Summer's looking sunny for Marshfield music promoter John Hall
Most of the music industry is busy gearing up for the summer concert season, and few people are busier than Marshfield’s John Hall. Maybe the most incredible part of Hall’s career as a tireless promoter of blues and roots music in the area is that he’s done all of it while usually working a full-time day job and formerly running Rhythm Room Records in his hometown.
Hall is putting the finishing touches on his schedule for the Rhythm Room Afternoons concert series, which is going into its third year at the John Alden Sportsman's Club in Plymouth. But he’s also got the 27th edition of his North River Blues Festival coming up in August at the Marshfield Fair. And, he’s also working on the 15th edition of Aquapalooza, the annual ocean music event that provides a day of music and a cruise to Peddocks Island and attracts dozens of boaters who surround the boat containing the bands.
The Rhythm Room Afternoons shows at the John Alden Sportsman's Club begin June 3 when The Boston Soul Collective headlines with its classic covers and Boston rock-and-roots legend Dennis Brennan and the White Owls open. The club is at 16 Minuteman Lane in Plymouth, and the music runs from 1 to 6 p.m. at the outdoor venue. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, available through Eventbrite.com/o/rhythm-room-entertainment-1659. No coolers or outside alcohol is allowed, but there's a cash bar and free parking.
The shows will continue on most weekends throughout the summer, with other attractions including Studio Two, the Beatles tribute, on June 11, with Andrew Lewis opening; and Maine bluesman Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind on June 18. Ricci has played harmonica with stars like Johnny Winter and Joe Louis Walker, and when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted the late Paul Butterfield, they chose Ricci to play some of his best-known songs. Fans can check rhythmroomentertainment.com for more details and the full schedule, which will be expanding in the weeks to come.
Rebounding from the COVID pandemic
Like music promoters everywhere, Hall, a former Marshfield selectman, saw the pandemic years cut into his crowds, but the majority of indications are that 2023 is the year when music fans are back to pre-COVID numbers.
“The pandemic has been hard to shake off, but hopefully this is the year,” Hall said last week from his home. “It seems to me, as a fan, that the rooms are getting fuller everywhere. I just caught the Blood brothers tour ? Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia ? and they sold out everywhere they went. The first year after the pandemic people were kind of scared, and then in the second year they were more confident. Music fans were slowly coming back. But with the government less restrictive now, and the situation much more normal, I believe 2023 will be the best year we’ve had since probably 2019.”
In a similar way, going into the third season at the Manomet venue, it has become a popular destination for fans, and coordinating with the club has become a well-oiled operation.
More: FoxRock's development on Hospital Hill leasing first apartments: Take a look inside
“In our first year, the groundskeeper at John Alden was worried about the grass, and wanted us to have it in the sandpit area, where the sun was in people’s faces all day,” Hall recalled. “There was a natural reluctance for us to bring in musicians and music fans to their beautiful space. But, once we did it, and they saw how we could make sure our fans kept the area nice and clean, we’ve gotten along great. And music fans have been impressed with how comfortable this place is.”
“For those really hot days, we have a big shade pavilion, where I swear it is 10 degrees cooler,” Hall said with a laugh. “The hot sun is definitely a consideration, and we recognize some people want shade. That also works well if we have a sprinkly day. If it rains steady, we can bring the whole operation into the pavilion. The only time we canceled a show was when a hurricane was coming.
“We run about half our crowd being walkups on the day of the shows,” said Hall. “There is conservation land on three sides of this venue, and a residential housing area on the fourth side. We’ve been told people over there are dancing in the streets to our music, and we have a lot of them walk on over and buy tickets too. One added special we are planning this summer is a Manomet Day, where we can feature local bands.”
“I think it is an important aspect that this is a very family-friendly venue,” Hall said. “The open area we have is so big, and there is the sandpit area where kids love to play, with a volleyball court. It’s like we have the biggest sandbox on the South Shore, and there’s a fence so the kids can’t get away. Musicians have told us they feel the sound and facilities are perfect, and comments we see on social media are all positive. We even have people now asking if we have season tickets.”
More: Burning questions answered at Union Point: 'We will not develop this incrementally'
Marshfield Fair connection
Hall’s association with the Marshfield Fair goes way back, and he used to produce two separate roots music festivals, on both weekends of the 10-day fair. But the Green Harbor Roots and Blues Festival, which tended to offer music beyond blues, such as zydeco and soul, faced declining attendance since it was on the same dates as the White Mountain Blues Festival in Maine. The North River Blues Festival nevertheless still going strong, heads into its 27th year, and as always the music fest is free for anyone who’s paid a fair admission.
This year’s North River Blues Festival features West Coast singer/guitarist Chris Cain topping the bill Aug. 26, with fellow Californians The Bennett Matteo Band with the Delgado Brothers. The Sunday (Aug. 27) lineup is topped by Laith Al Saadi, with the South Shore’s own Delta Generators with guest Kid Ramos. Each day of the fest has six acts, with music running from about noon to 8 p.m., and local performers (Weymouth’s Steve Todesco on Saturday and Quincy’s Sam Gentile on Sunday) playing on a side stage while the main stage is set up for each succeeding band.
“This year is like Guest Fest,” Hall chuckled. “Bennett Matteo Band was a big hit last year, and I will have had them in three different incarnations after this. The first time we had them sit in with the Damon Fowler Band, and last year we had them in the middle of the lineup. This year ? the hat trick ? we have them also bringing in the Delgado Brothers, a trio that seldom plays beyond the West Coast. We’ll also have (Boston’s) Diane Blue’s All Star Band, with guest Laura Chavez, another artist who doesn’t play New England much. And Kid Ramos hasn’t played in New England in three years. I always want the fest to be as successful as it can be with the big-name national talent, without forgetting to recognize the superb local talent we have, like Sam Gentile, Steve Todesco and also The Rampage Trio.”
Finally, Hall is working on this year’s Aquapalooza. That is part of a national promotion aimed at introducing boaters to Sea Ray boats. The catch this year is that the boat previously used, the New Boston, was sold, so there is a matter of securing a boat, but that shouldn’t be a problem. So far, the water concert is scheduled for July 15, and Hall has disco revivalists Booty Vortex, The Rampage Trio and a big band R&B outfit called One Mo’e Time lined up for that daylong event.
“That’s a great time, like a grand parade following us out to Peddocks,” said Hall. “Boats surround us, there is dancing all day on our boat, and last year we even had about 30 Jet Skis joining the fun. I still have more phone calls to go to confirm that date, so stay tuned. But it is most likely going to be July 15.”
Fans can keep up with all of Hall’s music events by checking rhythmroomentertainment.com.
Hot dates: Concerts on tap
THURSDAY: The Spire Center hosts songwriters Alastair Moock and Reggie Harris, with their provocative "Race and Song: A Musical Conversation" program. Kamasi Washington jams at City Winery. Hot Nashville duo A Tale of Two at The Narrows Center. Swinging Steak leader Jamie Walker has a solo show ? but with friends ? at The Fallout Shelter. Chisel rocks The Sinclair. Rapper Sleepy Hallow gets Big Night Live warmed up. Jabbawaukee jams at Soundcheck Studios. Electro groovemaster Austin Millz at Brighton Music Hall. Road trip: Graham Nash and his memories of 60 years in music at Beverly’s Cabot Theater.
FRIDAY: The C-Note offers a big variety cabaret show, with music and comedy. O-Positive leader/attorney/Northeastern professor Dave Herlihy has a new CD to celebrate at City Winery. Comic Christine Hurley headlines The Spire Center. The trio Against the Current at the Paradise Rock Club. An Evening with Styx at MGM Music Hall. Country star Zach Bryan in concert at Worcester’s DCU Center. Songsmith Griffin House at Club Passim. The Eagles Experience at Soundcheck Studios. The Lemon Twigs’ alt-rock The Sinclair. Bob Vylan ? it’s an English duo that mixes punk and hip-hop ? arrives at Brighton Music Hall. Cobra Man ? a power disco act ? takes over Royale. The new Boston funk band Tay Beez at Boston Harbor Distillery. Saxman Wayne Escoffery’s Quartet at Scullers.
SATURDAY: The Hold Steady rocks Roadrunner. Heartland rock heroes The BoDeans perform at The Spire Center. Soundcheck Studios hosts a Duxbury playground fundraiser with three local acts; High Pines, The Locals and Mike Kane. Vineyard rocker Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish at The C-Note. Hippie Sabotage, an electronic duo, heats up The House of Blues. John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band shake up City Winery. Trinity ? a Crosby, Stills and Nash tribute ? at The Narrows Center. Guitarist Plini dazzles at The Paradise Rock Club. Joe Locke’s Quartet brings new jazz to Scullers. Boston’s own Strange Machines bring their rock/reggae/funk mix to Brighton Music Hall. Antje Duvekot sings at The Burren. The Regent Theater in Arlington offers Piano Men, a tribute to the music of Billy Joel and Elton John.
SUNDAY & BEYOND: Sunday night is busy with Aussie rocker John Butler at The House of Blues; Kevin Devine singing at Brighton Music Hall; Kool & the Gang grooving at MGM Music Hall; and Griffin Sherry, songwriter for the now-defunct Ghost of Paul Revere, making his solo debut at City Winery. Monday night, alt-country’s The New Pornographers return to Royale. Wednesday finds City and Color at Roadrunner, while Feist is at MGM Music Hall. Wednesday also has the roots music mixmasters The Iguanas at Club Passim, and they move on to The Narrows Center the next night. On May 19, songwriter Josh Ritter headlines The House of Blues.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Promoter John Hall says he expects live music to rebound this summer
