Boston music legends play waterfront

Two musical icons, vocal powerhouse Barrence Whitfield and the enigmatic Willie "Loco" Alexander, will perform in a benefit concert on the waterfront Saturday evening.

The evening, featuring Whitfield and the Monkey Hips with a special guest appearance by Alexander, is offered by a new organization, the North Shore Jazz Project. The concert takes place at the Maritime Heritage Center at 23 Harbor Loop in downtown Gloucester on the Inner Harbor. The show, which runs from 7 to 10:30 p.m., features a combination of rock-a-billy, roots, jump blues, funk and soul.

Whitfield, described as a "full-throttle soul screamer" in the spirit of Little Richard, is winner of seven Boston Music Awards and has 16 albums to his credit. "Barrence brought his gospel roots to the legendary Boston rock scene of the '80s," according to a press release. "Well-received in Boston, Barrence soon found stardom on a larger scale in Europe, and continues to play it big."

Whitfield has played with Bo Diddley, Tina Turner, George Thorogood, Robert Cray, Los Lobos, Taj Mahal, Richard Thompson, Etta James, Buddy Guy, and many others. His new band, the Monkey Hips, is packed with Boston talent, and is at work in the studio with new material.

Alexander, a Gloucester native and resident, has been a fellow icon in the music scene, often referred to as the Godfather of Punk.

The mission of the newly-created North Shore Jazz Project is to create an environment in which music education, performance and appreciation can flourish. Since last November, the group has presented four standing-room-only events. Proceeds from the Saturday concert will benefit both the North Shore Jazz Project and the Maritime Heritage Museum.

Tickets are $17 in advance or $20 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets visit: www.northshorejazzproject.org.

Music at the museum

The Cape Ann Museum will present free afternoon concerts in the museum's Sculpture Garden on Fridays during August. Performers will be Michael O'Leary with Roaring Mary this Friday and Freeana and Rosen on Aug. 13. Concerts are from 4 to 5 p.m. Refreshments will be served. In the event of rain, performances will take place inside.

O'Leary is a traditional singer of Celtic songs and ballads; he has soaked up songs and the sea air of Cape Ann for the past 20 years.

Roaring Mary is a Celtic music trio of three friends playing music and singing songs mostly from, but not limited to, Ireland and Scotland. Members of the group are Steve Levy on banjo, bouzouki, guitar and mandolin; Linda Shields Swicker on guitar and banjo; and David de la Barre on whistles, Scottish smallpipe, bodhré°n and concertina. They also perform on the first, third and fifth Friday evenings of the month at the Pleasant Street Tea Company in Gloucester.

The museum is located at 27 Pleasant St. in Gloucester. For information, visit www.capeannmuseum.org.

Loop concert tonight

The 2010 Harbor Loop Concert Series continues tonight from 7 to 9 with the band Scarlett. The band will perform an all-ages show at the Fitz Hugh Lane Park at Harbor Loop in downtown Gloucester. The band members are Theresa Gray on vocals, Frank Hawks on guitar, Johnny Donlon on bass, Rick Geraghty on drums, and special guest Megan McKenzie.

'Tuscany' art on exhibit

Rockport artist Phyllis Kaplan is showing her watercolors of Tuscany at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 4 Cleaves St., Rockport, through Sept. 6. The free opening public reception will be Saturday, Aug. 7, from 3 to 5 p.m. Kaplan has shown her work and won many awards at the Rockport and the North Shore arts associations, as well as the Concord, Reading and Newburyport art associations, and the Melrose and Wilmington Cultural Arts Council shows.

At Nights on the Neck

The Rocky Neck Art Colony hosts is monthly Nights on the Neck tonight from 5:30 to 9. Catherine Strisik, who grew up in Rockport, has been active in the writing community of Taos, N.M., for more than 26 years. Her new book, "Thousand-Cricket Song," from which she will be reading, is receiving much acclaim. Her poems have appeared in numerous publications. She will do a reading at 6:15 p.m. at the Goetemann Gallery at 37 Rocky Neck Ave.

Her new book provides a glimpse into Cambodian life 25 years after the invasion of the Khmer Rouge regime when approximately 1.7 million people died by execution, starvation, and disease. In 1980, Strisik's husband, a physician for the American Red Cross, befriended Ouk Damry, a young survivor who wandered into the refugee camp. In 2004, upon discovering that Damry was a vice president of the Cambodian Red Cross, the Strisiks traveled to Cambodia. The result is this poetry collection by this American woman who becomes intrigued and confused by Cambodia.

Also at Nights on the Neck will bethe music of Three Sheets to the Wind; a program with Carol St. John, who will explain how graphology, the study of handwriting, works, and also call for participants to contribute handwritings to demonstrate its validity for a fun, friendly event; the music of Rick Drost; Laura Dow and Zumba, which fuses Latin rhythms and easy moves to create a fitness program. Exact times and locations will be posted in the parking lot on the Rocky Neck Avenue causeway, or at various places around the Neck.

Aquatint show opens

Gravure Gallery at 51 Main St. in Gloucester is presenting an exhibition of etchings by National Academician and Boston University professor emeritus Sidney Hurwitz. Featured will be the artist's hand-colored aquatints depicting New England's fishing vessels. In addition, the gallery will display a selection of other works from throughout his long career. The show will run Friday through Aug. 27. A reception will be held Fridayfrom 5 to 8 p.m. Both the reception and show are free to the public.

Hurwitz, born in Worcester in 1932, studied at the School of the Worcester Art Museum, received a Bachelor of Arts degree at Brandeis University and a Master of Fine Arts degree at Boston University. Under a Fulbright Fellowship, he continued his studies in Germany at the Stuttgart Academy of Art and in Maine at the Skowhegan School. He taught at Wellesley College, Brandeis University, and Amherst College. For information, visit www.dongorvettgallery.com or call 978-282-8881.

New art at old house

The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to present "Preservation Memoir," a one-day contemporary art installation by Veronica Morgan at the historic White-Ellery House on Saturday, Aug. 7. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The 300-year-old house is open that day for guided tours. The program is free to the public.

Morgan, a local artist with a passion for historic buildings, maintains a home and studio in a renovated commercial barn in Gloucester. A first career in architectural design and historic building restoration inspires her work in assemblage and collage, pen and ink drawing, print making and book arts. She is a recipient of fellowships from The Virginia Center for Creative Arts, the Palenville Art Colony, the Blanche E. Colman Award from Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co., and numerous awards for drawing and book arts. She is a board member of and exhibits internationally with the Society of Layerists in Multi-Media. She is also a member of the North Shore Arts Association. She uses architectural salvage from local restoration projects in "Preservation Memoir," a mixed-media installation. For more information, visit www.capeannmuseum.org.

Women of West Point

Author Donna McAleer will speak about her book, "Porcelain on Steel: Women of West Point's Long Gray Line," on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. at St. Mary's Church in Rockport. Fortis Publishing just announced that the new book received the 2010 Gold Medal by the Military Writers Society of America.

McAleer, a West Point graduate of 1987 and a resident in Park City, Utah, is home visiting her mother, Anna Matturro of Rockport.

In 1976, for the first time ever, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., accepted women cadets. McAleer tells the stories of these women and the many others who followed. One of the women featuring in the book, who is now a doctoral student at Harvard University, is hoping to attend the reading.

Pet event, Hermit tales

The Trustees of Reservations will host "Dog Days," a family pet event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at Ravenswood Park in Gloucester. Romp around Ravenswood with your pet on a guided hike while learning about the various habitats along the way. Doggie treats will be available. Pre-registration requested by contacting 978-281-8400 or capeann@ttor.org.

Also on Saturday is a program called Hermit's Tales on the Trails at Ravenswood Park from 1 to 3 p.m. Bring the family on a journey along the shady trails for this event. From 1884 to 1917, Mason Walton lived as a "hermit" in Ravenswood. He closely observed, wrote, and drew about wildlife behaviors and published a book in 1903. Join us for a walk in his footsteps, sharing his tales on the trails, and making your own observations. Pre-registration required.

Final week of 'Trying'

"Trying," a play by Joanna McClelland Glass, will close Sunday at Gloucester Stage at 267 East Main St. in Gloucester. This cross-generational tour de force is set in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C., from 1967 to 1968. It is the story of Sarah, a determined young secretary from the Canadian prairie, who finds herself working for the aging Francis Biddle, attorney general under Franklin D. Roosevelt and the chief judge of the Nuremberg Trials. An inspiring story, "Trying" is based on the playwright's own experience as Biddle's personal secretary. The play features Richard Mawe and Becky Webber. For reservations or information, call 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.org.

Little Arts Cinema

A 2009 Italian film by Luca Guadagnino will be shown at Little Arts Cinema this Friday through Aug. 12 at 7 and 9 p.m. The film, "I Am Love (Italian: Io sono l'amore)," is set at the turn of the millennium in Milan. It follows an haute bourgeoisie family through changing times and fortunes, and its disruption by the force of passion. The cinema is located on the second floor of Spiran Hall at the corner of Broadway and School Street in downtown Rockport.

Berry's Boston reprise

Due to popular demand, Gloucester's Chelsea Berry will perform again at the House of Blues. She'll play a solo set Tuesday, Aug. 10, from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Foundation Room of the popular Boston night spot. The House of Blues is near the Fenway at 15 Lansdowne St. For more information, go to http://www.houseofblues.com/tickets/eventdetail.php?eventid=64737. There is a business casual dress code, meaning no torn-up jeans, T-shirts or hats. If interested in going by bus, call Sharon Kishida at 978-317-9701 or e-mail Chelsea at chelseabarrymusic@gmail.com by Sunday so they have time to organize a bus at $17 a person. People pay $10 at the door for the performance. The bus will the Fuller School parking lot at 7 p.m. It will leave after the show, returning to Gloucester by 11 p.m.

Art Haven anniversary

Two years after the grand opening of Cape Ann Art Haven, the studio space looks a little different than it did at the first open house. The art studio wants to invite all to visit the new space, including the computer lab and digital lighting studio. To celebrate, Art Haven will host a party Friday, Aug. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. At 7 p.m., Art Haven's new logo will be revealed and tours of the new entrepreneurship space and computer lab will be offered. The community can learn more about the youth entrepreneurship program; Art Haven and Cape Ann Business Incubator are teaching teens to market themselves and also to give back. For information, call 978-283-3888, visit www.arthaven.org or stop by 180B Main St. in downtown Gloucester.

Free Stage Fort concert

The free summer concert series at the Antonio Gentile Bandstand in Stage Fort Park in Gloucester continues Sunday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m. with the Soft Touch Dance Band. The 18-piece big band specializes in music from the Big Band era and plays many modern favorites. Concert organizer David Benjamin said it is a lively program of favorites, which are perfect for dancing and listening. The bandstand overlooks Gloucester Harbor. Ample free parking is available for the concert. Restrooms are available. For information call 978-281-0543 or visit davidlbenjamin.com. If the weather is threatening on the day of the concert, call 978-281-0543 for an update. Many concert-goers bring picnic dinners, blankets and lawn chairs.

Pumfrey opens exhibit

BankGloucester is hosting an artist reception for local artist Judy Pumfrey on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in its's lobby where she will showing select pieces of art, and be available for questions. Light refreshments will be served. Pumfrey is a contemporary American Impressionist painter known for her light and color. Her special love is painting people engaged in the everyday activities of life; her challenge is to capture these moments and make them extraordinary. Her paintings have received numerous awards. She belongs to the North Shore Arts Association and the Portrait Society of America. A teacher, juror and demonstrator, she shares her passion for art with her husband, the painter Lawrence Pumfrey, with whom she has six children and 14 grandchildren.

Save the dates

The Rocky Neck Art Colony invites the public to attend its annual Beaux Arts Ball on Aug. 12 from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at The Studio Restaurant at 51 Rocky Neck Ave. in Gloucester. The theme is "Dudes and Divas" and creative costumes are encouraged but not required. Call 978-282-1346 for ticket information or to make a reservation.

Old Sloop Coffeehouse kicks off its 2010-2011 season with a performance by veteran North Carolina singer-songwriter Jon Shain at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 13 at First Congregational Church in Rockport. Shain is touring in support of his latest CD, "Times Right Now," which has received national airplay. Call 978-546-3551 to reserve seats.

Around Cape Ann is a column devoted to events happening on Cape Ann and artists from Cape Ann performing elsewhere. If you would like to submit an item, contact reporter Gail McCarthy at 978-283-7000, ext. 3445, or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com. Items should be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the event.

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