Old-time country, funk and more this weekend in Rochester

They'll play the classic, old-time golden era country music that you never hear on the radio anymore¿ Hank Williams, Merl Haggard, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Dollie Parton, and George Jones. This Sunday, Aug. 27 at The Café at The Governor's Inn from 4 to 7 p.m.

Harvey Reid and Joyce Anderson — two of the most beloved and talented musicians who are each known in their own right across New England — play the roles of Han and his country 'gal' Dixie. As part of a five piece country band called Hank and Dixie and the Knotty Pine Boys, Harvey and Joyce take on the eclectic musical personas of 'Hank and Dixie Baxter' as they hoot it up with his lonesome guitar and her foot-stompin' fiddle, along with the their Knotty-ness of the Pine Boys.

The Boys include the soulfoul pedal-steel of Nick Mickneer, with Rob Neeland (of the band 'High Range') on percussion and Kent Allen on bass. All together they bring out the best classic, down home, lonesome, foot-stompin' honky-tonk from the heart of Texas!

The Inn and it's Café stage four acts every weekend through mid-September (except Labor Day weekend). On Thursday evenings, Matt Gelinas and his band Hopeless Folk stage their weekly big beat favorites gig in front of The Spaulding Steak and Ale Restaurant from 6-9 p.m.

On Friday, Aug. 26, Ken Veno performs his happy hour style of music from 7-10 p.m., also on the front lawn. On Saturday night, Aug, 27, The George Brown Band will play from the soundstage of the Inn's Café from 7-10 p.m. An original jam band playing Americana, roots, and American funk, The G.B. band has been reviewed as having "a cool vocal delivery, great feel, and really solid lyrics." Members include drummer Brian Litchfield, bassist Lex Buzzell, singer and guitarist George Brown, and the band's website is www.Myspace.com/georgebrownmusic.

The Summer Music Series is brought forth by Center Stage Sponsor MetroCast. Other sponsors for the Music Series are PSNH, Associates in Family Dentistry, Federal Savings Bank, Spence and Mathews Insurance, Bourque's Flooring, Animal Health Center, and Burke's Tree Service.

All music events at The Governor's Inn and Café are free, but donations are appreciated and many of the bands have CDs for sale. The full evening menu of Spaulding Steak and Ale is available at all four evenings of music. To click band links and view the full schedule of the three-month lineup visit www.governorsinn.com, or call the Inn at 332-0107.

Chamber Summer Bash!

And the winner is ... Motorcycle or $10g cash top prize in Chamber summer

By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com
Saturday, August 20, 2011

ROCHESTER — The Governor's Inn was filled Friday night as the annual Chamber Raffle Bash kicked off in a lively summer fashion with palm trees and rainbow leis.

While people milled around, chatting with friends and enjoying the Caribbean-inspired dinner, Peggy Johnson was entertaining the crowd with songs like "Mambo Italiano." She also sang a variety of 1960s country singer Patsy Cline's songs.

After grabbing a plate of food herself, she was surprised to hear her own named called during the secondary raffle prizes. Going home with a teeth whitening package, she said she was holding onto her second raffle ticket in hopes she could snag the grand prize of either a motorcycle or $10,000 cash.

"It's a great crowd," she said, adding she was glad she purchased her tickets months ago since the Chamber sold out of this year's event.

Event organizers said only 500 tickets were sold this year, and many people purchased more than one. This is the first time the Rochester Chamber of Commerce has sold out of the raffle event. It is also the first time the Chamber has included a dinner with the raffle. To give people more chances to win, the chamber opted for a "reverse raffle" to allow people who won't be winning the grand prize a chance to win smaller prizes.

Strafford resident Trish Turner was the first to win a secondary prize, taking home a golf package she said she was going to be giving it to her son.

She said she was glad she was able to get a ticket and have a fun-filled evening.

The turnout to this year's event was bigger than expected, said Gerry Gilbert, Chamber of Commerce Board Chair.

"We have a lot of people here," he said. "This is a wonderful event, and we're happy to see so many people here have a great time."

Next year, Gilbert said he hopes to see just as big of a turnout and hopes it will continue to help promote area businesses.

Mayor T.J. Jean and his wife, Jenn, were enjoying the lively music and community spirit that filled the deck at The Governor's Inn.

"I came to support the Chamber," he said while sporting a bright orange lei and red Hawaiian shirt. "It's a vital component to the city of Rochester."

While the food and company was a big pull for the two, Jenn said she was crossing her fingers for the cash grand prize.

Chair of the Chamber Raffle Committee Jeanne Grover said bringing together the annual raffle with a dinner event was a great idea.

"As you can see, the place is jumping," she said.

Event goers were able to win multiple secondary prizes, such as Red Sox tickets, books, restaurant gift cards and more. The Chamber is expected to raise anywhere from $12,000 to $14,000 from the event.

This year's grand prize winner was George Hanchett Jr. of Union. He was not present at the event and event organizers were not yet able to contact him Saturday night to see if he wanted to take the Harley-Davidson motorcycle or cash.

The event was underwritten by D.F. Richard, and organizers said it was the many other sponsors that also helped bring the event together.

Governor's Inn Music Series gears up for weekend

With only three weekends left of its Summer Music Series, the lineup at The Governor's Inn and Café continues to escalate, bringing in national acts that share the stage with the likes of the Stone Temple Pilots.

"Hopeless Folk" plays their happy-hour set on Thursday, Aug. 18, from 6-9 p.m. On Friday night Brian Munger takes the Spaulding Steak & Ale stage from 7-10 p.m. with a sweet acoustic act drawing from the music of Crosby, Stills and Nash; Neil Young; Dan Fogelberg; Jonathan Edwards; Simon and Garfunkel; the Beatles; America and the Eagles.

On Saturday, Aug. 20, from 7-10 p.m. at the Inn's café stage, the classic rock band Figure 8 will perform favorites from bands like Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Rolling Stones. This up and coming three-piece band from Hudson promises to get a crowd motivated!

Then on Sunday, Aug. 21 from 4-7 p.m. at The Café at The Governor's Inn, its Girls Guns and Glory! Far from being 'redneck' rock n' rollers from the south, the members of this Boston roots and Americana band hail from the New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music. They are an internationally touring band, named Independent Artist of the Year at the French Country Music Awards, two-time winner of both the Roots Act of the Year (Boston Phoenix Awards) and Americana Act of the Year (Boston Music Awards). GGG is also the only band of its genre to ever take home the top honors of Act of the Year (Boston Music Awards) and to win the legendary WBCN Rock 'n' Roll Rumble.

Having toured with the Stone Temple Pilots, Girls Guns and Glory is their own celebration of "sweet and tasty, fun lovin' and hard timin', honky tonk music that is simultaneously casual and complex." The four piece band draws upon sounds of the past including Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, and Little Richard.

The Summer Music Series is brought forth by Center Stage Sponsor MetroCast. Other sponsors for the Music Series are PSNH, Associates in Family Dentistry, Federal Savings Bank, Spence and Mathews Insurance, Bourque's Flooring, Animal Health Center, and Burke's Tree Service.

All music events at The Governor's Inn and Café are free, but donations are appreciated and many of the bands have CDs for sale. The full evening menu of Spaulding Steak and Ale is available at all four evenings of music. To click band links and view the full schedule of the three-month lineup visit www.governorsinn.com, or call the Inn at 332-0107 for more information.

Governor's Inn plans big weekend of music

Thursday night at The Governor's Inn once again will bring the fun and good times of weekly artist Matt Gelinas and his band "Hopeless Folk," from 6-9 p.m. On Friday, Aug. 12, Paul Harkins brings his melodic and international style of acoustic blues to the stage of the front lawn in front of the Inn 's Spaulding Steak and Ale restaurant. In the case of inclement weather, those acts will be redirected under the big party tent.

On Saturday, Aug. 13, from 7-10 p.m. at the Inn's café stage, the area's popular "Nippin' the Nub" band will perform their mix of rock, blues, funk, jazz, bluegrass and country. A little bit of everything for everyone! The 'Nub' have many of their own songs but also play popular covers from bands like Robert Palmer, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, Little Feat and The Talking Heads.

Joyce Anderson graces the Inn's garden stage at the Café on Sunday, Aug. 14, from 4-7 p.m. Respectful of tradition but throwing genre to the wind, Joyce glides effortlessly between traditional and contemporary songs and fiddle tunes, from foot stompers to sultry torch songs. Her seven critically acclaimed CDs (Four with folk luminary Harvey Reid) and her live performance reveal her depth as an American roots musician and highlight her versatility as a singer, songwriter, interpreter and powerful instrumentalist. After a decade as a "side-gal" fiddler playing in country bands (out of Nashville) as well as swing, bluegrass and Celtic groups and playing a dizzying number of studio sessions, Joyce Andersen moved swiftly to center stage as a solo artist. Her recordings shine the spotlight on her guitar, her sophisticated songwriting, her haunting and unique voice, and her powerful fiddling. Her clear and powerful vocal/fiddle duets are a sound that is all her own. Her peace song "Filled with Love" on her most recent solo CD "Love & Thirst" is being learned around the world by many musicians.

Joyce's music has taken her from the coffeehouses and taverns of her native New England to national and international touring with folk virtuoso (and husband) Harvey Reid, to the stage of Carnegie Hall, to The Conan O'Brien show and to country music venues in Japan. Her recorded work has won her critical acclaim and radio play in the folk world. Sing Out! magazine says Joyce's CDs "...places her right up there with any of the songwriters out there performing their songs today." The Boston Globe said "That neo-traditional current is starting to be felt among the ranks of New England songwriters... among the hottest... New Hampshire fiddler-singer Joyce Andersen." Minnesota Public Radio said "Youth and strength flow through her voice. She's got power and conviction... She's writing new songs and retelling old stories, and there's still something mysterious in her music that sounds like it comes from an ancient and pure source. The LA Weekly said that Andersen "deftly travels a rich country folk spectrum."

The Summer Music Series is brought forth by Center Stage Sponsor MetroCast. Other sponsors for the Music Series are PSNH, Associates in Family Dentistry, Federal Savings Bank, Spence and Mathews Insurance, Bourque's Flooring, Animal Health Center, and Burke's Tree Service.

All music events at The Governor's Inn and Café are free, but donations are appreciated and many of the bands have CDs for sale. The full evening menu of Spaulding Steak and Ale is available at all four evenings of music. To click band links and view the full schedule of the three-month lineup visit www.governorsinn.com, or call the Inn at 332-0107 for more information.