Hit these 5 Maine venues to hear local bands outdoors this week
It’s always a good idea to support Maine’s local music scene. And the advantage of summer in Maine is being able to catch good music at any number of places, including some local businesses and outdoor concert series.
Here’s a few of my picks if you’re looking to listen to good music in the great outdoors at spots in Portland, Freeport and Kennebunk.
180 Commercial St., Portland. portlandlobstercompany.com.
(left to right)Tyler Arnold, Colin Winsor and Owen Conforte at Portland Lobster Company. (Photo by Aimsel Ponti)
It can be crowded with tourists, but I’ve got to hand it to Portland Lobster Company because you can hear live, mostly local music there seven nights a week and twice on Saturday and Sunday. Lobster rolls, burgers and cold beer always pair well with live music, so it’s a win-win. Here a few upcoming picks: Friday at 7:30 p.m., you can enjoy covers from Vinyl Tap, featuring singer and sensational keys player Kris Rodgers. Sunday at 12:30 p.m., catch O.C. & The Offbeats, fronted by singer and guitarist Owen Conforte. Request the original tune “Meet Me at the Bar” and thank me later.
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Maine musicians take center stage at local outdoor summer concerts
Portland Jazz Orchestra performing as part of the Congress Square Park concert series. (Photo by Christopher Andrew)
CONGRESS SQUARE PARK, PORTLAND
High and Congress St., Portland. onelongfellowsquare.com.
Music venue One Longfellow Square presents its annual Congress Square Park summer concert series at 6 p.m. on Thursday nights (no show July 9) through Aug. 27. This week, catch Sigrid Sibley and Thomas Clukey. Sibley’s a singer-songwriter and Clukey skews more country. Head back to the park on July 16 for Portland Jazz Orchestra.
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ROOFTOP AT BAYSIDE BOWL, PORTLAND
58 Alder St., Portland. baysidebowl.com
The rooftop at Bayside Bowl is a favorite spot of mine to hang out while eating tacos and sipping a cocktail. It’s all the more perfect when live, local music is happening. On Friday, starting at 6 p.m., catch a free show from instrumental trio Micromassé. Pete Dugas plays a ’50s Hammond C3 organ, Max Cantlin’s on electric guitar and Chris Sweet plays drums. Their performances are always mesmerizing affairs of jazzy funk. Head back to the roof on July 9 for Cuban tunes from Primo Cubano. Those tix are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.
Don Campbell Band. (Photo by Stewart Smith)
DISCOVERY PARK, FREEPORT
L.L.Bean, 95 Main St., Freeport. llbean.com.
Surrounded by pine trees and plenty of retail therapy, Discovery Park on the L.L.Bean campus is home to the Made in Maine Concert Series. Shows are all 7 p.m. on Saturday nights through July 25.
Two suggestions are Independence Day night at the park for country and Americana covers and originals by the Don Campbell Band. Then come back a week later on July 11 for country pop and rock from Lexi James and Wildheart. Her set will feature a few crowd favorite covers and mostly original songs, including the latest single, a moody rocker called “Growing Pains.” If you happen to be going to the Portland Sea Dogs game on Friday, James and her band will also be playing on the front plaza starting at 6:20 p.m.
LAFAYETTE PARK, KENNEBUNK
Parson Street, Kennebunk. kennebunkmaine.us.
Kennebunk’s Concerts in the Park series runs on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 20. Thrown some lawn chairs or a blanket in the car and enjoy the sweet sounds of the Chris Humphrey Big Band on Wednesday, July 9. I saw the band play there a couple of summers ago and was thoroughly enchanted by their interpretations of classics from the Great American Songbook.
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Aimsel Ponti is a music writer and content producer for the Portland Press Herald. She has been obsessed with – and inspired by – music since she listened to Monkees records borrowed from the town. More by Aimsel Ponti
