Party in the Downtown of Exeter

Seacoast residents now have a new and unique nightlife option available to them in the form of the “Flush” Funk & Fashion series.
Combining a fashion show with a live concert performance, and beer, wine & food tastings with DJ sets, TVP Records founder Scott Ruffner has created a seamless 3 hour experience featuring a variety of homegrown businesses and artistic talents.
An Exeter native, Ruffner (aka Sir Buck) is an award-winning music producer, DJ and songwriter known for his original funky sound. He recently released a new compilation CD, also called "Flush", featuring some of the area’s top musicians including members of The Head and The Press Project.
“When the album was finished, I knew we had something special,” said Ruffner, “but I knew it would be difficult to present the music live in a traditional nightclub setting, not to mention the fact that the format itself is all but extinct.”
The CD was quickly well-received, with The Wire calling it “Part Sly Stone and Parliament Funkadelic, part Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, part R. Kelly and Gangstarr, the music on "Flush" pays tribute to the genres of soul and hip-hop with contemporary takes on 1970s fare.....Each repeated listen enhances appreciation of its comic funk and soulful hip-hop musicology. ” Lofty praise for sure, but Ruffner still knew he’d need a fresh idea to draw people in.
Thinking of ways to promote the project, he remembered a few fashion shows he was involved with during his time in Minneapolis when his band Vanguard performed with runway models at Prince’s Glam Slam and the famed First Avenue nightclub. He quickly realized that foundation would be a perfect fit for combining the original funky grooves of “Flush” and the ubiquitous trend of Facebook photo-op nightlife. He had already spoken with local designer Lisa Cantalupo (Sexy Skins) about collaborating, but after a conversation with Dana DeNiro, owner of Luna Chics in Exeter, Ruffner knew the idea could also serve as a good promotional opportunity for area boutiques.
“Retailers really like the idea of showcasing their fashions directly to potential customers -- and they have a lot of fun at the event.”
Area salons also jumped at the chance to offer their hair & makeup services for the shows. In addition to music and fashion, some of the events will also include food, wine and beer tasting.
"In these tough economic times, people are forced to be choosy about how they spend their discretionary income. We're giving them a chance to come out and groove to some great music, check out some cool fashions, and sample some first rate food and drinks. On top of that, there’s prize drawings and giveaways — now that’s some bang for your buck!" said Ruffner.
The first show of the series was held in November downstairs at the now closed Ioka Theater and was a sellout with dozens of people turned away. Positive proof that if an event is worth the time and money, people in the Seacoast will come out and support locally based entertainment.
The Flush series will be rockin’ The Exeter Town Hall the night before Valentine’s Day on February 13th, as well as upcoming dates in Boston, Newburyport and Manchester.