Scary times draw anon at The Castle on Charles

The infamous Dr. Gasp ,,, for a freaking good time! (Courtesy image)

Release the hounds at once! At The Castle on Charles in Rochester, Halloween is at the heels with a busy weekend. That maniacal minstrel Doctor Gasp is on the loose again, now with his full Boston band 'The Eeeks,' followed by 'hillbillies' hooting it up with bluegrass, and then a bluesy-jam mosh with The 'Freestones'!

It all begins with multi-award winning folk musician Dan Blakeslee's "Halloween Special" on Thursday, October 26. Spinning his web of Halloweenesque cartoon-style folk with his band of brethren, Blakeslee brings from Boston a concert / visual arts show that must be seen to be believed.

Every year when the crisp winds of autumn turn the calendar to October, Dan Blakeslee hides behind the mask of the unexpected spectacle Doctor Gasp. He rises from the shadows delivering an earful of eerie for the young, old and immortal!

His thunderous voice and theatrics, along with the music of his band the Eeeks - will make hair stand on end even though the moon be hiding! The evening begins at 6 p.m. with drinks and food available. Tickets are $8 at CastleNH.com.

Then on Saturday, October 28 The Castle on Charles presents two Halloween concert-parties! It starts early (5 to 7:30pm) with the second annual "Hillbilly Halloween" party with the five-piece Cedar Mountain Bluegrass Band. Guests are encourage to dress 'hillbilly,' dancy hillbilly and take part in the hillbilly dress contest. Food and drinks will be available. The cost is $5.

Saturday Oct. 28 then morphs into a Halloween blues-jam party with The Freestones! This super energetic five-piece blues band combines country, rock, jazz, reggae, folk, and funk into tasty jams. Wild and independent - perfect for Halloween jam! Costumes are encouraged, and there will be a contest with prizes. The Tavern will be open early with appetizers and drinks. The Freestones show and dancing is from 8 to 11pm. Cost is $5 at the door.