Award-winning promoters/producers Vickie and Peter Van Ness have produced some of the most critically acclaimed concerts and festivals on Boston's North Shore featuring national recording stars and award-winning young artists. Vickie, Peter and their son John run gimmeLIVE -- the area's premier independent, family-owned concert promotion and production company.
Currently they promote concerts in several North Shore venues.
In April, 2017 gimmeLIVE opened Beverly's most intimate music venue 9 Wallis, right next door to Beverly's historic Larcom Theatre (where gimmeLIVE presented concerts from 2013-2017 | see highlights).
When the pandemic hit, 9 Wallis was ordered to close on March 15, 2020 and will not reopen for a number of reasons [see details here].
During the summer of 2020, gimmeLIVE presented safe, socially-distanced Drive-in concerts in the 100K sq.ft. lot behind the Manchester Athletic Club featuring 5-time Grammy-nominee Roomful of Blues, international soul sensation Barrence Whitfield, former Yardbirds guitarist Johnny A, J. Geils Band founding member Danny Klein's Full House, Boston legends The Fools, blues icon James Montgomery, SNL Band's Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman, Grammy Winner Paul Nelson, Megan Wolf's critically acclaimed Amy Winehouse revue and blues rocker Popa Chubby.
Pre-pandemic 9 Wallis was the North Shore's most intimate, elegant listening room presenting live music every weekend with comfortable show seating at tables, award-winning food (see menu) and beverage service featuring fine wines, local craft beers, specialty cocktails (including locally crafted liquors and all-natural juices) and top shelf spirits.
In August, 2018, Peter and Vickie won the Boston Blues Society's Keeping The Blues Alive Award. See Award Presentation here.
In May, 2019 GIMMELIVE presented the premiere of the Gloucester Concert Series in partnership with Gloucester Stage Company. More shows at Gloucester Stage Company will be announced soon.
Click here to join our FREE Concert Club and email list -- you'll get new show announcements, special deals and prime seats at all GIMMELIVE venues before tickets go on sale to the public.
From 2012 through 2017, GIMMELIVE's critically acclaimed seasons at Beverly's three theatres -- The North Shore Music Theatre, The Cabot and The Larcom -- featured Grammy winners, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers and showcased emerging young talent you might want to keep your eye on -- Vickie & Peter have been known to spot stars in the making before.
In January 2016, after producing dozens of benefit concerts and festivals north of Boston, gimmeLIVE produced a Classic Rock Benefit Festival in Delray Beach Florida featuring Micky Dolenz of the Monkees, Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals, Mark Farner -- founder of Grand Funk Railroad, Steve Augeri -- Journey's former lead singer, John Cafferty & Michael "Tunes" Antunes of the Beaver Brown Band. The festival raised thousands of dollars for the educational programs at Old School Square.
Many of gimmeLIVE's concerts and festivals raise money for good causes (see some examples here). Click here if you'd like us to produce a concert or festival to raise money for your organization.
In 2007, GIMMELIVE reunited the Pousette Dart Band to headline a Memorial Day Weekend Music & Arts festival that launched Celebrate Gloucester and the grand opening of Cruiseport Gloucester, the very first cruise ship terminal in the city of Gloucester, MA.
After co-founding Gloucester's wildly successful summer Block Parties and producing several other major events (including the GIVE BACK MUSIC SERIES in Cambridge, MA and Brooklyn, NY and Concert From the Heart featuring American Idol finalist Ayla Brown, which raised money for a local boy's much needed heart transplant) they produced Celebrate Gloucester 2010 featuring Grammy-winner Charles Neville, Henri Smith, Roomful of Blues and local rising stars.
GIMMELIVE kicked off a Summer 2012 concert series at North Shore Music Theatre with Chris Isaak's U.S. tour, which introduced Chelsea Berry followed by Aaron Neville, with local singer/band-leader Henri Smith and the first Orleans concert in New England after original founder John Hall re-joined the band, featuring local legend Fly Amero.
In 2013, gimmeLIVE brought music to Beverly's historic Larcom Theatre for the first time since the days of Vaudeville, starting with a sold-out Mardi Gras benefit concert featuring Grammy-winner Charles Neville of the Neville Brothers with Henri Smith New Orleans Friends & Flavours followed by world-class artists, whose Larcom Theatre shows have garnered rave reviews.
In December 2013, gimmeLIVE packed Gloucester's iconic UU Church Meetinghouse for the first of a highly successful benefit concert series featuring top local talent and major recording stars, including John Sebastian, the first Rock & Roll Hall of Famer to perform in the city of Gloucester, MA.
During the summer of 2014, gimmeLIVE presented concerts at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard and in Gloucester aboard the Beauport Princess Cruise Ship and at the Waterfront Pavilion featuring artists of several genres -- from folk icon Peter Yarrow (of Peter Paul & Mary) to Ska pioneers The Toasters.
Later in 2014, Peter and Vickie co-produced That's When I Know It's Mardi Gras, a live CD recording at Beverly's Larcom Theatre featuring New Orleans vocalist Henri Smith with Grammy Award-winners Charles Neville and Amadee Castenell.
GIMMELIVE's 2014-2015 concert season at Beverly's Larcom Theatre featured award-winning, sold-out shows featuring music legends including Art Garfunkel, Leon Russell, Booker T. Jones, Jefferson Starship, Johnny Winter, Marshall Tucker Band and many more.
During the summer of 2015, Vickie and Peter presented a series of concerts featuring national recording stars and award-winning Boston area talent at the newly re-opened Cabot Theatre in downtown Beverly.
In January 2016, gimmeLIVE produced a Classic Rock Benefit Festival in Delray Beach Florida featuring Micky Dolenz of the Monkees, Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals, Mark Farner -- founder of Grand Funk Railroad, Steve Augeri -- Journey's former lead singer, John Cafferty & Michael "Tunes" Antunes of the Beaver Brown Band. The festival raised thousands of dollars for the educational programs at Old School Square.
In early 2017, gimmeLIVE took over the building adjoining the Larcom Theatre (at 9 Wallis Street), formerly owned by members of Le Grand David Magic Company and known as the Grand Salon. GIMMELIVE addded comfortable chairs and elegant tables, installed state-of-the art sound and lighting systems along with high-speed internet and booked award-winning national touring artists. In April, 2017 the building re-opened as 9 Wallis, which is now the North Shore's most intimate, elegant listening room offering cabaret seating with food & beverage service, including fine wines, local craft beers, specialty cocktails (featuring locally crafted liquors and all-natural juices) and top shelf spirits.
Because of its beautifully restored, tremendously flexible space with the best dance floor on Boston's North Shore, 9 Wallis has become a favorite venue for fundraisers, private parties and corporate events. Local charities have raised thousands of dollars at 9 Wallis (see examples). With world-class entertainment, an event can begin as a cocktail party or fully seated dinner...then transform into a nightclub-style dance party with concert quality sound and stage lighting. Click here if you'd like someone to contact you about booking a party, fundraiser or corporate event.
In May, 2019 GIMMELIVE presented the premiere of the Gloucester Concert Series in partnership with Gloucester Stage Company. More shows at Gloucester Stage Company will be announced soon.
Through gimmeLIVE, Peter & Vickie Van Ness continue to bring critically acclaimed entertainment to top intimate venues north of Boston.