Flamenco Dance Project
Main Stage

Akwaaba Drum Ensemble
Main Stage

Murray Irish Dancers
Main Stage

Maine Marimba Ensemble
Workshop Stage

Vibe Quartet
(with the lovely Vibettes)
Strolling

Indian Dancers
Main Stage
Photo: Geoff Forester (NHCF)

Extreme Juggling
with the Tardy Brothers
Main Stage

Susie Burke & Family
Beatles to Broadway
Sing-Along

Nice & Naughty
Waterfront Stage
Nice & Naughty
Waterfront Stage

Opa’s Oompah Band
Strolling

Myschyffe Managed
Strolling

Voices from the Heart
Main Stage

Grass Knuckles
Waterfront Stage

The Fabulous Bel Airs
Workshop Stage

Ray DeMarco
Waterfront Stage

Accordion Man
Gary Sredzienski
Main Stage

Dick Kaplan’s
Excellent Jazz Band
Strolling

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THE HERITAGE FESTIVAL PROGRAM includes a rich mix of entertainment under two performance tents and a waterfront stage, as well as a host of strolling musicians who take the festival spirit up and down main street. Visit the 2012 schedule page for performance times.

Performers: Interested in applying for the 2013 festival? Contact us at newmarketfest@yahoo.com.

main stage | workshop stage | waterfront stage | strolling

MAIN STAGE
The main stage features a host of great performances. Visit the schedule page for times.

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ACCORDION MAN GARY SREDZIENSKI
Poland and Eastern Europe
Gary Sredzienski’s professional accordion career began at age 9, when he made his debut performing with The Hog Hollow Hooters. He’s been hooked ever since. Gary demonstrates the diversity of the instrument with a wide variety of styles representing several continents. Main Stage  more

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AKWAABA ENSEMBLE
West Africa
Back by popular demand! Theophilus Nii Martey, of Manchester, N.H., is originally from Ghana in West Africa, where he began drumming when he was six. Today he is a master of West African drumming and dance and founder of the Akwaaba Ensemble, which bring to life the rich and subtle rhythmic patterns and styles specific to different tribal groups of West Africa. The group’s energetic performances are a reflection of their name, which means ‘welcome’ in the Twi language of the Ashanti tribe of Ghana. Main Stage more

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FLAMENCO DANCE PROJECT
Spain
Flamenco Dance Project, under the direction of Sabrina Aviles, is dedicated to the evolving art of Flamenco dance and music. Its mission is to promote intercultural understanding, community growth, and diversity by showcasing the talents of US-based Flamenco performers. The result is a convergence of artists from different backgrounds with diverse styles, performing together in a cohesive and dynamic way, while evoking the intensity, strength, and magic of Flamenco. Main Stage   more

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INDIAN DANCERS OF THE SEACOAST
India
Folk, classical and Bollywood fusion Indian dance styles come to the festival stage. Learn about Indian traditions and history. Featuring dancers from area families with roots in India and Newmarket resident Alka Arora-Narang and her students from the Jai-Ho Indian Dance Academy. Main Stage

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MURRAY IRISH DANCE ACADEMY
Ireland
Murray Irish Dance Academy in Stratham, the Seacoast’s only school for Irish step dancing, is home to over 160 students, from beginners to championship level dancers. The award-winning dancers delight audiences with a range of team and solo dances performed in both soft, ballet-like shoes called ghillies and “hard” shoes that create a tapping sound. Main Stage more

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EXTREME JUGGLING with the TARDY BROTHERS
American Vaudeville
Back by popular demand!! Dubbed “one of the hottest juggling acts in the country,” Jason and Matthew Tardy have created a high-energy performance that captivates audiences everywhere they perform. Their innovative, funny show features everything from high-tech juggling and fire eating to physical comedy and full body contortion—all choreographed to up-beat, original music. Main Stage more

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VOICES FROM THE HEART
World Music
Voices from the Heart is a 200-voice women’s alternative chorus located in Portsmouth, NH. The chorus sings a rich mix of soulful music from many cultural and musical traditions. Main Stage more

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WORKSHOP TENT
Our second stage, in the workshop tent, features demonstrations, performances, and workshops. Visit the schedule page for times.

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THE FABULOUS BEL AIRS
American Oldies & Doo-Wop
The Bel Airs–named “Best of NH” in 2012 by New Hampshire magazine–present the best songs from the best of times, “America’s original teenage music” sung in five-part harmony. Workshop Stage  more

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CEILI DANCE WORKSHOP
with JOHN GRIMES of RIVERDANCE
Ireland
Seacoast native John Grimes, just back from several years touring with the Riverdance Irish performance troupe, will teach a ceili dance workshop. No experience necessary! Workshop Stage more
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SING-ALONG WITH SUSIE BURKE and FAMILY
American favorites from Beatles to Broadway
Come join the circle, with one of the Seacoast’s most beloved musicians, for a hearty sing-along of songs old and new. Workshop Stage more
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AKWAABA ENSEMBLE DRUMMING WORKSHOP
West Africa
Join Theo Martey and the Akwaaba drummers for a high-energy drum circle! Workshop Stage more

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NEWMARKET LAOTIAN DANCERS
Laos
Newmarket’s own Laotian community presents a demonstration of traditional dance. Workshop Stage

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MAINE MARIMBA ENSEMBLE
Zimbabwe
Maine Marimba Ensemble performs captivating complex polyrhythmic arrangements of traditional and contemporary Zimbabwean music on their spectacular set of handcrafted marimbas. Workshop Stage more

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WATERFRONT STAGE
The stage at the waterfront is a casual street-performance setting under a small tent. Visit the schedule page for times.

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RAY DeMARCO
American Swing
Route 66! Sunny Side of the Street! Almost Like Being in Love. Enjoy piano, vocals and more with the Seacoast’s own Ray DeMarco. Waterfront Stage more

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SHADES OF GRASS
Old Favorites
This five-piece band performs a wide range of old favorites, from Merle Haggard to Elvis Presley. Vocal harmonies and impressive finger-picking on guitar, mandolin and banjo. Clap your hands and sing along!

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NICE & NAUGHTY
Original Contemporary Folk
Nice & Naughty’s original music speaks to all aspects of everyday life, from whimsical to poignant, serious to silly. Accompanied by stand-up bass, guitar and pennywhistle, their exquisite harmonies are the highlight of their performance. “Tight harmonies, upbeat humorous tunes, ballads and original material . . .Their harmonies soar.” —Exeter Town Crier   more

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ERIN ROBERTSHAW
Country
Is that Patsy Cline? Loretta Lynn? Kitty Wells? Erin’s beautiful voice brings back classic country like you’ve been missin’.

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GRASS KNUCKLES
Bluegrass
Dave Lemieux is a Seacoaster with a homegrown string theory inspired by acoustic music old and new. Peter Sandin has been climbing Mt. Music since his college days, following in the fretsteps of trailblazers across the acoustic pantheon. Together, they are . . . Grass Knuckles.

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STROLLING MUSIC
Hear these performers on the trolley, along Main Street, and at the festival’s downtown venue. Visit the schedule page for performance times.

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DICK KAPLAN’s EXCELLENT JAZZ BAND
American Jazz
Dick Kaplan’s Excellent Jazz Band performs happy music guaranteed to appeal to people of all ages. Specialties include traditional jazz, swing and classic rock.

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EASTERN SOUND TRIO
Poland and Eastern Europe
Eastern Sound Trio specializes in Polish music with a distinctively Eastern flair. more

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FIDDLIN’ THOMSONS
World Music
Newmarket’s own father-and-son duo, Ryan and Brennish Thomson, play Irish, Scottish, French, Hungarian, Appalachian, and bluegrass music on instruments including fiddles, banjo, accordion, penny whistle, wooden flute, foot percussion, Canadian spoons, voice, and rub board. Workshop Tent more

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MYSCHYFFE MANAGED
Medieval and renaissance madrigals
Adding a bit of authentic period music to the festival ambiance, Myschyffe Managed is an a capella group specializing in medieval and renaissance madrigals from Italy, England, Spain, and France. Our goal is to recreate a small part of the musical past for the entertainment and appreciation of the public.  more

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OPA’S OOMPAH BAND
Germany
Achtung!! Opa’s Oompah Band, playing together for more than 20 years, specializes in German festival music, offering a varied mix of European folk music, waltzes, marches and polkas. (You may also hear rousing renditions of Bill Bailey, Hello Dolly, or the Colonel Bogey March, as well as the Clarinet and Beer Barrel polkas.)

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VIBE QUARTET
American Barbershop
Vibe is composed of members of the award-winning Sounds of the Seacoast barbershop chorus. From old standards to modern pieces, a good vibe is guaranteed when you hear these ladies sing. Watch for their newest group members–the Vibettes. more

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WASHBOARD MINSTREL
American Zydeco
Multi-instrumentalist Leif Gerjuoy has performed on percussion—including drums, vibes, congas, and washboard—with a number of area bands, as well as playing solo on keyboards and guitar. One of his favorite instruments is the washboard, which he has played at washboard concerts, at jazz festivals, and at the International Washboard festival in Logan, Ohio.