based band has grown to become one of the hardest-swinging Western swing trio on the planet. With a repertoire based on a fusion of vintage jazz and the Grand Ole Opry, you'll hear not only the influences of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, but those of western idols Bob Wills and Hank Williams among many others. The Globe & Mail says their fiddler would be charged with arson "if rosin was flammable". Catch this act!

 

ARLO GUTHRIE - (Friday) August 26, 2011

What a way to close out our season! Born with a guitar in one hand and a harmonica in the other, Arlo is the eldest son of America's most beloved singer/songwriter/philosopher Woody Guthrie. With songs like "Alice's Restaurant" too long for radio airplay; "Coming into Los Angeles" banned from radio stations (but a favorite at the '69 Woodstock); and the definitive rendition of Steve Goodman's "City of New Orleans", Guthrie was no One-Hit-Wonder. An artist of international stature, Arlo has never had a hit in the usual sense. Don't miss this natural-born story-teller, whose tales and anecdotes figure prominently in his performances. Table Reservations (not the concert...first come, first serve blanket/chair area) are sold out for Arlo Guthrie. Please call our office, 603-436-2848 or email info@prescottpark.org to be placed on the waiting list.