Tupelo Music Hall
The Tupelo Music Hall is an intimate and rather unconventional concert hall located in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Opened at the onset of the new millennium, it’s currently housed in an old antique shop that resembles a New Hampshire farmhouse more than a concert hall and was essentially started by accident.
According to owner Scott Hayward. there was initially no preconceived notion of creating a musical space but a strong passion for live music changed all that. Originally a room dedicated to only folk music, the hall seats less than 500 but boasts tremendous acoustics across the warm interior. The owners want every listener to have an experience akin to sitting in their own living rooms.
NOTABLE APPEARANCES, MULTIGENRED ROSTER, MOVE TO DERRY
The talent the Tupelo has brought to New England is the real contribution the venue has made to the musical community. And, considering its deceiving exterior and its location in a rural New Hampshire town, the list of artists who have performed at the hall would surprise, even shock, the majority of music lovers. Among the names of artists based in New England are Arlo Guthrie, James Montgomery, J. Geils and Hirsh Gardner and some of the legendary ones from outside the area who’ve appeared are John Mayall, Canned Heat, Dr. John and The Yardbirds.
Another unique quality of the Tupelo is the musical diversity; the hall hosts music from an expansive range of genres. In the course of a week of shows, it’s possible to hear a hard-hitting rock band such as Living Colour on a Tuesday night and the jazz fusion sensibilities of Larry Coryell on Friday evening. The same holds true for folk, blues and new-wave acts.
In January 2017, the venue relocated to nearby Derry, only a couple miles from the previous location. The new spot is larger, but promises to maintain the intimate ambiance of the original. With the increased space, the hall will be able to attract more acts, thus putting the Granite State even more in the center of the touring map for artists across the globe. As The Tupelo Music Hall motto says, “It’s All About the Music.”
(by Mark Turner)
