HELLO Y'ALL! So many challenging weather events here in Maine in recent months... I am SOOO looking forward to warmer, sunnier days ahead... & also looking forward to some really cool shows in April & beyond. Hope to see many of you out there!
Details, Links & Musings are listed below in this order:
1. UPCOMING SHOWS SHORT LIST (Date, Time, Venue, Links)
2. TARGET GIGS (Full Details)
3. CURRENT CEREBRAL WANDERINGS
1. UPCOMING SHOWS SHORT LIST (Date, Time, Venue, Links)
Fri, April 12th - Elements - Biddeford ME- 6:30PM
intimate concert setting; no cover, donations in the tip jar
Fri, April 19th - Throttle Car Club - ScarboroughME - 6:30PM
new venue; no cover, music nights open to public; my debut here!
Thurs, April 25th - Joseph's By The Sea - Old Orchard BeachME - 6PM
upstairs, up close & personal; 1st come, 1st serve
Thurs, May 9th - Lenny's - Westbrook ME - 6:30PM
$10 suggested donation in "Phil" the tip jar
Fri, June 7th - Cadenza - Freeport ME- 7PM
Tickets available online soon!
Thurs, July 11th - Lenny's - Westbrook ME - 6:30PM
Outdoors? My annual birthday gig!
$10 suggested donation in "Phil" the tip jar
Sat, August 10th - Lakeside Theater - Rangeley ME - 7PM
Tickets available online late April!
$15 Adults; $10 Youth & Students
2. TARGET GIGS (Full Details)
FRIDAY / APRIL 12th / ELEMENTS / BIDDEFORD ME / 6:30 to 8PM / 207-710-2011... LOVE this room... a very intimate concert scene. It's a very laid back & comfy space... with beer, wine, coffee, yummy baked goods, small plates, LOTS of books & friendly patrons. In lieu of a cover charge, a donations jar is placed near the stage. Bring your appetites & bring your friends... they'll be impressed you know about this cool spot. Always good to get here early... seating is limited.
FRIDAY / APRIL 19th / THROTTLE CAR CLUB / SCARBOROUGH ME / 6:30 to 9PM / 888-959-8051... this is a private membership club for car lovers, but the music nights, which only started a few weeks back, are open to the public. I sat in with Denny Breau here on March 22nd just to check the place out... Denny & I, the pals who came with me & a full house of listeners had a real fun night! The staff & patrons are friendly, there's beer, wine & pub food available, no cover, but tips for the musicians are always welcome & encouraged. Looking forward to my 1st gig here... please join me for the debut!
THURSDAY / APRIL 25th / JOSEPH'S BY THE SEA / OLD ORCHARD BEACH ME / 6 to 8PM / 207-934-5044... I've been a frequent patron of Joseph's for years now. I played music in their outdoor garden area back in 1983 at my pal Patti's wedding ceremony, I've enjoyed many birthday dinners here & I continue to enjoy good food & good times here with friends & family as the years tick by. In 2024, I'm excited to be part of their winter music series, playing tunes upstairs in their intimate bar & dining area on Thursday nights. Seating is 1st come, 1st serve & a full menu is available, inclusive of a very innovative & fun cocktail list. Shows here in February & March were awesome... come early for good seats! This is my last show here (until maybe next winter.)
THURSDAY / MAY 9th / LENNY'S / WESTBROOK ME / 6:30 to 9PM / 207-591-0177... Seating at Lenny's is 1st come, 1st serve, so come early! Suggested donation is $10 pp in "Phil" the tip basket ("Phil" is short for "fill it up please!") The food here is awesome & affordable, the staff is wicked fun & really good at what they do & the list of artists performing here is topnotch... I am honored to be on that list, playing every other month in 2024. I hope you'll join us for the fun, the food & the music.
SATURDAY / AUGUST 10th / LAKESIDE THEATER / RANGELEY ME / 7PM / 207-864-5000... this will be my debut in this lovely 150 seat theater & I am absolutely pumped about performing here! I've spent time in Rangeley a multitude of times over the years... mostly hiking, snowshoeing, skiing & visiting family... but this will be the first time I've played in the area since the 1980's! I plan on making it a weekend adventure & I hope many of you will do the same, with my concert as your Saturday night target. It's such a beautiful area & there's lots to do there. My show is booked during the height of their summer season, so plan ahead. Tickets will be available online by the end of April, maybe sooner. I'll keep you posted & share the link when it goes LIVE.
3. CURRENT CEREBRAL WANDERING S
I am writing on Easter morning... the sun is breaking through morning clouds & bathing my yard with long creamy yellow fingers of warmth... I count at least 20 robins flitting about & my heart is opening to thoughts of hope & resilience. Yesterday was the first sunny day here in over a week... it was even warm enough to crack windows & let in some fresh air.
One week ago today, I was without heat during a major wind & ice storm that left much of the state without power for days. Roads were closed off & homes & vehicles were damaged by fallen trees. Power Company Employees from Canada headed south to help us out... they worked around the clock with Central ME Power to get electricity grids back up & running. Public Works & private citizens helped to move trees & to check on people who were compromised & unsafe in the aftermath. I moved out of my condo & headed to my friends' house in Bridgton, where there was heat, hot water, good food & friendship... & a warm bed. I was lucky... my power was only out for 26 hours & I got to go back home the next day. Many others were out for most of the week. And that storm was only one of many challenging weather events we have had here since December.
I am fully aware that these challenges pale in comparison to so many events occurring all over the world. I am thankful every day that I am not trying to survive on the Gaza Strip or in Ukraine... that I am not one still rebuilding my life after the tragic fires in Lahaina in Maui or the floods & fires in California (& elsewhere).... that I am not one who has recently lost a family member due to a fallen bridge in Baltimore. Those thoughts humble me... & yet... the promise of spring in Maine is something I can't ignore. I am making a purposeful choice this morning to celebrate the little things, to take time out to count the robins in my yard, to reach for my guitar & sing that song I have been trying to learn for too long now. I remain aware of others' needs & tragedies, but today... I want to celebrate this warm sunshine after weeks of icy, damp grayness.
April promises a rejuvenation of soul for me musically for sure... I have 3 really fun shows on the books & a trip upta Rangeley to record a TV episode with the fine folks at Mount Blue TV out of Farmington. We'll shoot footage at The Lakeside Theater for a program called "Adroit Artist" to be aired sometime later in anticipation of my August 10th concert at the theater. The folks from Rangeley's WRGY Radio will be on board for the project as well. It will be a busy, fun, productive month... & all the while, I'll be watching for & celebrating signs of spring blossoming here in Maine.
Here's hoping April brings y'all whatever it is that you're dreaming of to make the road ahead smooth & soulful. I hope to see some of you out & about... at a musical event, on a mountain top, on the beach or maybe at the grocery store. Thanks for tuning in to my ramblings... your support means more to me than you can know. I'll be watching for you.
Peace,
