How do you follow up a 2011 concert season that began with Tom Rush in June, featured Taj Mahal in July and concluded with Arlo Guthrie in August? A good way to start is by booking Ani Difranco to kick off the 2012 season.

The Hutchinson Family Singers were one of America's first modern bands—they helped invent the American music scene, took up the cause of civil rights, and made bank doing it.

Nearly a century before the Trapp Family Singers came to America, the Hutchinson Family Singers were touring the nation. About 120 years before Bob Dylan sang civil rights songs at Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the Hutchinson clan was singing antislavery songs alongside Frederick Douglass. And almost 150 years before Bruce Springsteen publicly endorsed Barack Obama, the Hutchinsons were rallying support for Abraham Lincoln.

Soul Coughing was a band on the rise in the late ’90s. The group’s unique melding of experimental jazz, rock and hip-hop earned it glowing reviews and a loyal cult following rooted in the New York underground. But that success was mostly lost on front man Mike Doughty, who feuded constantly with his band mates. To make matters worse, Doughty developed a crippling drug and alcohol addiction, to the point that puking and bedwetting became parts of his daily routine. Doughty has long since left his dysfunctional band, sobered up and embarked on a prolific solo career as an acoustic singer-songwriter. He describes the dark but often hilarious journey in his new memoir, “The Book of Drugs.”

The All Good :: Feel Good Collective is taking over the collective consciousness of the Seacoast scene

Three-part harmonies, an extensive horn section, and a determination to create authentic reggae music with other influences thrown in are all hallmarks of the All Good :: Feel Good Collective. The band, officially formed in the fall of 2011, has played more than 45 shows since September, gaining recognition all over New England for its sound and dance-inspiring live performances.

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Levon Helm, the legendary founder of The Band, died of cancer in New York on April 19. He was 71. A beloved musician whose career spanned 55 years, Helm was well known to Seacoast audiences, having last performed at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in June 2010. He had to postpone the venue’s season opener, but was scheduled to play the Ballroom again in July.

Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys, veterans of the RPM Challenge, pair up with an experimental Boston theater company to bring a non-traditional, multi-media production to the stage. “I’ve always been a fan of ’30s radio dramas and ‘War of the Worlds’ and stuff like that, so I said, ‘let’s make a radio show. A science fiction masterpiece,’” said band leader Walter Sickert.

Bob Crawford of the Avett Brothers, who are on their way to UNH, talks about the band’s forthcoming album and humble climb to success

The Avett Brothers have come a long way since they started performing on the streets of Charlotte, N.C., more than a decade ago. Named Group of the Year by the American Music Association in 2007, they signed with famed producer Rick Rubin’s label the following year, then performed at the 2011 Grammy Awards with Mumford and Sons and Bob Dylan. Today, the Avett Brothers are commonly cited as one of the foremost pioneers of the indie folk movement. But bassist Bob Crawford doesn’t see it that way.

Mmoss, the Seacoast’s own vintage psychedelic folk-rock band, is offering fans a taste of its forthcoming sophomore album. The Dover-based group recently released a new track called “Spoiled Sun” on its Bandcamp page.

For those willing to indulge the rather ostentatious concept, the new Telergy CD is loads of fun, and its cast of musicians is extraordinary, including both locals like cellist Kristen Miller and international guests like Chinese violinist Hoi Yan Joyce Pang.

Mike Doughty last performed in the area in August 2011 for 3S Fest in Portsmouth, put on by 3S Artspace. The show was originally scheduled to take place outside in Prescott Park but was moved indoors at The Press Room due to rain. Not all the audience that wished to attend could fit; this show should help remedy that.

This is the second installment of local drummer José Duque’s ReLoad project, following up on last year’s eponymous debut. The project serves as a refreshing creative outlet for Duque, primarily known as the leader of Zumbatres, allowing him to break out of the Latin jazz genre and explore other musical territories.

The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom’s 2012 season got off on the wrong foot when legendary drummer Levon Helm postponed his March 30 performance due to a health issue. The show has been rescheduled for Tuesday, July 17. The Ballroom’s season will now launch with a sold-out performance by Marilyn Manson with The Pretty Reckless on Saturday, April 28. For more information, call 603-929-4200 or visit www.casinoballroom.com.

The University of New Hampshire’s Department of Music will present a spate of student concerts in late April and early May, from chamber singers to symphony orchestras to student composers and more.

Daniel Johnston may be the most famous musician you’ve never heard of—unless, of course, you have heard of him. He’ll headline a CD release show to benefit local musician Brett Hartenbach at the Rochester Opera House on Saturday, May 12.

The Future of Music Coalition has been working on a long-term project that goes beyond personal anecdote and uses tax returns and other information to better understand where money in the music business goes, including how much goes to musicians.

After more than five years, three full-length albums and countless gigs around New England, The Molenes are taking a breather—at least temporarily. The band is playing a final show in Portsmouth before an “extended break.”

Originally conceived by Bull Moose employee Chris Brown, Record Store Day has become one of the biggest annual events in the music world, with participation from local indie musicians and major recording artists, alike. On Saturday, April 21, Bull Moose is celebrating with local bands from New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts offering free performances at each location, and many of the featured acts will be releasing new albums.

Archers of Loaf: Re-listening to “Icky Mettle” and “Vee Vee” now, I’m struck by how heavy both are. It’s a reminder that there was a time when those in the indie scene leaned far more heavily on punk rock than they do today. Pictures in the liner notes of the recent Merge reissues depict a too-punk-to-live band of road heroes, harnessed in cut-off shorts, body odor almost visible in the photographs. Perhaps it was the proximity in time to the U.S. hardcore scene, but it’s a bummer this is no longer the norm. Turn it up, please.

It came as a disappointment to local fans when, in March 2011, English musician Billy Bragg cancelled his scheduled appearance with Mavis Staples at The Music Hall in Portsmouth. Although Staples still performed, Bragg was forced to drop out of the “Hope, Love & Justice Tour” due to a family illness. A year later, Bragg is making up for it.

The only party like it on Planet Earth!
Meet us at The Music Hall  on Saturday, March 24.  Doors open at 6 p.m.,  RPM Opening Ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. Bands, make sure you check in at the Music Hall to get your nametags. Full playlists available after the jump.

The latest addition to the 2012 Jazzmouth schedule is a screening of a new documentary called “David Amram: The First 80 Years.” Amram and director Lawrence Kraman will host the event at The Music Hall Loft on Saturday, April 28 at 3 p.m.

To celebrate plans for a new library, the Community Chorus at South Berwick is putting together an eclectic concert with a book theme. The show, titled “On the Bookshelf,” will be performed on Saturday, March 31, at Holy Trinity Church in Newington, and on Sunday, April 1, at the Whipple Arts Center in South Berwick.

The Seacoast’s own vintage rock band The Connection has a new EP of fast-paced, ’60s-inspired rock ’n’ roll songs, and they’re spreading the sound with a music video shot entirely at The Press Room in Portsmouth.

Local singer-songwriter Zach Tremblay is a driven participant in a new generation of talented Seacoast musicians.

Zach Tremblay was just 16 years old when he recorded his first album with long-time local musician Jon Nolan. Now 22, he’s become a staple of the Seacoast music scene, performing both as a solo artist and with several area bands. Primarily a lyricist and vocalist, Tremblay also plays guitar and bass, and despite his initial animosity toward drums, he now wants to play them more than anything.

The Garrison City will play host to a winter reggae party when nationally touring band SEE-I comes to the Dover Brick House on Friday, March 9. Local acts the All Good :: Feel Good Collective and the Green Lion Crew will open the show.

An ensemble of local jazz all-stars will unite to perform in the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center’s fifth annual Jazz Night, taking place at The Music Hall Loft in downtown Portsmouth on Friday, March 23.

Aesop Rock emerged in the late ’90s to help spearhead a revival of alternative hip-hop. He’s been lurking on the fringes ever since as an artist and producer, and he’ll headline a show at the University of New Hampshire on Thursday, March 8. Opening the show is Kimya Dawson, best known as half of the band The Moldy Peaches.

Parma plans to make the competition an annual event aimed at helping young composers advance their careers.

When explaining her new sound, Joyce Andersen notes that before amplification, singing fiddlers were at the top of the grassroots music world. With the release of her latest CD, “Swerve!,” she seeks to restore the instrument to prominence by honoring traditions while adding new electronic enhancements.

When notorious shock rocker Marilyn Manson performs at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in April, he’ll share the bill with a band featuring a couple of familiar faces. The Pretty Reckless will open for Manson on Saturday, April 28. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Feb. 24.

Club Velocity introduces an interactive, mobile nightclub to the Seacoast

The vision for Club Velocity came out of conversations with locals about what might be missing in the Seacoast nightlife. Other than the third-floor club at the Portsmouth Gas Light, nightclubs are hard to come by in the area.

The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom’s 2012 schedule is beginning to take shape, with several concerts lined up for spring and early summer. Among the highlights are living legends like Levon Helm and Bonnie Raitt.

The University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore Center Arena is turning over a new leaf when it comes to live entertainment. The venue, usually reserved for UNH hockey games, has a history of opening its doors a few times a year for concerts put on by the Student Committee on Popular Entertainment. Now, the arena is also hosting several shows put on by outside promoters, including upcoming performances by DJ David Guetta and The Avett Brothers.

Seacoast-based Parma Recordings helps bring to life the musical vision of Pete Townshend.

The 100th release from Seacoast label Parma Recordings can trace its origins all the way back to 1971. That’s when Pete Townshend, legendary English guitarist and songwriter for The Who, came up with his vision for the Lifehouse Method. The idea was to create a system of distinct musical portraiture. Filtered through the years and multiple collaborations, the new "Method Music" double-album is co-produced by Townshend and Bob Lord, best known on the Seacoast as bassist for rock band Dreadnaught. It was released by Navona Records, an imprint of Parma, which Lord founded in 2008 and operates out of North Hampton.

It’s already common knowledge around these parts that The Press Room is a regional bastion of live music. According to DownBeat magazine, the Portsmouth bar and restaurant is also one of the top live jazz venues in the world.

For the last six months, The Stone Church in Newmarket has been hosting high-energy electronica acts every Thursday night in its A-Helix series. The event comes to a close on Feb. 2 with one last memorable live experience.

Portsmouth Singer Songwriter Festival: The lineup for the inaugural Portsmouth Singer Songwriter Festival runs the spectrum from legendary stars to rising local acts, April 20 to 22 at The Music Hall and The Loft. Bookending the event are headlining performances by Merle Haggard and the Strangers on Friday night and Rosanne Cash on Sunday night, both in the main theater. Former Seacoast resident Elsa Cross will open the Haggard show.

Sure, their two-word name references both booze and murder, and their songs regularly address topics like drinking and fighting, pistols and switchblades, prison and Hell, but it’s all in a spirit of fun. On their debut album, “Pissed Off Betty,” self-described “dirty country band” Whiskey Kill executes a vintage rockabilly sound that explores the roots of Americana.

After a full decade in New York, Dean Baltulonis has relocated The Wild Arctic recording studio to downtown Portsmouth, where he plans to continue working with national acts and provide services to local artists. The graduate of the Berklee College of Music has worked with numerous folk, rock and hardcore bands, including The Hold Steady, The Gay Blades, Ra Ra Riot, Agnostic Front, Piebald, Sick of it All, Bouncing Souls and Trapped Under Ice.

To get a sense of The Low Anthem’s wide appeal, just take a look at the acts they’ve toured with over the last couple of years. The list includes Iron & Wine, Emmylou Harris, The National, The Avett Brothers and Ray Lamontagne.

February is just around the corner, which means the seventh annual RPM Challenge is knocking at the door of musicians around the globe. And, since 2012 is a leap year, participants will have a full extra day to make music.

The third annual New England Winter Blues Festival will bring a warm batch of classic funk, roots and blues music to Salisbury Beach. The event features four bands on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Blue Ocean Music Hall.

What do you get when you throw together former members of Groovechild, The Screen and One Hand Free? You get The Demon. The brand new band will play its first ever gig at The Stone Church in Newmarket on Friday, Jan. 13. The bill for that evening also includes a set from Pennsylvania-based duo XVSK, consisting of cellist/vocalist Trevor Exter and drummer/percussionist John Morgan Kimock, son of guitar legend Steve Kimock.

Filmmaker Gorman Bechard, director of a documentary about The Replacements to be screened in Kittery with an all-start tribute band, discusses America’s quintessential rock band.

Six months later after hating them live, Gorman Bechard walked into a local record store and began perusing a stack of new albums. The pile included a 12-inch single of “I Will Dare,” which would become the opening track on The Replacements’ 1984 masterpiece, “Let It Be.” “I loved the song, but I couldn’t even make the connection that this was that horrible band that I had seen,” Bechard said. “And then, of course, the album comes out, and the album was everything that we had been looking for in music.”

The Super Secret Project won over thousands of New Hampshire residents with its viral YouTube sensation, “Granite State of Mind,” a cunning parody of Jay Z’s “Empire State of Mind.” The comedy group has also written songs about their non-gay adoration of actor Zach Braff, their utter lack of fear for gangsta rapper turned family film star Ice Cube, and other important topical subjects.

The Leftist Marching Band will celebrate Martin Luther King Day with their annual tribute show on Monday, Jan. 16, at The Press Room in Portsmouth. With its arsenal of brass, reeds and drums, the Leftist Marching Band gives a progressive musical voice to the causes of equality, tolerance and civil liberties, all in a spirit of good fun. Local jazz group FTET will continue the celebration upstairs.

The year 2011 closed on a high note for local band Tan Vampires, as National Public Radio twice highlighted their music. The first plug came on Dec. 22 on the NPR podcast Second Stage, from the “All Songs Considered” program. It featured the song “I Found a Body,” from Tan Vampires’ 2011 album “For Physical Fitness,” with a write-up by Clare Flynn.

The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus is holding audition for its spring concerts on three consecutive Tuesdays in January. The auditions take place on Jan. 10, 17 and 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Brookside Congregational Church in Manchester.

The University of New Hampshire Department of Music is gearing up for a spree of free concerts featuring vocal and instrumental music, including “Three Centuries of Trios by Women Composers,” which will include Marie de Grandval’s “Grand Trio,” Madeleine Dring’s “Trio,” and Margaret Greibling-Haigh’s “Trocadillos.”

The Music Hall is ringing in the New Year with a spate of shows that blend musical traditions from the United States and beyond. The “Soul, Roots and Spirituals” lineup includes five events in January and February.

We thought we’d rank the top 10 local concerts of 2011, but as many of you have been pointing out, there were just a ton of damn good shows this year. So, with help from local music fans, we upped the count to 25.

Alternative concerts for the holidays this week feature T.J. Wheeler, Jumbo Circus Peanuts, Burst & Bloom players, and a lot of beards

The Seacoast is inundated with holiday concerts in December, and they’re not all choral groups performing in church halls. A few shows between now and the New Year will offer something other than traditional Christmas tunes.

It can be difficult to keep track of the various rock ’n’ roll projects that singer, guitarist and bassist Geoff Palmer—known in some circles as Geoff Useless—has a hand in. Palmer will celebrate his birthday in January with a CD release show for one of those projects, the band of Portland-based rocker Kurt Baker.

Guests will celebrate the completion of Hampton Beach’s new Oceanfront Pavilion with a New Year’s Eve gala featuring music, dancing, food and fireworks. It’s the first ever event at the beach’s newly redeveloped state park complex.

A star-studded cast of local musicians is coming together to assist a South Berwick man suffering from a rare form of brain cancer. Among the performers are Dan Blakeslee, TJ Wheeler, Dave Gerard, The New England Bluegrass Band, Carri Coltrane, Full Chord Press, Bob Halperin and Mike Rogers, The Shaw Brothers with Taylor Whiteside, Billy Butler, Tim Theriault, Josh Jones, Dylan Schwartz-Wallach and Agakian’s brother, Roger Martin.

The debut album from songwriter Thomas D’Amour will benefit long-time local producer Jim Tierney, who has suffered two strokes.

Tom D’Amour has always had doubts about his voice and never felt comfortable in the studio. He said Jim Tierney’s encouragement and support served as a “huge confidence booster,” and his simple approach to recording helped D’Amour relax. Most of D'Amour's vocal parts were recorded in single takes, replicating the atmosphere of a live performance, and as a result, his punk-infused, country-folk songs sound more authentic and less forced. Local musicians say it's a typical approach for Tierney, who has recorded hundreds of albums, mostly in the punk vein, including local classics by groups like The Queers and The Serfs. Now D'Amour is organizing a benefit to support Tierney as he has supported others.

New York-based performer Miss Tess has won over many a local fan, showcasing her jazzy, throwback, vaudeville sound during several shows at The Red Door. She’ll return to the downtown Portsmouth venue in early January to introduce her new double-disc album, “Live Across the Mason Dixon Line.”

“SeaHorse” features a wealth of Seacoast talent and a variety of different styles, with songs from Peter Black, Lex & Joe, Dave Gerard, Jerry Short, Dan Walker, Don Severance, Joyce Andersen, Dan Stevens, Woody Allen, Jim Gallant, Pat Cottrell, The Duo, Harvey Reid, and Rick Watson.

Experimental folk act Hotel Alexis disbanded when frontman Sid Lindner headed west several years ago. He’s shuffled around a bit since, recently landing in the San Diego area. But Lindner is still making music, and his new solo CD, “Holy Brother of the Mountain Sun,” is available now through Amazon.com and iTunes.

A year and a half after releasing their self-titled debut, Hampton-based roots-rock and reggae outfit Todo Bien is set to release a sophomore effort with a CD release show at The Blue Mermaid in Portsmouth on Saturday, Dec. 10.

The exultant sounds of jazz and blues are coming to Central Wave in Dover every Thursday night. Local vocalist Sharon Jones will be joining the John Leicht Trio for a new weekly series at the downtown venue.

As the holidays approach, browse this potpourri of CD and book recommendations for holiday gifts or general interest.

It’s been a while since upright bassist and singer Nat Baldwin played a show on his home turf. Baldwin moved back to the Seacoast some months ago, and the Dirty Projectors bassist will perform alongside Sam Buck Rosen at Buoy in Kittery on Sunday, Dec. 11.

Armed with a brand new CD, local band Palefighter aims to raise $10,000 for Kiva in December, starting with a show in Newmarket.

Matthew Carano said the Bay Area scene informed his songwriting, creating a clear contrast with the New England rub of “Swan Dive Bomb.” “Although my new record is not country at all, I feel like it’s got sort of a western feel, which is definitely different,” he said. Carano moved back to the Seacoast about six months ago. Palefighter now performs as an “electro-folk” trio, with Carano on acoustic guitar and vocals, and Jon Briggs and Jeremy Murphy alternating on bass, keyboards and electronics.

They call it bluegrass, but it comes in many shades. Gillian Welch’s interpretation of the genre usually comes in darker hues, with songs about death and addiction, sorrow and longing. But the tempo is often exultant, as Welch’s long-time partner Dave Rawlings livens the melody with fiery acoustic guitar picking. On their latest visit to the Seacoast, she carried the crowd through a delectable menu of songs from her new album and throughout her career, alternating between slow, aching ballads and upbeat country hoedowns.

You don’t have to look beyond the Seacoast to find a great CD for listeners with varied tastes in music.

Even as the superstructure of commercial music crumbles into dust, local musicians continue to churn out new material year after year. An eclectic array of local CDs have emerged in 2011, satisfying all your music gift-giving needs for the holiday season. Check at Bull Moose or visit the artists’ websites for information on how to purchase the CDs.

Walton is a hell of a guitar player, and it’s almost worth listening to the album solely for his mad wizardry on the strings (check out the dueling axes on “Short End”). But if you focus exclusively on guitar, you’ll miss his surprisingly skillful bass noodling, not to mention his quality saxophone solos on “Flopper” and “Argument.” It’s difficult to even digest the lyrics with so much instrumental jubilation coming from all angles.

The Dance Hall in Kittery will celebrate the holiday season with an old-fashioned barn dance on Friday, Nov. 18. The holiday hoedown will feature the banjos, fiddles, mandolins and vocals of The New England Bluegrass Band. The group has included top players from the Seacoast and around the nation.

Nashville-based country rocker Bo Bice took the national spotlight during the fourth season of “American Idol” in 2005, when he finished second to country starlet Carrie Underwood. He’s now released three albums, and he’ll bring his latest to the Rochester Opera House on Thursday, Dec. 1.

The 200 women singers of Voices from the Heart will help locals get in the holiday spirit with a concert at South Church in Portsmouth on Saturday, Nov. 19. Called “Now I Walk in Beauty,” the show will feature music from around the world, from a Hopi chant to work from The Wailin’ Jennys and the Buena Vista Social Club.

After nearly four decades, Daddy’s Junky Music has closed all 12 of its locations, including the Portsmouth store on Woodbury Avenue.

Drummer Jose Duque has long since established himself as one of the Seacoast’s most innovative and versatile musicians. With his latest three-song EP, “ReLoad,” Duque’s penchant for experimentation is evident from the outset.

Everything about singer-songwriter Andrea Szirbik’s debut album is endowed with warmth and feeling, like a toasty woodstove in a rustic log cabin. She sings with understated emotion, bestowing her simple, acoustic folk melodies with the power to linger in your psyche for hours. Featherscale's adventure rock powers through to the same result, but with the tools of hard rock, witchcraft, wizardry and Irish mythology.

One of the most renowned pianists in jazz is returning to the Seacoast to perform in the UNH Traditional Jazz Series. Mention the name Kenny Barron to most jazz fans and you’ll hear comments about his artistry, how well he swings, and the depth of his overall approach to jazz. All these are accurate, but they barely scratch the surface of his overall impact on the music. Barron’s approach to jazz encompasses the entire spectrum from stride to bop to more contemporary forms. Add to that a keen interest in Latin music and you have a musician with his own unique voice in jazz.

Portsmouth music documentary, premiering at the New Hampshire Film Festival, recalls the glory days of local rock.

To Marc Dole, the Seacoast music scene hit its peak during a span of four to six years in the 1990s. A diverse range of bands were coming out of the University of New Hampshire, bringing musical influences from around the country. As those bands grew and toured around the region, they started reeling in friends from other states to come play gigs in the Portsmouth area. On any given night of the week, local music fans could select between several live rock shows at nearby venues. “You could just show up to any music club, not knowing what band was going to be there, and see a great show,” Dole said. “There was just so much going on.”

South Berwick native Slaid Cleaves has become a folk fixture in the rich musical haven of Austin, but he still enjoys playing an occasional show back home. Cleaves will perform at Jonathan’s in Ogunquit on Sunday, Oct. 9.

A unique evening of music and storytelling will come to Portsmouth on Sunday, Oct. 9, when “World Tales” hits the West End Studio Theatre. The event is a collaboration between longtime friends and collaborators, musician Randy Armstrong and storyteller Genevieve Aichele.

Former Portsmouth musician Laurel Brauns and local band Wooden Eye join ‘Idol’ finalist Scott MacIntyre for a show to benefit the blind.

It was almost exactly four years ago that singer-songwriter Laurel Brauns packed up and headed west to pursue the next chapter of her music career. The former Portsmouth resident has been living in Bend, Ore., ever since, where she’s been fine-tuning her skills as a songwriter and performer. Her fourth full-length studio album, her first since moving to Oregon, came out in September. Brauns will have a chance to show Seacoast fans what she’s learned when she returns for a concert on Saturday, Oct. 8, at The Music Hall in Portsmouth. Called “Voices of Vision,” the show will benefit the New Hampshire Association for the Blind. It will also feature local band Wooden Eye and Scott MacIntyre, the first blind performer to become a finalist on “American Idol.”

by Bad Brains by ROIR, 1971: The ’70s punk rock of The Ramones and Sex Pistols was fast, but not this fast. Bad Brains took the music to a new, breakneck velocity that helped set the parameters of the hardcore movement and also informed the genres of speed metal and thrash.