The first weekend of spring brings music, literature, comedy, wildlife, and more. Here are some highlights.
Owen King at The Music Hall Lounge
“The Curator” is Owen King’s first novel since “Sleeping Beauties,” which he cowrote with his father, Stephen King. He’ll discuss his new “Dickensian fantasy” with moderator Paul Durham and the audience at The Music Hall Lounge in Portsmouth on Friday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $34 and include a signed copy of the book. Learn more here.
Dance parties at The Rockingham Ballroom
Dance the weekend away at The Rockingham Ballroom in Newmarket. Dance instructor Anne Fleming presents West Coast Swing on Friday, with a lesson at 7 p.m. followed by dancing from 8-11 p.m. ($15-$20). DJ Mr. Magic spins today’s biggest hits during Dance Night on Saturday from 7:30-11 p.m. ($15). Learn more here.
Live music at The Dance Hall
Steely Dan tribute PowerMoneyCake performs “Pretzel Logic” at The Dance Hall in Kittery on Friday from 7:30-9 p.m. ($17-$22). The fiddle-cello duo of Jocelyn Pettit and Ellen Gira follows on Saturday from 7:30-9 p.m. ($17-$22). Jazz Casual presents the Zakk Machemer Quartet on Sunday from 5-6:30 p.m. ($10-$15). Learn more here.
Scarlet Keys at 3S Artspace
Author, Berklee College of Music professor, and award-winning songwriter Scarlet Keys will be in Portsmouth for a special events this weekend. Keys will celebrate the release of her new book, “What if it All Goes Right” with a concert, reading, and discussion at 3S Artspace on Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $18-$20. Learn more here.
Two shows at The Stone Church
Portland-based thrash/hardcore band VIQUEEN headlines a rock show with Lobotomobile and The Station at The Stone Church in Newmarket on Friday at 8 p.m. ($12). Kat Riggins (above), who has been compared to Koko Taylor, Etta James, and Tina Turner, brings Her Blues Revival to town on Saturday from 8-11 p.m. ($20). Learn more here.
The Kenny Brothers at The Press Room
Last fall, mountain-rock group The Kenny Brothers Band released “Live at Prescott Park,” documenting their performance at the Prescott Park Arts Festival last summer. Audiences can catch the Stratham-bred band with special guest Wellfleet at The Press Room in Portsmouth on Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15-$20. Learn more here.
Music for Life in Portsmouth
The Portsmouth Music and Arts Center’s New Horizons Band will join forces with other regional bands at Portsmouth Middle School on Saturday. Ensembles from Concord, the Lakes Region, Monadnock, and Southern Maine will showcase the New Horizons Music program with a concert from 5-6 p.m. Tickets are $5. Learn more here.
Mike Whitman at McCue’s Comedy Club
Another showcase of the Boston area’s hottest comics comes to McCue’s Comedy Club in Portsmouth on Saturday from 8-9:30 p.m. Innovative and entertaining comedian Mike Whitman will headline this edition, with support from featured guests Scotty Lombardo, Liam Hales, and Angela Sawyer. Tickets are $20. Learn more here.
Pop punk show at WSCA Radio
WSCA Portsmouth Community Radio has been steadily ramping up its live music offerings on the Button Factory Stage, and if you haven’t seen a show at the intimate venue, you’re missing out. Local rocker Dave Strong is splitting the bill with Scooped Up for a night of pop-punk music on Saturday from 8-10 p.m. Tickets are $10. Learn more here.
Soaring into spring at The Word Barn
Spring has arrived, and with it a fresh emergence of local wildlife species. Tailwinds educators will return to The Word Barn in Exeter on Sunday from 3-4 p.m. to introduce guests to some amazing owls and other raptors and describe their remarkable adaptations. Tickets are $25 (free for children age 10 and under). Learn more here.
See the full calendar for more local events.