Prescott Park summer concerts 2024: Here are must-see performers
PORTSMOUTH — Grab your lawn chair and get ready to stake your spot on the grass of Prescott Park to enjoy the sweet sound of summer on the Seacoast. The Prescott Park Arts Festival has announced its lineup of concerts that will fill the park with music this summer, its 50th season.
This year’s concert series includes festival favorites, Grammy winners, icons and rising stars, all headed to perform on the outdoor stage in Prescott Park, which it will share with the arts festival’s summer musical “Legally Blonde.” The River House Restaurant in Portsmouth is the concert series’ main sponsor again this year. Concerts begin June 14 and run through Aug. 31.
“It's that really great mix of new and up-and-coming artists, established artists that have been with us in the past, and really exciting diversity, from men to women on the stage, to genre, to age, to just the whole bit,” PPAF Executive Director Courtney Perkins said. “I feel like it's a really great mix with a little bit of something for everybody.”
Which Prescott Park concerts are biggest draws in 2024?
The festival has attracted some headliners that will definitely draw a large crowd. The dynamic husband-and-wife duo The War and Treaty will return to the Prescott Park stage on Monday, July 15. It’s the third time this festival favorite has performed at the arts festival, appearing in 2018 and 2022. Known for its unique blend of Americana, folk, and gospel music, the duo was nominated for Best New Artist and Best American Roots Song at this year’s Grammys and just won Billboard’s Groundbreaker Award.
Now in her 25th year performing, folk music icon Patty Griffin will perform on Wednesday, July 17 at 7 p.m. There is no opening act for this concert so audience members should be in place promptly at 7 p.m. for her performance.
Singer Allen Stone, who was a huge crowd-pleaser at last summer’s concert series, will perform on Monday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. This concert is part of the festival’s Rain or Shine Series, which means if inclement weather is threatening the outdoor concert, the festival will make a call early on the day of the concert and announce the concert will be moved to The Music Hall in Portsmouth.
The legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band will march into Prescott Park on Wednesday, June 26. This concert is also part of the Rain or Shine Series, meaning The Music Hall is the backup location.
On Friday, June 14, festival favorite The Lone Bellow will kick off the concert series. The folk-rock trio known for its great live performances has attracted huge audiences in its past visits to Prescott Park. This concert is made possible in part through the support of the evening sponsor, Hotel Thaxter, in downtown Portsmouth.
“It's hard (to pick a favorite concert) because they all feel like my babies, because I'm trying to book them, so it's really hard to say. Lone Bellow is a personal favorite, and the first band that I booked when I got here to the festival. So I'm so happy to have them back,” Perkins said. “Allen Stone, in terms of performance, there is, in my book, almost nobody better. He will convert you to a fan, even if you are as far as possible from that. It was lovely to sit in the back of the audience and watch him convert people last summer. It was just the best.”
On Wednesday, July 24, rising country star Brittney Spencer will perform. She has performed with Jason Isbell, The Highwomen, Willie Nelson, Reba, Bobby Weir and Maren Morris. She is also one of a few featured singers on Beyoncé's latest album "Cowboy Carter.”
“I think we have some Black female performers with really strong voices that are exciting. Brittney Spencer is coming up through the country ranks, and then Joy Oladokun is coming back to us after a lightning bolt trajectory from the first time she was with us in 2021. I feel really lucky to have her back with us,” Perkins said.
Singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun brings her soulful voice and poignant lyrics to Prescott Park on Friday, Aug. 2.
Oladokun's heartfelt storytelling and powerful vocals make her a festival favorite, returning after giving a stand-out performance in 2021.
U.S. Navy Band Cruisers military night
The U.S. Navy Band Cruisers will perform a diverse set of family-friendly favorites, meant to entertain veterans, families and everyone on Monday, Aug. 19. This show will also be supported by American Sign Language interpreters.
Perkins said she’s working with Wilcox, the festival’s main stage sponsor, to create a special night for veterans and their families as well as the entire community.
“There’s such a big military presence here … We thought it would be really fun to work with the Navy Band Cruisers who are consummate performers, musicians and singers, and do something for all of the veterans and military folks and families that live in the area,” Perkins said.
Perkins said the festival is working with Jim Teetzel, CEO of Wilcox Industries Corp. in Newington, which makes products for the military and first responders, and his team to bring together veteran support organizations on the night of the concert in the park to make veterans aware of the benefits available to them and their families.
New children’s concert series
The festival will present a children’s concert series for the first time this year. Performers, dates and times will be announced soon.
“We’re trying to think about all different audiences, and one that continues to demand a lane from the festival are young families with kids that are too young to come to shows because of bedtime,” Perkins said. “So, we'll be announcing in the coming weeks a specific series that caters to that audience. We're really excited about that.”
More Prescott Park Arts Festival live music
The rest of the summer’s concerts include:
Country artist Brent Cobb will perform his rich, storytelling songs and anthems on Wednesday, June 19.
On Monday, June 24, Josiah and The Bonnevilles will perform. Fancy Hagood will open. This concert is part of the Arts Festival’s Rain or Shine Series, where the performance will move to The Music Hall in the case of inclement weather.
On Saturday, June 29, the renowned duo Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy will perform their Celtic magic. This concert is also a part of the Rain or Shine Series and will move to The Music Hall in case of rain.
On Wednesday, July 10, Australian trio Sons of the East will bring its blend of indie folk and roots music to Prescott Park.
On Friday, July 19, Tommy Prine, son of legendary singer-songwriter John Prine, will perform a night of songs that celebrate Americana music. Indie folk band Kindred Valley will open for Prime.
On Monday, July 29, bluegrass supergroup Mighty Poplar will perform on the concert stage. This new all-star roots project features Andrew Marlin of Watchhouse, Noam Pikelny and Chris Eldridge of Punch Brothers, bassist Greg Garrison (Leftover Salmon) and fiddler Alex Hargreaves (Billy Strings), who will play songs from their debut Grammy-nominated album.
On Wednesday, July 31, there’ll be a Beatles Fest in the park with Spencer and The Walrus. A group of Portland, Maine-based musicians, Spencer and The Walrus will take the audience on a nostalgic journey through the Fab Four’s hits.
Grammy-nominated bluegrass band Della Mae will be joined by Americana trio The Last Revel for a co-bill evening on Wednesday, Aug. 7. The Last Revel will perform first at 7 p.m., and Della Mae will follow.
Progressive bluegrass band The Lil Smokies will perform on Wednesday. Aug. 14. This concert is a part of the Rain or Shine Series and will happen regardless of weather. In the case of inclement weather, it will move to The Music Hall.
Folk-rock band The Brothers Comatose will bring their energetic performances and tight harmonies back to the festival on Thursday, Aug. 15. They last performed there in 2021. Singer-songwriter Griffin William Sherry, co-founder of the independent band The Ghost of Paul Revere, will open the night.
Indie rockers Snail Mail, led by singer-songwriter Lindsey Jordan, will perform on Monday, Aug. 26.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Brandy Clark will close the concert series on Saturday, Aug. 31, bringing her storytelling, rich vocals and special brand of country music to the Prescott Park stage.
Seacoast Jazz Festival
The 41st Seacoast Jazz Festival will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24, on the Prescott Park stage. The festival is presented in partnership with the Seacoast Jazz Society. This year’s festival will feature renowned saxophonist Alexa Tarantino, who is “known for her soulful saxophone performances and innovative compositions,” according to the festival.
The day-long festival will begin at noon when the Seacoast’s own Soggy Po Boys take the stage with Celia Woodsmith. After their set, Boston Blow Up featuring Donna McElroy will perform at 1:15 p.m.; the Seacoast Jazz Band will perform at 2:30 p.m.; at 3:45 p.m., Consuelo Candelaria, Ron Savage and Ron Mahdi Trio will perform with special guest Drika Overton.
At 5 p.m., the headlining Alexa Tarantino Quartet will take the stage.
If there is inclement weather on Aug. 24, the festival’s rain date is Sunday, Aug. 25. The lineup may change if the festival has to move to the rain date.
More local performers to open concerts
Now that the headliners for the series’ concerts are set, the festival is working on booking local music acts to open for the headliners.
“It's something we've really worked hard at the last three seasons, and I think the audience really appreciates having voices that they recognize, or maybe they don’t recognize, but they delight in the fact there's local talent on the stage,” Perkins said. “It's a way for them to discover not just national touring talent, but also local talent. I feel really proud about being able to do that.”
An announcement of the local performers who will be opening for the national headliners will be made soon.
“You mirror what you grew up around. With so much great music and culture on the Seacoast, you can see yourself on a stage, and you can imagine yourself as an artist,” Perkins said. “The Seacoast has an incredible amount of talent for how small it is.”
Community Showcases expand
The festival is expanding the number of Community Showcases it will present this year. Community Showcases take place before performances of the summer musical on the Prescott Park stage and feature local dance companies, musical groups and nonprofits. Last year, the festival presented 13 and this year already has 20 performances scheduled.
“We only have 27 musical opportunities, so we're nearly maxed out,” Perkins said. “It's just another way to celebrate everything in this community.”
What to know before you go to Prescott Park concerts
This year, the Prescott Park Arts Festival is suggesting a donation of $15 per person to attend a concert, an increase over past years. The concerts are technically free and open to the public. No one is denied admission for not making a donation, but the festival sets an optional suggested donation amount each year for its performances. This year, the suggested donation for a performance of its summer musical, “Legally Blonde,” is $8 per person. For its movie nights on Mondays, it suggests a donation of $5 per person. Only the suggested donation for the concert series has been raised to $15.
“We haven't changed the prices in many years, and again, it is still a recommended donation. So, it shouldn't be a barrier to entry for anybody,” Perkins said. “But our costs have gone up exponentially, especially since COVID. It’s simply a way for the festival to try to balance what it's giving to the community and the expenses that it faces on the other end.”
Donations are accepted at the gate onsite at Prescott Park or online in advance. The donations don’t reserve a seat. Seating on the park’s lawn for performances is first-come, first-serve unless you pay to reserve a blanket.
Attendees can bring their own chairs, blankets, picnics and coolers to the park. No alcohol is allowed in the park. Chairs are also available for rent at the park for $6 for one, $10 for two.
Audience members can reserve online a table for four and blankets that will be laid out for you at the front of the audience lawn for a specific concert. Cost to reserve a table range from $35 to $90 for season passholders; and $45 to $100 for the general public depending on the performance. Cost to reserve a blanket is $40 to $115 for season passholders and $50 to $125 for the public.
Season passes are available at five levels, with each level giving the holder different discounts and benefits. An individual season pass is $125. A family season pass is $250. All season passes admit the holder to all of the festival’s performances, concerts and events.
Food is available for purchase at The Prop, the festival’s concessions in the park, on performance nights. You can also pre-order a lobster roll from Buoy Shack, a poke bowl from Ohana Kitchen, pizza from The Rosa, and now for the first year a snack from Laney & Lu under the Make A Reservation tab on the festival’s website. The food will be delivered and waiting for you in the park at The Prop.
Reservations for tables and blankets are filling up fast, according to Perkins.
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“We have some that are already fully reserved, like Lone Bellow, Preservation Hall (Jazz Band), Patty Griffin; some that are close to getting fully reserved,” Perkins said. “We're feeling great about the number of reservations and about the number of people that have joined as seasoned passholders. There’s been a real significant uptick in season passholders.”
Prescott Park Arts Festival celebrating its 50th year
The arts festival is turning 50 this year and is planning a cabaret-style performance a week after the concert series closes that will reprise its musicals over the years. Some of the performers are coming back to the stage to perform their original role.
“We have some performers that are coming back to the stage to reprise the original role that they did. Some have gone on to Broadway national tours. Some are still singing in the area, and they're coming back to the festival stage after many years, many years gone. We're so excited about that as a historical node to what’s been done in the past,” Perkins said, noting details are still being nailed down and will be announced soon.
Perkins recently had the opportunity to talk with the festival’s founding executive director, Jon Kimball and said they both marveled “how so much of the DNA of the festival remains the same.”
“It amazes me at how many people it has taken to keep the festival alive and vibrant for all of these years, people on staff, but also people in the community that have made sure the festival survived all of the challenges over the years. We had some financial years that were really, really tough, and we had some key individuals step in to make sure that the festival kept going. And certainly, COVID was one of those defining moments where all arts organizations, all businesses, kind of white knuckled it until we got through the challenges. I just marvel at one, 50 years, and two, the amount of people that have kept us going,” Perkins said. “As we look back, we're just filled with gratitude over what it's taken to get us here and where we'll go in the future. We're an organization for the community, held up by the community. We exist to serve our community in a really wonderful way, but we don't exist without its support.”
Information: prescottpark.org
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Prescott Park summer concert series 2024: Must-see performers
