Court Street Arts Events

Session Americana
Saturday, May 18, 7:30pm
Tickets: $25

Back by popular demand, Session Americana aremusicians’ musicians: a cast of top-shelf players, singers, and writers who tour internationally, taking their own songs, plus hundreds more from the American songbook, on the road. Whether you catch Session Americana in a rock hall or on a festival stage, you’ll be a part of the intimate, raucous scene these players-built years ago at Toad, the neighborhood bar where it all began in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Swapping instruments, trading off lead vocals and sharing songwriting credits, Session Americana is constantly exploring new collaborations and touring like a band out of time, always searching for a welcoming and homey venue, a long lunch with old friends, and a good glass of wine.

This year Session Americana celebrates that two-decade journey with anniversary shows in their hometown and in some of their beloved venues around the Northeast. These shows are likely to include an old friend or two, great songs from the band’s extensive catalog, and joyous live performances that have become Session Americana’s hallmark.

The Bailiff’s Café will be serving up pre-ordered dinners at $20 each.

Menu options:

• BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich on a fresh brioche roll with apple slaw, salad of mixed greens with fresh veggies, balsamic vinaigrette
• Old Fashioned Baked Mac and Cheese, with salad of mixed greens with fresh veggies, balsamic vinaigrette

Doors open at 6pm.
Dinner is served from 6:30 – 7:30pm.

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Frank Vignola’s BIRDLAND TRIO
Saturday, June 8, 7:30pm
Tickets: $25

This event is sponsored by Bliss Tavern Music Production in honor of  Ed Eastridge.

Frank Vignola is one of the most popular and sought-after guitarists on the international music scene. He is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, John Lewis, Lionel Hampton, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List:” for The Wall Street Journal.

His dynamic genre-spanning music has brought him to 21 countries on three continents – and still growing – performing in some of the world’s most illustrious venues, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, New York’s Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, and the world’s oldest indoor concert hall, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy. Vignola has recorded over 30 CDs as a leader and has been a guest on hundreds of recordings. Vignola has written over 18 educational music books.
“It’s not jazz as we know jazz here in America.” — Les Paul, on naming Vignola to his ‘Five Most Admired Guitarists’ list for The Wall Street Journal.

The Bailiff’s Café will be serving up pre-ordered dinners at $20 each.


• Menu options:

• Roasted Pork Tenderloin with a spinach salad with lemon vinaigrette and a roll
• Pesto Potato Frittata, spinach salad with lemon vinaigrette and a roll

Doors open at 6pm.
Dinner is served from 6:30 – 7:30pm.

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John John Brown
Saturday, June 29, 7:30pm
Tickets: $20

‘SONGS, STORIES, & ART LESSONS FROM STRANGERS’

Kerrville New Folk winner, John John Brown is bringing giant comics and iconic photographs to the stage. Titled Songs, Stories, & Art- Lessons from Strangers, this original project weaves together storytelling songs and the visual arts in a live performance. Throughout the concert, Brown takes the listener inside the lives of 14 unique characters, while strumming his guitar and singing beside a projected graphic story. Unfolding is an imaginative and colorful world revealing the idea that all people, strangers alike, have a story we can learn from.

The protagonists come from all walks of life; from an aging Vietnam Vet, to a trumpet playing orphan, a married couple debating evolution, to a young man with mental illness wandering the aisles of Walmart. With his guitar in hand, John John may have found a new way to sing a song. Above all, he stays rooted in the soil of a good story.

The Bailiff’s Café will be serving up pre-ordered dinners at $20 each.

Menu Options:

• Chicken Salad with Grapes, served on a bed of greens with a roll
• Vegetarian Quiche, spinach salad with lemon vinaigrette and a roll

Doors open at 6pm.
Dinner is served from 6:30-7:30pm.

BUY TICKETS FOR DINNER & SHOW »

Big Joe Fitz
Friday, July 26, 7:30pm
Tickets: $25

The name Big Joe Fitz has been synonymous with soulful music in New York’s Hudson Valley for more than 30 years and there’s a very good reason for that.  When you see Big Joe Fitz & The Lo-Fi’s in performance not only will you experience outstanding musicianship and an eclectic playlist that ranges from Bobby Bland to Johnny Mercer to Ernest Tubb and beyond, but you will be entertained by a live show that is always warm, always engaging, and always fun.  Big Joe and the fellas love what they do, and they do it very well indeed.

Guitar/Vocals/Harmonica: Big Joe Fitz was born into a musical family in New York City and was drawn to the blues early on. At that time it was still possible to see the biggest names in blues in the small clubs of Greenwich Village, and early encounters with Muddy Waters, BB King, Paul Butterfield and others set him firmly on the blues highway. An extraordinary encounter with Howlin’ Wolf at The Newport Folk Festival in 1966 and meeting Lightnin’ Hopkins at the 1st Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1969 sealed the deal on a lifelong devotion to the blues. In the 1970s he performed in and around the New York City area with the guitarist Smokin’ Sal Cafiero.

The 1980s found Big Joe living in New York’s Hudson Valley Region and beginning his long tenure at radio station WDST which ran for 30 years Big Joe Fitz is a warm and engaging performer. “My goal is to connect with the audience… that’s what I’m thinking about every time I step on the stage.” He is a singer of uncommon sensitivity whose roots are deep in the Blues but whose music also combines elements of jazz, swing, funk, and soul. As a performer Big Joe has opened for or shared the stage with such notable names as The Holmes Brothers, Marcia Ball, Mighty Sam McClain, Eddie Kirkland, Little Sammy Davis, Madeleine Peyroux, Janiva Magness and more

The Bailiff’s Café will be serving up pre-ordered dinners at $20 each.

Menu options:

• Mediterranean bean salad served on a bed of mixed greens with a roll
• Seafood chowder, salad of mixed greens with fresh veggies and a roll

Doors open at 6pm.
Dinner is served from 6:30 – 7:30pm.

BUY TICKETS FOR DINNER & SHOW »

Juston McKinney
Friday, Oct 11, 7:30pm
Tickets: $25

With multiple appearances on “The Tonight Show”, one-hour specials on “Comedy Central”, and “Amazon Prime”, including “Parentally Challenged” and “On Mid-Life Support”, Juston is at the top of his game. He just released his 5^th stand-up special, “On the Bright Side”, currently streaming on his YouTube channel.

Juston was born in Portsmouth, NH and grew up living on the border of New Hampshire and Maine. In the late 1990’s after spending seven years as a Deputy Sheriff in rural Maine, he traded his gun for a microphone and moved to NYC to pursue a career in comedy. He quickly became a regular at Comic Strip Live, Stand-Up New York, Dangerfield’s, Gotham, Caroline’s on Broadway and the New York Times called him, “Destined for stardom.”

Juston has starred in numerous Comedy Central shows including his half-hour Comedy Central Presents and his one-hour special “Juston McKinney-A Middle-Class Hole”.  He has multiple appearances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien as well as a Showtime Special with Rob Gronkowski. He has also appeared twice at Denis Leary’s, Comics Come Home at the TD Garden. His TV & movie credits include; The King of Queens,100 Centre Street, The Zoo Keeper and Here Comes the Boom.

He currently lives in New Hampshire with his wife, kids and dogs and when he’s not dadding, he is touring theaters and clubs all over the country.

The Bailiff’s Café will be serving up pre-ordered dinners at $20 each.

Menu options:

• Hearty beef stew, spinach salad with lemon vinaigrette, roll
• Vegetarian lasagna, spinach salad, garlic bread

Doors open at 6pm.
Dinner is served from 6:30 – 7:30pm.

BUY TICKETS FOR DINNER & SHOW »

Tom DiMenna
Friday, November 1, 7:30pm
Tickets: $20

Tom DiMenna presents:SONGS OF THE 70’s from Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot and Harry Chapin

Tom DiMenna and friends resurrect some of the 70s greatest story songs from three of the era’s greatest singer/songwriters. This devoted review will feature Maine based singer/songwriter Tom DiMenna, whose tribute shows have sold out opera houses up and down the Maine coast. DiMenna’s impressive vocal range and guitar style artfully channel all of these revered artists, and will surely satisfy their most die hard fans. Tom will also be backed with accompaniment to provide plenty of toe tapping for this very special evening. This is your chance to see what all the buzz is about. You may even be moved to sing along, or at least hum! The legend lives on!

“Go See Tom!” -Aimsel Ponti, Portland Press Herald

Meal options:Vegetarian Chili, Salad of mixed greens, Chipotle biscuits

Gouda baked Chicken, Salad, of mixed greens, Roll

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Enjoy dinner before the show at Bailiff’s Cafe!

Dinner can be purchased in advance online or by phone reservation. A selection of craft beer, wine, and sodas along with desserts and other light fare options will be served. Make your dinner reservations on the event information pop-up window or call us:
(603) 989-5500

Menu selections are designed to include gluten and dairy free options, but please note that meals are not prepared in a facility that is certified gluten-free.