The Lookout
Sonya Vartabedian
March 27, 2009 12:04 am Tickets are now on sale for ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro's return to the Firehouse Center for the Performing Arts in Newburyport in June. Shimabukuro is known for his lightning-fast fingers and revolutionary techniques on the ukulele. His mission is to show people that the instrument is capable of much more than the Hawaiian music most associate with it, and he demonstrates his theory by using it to play jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco and rock. His past shows in Newburyport over the past three years have all sold out. He'll give two shows on Wednesday, June 24, at 7 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $28, $26 for Firehouse members. Call 978-462-7336 or visit www.firehouse.org. Berklee teaching milestone for Port saxophonist Newburyport saxophonist Danny Harrington was recently honored for his 30 years of teaching at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Harrington has been a professor at Berklee since 1978 and is a member of the college's Harmony Department, which teaches the theory of American popular music from the early 20th century to the present. Before joining the faculty at Berklee, Harrington toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Buddy Morrow. Since then, he has performed with Nick Brignola, Gary Burton, Herb Pomeroy, Gary Smulyan, Joe Lovano, George Garzone, as well as leading his own group since 1980. The former president of the Society for the Development of Arts and Humanities, which oversees operation of the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport, he is an artist with Vandoren. New releases for Danvers State Hospital author, artist Local author Michael Ramseur highlights his new novel, "Spirit of Antoinette," and flash film, "Vortex," during a visit to Newbury Town Library on Tuesday, March 31 at 6 p.m. "Spirit of Antoinette" is based on the lives of mill workers and their experiences at the former Danvers State Hospital. The program is presented by the Friends of the Newbury Town Library. Admission is free. For more, call the library on Lunt Street at 978-465-0539. Lighthouse Trio adds open mike to program The Lighthouse Trio opens the mike to performers when it returns to Hobo's Cafe on Salisbury Beach for its monthly gig on Wednesday, April 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. The Lighthouse Trio performs vintage music from the '30s, '40s and '50s and welcomes audience requests as well as sing-alongs. It features Lou Masiello on drums, George Blodgett on bass, and Bob Allison on keyboards and vocals. Trumpet player and Lighthouse veteran Jim Clark of Danville, N.H., will be this month's horn soloist, and bluesman Malcolm Carnwath will deliver a blues set, with Ellen Gutowski providing some vocals. The open mike is on the program for 8 to 8:30 p.m. Interested performers should sign in between 7:45 and 8. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. A buffet will be available for $5. For more, call Hobo's at 5 Broadway at 978-465-4626. A youthful note to monthly jazz vespers The Pentucket High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Pentucket jazz music director, composer and jazz saxophonist David Schumacher, will perform at jazz vespers on Wednesday, April 1, at 8 p.m. in the sanctuary at First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport. The monthly jazz vespers is open to the public. Call 978-465-0602, ext. 401. Cowboy Junkies back in the saddle for Port show The original Cowboy Junkies ride into town with their alternative country-influenced music next week for a show on Friday, April 3, at the Rupert A. Nock Middle School Auditorium on Low Street in Newburyport. Known by fans as The Junkies, the two brothers, a sister and a very close friend first performed publicly at the Beverley Tavern and other clubs in Toronto in 1985. Their 1986 debut album, the blues-inspired "Whites Off Earth," was recorded in the family garage. The group's fame spread with their second album, "The Trinity Session," recorded in 1987 at Toronto's Church of the Holy Trinity and featuring a mix of blues, country, folk, rock and jazz. The band was nominated for Group of the Year at the Juno Awards in 1990 and 1991. The Cowboy Junkies have continued to tour North America, Europe, Japan and Australia with extensive tours following album releases in 2002 and 2004. In 2008, the band released "Trinity Revisited" in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the original recording of "The Trinity Session." Tickets for next week's show, which starts at 8 p.m., are $32. They are available online at www.MKTix.com/heptunes, by calling 978-462-9630, and at Dyno Records in Newburyport, Ipswich Music in Ipswich and all Bull Moose Music locations. A comedic boost for Theater in the Open Cambridge-born entertainer Jimmy Tingle brings his comedy and social commentary to Newburyport next month for two shows to benefit Theater in the Open. He'll perform Wednesday, April 8, and Friday, April 10, at 8 p.m. at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport's Market Square. Tingle completed two seasons with CBS' "60 Minutes II" as the humorist/commentator in the Andy Rooney spot. He has worked as a contributor and satirist for MSNBC and appeared on "The American Comedy Awards," "The Tonight Show," CNN's "Larry King Live," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," Comedy Central's "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn," as well as his own half-hour HBO comedy special. He also worked as a writing consultant and appeared as a talk show host in Chris Rock's film, "Head of State," and played a bartender in "Next Stop Wonderland" and a priest in the cult favorite "Boondock Saints." Tingle's concerts are appropriate for informed audiences of all political persuasions ages 14 and up. Tickets for the Firehouse shows are $25. For reservations, call the Firehouse at 978-462-7336 or visit www.firehouse.org. For more information, contact Theater in the Open at 978-465-2572 or visit www.theaterintheopen.org or www.jimmytingle.com. A new Thompson goes it alone in Newburyport Emerging singer-songwriter Teddy Thompson, son of Richard and Linda Thompson, offers up a solo acoustic evening next month in Newburyport City Hall Auditorium on Pleasant Street. Following in his parents' footsteps, the London-born, New York-based Thompson developed his musical drive early in life and launched his first band as a teenager. By the time he released his self-titled solo debut in 2000, he had already served a stint in his father's touring band and contributed guitar and vocals to his father's albums, "You? Me? Us?" and "Mock Tudor." He subsequently co-produced and played on his mother's 2002 comeback disc, "Fashionably Late," and toured as a member of Rosanne Cash's band. Thompson will be highlighting his fourth album, "A Piece of What You Need," an up-tempo recording that he says showcases his vocal, songwriting and guitar talents while venturing into new musical and lyrical territory. The show is set for Friday, April 17, at 8 p.m. New England singer-songwriter and fiddler Joyce Andersen, who has opened for Thompson's father's sold-out shows in Newburyport and also headlined the debut concert for FINCH Coffeehouse in Newburyport, leads off the program. Tickets are $25 and available online at www.MKTix.com/heptunes, by phone at 978-462-9630 and at Dyno Records on Middle Street in Newburyport and all Bull Moose locations. Maritime museum issues call for volunteers The Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport is seeking volunteers for the 2009 season. Positions available include volunteer coordinator, house tour guides, data entry, researcher, gift shop clerks, newsletter editor and special events assistant. Tour guides should have good communication skills and be able to work with groups of all ages. A background in history or education is preferred, but not necessary. All volunteers will receive thorough training. Located on the waterfront at 25 Water St., the Custom House Maritime Museum was built in 1835 and designed by Robert Mills, the architect of the Washington Monument and the U.S. Treasury Building. For information or to request a volunteer application, call 978-462-8681 or e-mail Melissa at info@thechmm.org. Wine tasting set to pour for Yankee Homecoming The Yankee Homecoming Committee is making plans for its annual wine tasting on Saturday, May 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Nicholson Hall, Harris Street, Newburyport. NECN meteorologist Matt Noyes will be the celebrity guest. A variety of wines, cheeses and hors d'oeuvres from local chefs will be featured. Silent and live auctions are also planned. Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door. Proceeds will support the annual summer celebration in Newburyport set for July 26 to Aug. 2. Visit www.yankeehomecoming.com for tickets or information. Early call out for Firehouse's New Works Fest 2010 The Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport is issuing its first call for entries to its 2010 New Works Festival. The juried festival seeks to spotlight new full-length plays and 10-minute shorts and provide insight into the playwriting process. More than 90 works were submitted for this year's event. Each playwright may submit up to two works, which are judged by an independent panel of theater professionals in a blind reading. The submission deadline is July 15. Visit www.firehouse.org/L3-getinvolved-submissions.html for guideline submissions and more details. ¢¢¢ To submit a Lookout item, e-mail it to svartabedian@newburyportnews.com, fax it to 978-465-8505, or mail it to The Daily News, 23 Liberty St., Newburyport, MA 01950.
—
Copyright © 1999-2010 cnhi, inc.