The weekend is filled with entertaining things to do with your Valentine — or just by your lonesome. So get shelter from the latest storm in a warm, dry venue.
Love and live music at The Word Barn
The Jordan TW Trio (pictured) will present an evening of Celtic Love Songs for your Valentine’s Day pleasure at The Word Barn in Exeter on Friday from 7-9 p.m. ($25). Then, on Sunday, Word Barn favorite Session Americana hosts a freewheelin’ modern hootenanny with guest Eleanor Buckland from 8 -10 p.m. ($28). Learn more here.
Valentine Dance at The Rockingham Ballroom
Take your valentine out dancing at The Rockingham Ballroom in Newmarket. The New Legacy Swing Band, a 17-piece dance orchestra with a vocalist, will perform on Friday from 8-10:30 p.m., preceded by an intro dance lesson at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30, which includes complimentary chocolate, a rose, and champagne. Learn more here.
Three nights of music at The Dance Hall
Load up on live music at The Dance Hall in Kittery. Local alt-country legend Jon Nolan + Good Co. perform with guest Kate Redgate on Friday from 7:30-9:30 p.m. ($12-$25). Award-winning Swedish folk, jazz, and old-time act the Lena Jonnson Trio follows on Saturday from 7:30-9 p.m. ($15-$32). Local family folk band The Hodes wrap up the weekend with multi-instrumentalist Kent Allyn on Sunday from 5-6:30 p.m. ($10-$18). Learn more here.
New Jazz Underground at Jimmy’s
The New Jazz Underground blends traditional jazz with modern influences like swing, hip-hop, house, afro-beat, and afro-Cuban music. Saxophonist Abdias Armenteros, bassist Sebastian Rios, and drummer TJ Reddick will perform at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club in Portsmouth on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $17.50-$37.50. Learn more here.
Stand-up shows at McCue’s Comedy Club
Jim McCue will headline a Valentine’s Day Comedy Show also featuring Liam Hales at McCue’s Comedy Club in Portsmouth on Friday from 8-9:30 p.m. ($25). The following night, “one-woman charm offensive” Emily Ruskowski, a former finalist at the Boston Comedy Festival, takes the spotlight from 8-9:30 p.m. ($20). Learn more here.
Reopening Day at Albacore Park
Take a self-guided tour of a former Navy submarine within walking distance of downtown Portsmouth. Albacore Park reopens for the season on Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The park features the USS Albacore, built in 1953 and decommissioned in 1972, along with a newly remodeled gift shop. Admission is $8-$14. Learn more here.
Cold Engines & friends at The Stone Church
Since 2005, rock band Cold Engines has released 13 album, performed upwards of 140 shows a year, and supported acts like Los Lobos, Blues Traveler, and Rustic Overtones. They’ll headline a gig with Dead to the Core and Starship Destroyer at The Stone Church in Newmarket on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15-$20. Learn more here.
Four rock bands at The Press Room
Not feeling the love this winter? The Press Room in Portsmouth is hosting a concert for everyone who hates Valentine’s Day and loves loud guitars. The 2000s headline a quadruple-bill night of noisy indie rock also featuring area bands Tysk Tysk Task, doug., and Retract on Saturday starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12-$15. Learn more here.
Mango Catch! and co. at WSCA Radio
WSCA Portsmouth Community Radio continues to showcase up-and-coming talent on its Button Factory Stage. Up next, high-energy act Mango Catch! headlines a rock show with support from power rockers Mother Nimbus and psychedelic indie band Astral Ferns on Saturday from 8-10 p.m. Tickets are $10-$15. Learn more here.
Oscar-Nominated Shorts at The Music Hall
With the Academy Awards coming soon, get caught up on the top short films of 2024. The Music Hall in Portsmouth will present Oscar Nominated Short Films 2025 in three installments, starting with documentaries on Sunday from 4-5:30 p.m. (plus animated on Feb. 22 and live action on Feb. 28). Tickets are $13-$16. Learn more here.
See the full calendar for more local events.