Grammy winner Shawn Colvin talks New England and why Maine’s in her top 5 places to play
Shawn Colvin heads back to Maine for two intimate shows
Singer‑songwriter Shawn Colvin will return to her long‑time New England fan base on Wednesday, June 17, and Thursday, June 18. The three‑time Grammy‑winning artist will perform in the small towns of Brownfield and Gardiner, drawing on decades of touring in the state.
The first night will be at the Stone Mountain Arts Center, a venue Colvin has called one of the “top five places to go” in the region for its artist‑friendly atmosphere and “stellar” audiences. She will open at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $80. The second performance will take place at the Johnson Hall Opera House in Gardiner. The show will start at 7:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $48.24.
Colvin’s career began in the early 1980s in New York City, where she wrote her first songs while living in the Bronx. She has cited the loneliness of those early days as the inspiration for her track “I Don’t Know Why,” which contains the lyric, “But if there were no music, then I would not get through.” The song, written on a train ride, marked the beginning of a long‑standing relationship with songwriting.
The artist’s record of accolades includes a 1991 Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album for “Steady On” and a 1998 win for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year for the single “Sunny Came Home.” The same song was later performed on stage with pop icon Taylor Swift in Austin, Texas, in 2011, an event the younger singer recalled as a highlight of her own career.
When asked about her connection to Maine, Colvin said she owes much of her regional following to supportive radio stations in Portland that played her early music. “I’ve played in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at Passim before I had a record deal, and the college radio there was a big part of how I built my fan base,” she told a recent interview from her home in Austin. “New England is a great area for me; the fans are always welcoming.”
Colvin also noted that she “feels like we’re all friends” when she performs, describing the stage as a living room where the fourth wall is absent. “I count my blessings every day. I’ve been doing this a long time and you all still buy tickets and still know those songs, and I’ll never take it for granted,” she added.
Beyond her touring, the artist is currently exploring new collaborations and a theatrical project, signaling continued evolution in her career. Colvin has a history of interpreting other musicians’ work, having released two albums of covers that feature unexpected selections such as Talking Heads’ “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).” She has also expressed a desire to have performed with legends like Judy Garland and Laura Nyro.
For fans of Colvin and folk‑music enthusiasts, the two Maine shows offer a chance to experience the singer’s celebrated repertoire live. Ticket information and additional details can be found on the Stone Mountain Arts Center and Johnson Hall Opera House websites.
