Cold Engines, Qwill, Groove Lounge @ The Press Room in downtown Portsmouth

Doors 8pm | Show 9pm

Cold Engines, Qwill, and Groove Lounge will share a night of music at the recently renovated and re-opened Press Room, located at 77 Daniel Street in downtown Portsmouth.

Tickets available here on EVENTBRITE

The Press Room website: PressRoomNH.com

About Cold Engines

Cold Engines is a band with roots in the Boston and North Shore music scenes, composed of Dave Drouin (guitar and vocals), Aaron Zaroulis (drums and vocals), Eric Reingold (bass and vocals) and Geoff Pilkington (percussion). The band was founded in 2014 by frontman Dave Drouin, one of the region’s most respected guitarist, producer and songwriter. They have released four well-received studio albums in four years, and were awarded 'Rock Act of the Year' at the 2016 New England Music Awards and were nominated for 'Song of the Year' at the 2017 NEMA awards for the single, “Show You Crazy.”

Critics note the group's use of intricate vocal harmonies and describe their sound as a blend of rock fueled R&B and soul music. Cold Engines is known by fans for their virtuosic high-energy live performances, playing over 150 shows a year. The band has supported touring American rock bands Blues Traveler and Los Lobos. Many may also recognize Drouin from his days with The Brew, a seacoast-based jam band that toured nationally with Bruce Hornsby, and sold out the Music Hall in Portsmouth at a homecoming show where the band filmed a DVD concert video.

About Qwill

Qwill, aka Jesse Ciarmataro, is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer currently based in Salem, MA. His music cannot be traditionally labeled, weaving electronica, roots, downtempo, jazz and even R&B, but it is Qwill’s soulful voice that truly grounds his sound. He performs regularly with a full band, as well as beat-backed duo and solo sets. No matter the venue or format, every Qwill show is a soulful reflection of where he is as an artist on that given day. As a vocalist, he is known for his intensity and passion, dedicated to experimentation and always pushing the envelope.

Qwill is not new to the scene. He has toured the US, Canada and Europe and has shared the stage with such notable acts as Richie Havens, Kaki King and The Violent Femmes, to name a few. He was awarded the 2002 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize in the Jazz category, and has also been an active session player for some of Boston’s talented artists such as Jesse Dee, Ryan Montbleau, Christian McNeill and Sea Monsters. He has collaborated with MC Esoteric, including the single “Falling”. His music has been featured on MTV and in various independent films, and featured on the ''Groove Lounge'' compilation series from TVP Records showcasing New England's top producers and recording artists. Qwill’s single “Ghost” was named one of the “Top 10 Local Songs of 2015” by Sound of Boston, and was featured on his latest EP entitled “Phoenix” on his own label Simple Truth Records.

About Groove : Lounge

Groove Lounge is the latest project from Seacoast, NH based music producer, songwriter and DJ Scott Ruffner aka Sir Buck. Combining break beats and looped grooves with live instrumentation, Groove Lounge has produced several critically acclaimed releases, including multiple compilation CD’s featuring some of the region’s top producers and artists in the downtempo, hip-hop, pop, soul, house and jazz genres. Groove Lounge features the stellar guitar work of Seth Weete, a master technician whose soulful playing shifts seamlessly from rock, to blues, to jazz. Their latest release was named one of the top 5 releases of 2016 by The Sound, “Like DJ Shadow with a gentler touch, or Thievery Corporation with a more domesticated vibe, “Groove Lounge x Bria Ansara” is a manifestation of the fun, funky music of the ’70s, with drops of acid jazz, R&B, and electronica.”

As a producer, Ruffner has been the force behind TVP Records for the last 20 years, with highlights including Minnesota Music Award nominations for “Best R&B Album” for his band Vanguard alongside Grammy winners Prince, Johnny Lange, Mint Condition and Next. The group was also The City Pages Critics’ and Readers’ choice for “Best R&B Band”, with the song "Good God" named one of the "10 All Time Twin Cities Funk/R&B Classics NOT Recorded by Prince". Vanguard also had an impressive run of supporting act appearances, including hip hop and funk legends The Roots, The Ohio Players, Zapp, and P-Funk. Many may recognize Ruffner as the architect of the popular “Flush : Funk & Fashion” live music and fashion series that rocked the seacoast region from 2009 – 2012.