You may be familiar with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra or Newport Classical, but there’s another organization gaining widespread recognition in local classical music circles. We’re talking about the Rhode Island Guitar Guild, a non-profit organization that presents concerts and workshops with internationally acclaimed artists and educators in unique Rhode Island venues. This spring, the […]
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 inMusic & Entertainment
Ticket Giveaway: Chris Spedding Trio with Anton Fig playing Colony House Friday, March 22
Guitar great Chris Spedding returns to Newport for a concert on Friday, March 22 at the Newport Colony House. We’ve got a pair of tickets to give away courtesy of Newport Live. To enter, e-mail Ken Abrams at mrabrams11@gmail.com by Noon on Thursday, March 21, for your chance to win. More about Chris Spedding: March […]
Posted inThings To Do
Save the Bay cuts the ribbon on the new Hamilton Family Aquarium
Newport’s newest family attraction, Save the Bay’s Hamilton Family Aquarium, was unveiled earlier today in a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by aquarium staff, state and local dignitaries, invited guests, and enthusiastic students from Thompson Middle School. Hamilton Family Charitable Trust President Chekemma J. Fulmore-Townsend officially cut the ribbon alongside Save the Bay Executive Director Topher Hamblett, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Concert Photos: Jax Hollow brings hot guitar grooves to the Jamestown Arts Center
Nashville-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Jax Hollow rocked her way through a nice set of original songs (and one notable cover) on Saturday, March 16, at the Jamestown Arts Center in a Newport Live concert. She played several from her debut album Only the Wild Ones, as well as several new songs she plans to record in the […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend begins with AOH Pipes & Drums and AOH Men’s Singers at Midtown Oyster Bar
The 2024 St. Patrick’s Day weekend kicked off in style at the Midtown Oyster Bar Friday afternoon March 15. The celebration featured a performance by the Ancient Order of Hibernian’s (AOH) Pipes & Drums and AOH Men’s Singers. A packed house was there to support the two organizations, with funds raised going directly to the […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
What’s Up Interview: Jim McCarty, drummer in The Yardbirds, band playing Narrows Center March 21
He’s set the beat for some of the all-time greats – Clapton, Beck, and Page – all once members of the pioneering 60s British Invasion band The Yardbirds. The blues/rock band may be best remembered for its guitarists, but Yardbirds co-founder and drummer Jim McCarty, one of the driving forces responsible for the band’s distinctive […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Providence Performing Arts Center announces 2024-25 Broadway season
Providence, RI – J.L. “Lynn” Singleton, President and CEO of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), and Joseph W. Walsh, Esq., Chairman of PPAC’s Board of Directors, unveiled PPAC’s 2024/2025 Broadway Season at a press conference in the theatre’s Grand Lobby. PPAC 2024-25 Season Announcement (Photo: Ken Abrams)PPAC 2024-25 Season Announcement (Photo: Ken Abrams)PPAC 2024-25 Season […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Ticket Giveaway: Rising star Jax Hollow playing the Jamestown Arts Center Saturday, March 16
Rising Nashville star Jax Hollow is playing the Jamestown Arts Center on Saturday, March 16, and we’ve got a pair of tickets to give away to the show courtesy of Newport Live. To enter, e-mail Ken Abrams at mrabrams11@gmail.com with “Jax Hollow” in the subject line by 5 PM on Thursday, March 14. The winner […]
Posted inFood & Drink
‘Six Picks’ Newport area breweries celebrate RI Craft Beer Week
Rhode Island Craft Beer Week rolls into the weekend with dozens of special events and new releases. Stop by local taprooms this weekend to see what’s in store. Ragged Island Brewing Ragged Island Brewing, located at 54 Bristol Ferry Rd. in Portsmouth, has established itself as the leading Aquidneck Island brewery. Just in time for […]
Posted inSports
Meet Nate Silveira and Kevin Vang, RI FC soccer players from Rhode Island
By now, you’ve probably heard that Rhode Island is home to a new professional soccer team. RI FC kicks off its inaugural season on March 16 with a home game against New Mexico United at Bryant University’s Beirne Stadium. The team expects to be in its own stadium, at Tidewater Landing in Pawtucket, by the […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Outlaw Music Festival returning to Xfinity Center on July 2 with Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, and Celisse
The 2024 Outlaw Music Festival Tour returns to the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA on July 2, 2024 with headliners Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, and Celisse. Complete ticket information is available here. “This year’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour promises to be the biggest and best yet with this lineup […]
Posted inNews
Meet Rhode Island ‘leaplings’ – Born on February 29, a select few celebrate their birthday every four years
It only happens once every four years. No, we’re not talking about the Summer Olympics or the presidential elections, although both are on the same cycle as this calendric event. We’re talking about “Leap Day,” of course, February 29th, which occurs every fourth year during Leap Year. First, I confess that I have an inside […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Concert Recap and Photos: Cowboy Junkies bring warm vibes to Newport on a chilly winter evening
Newport’s Jane Pickens Theatre welcomed legendary Canadian alt-country rockers The Cowboy Junkies to town for a sold-out concert on Friday, February 23. The band warmed hearts and souls with a two-and-a-half-hour show before a friendly audience of long-time fans alongside a few newbies. The opening set featured mainly songs from the band’s critically acclaimed 2023 […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Gamm Theatre to present Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night beginning March 21
WARWICK, RI (February 21, 2024) – The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (The Gamm) presents Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night —a web of misdirected love and unexpected poignancy woven by a cast of unforgettable characters. Gamm Artistic Director Tony Estrella and Associate Artistic Director Rachel Walshe co-direct the Bard’s famous comedy. Twelfth Night runs March 21-April 14 at The […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Comedian Shane Gillis coming to Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, August 16
UNCASVILLE, CT (February 21, 2024) –– Shane Gillis will bring his award-winning comedic genius to Mohegan Sun Arena for a night full of laughter on Friday, August 16th at 8:00pm. Tickets to see Gillis go on sale Friday, February 23rd at 10:00am via Ticketmaster.com. Subject to availability, Comedy fans can buy tickets at the Mohegan Sun Box Office […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Narragansett Brewery schedules events for RI Craft Brewery Week
With Rhode Island Craft Brewery Week beginning on March 1, Narragansett Brewery is gearing up for ten days of special events. The highlight of the week is the much–anticipated Lager CON on Saturday, March 2, a day-long celebration dedicated to Narragansett’s iconic Lager and featuring activities like Lager Cask Tapping, Lager Flights, Stone Path Malt […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Original Jersey Boy Frankie Valli to stop at Mohegan Sun on ‘The Last Encores Tour’ Friday June 7
UNCASVILLE, CT (February 19, 2024) –– Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons announced The Last Encores tour earlier today. The acclaimed band has decided to perform a limited number of shows, including an 8:00pm Mohegan Sun Arena show on Friday, June 7th. For over 60 years, Valli has sold over 175 million records while capturing the hearts […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
What’s Up Interview: Country singer David Nail, playing Greenwich Odeum March 8
A leading voice in country music is coming to the Greenwich Odeum on Saturday, March 8. David Nail is a widely regarded singer-songwriter and a Grammy award-nominated artist who has made Nashville home for over two decades. Nail broke out in 2002 with his song “Memphis,” and later hit #1 on the country charts with […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Concert Photos: The David Tessier All-Star Stars at Ragged Island Brewing
The David Tessier All-Star Stars kicked off the 2024 season of the Barn Concerts at Ragged Island Brewing in Portsmouth on Saturday night, February 17. A warm crowd greeting Tessier and his band on a chilly evening at the Aquidneck Island brewery, which hosts year-round barn sessions featuring locally and nationally touring musicians. Tessier’s band […]
Posted inThings To Do
‘Six Picks’ fun ideas for February School Vacation Week
Here’s our roundup of fun family activities for February vacation week. Keep the kids busy… and parents from going crazy … with these ideas for winter break around RI. Take the kids go-karting at RI Indoor Karting in Lincoln, which features a 1/3 mile track and speeds up to 45MPH. (No worries for the little ones; the […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Newport Festivals Foundation makes major instrument donation to Newport schools
The Newport Festivals Foundation, who run and operate the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals, bestowed another major local instrument donation Thursday at three local schools in the Newport school district including Pell Elementary, Thompson Middle School and Rogers High School. The donation reception was held at Thompson Middle School yesterday where $15,000 worth of instruments […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
What’s Up Interview: BaoBao Chen of ‘Small Island, Big Song,’ coming to The Strand in PVD March 15
“The ocean doesn’t separate us; the ocean unites us.” Small Island Big Song is a unique music, film, and performing arts project bridging together the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans through artistic collaboration. The project is described as “a transcendent musical journey combining song, spoken word, and cinematic visuals filmed over a […]
Posted inArts & Culture
‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ star & children’s author Karyn Parsons to visit Providence Children’s Museum during February school vacation week
Providence, RI – Get ready for a week full of fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories at Providence Children’s Museum (PCM) during the February school vacation. PCM will have extended hours as well as an extensive schedule of activities during the February break. Special activities start on Saturday, February 17th, with the museum open every day between […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Newport Live to present the Chris Spedding Trio on March 23 at Colony House
March is for guitar heroes – and Chris Spedding is the iconic guitar hero. Newport Live presents The Chris Spedding Trio with Anton Fig on Friday, March 22nd at 7:30 PM at the the Colony House, Washington Square, in Newport, RI. Tickets are available on EventBrite or at the Newport Live website. It’s not often […]
Posted inBusiness
Newport Beach Hotel & Suites begins phase one of guest room update
Newport Beach Hotel & Suites, located directly across from Easton’s Beach on the Newport/Middletown line, has begun a significant guest room refresh project on the historic property on its campus. The considerable makeover, which will include a reimaged interior design replete with new bathrooms, furnishings, carpet, and wall coverings, will mark Phase One of a comprehensive multi-phase […]