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...
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 evidenced by...
“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...
On the “Weekend Update” satirical news segment on Saturday Night Live. anchor Colin Jost displayed a snapshot of an unhinged rant laced with profanity in the form of a Donald Trump post to Truth Social,...
VOTING OPEN NOW! VOTE HERE 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 community. The live celebration,...
VOTE HERE! "May your tattoo ink never run dry," as the ancient Portlandian blessing goes, has rarely been more applicable. Motif is proud to partner again with Narragansett Brewery to bring you the RI Tattoo Awards,...
I was at the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford last Wednesday night to catch the ME Solo Show. That is Melissa Etheridge for all of you who weren’t there. When we arrived, the stage was filled with electric guitars, amps, a bass, a grand piano, a djembe, a cajon (a wooden box drum), lots of […]
Being retro is trendy in the 2010s, and nearly every medium imaginable is feeling the craze. Beverages are showing labels of decades past, professional sports teams wear jerseys from different eras of their franchise’s existence and vintage clothing is the rage. It also reflects in the music as well; rock ‘n’ roll is heading back to […]
Dams/Waterfalls 1. Ashton and Albion Falls, Lincoln. A walkway and bike path runs along the Blackstone River, bejewelled by the historic Ashton and Albion dams. 2. & 3. Blackstone Dam and Blackstone Gorge, Blackstone Mass. Right over the border from North Smithfield, these attractions are known for their abundant wildlife and natural beauty. A rocky […]
Monday, July 4: Revival Fest II, Dusk, 301 Harris Ave, Providence; 1pm – 2am, FREE; (not sure age restrictions). For the last 10 or so years, the 4th of July in Providence means to me being outside all day in the sun and watching a zillion bands for free somewhere. Revival Fest grew out of the […]
Few local musicians stand out like songwriter Tyler-James Kelly. Kelly is the frontman of the blues-rock band The Silks, one of the most sought after acts in New England. He has a way of electrifying people with his talents on guitar and his soulful voice. He knows how to rock, and also can be a […]
The American Public Health Association (APHA) has long recognized that guns are not just a political or civil rights issue; they are a public health issue. There is more gun violence in the US than in any other country in the world. According to a comparison between comparable nations done by the APHA, 80% of […]
Parades, fireworks, grilled meat — it’s all happening in Little Rhody this weekend and you can find it all here. Happy weekend! FRI 1 Warwick Independence Day Fireworks: Can also be viewed from City Park, which offers unobstructed views along the shoreline. Start at dusk (approximately 9pm), Oakland Beach Seawall, Oakland Beach Ave, Warwick. warwickri.gov […]
Consistency should be a band’s main objective. No artist wants to be known for putting out only a few gems during an extensive career. San Francisco act Deerhoof blends punk, psychedelia, art rock and a whole lot of experimentalism for an uncanny sound. They’ve been doing it in a DIY fashion since the mid-90s and […]
Tickled starts off with the quirky conceit that New Zealand journalist David Farrier has stumbled onto information about a “Competitive Endurance Tickling” organization and would like to interview the organizers for an article. Now that seems like a perfectly reasonable request, but the response David receives is not what was expected. Rather than an interview […]
