Favorite Color Tattoo Evan Olin, Powerline Tattoo Runner-up: Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink Favorite Black & Gray Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual Runner-up: Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink Favorite Black & Gray with Color Steven McDonough, Secret Safe Tattoo Runner-up: Rachel WS, Rachel WS Fine Art...
By Lillian MK Photography By Olivia Lunger ...
Photo by Lillian MK Photography. Favorite Free Verse Spoken Word Ashley HosaRunner-up: Jeff Daniellian Favorite Social Justice Spoken Word Erik AndradeRunner-up: Mx Asher Favorite Youth Poet Angel CruzRunner-up: (by one vote) Josselyn Wolf Favorite Poetry Event Apothica's Monthly Poetry NightRunner-up: Afroverse Favorite...
Congratulations, you survived the record-breaking Blizzard of 2026. With the anticipated arrival of clear skies and warm temps, how will you be spending your well-earned, much-needed downtime this summer? If you’re adventurous, you could explore some of...
Artwork by Bob Eggleton. Godzilla has been a cinematic icon for over 70 years. However, there are important themes around the monster that have gotten lost with international audiences. There is no gigantic monster that has had...
Tie-dye by Spun Laundry. BEACHES Atlantic Beach Park: Family beach, amusements, kiddy rides, snack bars, antique 1915 carousel, batting cages, bumper boats, go-carts, mini golf, game room, waterslides, gift shop, beachware and an ocean-view cocktail lounge. 321...
Photos by Lillian Karboski. Every time you listen to a song, there is always something more than the words or catchy melody. On Friday, May 1, right in the heart of downtown Providence, an extraordinary group...
Okee dokee folks… Rising costs of everything is what’s on my mind this month. It really should be on everyone’s mind. The main things I will talk about here are gasoline and concert tickets. One...
Photo: Christopher Mongeau. Ravi Shavi, a band that has been around since 2011 and started as a moniker for Rafay Rashid’s music project, has evolved and become more rooted in its creative approach and performance, as...
“Can I go to X?” is the question 2 Feet 2 Bucks has answered with “Yes” dozens of times, where X = place worth going out of your way to, to take a walk, short...
Artist of the Year: Favorite Song: Favorite Music Video: NOVA ONE; "chlorine" by NOVA ONE; "chlorine" - NOVA ONE (Dir. Frankie Ferrari) nova one: “nova won!” Providence’s own nova one won (!!) four 2026 Motif Music Awards: “artist...
Photo by Matthew Murphy. The North American tour of Disney’s The Lion King last played the Providence Performing Arts Center in 2017. After nearly ten years, The Lion King is back astounding Providence for a limited...
“Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). This is the core theme behind William Shakespeare's darkest comedy, Measure for Measure, one of Shakespeare’s most exciting, underperformed and underappreciated plays, currently presented by Burbage...
Smithfield, RI: A town known for its forests, trails, ponds, and well, wealth. An unlikely location for a potential AI-Data Center, one may think. Yet, this rural community, despite data center construction being illegal under...
This is the story of visiting Providence’s newest Rotisserie and Bistro, Thermia, and being so intrigued by its menu and feeling so welcomed by the staff, that I went twice in one week! To give...
Check out extensive listings for every show we could find this season. But some are bigger or just fundamentally represent summer in our eclectic, hyperactive, tiny-yet-overachieving state. Here’s a selection of special events to keep...
“Industry wants us to believe the sky will fall if there’s reform," said Council President Rachel Miller. "But for working families, the sky is already falling..." Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13) “In front of you is...
The eggplant piece featured on the cover of Motif is the first completed work in Chenlu Hou’s Garden series, making it a perfect fit for this issue’s theme of Summer. A low-fire terracotta sculpture, airbrushed and...
[See prior update: motifri.com/iran-war-update-01] The Iran war cannot continue as it is for much longer, and this is a result of simple math. Time is running out for energy and food supply US Consumer Price Index for All...
Voting is now closed -- Join us to see who was selected Wednesday, May 276 – 10pmMyrtle, East Providence Join us for the 4th annual Motif Spoken Awards! We are excited to be returning to Myrtle to celebrate RI’s spoken word...
Ann Morrison and Marcus Phillips in the National Tour of KIMBERLY AKIMBO. Photo by Joan Marcus KIMBERLY AKIMBO is a musical with a lot of heart, a lot of wit, and a lot of rave reviews...
Processed with VSCO with 6 preset When Steve DelMonico (vocals/guitar) approached John Faraone (drums) with an impossibly unique band name, there was no way of knowing that 10 years later they’d be sitting at Nolan’s with...
Photo: Dave Rezendes. John Faraone: a man of many bands, many instruments, and one poetic voice. While John wouldn’t call himself a poet, I certainly believe that his lyrics are simply stanzas waiting to be printed....
Photo by James Brooks. Okee dokee folks… I have referenced the Jethro Tull song, “Too Old to Rock & Roll, Too Young to Die,” A few times in my 22 years of writing for Motif, and...
(Photo credit: Keith J.G. McCurdy, from the cover art of Vudu Sister’s Adynata; photograph of the art installation LO SGUARDO - Humanitas - Physis by sculptor Igor Mitoraj at the Neopolis Archaeological Park of Siracusa...
Mount Pleasant. Elmhurst. The Valley Arts District. These are all neighborhoods whose offerings I thought I knew well, having worked in and around Providence over the last few years. But you can certainly miss a...
Buddy Mott. Once upon a time, if you wanted a tattoo, one of the things you could do was traipse to Newport from any of the four corners of the world and get yourself a tattoo...
The actual declaration of Independence was first proclaimed to the people of Newport from this building in July 1776. (Photo by Maureen O'Gorman) It doesn't take long for a person new to Rhode Island to find...
The RI Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced a major initiative to repair potholes caused by a harsh winter. A new Pothole Service Requests Dashboard site on the web – https://www.dot.ri.gov/travel/potholes.php – allows the public to...
The tattoo artist who goes by Mish, of Fall River, MA, created this month’s cover. “I got the nickname when I was younger, and it just kinda stuck,” she says. Also, it stirs a little...
Before the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus shuts down forever after nearly a century, their second-to-last shows will be at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, May 4-7. Facing persistent severe criticism from animal welfare campaigners, the circus announced in 2015 that it would retire its use of elephants, long the definitive trademark […]
Editor’s note: Record Store/Vinyl Appreciation Day is April 22, 2017. For participating stores in RI: http://www.recordstoreday.com/Stores?state=RI – there is also more info below this article. There was a point in time when listening to your favorite album was an actual experience rather than just an accompaniment for your car ride or wallpaper behind a study session […]
With the recent uptick of progressive legislation, cannabis-friendly vacations are now possible in more locations than just Amsterdam. With eight U.S. states having legalized cannabis (four with functioning recreational dispensaries) and foreign countries including Spain, Portugal and Holland – and possibly soon Canada as well – with decriminalized personal use, travelers are increasingly able to […]
Full interview with Graham Parker (see introduction/overview). Graham Parker: Helloooo, John, how are you doing? Graham here! John Fuzek (Motif): Great, how are you? GP: I’m alright, how is it there? Where are you, in Rhode Island? JF: Yes I am, miserable Rhode Island, it’s been raining for like two weeks! GP: I’m sorry to […]
See the April 19 Roots Report for details on Garry Tallent’s appearance on Thursday, May 4, at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, Mass. Garry Tallent: Hi, John. I’m sorry I didn’t get the first call, I had my ringer on so low that an old man can’t hear it! Motif (John […]
It’s a day that’s a music junkie’s paradise. Each year, local record stores become hives for special releases and sometimes in-store performances, and this celebration of everything that is good in the music industry is held all over the world. Record Store Day (RSD) is happening once again on April 22: In Rhode Island, the […]
A one-man band is so mystifying. How do they create so many sounds? How do they mimic a full band so well? A bunch of questions come to mind when a musician is playing multiple instruments at once. Enter Matt Lorenz and his music project The Suitcase Junket. This fuzz-folk enigma is releasing his fifth […]
Important: Remember that items made with cannabis may be illegal in your jurisdiction unless you have proper medical certification, and must always be kept strictly away from children and pets. Cannabis has been known since ancient times, and some claim that the mysterious קַנַּבּוֹס (“kaneh-bosim,” singular “kaneh-bos”) listed as an ingredient of the holy anointing […]
For 4/20 itself, look here! For Earth Day (4/22), look here! For shameless self-promotion of Motif’s own 2017 Music Awards (4/23), look here! For our usual fare, try these: Fri 21 Peter Ciluzzi: Multi-instrumentalist known for “transformative music without words.” Brooklyn Coffee & Tea House, 209 Douglas Ave, PVD. peterciluzzi.com Sat 22 Rob Duguay’s Birthday […]
RI doesn’t really have much in the way of significant 420 events (hint-hint, pre-legalization party planners…) Here’s some stuff we know about (or that sound promising). 420 Party with Horizon Wireless & Rezin Headz: Presented by 13 Folds Magazine. Music, and most likely the largest collection of advocacy-minded legalization supporters. 8pm, Alchemy, 71 Richmond St, […]
