The Spire Center for Performing Arts Launches Spring Season of Entertainment

The Spire Center for Performing Arts, the entertainment mecca of Plymouth, presents a spring season of eclectic entertainment at The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court Street, Plymouth.

Legendary songwriter Livingston Taylor performs with opening act Chelsea Berry on Friday, February 27 at 8 pm. Taylor’s well-crafted, introspective, original songs have earned him worldwide fame, spanning a forty-year career raised the fourth child of a very musical family including Alex, James, Kate and Hugh. His musical knowledge inspires a varied repertoire, and he is equally at home with folk, pop, gospel, jazz genres, drifting from upbeat storytelling to touching ballads. Opening act singer/songwriter Chelsea Berry entertains with incredible edge, power, and finesse, developing a strong following for her folk and rock rooted music. Presented in conjuction with Project Arts of Plymouth, Inc., a non-profit corporation dedicated to encouraging and promoting all forms of musical and/or artistic expression. Tickets are $45.

On Saturday, March 21, 7 pm, Limelight Magazine hosts their 7th Annual Limelight Magazine Music Awards, recognizing the creative musical talent throughout New England, voted in by the public. Artists are recognized in many categories, including “Album of the Year”, “ Band of the Year”, “Vocalist of the Year”, and more. Special Legend and Unsung Hero Awards are nominated and awarded by staff. The evening is full of entertainment from nominated artists and music industry comraderie. Tickets are $10.50.

On Sunday, March 29, 8 pm, songwriting musician Shaun England performs, widely recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for his songwriting and contribution to the arts. His music, deeply influenced by the blues with poetic lyrics, has earned him a nomination for Song of the Year, and a fanbase around the world. Special guest Charlie Farren joins the lineup. Tickets are $20.

On Friday, April 3, 8 pm Open Mic Challenge Finals features the last round of contestants in the first local music competition of its kind in Plymouth! Preliminary round winners perform for glory and prizes on the Spire concert stage, where one grand prize winner earns 5 studio hours at Seasound Recording Studio and the opportunity to perform on The Spire Center stage! Tickets are $5.

On Saturday, April 4, 8 pm, folk-urban pop artist Patty Larkin redefines music’s boundaries with her inventive guitar wizardry and uncompromising vocals and lyrics. “Still Green,” Larkin’s 13th album, plays out in Technicolor sound images, a kaleidoscope of sun and sea that travels from the fluorescent-lit hallways of grief to the warm pull of love, family and nature. Tickets are $20.

On Saturday, April 11th, 5:30 pm, Spire Center debuts a Bluegrass Festival featuring top talent in this distinct and beloved genre of American Roots music, touched by overtones of country and Appalachia. Fresh, hard driving and innovative Mile Twelve opens, popular across New England bluegrass and folk circles. Banjo-wielding singer/songwriter Mark Whitaker amazes audiences with his innovative take on everyday emotions and heartbreak through a range of folk, blues, pop and bluegrass. Chasing Blue plays original and traditional bluegrass with unique arrangements, hard-driving style and strong lyrical sound. The Lonely Heartstring Band combines instrumental virtuosity, 3-part harmonies, and a deep understanding of traditional bluegrass and Appalachian music, delivering a great show! Tickets are $20.

A trifecta weekend of entertainment kicks off on Friday, April 17, 8 pm; with Paula Cole. Hailed nationwide by mainstream music media, this Grammy® winner and 7-time Grammy® nominee released six solo albums spanning an eighteen year career. In April, she will release her seventh solo album titled Raven. As the first woman in history to solely produce and receive the best Producer Grammy® nomination for her work, “This Fire”, Cole has broken boundaries with a searcher’s spirit. From her top ten hits of the 1990’s to her more recent critically acclaimed albums, she continues to write, produce, record and perform heartfelt, meaningful, lasting music that defies categorization. Tickets are $40.

On Saturday, April 18, 8 pm, internationally acclaimed and Grammy nominated virtuoso jazz pianist Eldar Djangirov presents The Eldar Trio. Rightly compared to Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson, Eldar is universally recognized for his stunning keyboard mastery and beautiful sound that has thrilled critics and audiences throughout the world. Dave Brubeck, among others, hailed him as a young genius. Tickets are $30.

On Sunday, April 19, The Cantabile Quartet presents an afternoon of chamber music with a trio of piano quartets “The 3 Ms”. Plymouth’s Dr. Brian Whitfield, piano and viola, joins Pattison Story, violin and viola; Christopher Brown, piano; and Toni Rapier, Duxbury cellist to present a program of piano quartets by Mahler, Mozart and Mendelssohn. Tickets are $15.

On Friday, May 15, 8 pm, multi-instrumentalist David Lindley performs music that redefines the word “eclectic.” Well known for many years as the featured accompanist with Jackson Browne, and leader of his own band El Rayo-X, Lindley has long championed the concept of world music. His electro-acoustic performance effortlessly combines American folk, blues, and bluegrass traditions with elements from African, Arabic, Asian, Celtic, Malagasy, and Turkish musical sources. His uncanny vocal mimicry and demented sense of humor make his onstage banter a highlight of the show. Presented in conjuction with Project Arts of Plymouth, Inc. Tickets are $25.
Also appearing this spring are Kerri Powers with Jordan Renzi on Saturday, April 25; Zoe Lewis with Barbara Phaneuf on Saturday, May 2; Jonathan Edwards on Saturday, May 9; and The Dark Side of Grassroot: A Tribute to Pink Floyd on Saturday, May 30.

The season of ongoing events culminates with The Spire’s second annual Plymouth Rock Assurance Jazz Festival, throughout Memorial Day weekend, from May 22 through 24. The event is produced by Johnny Souza, through the generous sponsorship of Plymouth Rock Assurance Company and Eastern Bank. Special guest jazz radio host Eric Jackson serves as emcee for Friday and Saturday’s events.

Tickets for all performances are now available, advance purchases are recommended, seating is limited to capacity. The Spire is handicap accessible, public parking is available streetside, and in public lots in close proximity. For more information, to order tickets online, or to learn more about The Spire, please visit www.spirecenter.org, or follow Spire Center for Performing Arts on Facebook.

About Spire Center for Performing Arts
The Greater Plymouth Performing Arts Center, Inc. (GPPAC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2010, dedicated to performing arts and educational programs, supporting the vibrant arts community in the greater South Shore region. The organization founded The Spire Center for Performing Arts, a town-owned venue to serve as a mecca for the arts, dedicated to showcasing music, theatre and dance performances, and arts education appealing to all generations from across the Southeastern Massachusetts region. The Spire’s 225-seat performance hall features superior acoustics, custom state of the art lighting and sound systems and original period architectural details, offering patrons an exceptional performing arts experience. The historic 3-story building resides in the epicenter of America’s Hometown, where the growing arts vibe infuses the historical and cultural district with creativity year-round. The Spire’s lower level is dedicated to classrooms for performing arts education and theater troupes, a state of the art recording studio, rehearsal studios and community activities. A vast variety of music performance and eclectic theater productions fill out the majority of The Spire’s yearly entertainment calendar, including concerts, master classes, theatre events, variety shows and music festivals, offering Plymouth a more diverse entertainment scene than ever before. The Spire is located at 25 ½ Court Street, Plymouth. For more information, to order tickets online, or to learn more about The Spire, please visit www.spirecenter.org, call (508) 746-4488, or follow Spire Center for Performing Arts on Facebook.