This weekend’s event highlights could bring you to Portsmouth, Exeter, or Newmarket for live music, author readings, art, or theater — or all of the above. Find out more below.
Joe Hill
Local author Joe Hill has established himself as a horror icon for a new generation. And, like his father (Stephen King), he is remarkably prolific. Hill will discuss and read from his latest book, “Strange Weather: Four Short Novels,” at The Music Hall Loft in Portsmouth on Friday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $33 and include a bar beverage and a copy of the book (and a chance to get it signed). For more information, click here.
Heathers: The Musical
The 1988 film “Heathers” was a darkly comic delight that helped launch the careers of Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, and Shannen Doherty. The Portsmouth Academy of Performing Arts is bringing “Heathers: The Musical — High School Edition,” starring PAPA’s talented teen students, to the stage of the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth from Jan. 12-21. Show times are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15-$20, available here.
Fire in the Field
Boston-based rockers Fire in the Field — whose lineup includes some Exeter-area natives — are touring in support of their new album, “War Bonnet.” They’ll be at The Stone Church in Newmarket on Friday, Jan. 12, at 9 p.m., alongside local favorites Gretchen & The Pickpockets — another band with deep roots in Exeter. The Stone Church is a treasured venue to both bands, so expect a particularly raucous celebration. Tickets are $7; for more information, click here.
NHAA exhibits
The New Hampshire Art Association will host opening receptions for two special shows in the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery in Portsmouth on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 12-3 p.m. “Looking Beyond Disability,” presented in collaboration with One Sky Community Services, features art created by people with developmental disabilities and acquired brain disorders (aka “alternate abilities”). “Feed the Soul” features work by NHAA members; guests are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to Gather. Learn more here.
Three Vibrant Voices
The Word Barn in Exeter, which recently got a nice write-up in the Boston Globe, is hosting three writers on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 7-10 p.m. The event features readings from Pennsylvania-based poet Meg Day, UMass Lowell teacher David Maloney, and Exeter poet Michael Brosnan. Part of The Word Barn’s Silo Series, which presents literary and spoken-word events, the evening is titled “Three Vibrant Voices.” There is a suggested donation of $5; for more information, click here.
For a full calendar of local events, click here.