A former member of the Grammy Award-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops will be in East Greenwich Saturday, May 15th performing at the Greenwich Odeum. Roots/Folk performer Hubby Jenkins is playing live in-person with social distancing and other precautions in effect. Jenkins is a talented multi-instrumentalist who endeavors to share his love and knowledge of old-time American […]
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 inArts & Culture
Spindle City Fest returning to Fall River June 5th
FALL RIVER, MA – The Narrows Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the return of our Spindle City Fest on Saturday, June 5, 2021. The event runs from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and will be held at the City Gates on Water Street. Spindle City Fest is a free family-centric event that […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Common Fence Music presents Kris Delmhorst & Jeffrey Foucault Livestream May 9th
Common Fence Music will present Kris Delmhorst and Jeffrey Foucault in an online Concert on the Common Fence Music virtual stage on Sunday, May 9th. Acclaimed folk artists Jeffrey Foucault and Kris Delmhorst have largely built their careers separately. Wisconsin-bred Foucault is known for his lean country-folk aesthetic and songwriting talents that are hailed as among the best of his generation; […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: Director Don Mays of “God Talks to an Agnostic”
A unique collaboration between the Wilbury Theatre Group, AFRI Productions, and The Public’s Radio is getting outstanding reviews. “God Talk to an Agnostic” is a new project from noted RI filmmaker Don Mays. This show is not a film, however, it’s a 12-part audio play, running every Sunday at 3PM on The Public’s Radio and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Live Concert Recap and Photos: Tish Adams and Evening Sky at Pumphouse Musicworks (4-23-21)
Live music warmed the soul on a chilly evening at the Pumphouse in Wakefield Friday as two RI-based acts came together for a great show. Singer Tish Adams was joined by the jazz/roots band Evening Sky for an outdoor concert under the tent. Evening Sky opened the evening with a set of roots-inspired jazz, including […]
Posted inArts & Culture, News
Tom Jones releases new album “Surrounded By Time”
Sir Tom Jones released his new album Surrounded By Time today via BMG Records. The album has been met with critical acclaim worldwide, with The Independent calling it “a triumph of hope and experience” and The New Yorker proclaiming it “steeped in gravity.” Today, Sir Tom appeared on NBC’s TODAY Show in conversation with Hoda […]
Posted inBusiness, People & Profiles, Things To Do
What’s Up Interview: Steve Iwanski of Charter Books – Opening this weekend
Bookselling is what I love, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life doing it here in Newport.
Posted inArts & Culture
Theatre By the Sea announces postponement until 2022
One of the most popular RI summer traditions, Theatre by the Sea in Wakefield, yesterday announced the postponement to 2022 of most of its schedule, with one exception. With the expectation of relaxed Covid restrictions, Mamma Mia is scheduled to run from August 18 to September 5. The theater issued this statement on Wednesday. To […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Live Music – Tish Adams and Evening Sky to play Pumphouse Music April 23
Live outdoor music returns to the Pumphouse in Peacedale Friday with a special outdoor show featuring a pair of top regional acts. On Friday April 23rd at 7PM, the jazz/roots/pop band Evening Sky will be performing two sets, with the second set featuring vocalist and show producer Tish Adams. They’ll be performing tunes from their […]
Posted inBusiness
Brewery of the Month: We visit Tilted Barn in Exeter
After a quarantine respite, our “Brewery of the Month” column returns for April. Going forward, I’ll visit a different local establishment each month and report back on my findings. We know, it’s a tough assignment… On a more serious note, it’s no secret that local breweries have been adversely affected by the pandemic, and need […]
Posted inNews, Things To Do
Bold Point Park announces first concert for Summer 2021
Bold Point Park in East Providence made its first announcement of the 2021 Summer concert season today in a post on social media. The outdoor venue overlooking Narragansett Bay announced an August 1st show with county duo Brothers Osborne. Brothers John and T.J. Osborne are touring North America behind their latest album Skeletons. The tour […]
Posted inArts & Culture
WRIU 90.3 radio holding Radiothon fundraiser this week
WRIU 90.3 FM is holding Radiothon, its annual fundraising drive this week, after skipping the event last year due to the coronavirus epidemic. The non-commercial station receives no public funds, relying on donations as its main source of income. The station broadcasts 24-7, year-round and is run by an all volunteer staff. Located on the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Live music slowly returning to the region
Psyched to hear Newport Folk and Jazz are returning? Missing live shows as much as we are? Wanna know what’s up on the local concert scene? Well, things are slowly getting back to normal… with an emphasis on the word “slowly.” (It’s likely to be more than a year before things are truly “normal” in […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jane Pickens Theatre presents Academy Award “Shorts” in virtual screening room
OK, admit it. During the biggest awards show, you always say to yourself, “I wish I had a chance to see those – they look interesting.” Of course, we’re talking about Oscar nominated “shorts,” those films that have all the cinematic beauty and emotional intensity of feature films, just shorter. Fear not, movie fans, we’ve […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Bandcamp Friday: Here’s how to support local musicians
Today is Bandcamp Friday, a sale on the first Friday of each month when music provider Bandcamp eliminates fees typically charged to musicians who sell music on the site. Bandcamp is an artist-friendly site where musicians earn exponentially more than they would on streaming music services like Apple Music or Spotify. The site also features […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Rejects Beer and Hoist and Crane Coffee announce new brew
Those who remember the old Reeses commercial “you got chocolate in my peanut butter” might appreciate the new collaboration between Rejects Brewery and Hoist and Crane Coffee. You may recall, the two tastes combined were better than the original. For beer lovers, one can certainly make that argument about the new Hoist and Crane Imperial […]
Posted inBusiness
Tennis Hall of Fame to re-open April 1
The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport today announced that they will be re-opening April 1. The grounds of the Museum will be open from 10AM-5PM daily Thursday through Sunday. The following restrictions will be in place at the Hall: -Masks are required at all times when inside the Museum. -Maximum of 30 visitors […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Roger Williams Park Zoo to host Asian Lantern Spectacular beginning April 15
An exciting new in-person event is coming to the Roger Williams Park Zoo April 15 – July 4. The Asian Lantern Spectacular will feature over 50 lantern displays, Asian cuisine, and a children’s area. This unique walk-through event will be held Wednesday–Sunday nights from 5:30 until 10 p.m., with tickets available for purchase online only. […]
Posted inSports
Tickets for April Red Sox games go on sale Thursday, March 25
Are you ready for Opening Day? The Boston Red Sox today announced that tickets for all April home games will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, March 25th. Previously, Red Sox season ticket holders were given priority access to tickets. The team also announced strict health and safety guidelines that will be […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Folk and Jazz Artists dominate Grammy Awards
Like most awards shows this year, tonight’s Grammy Awards (hosted by The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah), will be quite different from years past. Many presenters, including Lizzo and Ringo Starr, will be streaming in remotely, and workers from shuttered concert venues will be presenting awards. Headliners include Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Six Picks Music: Live and Streaming this weekend – Greg Abate, Wynonna and the Grammys
Its Grammy Awards weekend, and we’ve got you covered with a few streaming and a couple of in-person shows in the area. Look for our coverage to shift to more indoor concerts as conditions continue to improve! Friday: When all is said and done with Covid 19, we may look back on Adam Ezra (who’s […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Boch Center presents “Women Who Rock” Celebration of Female Musicians
The Boch Center (Boston) is now showing “Women Who Rock,” a digital exhibit celebrating female musicians during Women’s History Month. Featuring photographs taken by Susan Wilson of artists including Tracy Chapman, Patty Griffin, and Tina Turner, the exhibit showcases more than a dozen images taken at the Wang Theatre and other venues across Boston, as […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Blackstone River Theatre presents Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
On March 12, at 7:30 p.m., Blackstone River Theatre will present Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas in a streaming concert called “Highlander’s Farewell.” Ticket price is $20 and an additional $2.28 charge is added on by the streaming platform. As a bonus, with ticket purchase, viewers can watch again or later at any time during an included 48-hour […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Six Picks: The best in streaming music this weekend
Live concerts are coming soon, but until then, it’s another big weekend for streaming music. Check out some of our favorites below. Friday: Rock-N-Relief is a two-night virtual concert organized by Linda Perry to benefit “Core Response.” Performers include Foo Fighters, Sheryl Crow, Deadmau5, Sammy Hagar & The Circle, Gavin Rossdale and more. Click here for […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Folk Launches “Wake the Folk Up” Video Series to Benefit Musicians
“Wake The Folk Up” is a new video series from the folk at the Newport Festivals Foundation, designed “to highlight the issues that matter most to artists during these unprecedented times.” In an effort to support touring musicians, the Foundation is providing grants to artists to share their insights and songs. The episodes will premiere […]