3S Artspace, Portsmouth, NH June 14, 2024 By Kathy Hicks
3S ArtSpace is a very chic and contemporary facility, housing an outer reception area that features artwork from local artists, a Mexican restaurant around to the left, surrounding the centrally located performance space, where the Sam Grisman Project performed. The 3S in the name stands for 3 Spaces, Art, Performance and Food. Pretty brilliant.
I had underestimated Friday northbound traffic in June heading from Boston to Portsmouth, so I arrived just in time to grab a quick, and delicious, take-out order of two steak tacos at the restaurant before going in to get set up. The tacos were very good, hefty amounts of steak and reasonably priced.
The venue was packed by the time the guys hit the stage, and SGP just killed it. The energy of the crowd was so uplifting and happy, and it was so contagious. Everyone was smiling. It was such an amazing time. Not only did they play songs from the catalog of recordings of his dad, David “Dawg” Grisman and Jerry Garcia, like Shady Grove, Freight Train, and Rosalee McFall. They also played many Grateful Dead songs, like Black Muddy River, Brown Eyed Woman, and My Sisters and Brothers.
There were many instrumentals that Dawg composed, Dawgnation, recorded with his Quintet, or Mill Valley Waltz and Opus 38, recorded with Jerry Garcia and other master musicians, like the late great Tony Rice, that SGP performed beautifully. It was a masterful, almost three hour show, representing only a small sampling of the Dawgs life’s work.
The Project features Sam Grisman on upright bass and vocals, Joe K Walsh on mandolin, Max Flansburg on guitar and vocals, and Chris J English on percussion and vocals. Also featured on a couple of songs was special guest, New England musician Jay Faires.
Awesome experience, for a bluegrass, Dead, or jam band fan, I really recommend checking them out on the road. They’re hitting the House of Music in Portland, ME on 6/20, and the United Theater in Westerly, RI before heading south then out west. Check their tour schedule at @samgrismanproject on Instagram for upcoming dates, and music on Spotify.
JUN. 21, 2024
Westerly, RI
United Theatre
JUN. 22 – 23, 2024
Blain, PA
Get Down 2024
JUN. 28, 2024
Owensboro, KY
ROMP 2024
JUN. 30, 2024
Pelham, TN
Sam Grisman Project And Peter Rowan
JUL. 4 – 5, 2024
Quincy, CA
High Sierra Music Festival 2024
JUL. 6, 2024
Berkeley, CA
Freight & Salvage
JUL. 9, 2024
Healdsburg, CA
Healdsburg Plaza
Free
JUL. 10, 2024
Arcata, CA
Humboldt Brews
JUL. 12, 2024
Berkeley, CA
Rex Foundation Benefit – Comal
JUL. 16, 2024
Lake Placid, NY
Songs At Mirror Lake
Free
JUL. 17, 2024
Waterbury Ctr, VT
Sam Grisman Project
JUL. 18 – 21, 2024
Oak Hill, NY
Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 2024
JUL. 26, 2024
Lyons, CO
RockyGrass Festival 2024
AUG. 2, 2024
Lafayette, NY
Wonderland Forest
AUG. 3, 2024
Lafayette, NY
Wonderland Forest
AUG. 10, 2024
Cockeysville, MD
Hot August Music Festival 2024
AUG. 17 – 18, 2024
Berkeley, CA
The UC Theatre
AUG. 18, 2024
San Rafael, CA
Terrapin Crossroads Presents: Sunday Daydream 2024
AUG. 22, 2024
Boulder, CO
Chautauqua Auditorium
AUG. 23, 2024
Englewood, CO
Gothic Theatre
AUG. 24, 2024
Beaver Creek, CO
Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC)
AUG. 25, 2024
Bellvue, CO
The Mishawaka
AUG. 29, 2024
Charleston, SC
The Refinery Charleston
AUG. 30 – SEP. 1ST, 2024
Mill Spring, NC
Earl Scruggs Music Festival 2024
SEP. 13 – 15, 2024
Bristol, TN
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2024
SEP. 23, 2024
Minneapolis, MN
Dakota
SEP. 29, 2024
Doylestown, PA
Moravian Pottery & Tile Works Museum
OCT. 2 – 6, 2024
Eureka Springs, AR
Hillberry Music Festival 2024
OCT. 24 – 27, 2024
Live Oak, FL
Hulaween 2024
DEC. 6 – 7, 2024
Lake Wales, FL
Orange Blossom Revue
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