Songs and shows

Music –

Last year was a banner year for music in the Seacoast. A month didn’t go by without some kind of unique show, unforgettable album, or,...

Future sight

News –

A lot can change in a year, or even a few months, or a few days. Just think — a year ago, if we’d told...

Real impersonator

Books –

Early in his career as a writer, Andrew Merton worked as a reporter for daily newspapers. “Tight deadlines and strict word counts,” he said. “No...

Radical ideas

News –

“For a little town, there are a lot of people here today,” Sen. Bernie Sanders told a boisterous crowd of nearly 800 guests at the...

BREAKING: Dogs rescued

News –

Three dogs were rescued from a fire in a downtown Portsmouth residence on Thursday morning. According to Portsmouth Fire Chief Steven Achilles, the fire began at...

Rearview mirror

News –

Between blizzards, presidential candidate visits, and an ongoing opioid crisis, the Seacoast had a lot to talk about in 2015. Here’s a look back at...

Best books

Books –

Hundreds of thousands of new books are published every year. That’s good news and bad news for book lovers — there are so many choices,...

Most deft vs. tone deaf

Film –

Ah, 2015 — to paraphrase “The Simpsons,” it was the best of times and also the blurst of times. The amount of new shows, reboots,...

Fair warning

Film –

Editor’s note: Warning: there be spoilers here. For almost as long as there have been movies, they have been warning us about the robots. But have...

Play it again

Music –

“Painted Shut” by Hop Along (Saddle Creek Records) Frances Quinlan’s fiery, unique voice and frantic, emotive songwriting were the best part of 2015. “Summertime ‘06” by Vince Staples (Def...

Listen closely

Music –

It was a year of anticipation, frustration and, ultimately, triumphs, but somehow 2015 seems unfinished. Amidst a litany of pressing issues in a passionately polarized...

Avalanche of support

News –

Hillary Clinton’s remarks to voters in Portsmouth were interrupted early on when an avalanche of snow slid off the roof of South Church, where she...

Season’s readings

Books –

Editor’s note: The holidays are here, and that means it’s time to slow down and spend some time with family and friends. Of course, a little...

Slow transition

Music –

North Hampton’s Parma Recordings travels to Cuba When Bob Lord traveled to Cuba in November, he saw constant reminders of how much life has changed...

Renewed traditions

Lifestyle –

My family was not so great at holiday traditions. Then and now, I chalked it up to proximity: my parents and I lived about 15...

Bubble to Branch

Music –

Local radio listeners who tuned in to The Bubble 101.5 FM radio station in late November expecting to hear classic funk and soul songs got...

Hidden history

News –

Thousands of people packed into downtown Portsmouth this summer, toting a colorful assortment of flags, signs, and balloons for the city’s first LGBT Pride event....

100 Years of Christmas

Books –

My name is Archibald Reef, and I am a ghost. Though to be honest, ‘ghost’ suggests an incorporeal form, an idea primarily used by children,...

Welcome home

Art –

Mainers Orson Horchler’s street art is short-lived, but not shortsighted. His latest project, called “Mainers,” is a series of portraits featuring a diverse group of...

Signs of the times

News –

Donald Trump brings families together. Sort of. The Republican presidential candidate was in Portsmouth on Thursday, Dec. 10, for a brief appearance at a meeting...

Now hear this

Music –

Reviews of new Seacoast albums by Andrew Wallace “In Lieu of Flowers” by Eric Ott 75 or Less Records File Under: indie, Americana, rock Sounds...