One more weekend before most New Hampshire students go back to school. Make the most of it.
SeaChange Conference 2023 at Green Acre
The 2023 SeaChange Conference brings together people interested in the arts, healing, and social justice. The three-day event, held at Green Acre in Eliot from Friday to Sunday, features workshops and conversations exploring how the arts can spur change. There will also be meals, a mixer, a bonfire, an open mic, and more. Tickets are $80 for one day, $180 for two days, or $225 for all three days. Overnight accommodations are $100. Learn more here.
Beatles music and Jazz Fest at Prescott Park
NOTE: The Spencer and the Walrus concert has been moved indoors at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, and the Seacoast Jazz Festival has been postponed to Sunday, Aug. 27, due to inclement weather.
It’s a big late-summer weekend for the Prescott Park Arts Festival. Portland-based band Spencer and the Walrus plays music by The Beatles in the Portsmouth park on Friday at 7 p.m. Grammy-winning trumpeter Sean Jones headlines the 40th Annual Seacoast Jazz Festival, featuring local, regional, and international talent, on Saturday from 1-8 p.m. There’s a $10 suggested donation; table and blanket reservations are available. Learn more here.
Ripe w/Coyote Island at Cisco Brewers
Alt-pop quartet Ripe is one of the hottest bands in Boston, and they released a new album, “Bright Blues,” earlier this year. They’ll return to Portsmouth with guest Coyote Island for a slot in Cisco Brewers’ summer concert series (presented with The Press Room) on Friday from 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $35-$40. Learn more here.
Live music at The Dance Hall
Before you head to the Seacoast Jazz Festival on Saturday, check out the Festival Kickoff Concert with the Anick / Klaxton Quintet at The Dance Hall in Kittery on Friday from 8-9:30 p.m. ($17-$22). Also, Portsmouth Athenaeum Chamber Music presents The Balourdet Quartet on Sunday from 3-4:30 p.m. ($10-$30). Learn more here.
Concerts at The Stone Church
It’s going to be another jamtastic weekend at The Stone Church in Newmarket. First up, Maine-based tribute band Rose Alley plays the music of the Jerry Garcia Band on Friday at 9 p.m. ($15). Powerhouse local funk and soul band Trade, known for their energetic live shows, follows on Saturday at 8 p.m. ($12). Learn more here.
Radical Healing Festival at The Word Barn
Explore transformative experiences and rejuvenation during the Random Healing Festival at The Word Barn in Exeter on Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. There will be an array of healing arts modalities, plus a special drum ceremony ($20). A concert featuring Randy Armstrong and WorldBeat Marimba follows from 7:30-9 p.m. ($25).
Rochester Pride Day 2023
The city of Rochester will celebrate its LGBTQIA+ community during Rochester Pride Day on Saturday from 12-3 p.m. Highlights include a Seacoast LGBT History exhibit at RiverStones Custom Framing, a Pet Talent/Fashion Show, and a collaborative art project, plus after-parties at Fallen Leaf Bistro and Bean Me Up Cafe. Learn more here.
Funk and Jam Out Festival at Newburyport Brewing
Asbury Park, N.J.-based jam band Waiting on Mongo headlines this year’s Funk & Jam Out Music Festival at Newburyport Brewing Co. on Saturday from 12-10 p.m. The lineup also includes Freevolt, Cosmic Blossom, and Clandestine, plus food trucks, corn hole, face painting, and more. Tickets are $10. Learn more here.
Summer Sham 2 at Millspace
New Hampshire improv comedy troupe Stranger Than Fiction will present Summer Sham 2 at the Millspace in Newmarket on Saturday from 8-9:30 p.m. The improv battle will bring together local performers to compete for the championship belt, providing a unique theater experience. Tickets are $12. Learn more here.
Rodney Norman at McCue’s Comedy Club
Comedian Rodney Norman’s offbeat YouTube messages have garnered millions of views and turned him into a social-media sensation. He’ll return to McCue’s Comedy Club at the Roundabout Diner in Portsmouth for a standup performance with host Liam Hales on Saturday from 8-9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. Learn more here.
See the full calendar for more local events.