Wentworth Greenhouses will once again be hosting this year’s Winter Farmers’ Markets, in collaboration with Seacoast Eat Local, and will be presenting Seven Select Winter Crafts Markets simultaneously with them, as well.
The Winter Farmers’ and Select Crafts Markets will begin on November 19th and continue through the end of March of 2012. The scheduled dates for the Markets are: November 19th, December 3rd, December 17th, January 28th, February 25th, March 10th and March 24th.
For a detailed listing and more information about The Winter Farmers’ Markets, please visit Seacoast Eat Local’s website at www.seacoasteatlocal.org.
Ten regional craftsmen are scheduled to participate in the Winter Crafts Markets, which will be held from 10 am to 3 pm this year (instead of ending at 2 pm which was the case last year).
Craftsmen participating in this year’s Winter Crafts Markets include:
The Original Woodchuck
Creative Cloth Puppets
Kit Cornell Pottery
Lagasse Baskets
Diane Louise Paul/Leather Artisan
Green Parrot Designs
The Bean Bin
Robbin Ray Stone Jewelry
Ink Drawings by Gene Matras, and
William Mitchell Serigraph Prints
Music scheduled for this year’s Select Winter Crafts Markets include (schedule and bios below):
November 19: Courtney Brocks and Jesse Dold
December 3: Poor Howard Stith and Mike Rogers
December 17: Julie Harper
January 28: Kurt Ehrenburg
February 25: Mike and Mike
March 10: The Salt River Band
March 24: Courtney Brocks and Jesse Dold
Courtney Brocks and Jesse Dold
Courtney Brocks writes songs that want to take you someplace, and chances are, you’ll want to go. With memorable melodies, infectious rhythms, and warm, earthy vocals, Brocks’ songs traverse a variety of geographical and emotional landscapes, inviting you to come along as she explores the terrains of love, belief, and just-plain living. Her new e.p. “After, Before” conveys a spirit of travel and a longing for direction in songs that find the author looking for solace in the deserts of Arizona (“Arizona”), pondering the sustainability of a love left halfway around the world (“China”), and lamenting an American dream done wrong while celebrating a 4th of July in Spain (“Saints and Acquaintances”).
Since recording “After, Before,” Brocks has played regularly with a host of talented musicians on the Seacoast of New Hampshire; she has recently begun performing with singer-songwriter Jesse Dold, whose vocal harmonies and skillful guitar, ukulele, and percussion work bring Brocks' songs to richer and more beautiful places. Her songs and performances are garnering increased attention; she has opened for such national acts as These United States, The Honey Dewdrops, and Jill Andrews, and was nominated for Spotlight Awards in 2010 and 2011. She continues to write and perform songs that take eager listeners on journeys; they know that wherever the destination, they’re glad to take the trip.
Jesse Dold is a singer/songwriter and producer, having written, produced and released several demos and albums throughout the past several years. He has toured the U.S., Canada and Australia, selling over 10,000 albums and having tracks placed on radio rotation across the states and in Australia. In 2005, he signed a record deal with Music Dog Records out of Nashville, TN, and had his first single "Follow" debut at 27 on Rock Charts.
In 2008, Jesse was named as a winner in the USA Songwriting competition for his song “One”.
In 2009, Jesse signed an exclusive publishing deal for his song “Fire In Your Hands”. He has also signed several more single-song publishing deals with companies in Los Angeles and London. Jesse was recently invited to attend the L.A. Music awards, in which he was nominated for Singer/Songwriter of the Year. Jesse was an Honorable Mention in the 2009 John Lennon Songwriting Competition.
In 2010, Jesse was a finalist in three major competitions: The Music City Songwriting Contest in Nashville, TN, the USA Songwriting Competition, and Song Of The Year (of which he took first place in the Dance category).
In 2011, Jesse has had a song placed on ABC's prime time show "Cougar Town". He is also in the process of signing one of his songs to an artist currently recording in L.A.
“What really speaks to me in this life is music, art and writing. I just can't get away from it,” Jesse said during a recent interview. Jesse co-owns a recording studio in Dover, NH, where he is constantly creating, producing and recording. As of most recent, he is an independent singer/songwriter for his current solo project called The Dirty Daylights.
Kurt Ehrenburg
When he's not working his day job as a Sierra Club Regional Representative, Kurt Ehrenberg has been playing his guitar and singing folkie covers around the seacoast area for many years. His clear sweet voice and rhythmic guitar style has pleased many audiences that keep coming back to hear Kurt cover songs from the likes of Jerry Jeff Walker, John Gorka, Lucinda Williams, John Prine and many others.
Julie Harper
Julie Harper is a singer/songwriter and lover of beautiful melodies, good rhythms, and good vibes. A songstress in the truest sense of the word, she writes songs in the country/rock/folk/blues vein, from sweet to swingin’ to romantic to rockin’, and her vocals have been compared to such singers as Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, and Sandy Denny. She also covers some of her favorite vintage country tunes, and songs from alternative country’s most heralded writers, including Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle.
Julie is a classically trained pianist who went on to become captivated by singing with guitar. She formerly sang with the 11th Chapter Band in the Boston/Cambridge area, with renowned guitarist Peter Bell (the original James Montgomery Band), and she has also performed and taught on the North Shore for many years. She sang for years with Irish artists Patsy Whelan and Tony O’Riordan (The Harvest Home Band), which opened a whole new vista and appreciation of Irish music and artists.
Mike and Mike
Free style folk: An energy-charged frenzy of guitar, fiddle, wit and song; acoustic music with a groove. MIKE & MIKE is a guitar and fiddle duo from Strafford, NH that combines contemporary folk and rock music with that of traditional high-energy fiddling. Drawing from a wide range of influences, from Celtic and Cape Breton fiddle tunes to percussive blues and modern guitar styles, MIKE & MIKE possess a distinctive sound that sets them apart from most acoustic duos.
With a distinctive percussive style, Mike Morris turns the guitar into a kick drum, using slaps, pops and harmonics in a way few performers do. With bluesy vocals and bass-heavy guitar playing, his sound moves effortlessly from folk and blues to rock and rap. Mike splits his time between performing and teaching Bikram Yoga. Classical violin training melded with a love for driving reels and bluegrass harmonies gives fiddler, Heather Mike, a variety of tools to draw on. Heather currently teaches private violin and fiddle lessons in addition to performing.
Their current schedule, including both Mike’s solo work and that of duo MIKE & MIKE, can be found at the website: http://www.mikemorris.us and http://www.hmikefiddler.com.
Poor Howard Stith and Mike Rogers
“Poor Howard” Stith and Mike “Bullfrog” Rogers bring the traditional sounds of the old Delta Blues alive. Scott Alarik of the “Boston Globe” compared Howard’s 12-string guitar style to a “slow moving freight train”; and Mike’s harmonica is surely the whistle. They have played with such notable bluesmen as Sleepy John Estes, Peg Leg Sam and John Hammond among others over the last 40 years or so. Their “barrelhouse” blues, prison songs, and just plain cryin’ the blues and soulful harmonica will transport you back in time; and Howard’s collection of shaggy dog stories and horrible puns will keep a smile on your face long after the show is over.
Salt River Band
Salt River, "folk singers in the purest sense" (Face Magazine), consists of Lee Hosack, and Mike and Beverly Rogers and Cathy King. They are based in Maine and perform traditional and original music reflecting the lifestyle and people of New England. Their folk/blues style is accented by their vocal harmonies and Mike's signature harmonica. The group's close friendship and love of music are reflected in their performances and on their CDs "...Evenin' Tide" and "Lookin' Back" and their newest just released CD “Comin’ Home.”
The most recently added member of the band, Cathy King has played upright bass with Salt River for the past three years, first as a guest with the Trio, then becoming an official member in 2005.
Salt River represented the State of Maine at the 2000 New England Artists Congress in Woodstock, VT. More recent venues include: Prescott Park Arts Festival (last five summers), Market Square Day, (last seven years) First Night (last six years) and Summer Street Concert Series (all Portsmouth, NH). Other concerts includes Hot Summer Nights (So Berwick), Kittery and Eliot Summer Concert Series, Hamilton House Series (So Berwick), Chautauqua (Keene and Portsmouth, NH), Kennebunk, Sunapee, Saco and Auburn Coffeehouses and 2001 NH Governor's Arts Awards Night, VSA Arts NH Concerts in several locations. A well received and popular during our winter markets, they’ve already charmed patrons of the summer markets and have proven to be a very popular call back.
We look forward to seeing you at this year’s Winter Crafts and Farmers’ Markets!
