Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Mini music festival at Merrimack Premium Outlets

MERRIMACK – With headliners such as Matriarch and Mighty Groove, the schedule released Monday for next week’s grand opening celebration of the Merrimack Premium Outlets looked more like the lineup for Lollapalooza.

Whether you’re a music lover or a shopping addict, there will be no shortage of things to do during the four-day event, running June 14-17.

The festivities start Thursday, June 14, with a ribbon cutting and grand opening of the 430,000-square-foot shopping center at 9 a.m. in the central courtyard of the oval-shaped mall.

The mall’s outdoor stage, which is centrally located within the main courtyard, will feature eight musical acts.

As eager shoppers flock to the nearly 100 stores in the outlets Thursday, they will be doing so to the tunes of classic rock band Cover Story, which will take the stage at 10 a.m. They will provide music until 1 p.m. Next on the bill is Marc Apostolides, a classic acoustic rock band with New Hampshire roots, which will play from 2-5 p.m.

On Friday, June 15, classic rock band Matriarch, of Portsmouth, will start the day’s music selections, playing from noon-3 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Matriarch touts itself as “a rock band that plays weddings, not a wedding band that plays rock.”

After Matriarch are Mark and Karen from the Morning Waking Crew, of WOKQ-FM 97.5.
Rounding out Friday’s entertainment is Illusion, which is live acoustic music, taking the stage from 4-6 p.m.

As of May 24, 99 percent of the retail space in the Merrimack Premium Outlets was leased.

Approximately half of the retailers are offering in-store specials and giveaways during opening weekend.

Those attending the grand opening celebration can enter to win a $5,000 shopping spree. In addition to the grand prize, there are 164 other prizes available for shoppers, including gift cards from the stores, hotel vouchers, luggage and tickets to local sporting events and concerts.

The Merrimack Premium Outlets are off Exit 10 of the F.E. Everett Turnpike at 80 Premium Outlet Blvd., just off Industrial Drive. Extended hours are set for opening weekend, including 9 a.m.-9 p.m. June 14-16 and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. June 17.

Boston-based Mighty Groove will kick off the festivities Saturday, June 16, playing from noon-2 p.m. Suzanne Roantree, of WZID-FM 95.7, will also be on-site that day. Blues group Downtown Dave and the Deep Pockets, of Manchester, will finish the day’s entertainment, taking the stage from 3-6 p.m.

Classic acoustic rock band Theriault & Stefanelli, whose namesake members, David Stefanelli and Tim Theriault, performed with Godsmack’s lead singer Sully Erna on his solo album, will play a three-hour set, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday, June 17. The duo has played with a wide variety of musicians over the years, including the band Boston.

Soloist Lachlan Maclearn will provide acoustic entertainment from 3-6 p.m., finishing the weekend’s musical acts.

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