Brandi Carlile launches the Emerging Artist Benefit Concert series at The Music Hall

PORTSMOUTH –The Music Hall was honored to host Grammy Award-winning artist Brandi Carlile on Tuesday, Feb. 14 for an exhilarating performance at the Historic Theater in the first-ever Emerging Artist Benefit Concert.

Designed to support The Music Hall’s ability to present artists early in their careers and on their way to the national stage, the inaugural Emerging Artist Benefit Concert raised nearly $70,000 thanks to leadership from Paul and Jess McKeon and 13 other sponsors.

Tina Sawtelle, CEO and Executive Director of The Music Hall, welcomed a sold-out crowd for the performance, thanking them for their generous support of the performing arts and exclaiming, “Given Brandi’s history with The Music Hall, and her commitment to aiding early career and emerging artists, there could not be a more perfect artist to launch this benefit. The team and I are truly honored to welcome Brandi back to our Historic Theater.”

Fresh off her scorching performance of “Broken Horses” and three wins at the Grammy Awards ceremony on Feb. 5, Carlile was the ideal person to launch the Emerging Artist Benefit Concert series because of her personal connections to the organization and its mission. Carlile was an emerging artist when she first came to The Music Hall’s Historic Theater during the 2004-2005 Season as an opener for Ray LaMontagne. Multiple visits later, the venue served as the inspiration and launching point for her amplification-free Pin Drop Tour in 2014. Since then, her career has skyrocketed; boasting sold-out arena shows at Madison Square Garden, an ever-growing number of awards and accolades, all-star collaborations with some of her greatest heroes, and countless other achievements.

Prior to the event, Carlile spent time with future emerging artists - aspiring musicians studying at the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center - as well as donors to the Emerging Artist Benefit Concert.

The Music Hall considers an emerging artist to be a performer with an established audience from their region and in some big cities through regional or national touring. These artists are still building their fan base in secondary and tertiary markets (like Portsmouth, N.H.).

Emerging artists to watch for at The Music Hall include:

• powerhouse acoustic duo Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley at The Lounge on Feb. 26;

• gospel and blues singer Chastity Brown and folk act Sawyer Fredericks at The Lounge on March 18

• indie folk-pop duo The Sea The Sea at The Lounge on March 31

• folk-pop artist Hayley Reardon at The Lounge on April 7

• indie performer and songwriter Will Dailey at The Lounge on April 28

The Music Hall is incredibly grateful for the following individuals and organizations whose generosity made possible the successful launch of the Emerging Artist Benefit Concert:

Presenting Sponsor: Paul and Jessica McKeon Charitable Giving

Event Sponsor: David and Karen Della Penta

Angel Sponsors: Ben Auger; Jude Blake; Tom and Patience Chamberlin; Eric and Jen Chinburg; Stephen A. Gaykan; Michael and Dawn Heffron; Barbara Henry and Nancy Winkley; Hilary and Jeff Johnston; Edward Mehigen; Meredith Village Savings Bank; Vicki and Tod O’Dowd; Michael Pilot and Tina Sawtelle

PMAC Ticket Underwriters: Anne & Michael Ambrogi; Rachael and Anthony DiLorenzo

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Brandi Carlile launches the Emerging Artist Benefit Concert series at The Music Hall