The influential decade of the Portsmouth music scene from 1986-96, often considered its “heyday,” has recently become the subject of a new documentary. Marc Dole of Hatchling Studios is teaming up with musician/filmmaker Michael Venn and musician Jon McCormack on the project, which they have unofficially dubbed the Portsmouth Music Documentary.
According to Seacoastonline.com, the documentary has been a long time coming. The topic is vast and multiple angles for the project are being considered. “It was a huge scene for such a small blip on the map,” Michael Venn said.
Some of the artists likely to appear are Hank Decken through Marc Damon and Jamie Perkins currently touring with the Pretty Reckless. Dozens of names are mentioned along with genres inclusive of folk, punk, jam, jazz, rock and others. The musical footage featured in the documentary will hope to bring out the artist in all viewers. “You’d see a local musician and think, ‘I’m going to go get a guitar and start a band;’ not a band on MTV or the radio. It was a great local band that influenced you,” Venn said.
The filmmakers are currently searching for any photos, footage and great stories from the era, from both musicians and fans. If you have any of these resources and are willing to share, contact the Portsmouth Music Documentary project through their Facebook page. “There are so many great stories, funny, tragic and interesting not just about the musicians but the scene,” Venn says. “[The film] is not just for those in the scene but to bring the awareness of it to the country.”
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