'Music was always in me': Henry Laliberte reflects on 10 years playing the Lakes Region

Local musician Henry LaLiberte hit a milestone last year, playing 300 shows in 2025 alone. Almost all of his gigs were in the Lakes Region.

Over the past 10 years, LaLiberte has become one of the area’s staple acoustic musicians, playing consistently at dozens of restaurants, including Patrick’s Pub & Eatery in Gilford, DOX on Winnipesaukee and The Alamo Texas BBQ at Weirs Beach, Giuseppe’s Pizzeria & Ristorante and Towns Docks Restaurant in Meredith, and 405 Pub & Grill in Laconia.

“I'm amazed, and [I feel] truly blessed about what's happened in my music career,” LaLiberte said. “I could have never fathomed that it would take off like this.”

LaLiberte's interest in music started at a young age. Growing up in Westminster, Massachusetts, LaLiberte watched his father play guitar, and was introduced to several music genres from his family members.

“I've always been into music. I had a huge influence,” LaLiberte said. “I grew up with groups like Boston, Foreigner, Van Halen, and stuff like that. My older sisters listened to James Taylor and Carole King. My dad was really big into Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. So I had a huge eclectic mix of music just coming my way.”

LaLiberte ended up teaching himself how to play guitar around the age of 11. He also played trumpet in the school band, and sang in the school choir.

Following high school graduation, LaLiberte joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was selected to work on electronics. After four years in the Marines, he went to University of Massachusetts Lowell to earn his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. LaLiberte worked as an engineer for a semiconductor company in Gloucester, for over 20 years. While working as an engineer, his love of music never faded.

“I think music was always in me,” LaLiberte said. “For a while, it kind of took a backseat, but anytime I had a chance to pick up the guitar, I would play.”

LaLiberte retired in 2015, and moved to the Lakes Region with his wife, Sarah, and their son, Carter. They eventually bought a house with six acres of land in Sanbornton, where they currently live. It was during retirement LaLiberte found more time to devote to his music.

“Once music is in you, it's in you. It doesn't leave. It is still a part of you, no matter what,” LaLiberte said. “You may take some time off, but it will always boil back up. So, when I retired, I kind of picked it back up.”

LaLiberte began performing at open mics in Campton, for fun. There, someone referred him to The Last Chair in Plymouth, and they booked him. Other restaurants in the area took notice, started booking him consistently, and his career “took off.”

“I set my bar so low in the beginning,” LaLiberte said. “I was expecting to do it maybe two, or three times a month.”

Since then, LaLiberte has won several Best of the Lakes Region awards, including gold for Best Music Act Solo Artist in 2023, and silver in the same category in 2024. His band, the Henry LaLiberte Band, won silver for Best Music Act Group/Duo in 2026.

LaLiberte’s musical catalog ranges from '60s hits to modern popular music, and his personal favorite artist is Matchbox Twenty. Though he has his favorite genres, his large songbook allows him to tailor his song selections to the audience, rather than predetermining a setlist.

“I tend to pick up the mood of the crowd,” LaLiberte said. “If I find the majority of the audience are into a certain [genre], I'll start leaning into that. I love all the music I play, but I want to make it about the people that come out to see me.”

“You can tell he loves what he does,” said Megan Page, manager of Patrick’s Pub. “He creates a fun, welcoming atmosphere that keeps people coming back. He has a natural ability to connect with every crowd.”

Though he has performed in a few areas of the Granite State, LaLiberte finds the crowds and people in the Lakes Region to be “just his vibe.”

“Because you have so many tourists and people that live in the Lakes Region part-time, you're constantly meeting new people, and having great conversations,” LaLiberte said. “That’s why I love the Lakes Region. I love that connection.”

LaLiberte enjoys making connections with the audience on and off the stage, and believes it “makes a huge difference.” When LaLiberte socializes with the people he’s performing for, he thinks he performs better, having made that connection, and creating a more memorable experience for the audience.

“It's not what you do for someone, it's how you make them feel,” LaLiberte said. “I am a social creature. During a gig, when I take a break, I always walk around and talk to people. You make them feel like they're part of the performance. It's not only that they'll remember me, but they'll remember where and when they felt that emotion.

To learn more about Henry LaLiberte and his performance schedule, visit henrylalibertelive.com.