Emily Reily

When Prince tribute artist Jason Tenner first met The Purple One, the iconic performer’s physical appearance struck him the most.
“It was such a strange thing, to sit and see him face to face and to realize just how small in stature of a guy he was. Such a trip,” says Tenner, a funk-music artist who regularly portrays the late Grammy Award-winning musician, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, filmmaker, and overall virtuoso, in the tribute show “Purple Reign.”
The group, dancers and all, ...

Adam Wakefield’s roots run through New Hampshire, though they may be hard to recognize behind his country twang and the effortless way he can meander through an acoustic ballad.
But growing up in Plymouth, it was common to see Wakefield working at the farm across from his home or playing in the Plymouth High band. His talent as a musician led him to New School in New York City, where he entered the Jazz and Contemporary Arts program, but the rigors of school life and music theory didn’t take....

Roald Dahl’s “Matilda” is about overcoming adversity, but it’s a children’s novel at heart, so it’s got some gross stuff, too.
Director Sharon Arsenault gives up one light-heartedly revolting reveal from the Millworks Theatre Troupe’s version of the classic British book (the first regional production).
“You don’t have to share this, but there is a 20-second burp in the show. That’s going to make the kids laugh, because it seems it goes on forever,” she says.
Arsenault sets up the scene: “Bruc...

Buskers and one-man bands are jacks of all trades, attaching their bodies to all manner of cymbals, kick drums, and mandolins to create the fullest sound possible for a street corner gig. Suitcase drums were born out of the necessity for solo musicians to sound professional and be portable while on a shoestring budget—but they can also bring a unique sound and flavor to everyone from folk artists to heavy metal headbangers. Plus, it’s a near guarantee that no suitcase drum is built alike.

Bil...

By Emily Reily
Though it’s more commonly known as an insult to offend and degrade, in Missy Elliott’s capable hands, “bitch” means something far more positive: a freedom of expression and a symbol of empowerment. Elliott, who’s wielded the term like a jackhammer in her raps and throughout her career, pries the contentious word open with a crowbar on the debut single off her 1999 sophomore record, Da Real World.
“She's a Bitch” (which was originally the album’s title) is a sparse, menacing rap...

In the U.S., Las Vegas is known as the ultimate quickie wedding destination. But across the pond, the verdant village of Gretna Green in Scotland has been a hotbed of runaway “I do’s” for more than 260 years—longer than Sin City has even been around. And it was all thanks to one stuffy British lawyer who, in an attempt to reform English marriage laws, inadvertently made elopements to the tiny Scottish hamlet de rigueur for couples looking to tie the knot as soon as possible.
Before the 1750s,...

The annual Comedy Xxtravaganza is again stacked with talent, in two locations in New Hampshire.

Comedian John Poveromo says exactly what’s on his mind.
While the New Jersey native’s stand-up leans toward the conversational and observational — he describes himself as that guy at the party telling all the fun stories — he’s not afraid to address what he says is a PC culture when it comes to comedy and recent industry controversies.
As a kid, Poveromo, a self-taught cartoonist, became inspired by the zaniness of Johnny Carson’s late-night show. He’s been featured in comedy festivals in New...

Spoiler alert: We’re all gonna die. We know that; what we don't know is what comes after. So much of what can be considered “haunted” comes down to mysterious things, events that can’t be explained, or simply unknown phenomena. That's why Halloween is so fascinating and why visitors flock to Salem every October, but the infamous 1692 witch trials weren't the area's only examples of otherworldly creepiness. Here are the most haunted places in Massachusetts.
Share on Facebook
Pin it
Danvers
Lon...

Roger Joseph Manning Jr. has worn many different hats across his decorated career in music. The eclectic songwriter/arranger/studio musician/keyboardist/etc. has not only been a founding member of several bands – including Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, and TV Eyes – but he continues to be sought after as a session coordinator, orchestrator, arranger, and mixer, working alongside producer Steve Aho in the studio. As a session musician, Manning has sprinkled his magic dust over the works of such Ri...

Home | History
Step back in time
Special to the Union Leader
(Courtesy/ Sue and Bob Hofstetter)
WHAT: Hillsborough Living History Event and Franklin Pierce Heritage DaysX
WHEN: Aug. 18-19 (Living History), Aug. 17-19 (Heritage Days)X
WHERE: Various locations, Hillsborough
TICKETS: Living History: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $5 for ages 6-17 and free for children younger than 5; Franklin Pierce Homestead events are free
INFO: livinghistoryeventnh.com
Hillsborough will again transport visi...

You won’t catch the people of the Witch City, aka Salem, Massachusetts, resting on their laurels. It’s a wildly popular city steeped in rich Puritan and American history, and for obvious reasons, October is its biggest month. There are more than 500 individual events this month to celebrate Halloween -- everything from children's parades and costume parties to séances and haunted trolley tours. The city aims to educate visitors about its mysterious past, especially when it comes to its infamo...

For the longest time, I thought one of my most treasured Stevie Wonder tracks, “Superstition,” was off 1982’s Original Musiquarium, and not 1972’s Talking Book.
That’s my fault.
When I picked up Musiquarium in college, I considered myself a “serious” Stevie Wonder fan. I’ve put that in air quotes because clearly, I was neither astute nor serious enough to realize Musiquarium was a greatest hits/unreleased-tracks compilation album. Being able to say I listened to the Beatles since I was nine, ...