All Weekend: Monster Jam returns to the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence this weekend with four shows beginning Friday night at 7PM. See the legendary Grave Digger®, Megalodon® , El Toro Loco® and more push all limits in Freestyle, Skills, Donut and Racing competitions. Click here for more information and tickets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDcUhY48gxs Fri/Sat: Bundle up […]
Ken Abrams
Lifestyle Editor Ken Abrams writes about music, the arts and more for What'sUpNewp. He is also an Editor and Writer for Hey Rhody Media. Ken DJ's "The Kingston Coffeehouse," a roots/folk/rock radio show every Tuesday, 6-9 PM on WRIU 90.3 FM. He is a former educator in the Scituate, RI school system where he taught Social Studies for over 30 years.
He is on the board of the Rhode Island Folk Festival and Newport Live (formerly Common Fence Music), a non-profit that brings diverse musical acts to the Newport area.
Posted inFood & Drink, People & Profiles, Things To Do
What’s Up Interview: Lisa McCurdy of RI Brew Fest – Coming to Waterfire Arts Center Saturday Feb. 5
Where can you find over 50 local and regional breweries sharing their bounty this weekend? At the Rhode Island Brew Fest, of course, returning to the Waterfire Arts Center in Providence after skipping last year due to the pandemic. We learned more about the 2022 Festival from Lisa McCurdy of Gray Matter Marketing, one of […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles, Things To Do
What’s Up Interview: Shawnn Monteiro playing Chan’s Saturday, Feb. 5
Jazz singer Shawnn Monteiro is returning to Chan’s Saturday night after a 20-year absence from the legendary venue famous for “egg rolls, jazz and blues.” The show comes on the heels of her new release You Are There, an album of jazz standards featuring Monteiro on vocals fronting two stellar studio bands. I spoke to […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Tori Amos “Ocean to Ocean Tour” to stop at The VETS in Providence May 16
A trailblazing musician, author, and activist, Tori Amos has announced a massive North American 2022 tour today, with a stop at The VETS in Providence on May 16 at 7:30pm. The public on sale for the ‘Ocean to Ocean Tour’ begins Friday, February 4 at 10am. Tickets are available at TheVetsRI.com or by calling (401) 421.ARTS (2787). For more information go to toriamos.com. Amos is thrilled to connect with fans once […]
Posted inWeather
Why we’ll never experience a storm like the “Blizzard of ’78” again
The Blizzard of ’78 was a touchstone event for Rhode Islanders who experienced it. We were all impacted in some way, whether stuck on the highway and forced to abandon our cars, trapped at work or school for several days, or shoveling out neighbors who couldn’t open their front doors due to high snowdrifts. We […]
Posted inWeather
Send us your “Blizzard of ’22” pictures for WUN photo gallery
As the “Blizzard of ’22” makes its way through the region, we’re putting together a gallery of reader-submitted photos from the storm. Share your storm photos with us and we’ll add them to our photo gallery later today. E-mail photos to mrabrams11@gmail.com. Be sure to include your first name, last initial, and location of the […]
Posted inWeather
UPDATED: Blizzard Warning in effect – 18 – 24″ of snow, wind gusts of 45 – 70 mph expected
A Blizzard Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for all of Rhode Island and portions of eastern and northeastern Massachusetts. The latest National Weather Service Forecast is calling for 18-24″ of total snow accumulation and wind gusts between 45 – 70 mph possible across the state. The full detailed forecast and blizzard […]
Posted inNews
Six Picks Music: The best in local music for the week ahead – Wood Brothers, Yasmin Williams and Hendrix
With the snowstorm likely to wreak havoc on plans this weekend, we’re highlighting some of the top concerts in the area for the week ahead. Check out my “Six Picks” below. Friday, January 28: Warm up to some good tunes at the Narragansett Cafe in Jamestown Friday when local favorites Roger Ceresi, Gary Gramolini & […]
Posted inNews
Concert Recap and Photos: Lost Dog Street Band at The Strand
Nashville’s Lost Dog Street Band warmed up a friendly crowd on an ice cold evening Wednesday, January 26 at The Strand in downtown Providence. Openers Lenny Lashley’s Gang of One (actually a band of two), and singer-songwriter Matt Heckler impressed with brief, but memorable sets. Presenting an original set of country blues, Heckler demonstrated his […]
Posted inArts & Culture
“Six Picks” Events: What to do in RI this weekend – An Octoroon, a Superstar, and the Bit Players
Saturday’s snowstorm may impact your weekend plans, so we’ve selected a few activities that are running on Friday and Sunday for “Six Picks” events this weekend. Have fun and be careful! Friday: Beat the snow, head to the Firehouse Theatre in Newport, and laugh out loud with the award-winning “Improv with the Bit Players” beginning […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Rhythm and Roots Festival to return to Charlestown Sept. 2-4, 2022
Organizers for the Rhythm and Roots Festival today announced it is returning to Ninigret Park in Charlestown this Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 2-4). One of the state’s leading events, the locally produced festival also shared that tickets will be available on February 28. For the first time this year, the Rhythm Stage will feature performances […]
Posted inNews
Newport Folk Festival Announces on-sale date for 2022 Festival
The Newport Folk today announced the on-sale date for tickets for the 2022 Festival, scheduled for July 22-24. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, February 2 at 11AM. In past years, Folk Festival tickets have sold out in minutes, so patrons are advised to purchase tickets immediately when they are available. Check the full text […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Concert Recap: RI Philharmonic presents impressive “Fifth Symphony” with Assistant Conductor Efthimiou at the helm
The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra has pivoted nicely during the pandemic, maintaining performances and programs while many other symphonies and arts organizations took an extended pause. Earlier this week, the Orchestra was forced to pivot once again when Principal Conductor and Artistic Director Bramwell Tovey developed a mild case of Covid and was forced to […]
Posted inArts & Culture
“Six Picks Music” – The best in live music this weekend: Ziggy Gnardust, Stubborn Hearts, and Lost Dog Street Band
Fight off the winter chill and warm up to some good tunes at local spots around the region this weekend. Here are my “Six Picks” for the week ahead. Friday: Veteran singer-songwriter Chris Smither first played the Newport Folk Festival in 1967. (He’s been back a few times since.) In recent years, he’s released some […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
“Six Picks Events” – What to do this weekend in Rhode Island: Bumper cars, outdoor skating, and Beethoven
A chilly forecast means it’s time to get out and enjoy a mid-Winter weekend in New England. We’re previewing a few of the best things to do around town as we bring back our weekly column “Six Picks Events.” Saturday UPDATED:The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra presents Beethoven’s “Fifth Symphony” behind the steady hand of Interim […]
Posted inWeather
Weather Alert: Light snow expected Thursday AM, could impact morning commute
A fast-moving storm is expected to impact the region Thursday with rain changing to snow early Thursday morning. Although not a major storm, the snow is expected to arrive just in time for the Thursday morning commute. Snow is expected to accumulate 1-3 inches across most of Rhode Island Thursday. The snow should end by […]
Posted inCOVID-19, Environment & Health
Free Covid home test kits now available through USPS
The United States Postal Service is now offering free sets of four at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free and there is no shipping cost. To receive the free tests, visit covidtests.gov or special.usps.com/testkits. One set of four tests will be mailed out per address. The free test kits are available one day ahead of schedule before […]
Posted inHistory
Reflections on Martin Luther King Day 2022
“The time is always right to do what is right.” I entered Kindergarten in the Fall of 1968 at the newly renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School, a school that continues to educate a diverse population in the Mount Hope neighborhood in Providence. King had been assassinated the previous Spring, and the school took […]
Posted inNews
Six Picks: The best in local music this weekend – Real Weird, Copacetics and more cowbell (Albert Bouchard)
With many national tours pausing this month due to Omicron, we’ll preview some of the best local music happening around town this weekend. Don’t forget to mask up and take appropriate precautions at your favorite music venue. Friday: The Copacetics bring their ska/reggae vibe to the Narragansett Cafe in Jamestown. Music begins at 8PM. Details […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Newport Beer Festival headed to Fort Adams Saturday, April 30
Forecast got you down? Tired of the pandemic? Here’s an event to get excited about this Spring. The Newport Beer Festival is coming to Fort Adams on Saturday, April 30. Formerly the Newport Craft Beer Festival, the popular gathering returns to Newport for its 10th year, after taking 2021 off due to Covid. The announcement […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Brewery of the Month – We visit the Providence Brewing Company
Things are certainly brewing in Providence … The Providence Brewing Company, a welcome addition to the region’s growing line-up of micro-breweries, recently opened at the Farm Fresh RI hub on Sims Avenue in the Valley neighborhood. The state’s newest micro-brewery isn’t really brand new. The original Providence Brewing Company opened in the 1800’s and closed […]
Posted inNews
RI comedian Maya Manion appearing at Samuel Slater’s Restaurant Jan. 22
Get ready to laugh … Samuel Slater’s Restaurant in Webster, MA is presenting “Three (More) Funny Ladies” on Saturday, January 22. The show will feature three nationally recognized comedians, Kerri Louise, Emily Ruskowski, and Rhode Islander Maya Manion. Expect a full night of laughs and more with these talented women. Maya Manion was born in […]
Posted inWeather
Do you want to build a snowman? Check out your photos from the January storm
The January 7 snowstorm was the first major snow event in Rhode Island since last February. The storm dumped between 5-12 inches of snow across the region, with the highest amounts in the northwest part of the state. We asked for your photos and you delivered! Thanks for submitting these snapshots – you took some […]
Posted inArts & Culture, People & Profiles
What’s Up Interview: Doug Woolverton, playing Miles Davis tribute Valentines shows Feb. 12 -13
Among the many great musicians who call Rhode Island home, Doug Woolverton stands out from the crowd. The trumpeter has played with nationally known artists like Aretha Franklin, Warren Haynes, Roomful of Blues, and most recently, blues keyboardist Victor Wainwright. Woolverton and his band will be playing a special Valentine’s show at the Updike Room […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Providence Performing Arts Center announces ARTS Scholarships program
Providence, RI – The Community Outreach Committee of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) is pleased to announce that applications for the ARTS Scholarships 2022 program will be available on Friday, January 7, 2022; applications will then be accepted until Friday, March 4, 2022 at 4P.The ARTS Scholarships 2022 program, sponsored by The Textron Charitable Trust and the PPAC Annual Fund Donors […]