Bath Waterfront Concert Series reaches Cultural Crossroads | Column
We are already almost half way through the Levitt AMP Bath Waterfront Concert Series. This season, the waterfront stage has been graced by a diverse array of sounds, ranging from up-tempo West African sabar drumming to dance funk grooves to floating jazz melodies. I love watching the community flock to the park each week to tap their feet to these known and unknown songs and rhythms.
If you haven’t yet made it down to Waterfront Park in Bath for one of these free shows, now is a great time to check it out. This Saturday, Aug. 1, the Chocolate Church Arts Center is presenting the Cultural Crossroads Festival, an exciting day of music and dance across old time, Irish and folk genres.
The festival is co-presented by Matt Shipman and Erica Brown, musicians in the band Darlin’ Corey and staples in the Portland folk music scene. To Matt and Erica, Cultural Crossroads is an opportunity to explore the connections between musical traditions while celebrating the uniqueness of each.
Now in its second year, this festival features four different musical acts and dancing for a special, full day program. We’ll welcome you at 1:30 p.m. and kick right into gear with Will Woodson on flute and uilleann pipes, and fiddler Caitlin Finley. Bring your dancing shoes, because these traditional Irish musicians will be accompanied by Jackie O’Riley, a dancer and teacher hailing from Boston who will lead us all in an Irish Céilí dance set.
Will Woodson plays uilleann pipes and Cait Finley plays the fiddle at the second annual Shalom & Shamrocks at this year’s Maine Irish Heritage Center in Portland. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer)
Next, at 3:15 p.m., Darlin’ Corey will take to the stage. Darlin’ Corey’s music blends the folk, bluegrass, old time and Irish traditions of its three members. With Erica Brown on fiddle, guitar and vocals; Matt Shipman on guitar, vocals, mandolin, bouzouki and banjo; and Kris Day on bass, Darlin’ Corey’s set promises an exciting mix of traditional and original music.
Darlin’ Corey will perform at the Bath Waterfront Concert Series on Saturday. (Courtesy of Darlin’ Corey)
At 5 p.m., we’ll be joined by esteemed fiddler, singer and songwriter Natalie Padilla, accompanied by Yann Falquet, guitarist and founder of the Québécois traditional trio Genticorum. The duo will perform both traditional and contemporary folk tunes.
Fiddler Natalie Padilla, left, will be joined by Yann Falquet, right, at the Bath Waterfront Concert Series on Saturday. (Paul Reitano photo)
We’ll close out the evening at 6:30 p.m. with Open the Door for Three. This trio features Liz Knowles on fiddle, Kieran O’Hare on uilleann pipe and Dublin-born Pat Broaders on vocals and bouzouki. Open the Door for Three is internationally heralded in the Irish music scene, and we’re thrilled and honored to have them here in Bath.
Saturday’s concert at Bath’s Waterfront Park will end with a performance by Open the Door for Three. (Courtesy of Open the Door for Three)
As its line-up suggests, Cultural Crossroads promises to deliver high-caliber musicianship and captivating performances. But beyond that, the festival offers us a chance to listen in on a centuries-long conversation, spanning traditions, cultures and sounds, all called forth by the fiddle’s timeless lilt.
Clara Meyers is a programming associated at the Chocolate Church Arts Center.
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Tagged: chocolate church arts center, dance, Midcoast Go, music, Times Record
