LISTEN-November + December 2010
Text + Photograph by Bryan Bruchman

Bryan Bruchman doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to music happenings around Maine. Every issue he fills the calendar with the best concerts, album releases, and news from your favorite artists and venues.

Upcoming Concerts

An Evening with Joan Baez
November 1 | 6:00 p.m.
The legendary folk singer and winner of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award comes to Stone Mountain for a highly anticipated rare performance.
Stone Mountain Arts Center | Brownfield | stonemountainartscenter.com

Matt & Kim
November 3 | 8:00 p.m.
This Brooklyn-based keys-and-drums indie-pop duo has enough energy to wear you out just looking at them.
Port City Music Hall | Portland | portcitymusichall.com

Kronos Quartet
November 4 | 7:30 p.m.
In this program, Music Without Borders, the Grammy Award–winning quartet performs music from Ethiopia, India, Palestine, and Serbia.
Merrill Auditorium | Portland | porttix.com

Medeski Martin and Wood
November 19 | 8:00 p.m.
They make compelling experimental jazz that appeals to both jam-band music fans and those looking for something a bit more challenging.
Port City Music Hall | Portland | portcitymusichall.com

O’Death with Jacob and
The House of Fire and The Woes
November 20 | 8:00 p.m.
The new owner of this cozy café and music venue brings his punk-inspired rowdy folk band, O’Death, up from New York City to get a taste of Maine and break the joint in properly.
The Oak + The Ax | Biddeford | theoakandtheax.blogspot.com

Pete Miller
December 2 | 8:00 p.m.
Yet another up-and-coming acoustic songwriter in Portland. His honest songs and raw talent set him apart from the rest, and One Longfellow Square will present his music in a more appropriate setting than a rock club would.
One Longfellow Square | Portland | onelongfellowsquare.com

Nanci Griffith
December 6 | 8:00 p.m.
Another iconic, Grammy-winning songwriter at Stone Mountain—are you seeing a pattern here?
Stone Mountain Arts Center | Brownfield | stonemountainartscenter.com

Recap: The Summer’s Best Festivals

From the Old Port Festival in June to the Common Ground Fair in September, Mainers had plenty of chances to hear live music performed outdoors. Local acts Gypsy Tailwind and Grand Hotel (pictured) shared the stage with major acts such as The Flaming Lips, George Clinton, and OK Go in Oxford for the Nateva Music + Camping Festival and on the Bangor Waterfront at the KahBang Music, Art + Film Festival. As next year’s festival season gets lined up, we’ll share the dates with you here.

News and Upcoming Releases

This winter will see the release of several new albums on Ron Harrity’s label of (mostly) Maine-based artists, including Huak, OLAS, The Hands of the Wrong People, Hearts By Darts, Company, and Dan Blakeslee.

In Portland, the North Star Music Café closed on September 19. The same weekend Blue changed hands from Barry P. Martin to Terez Fraser. On October 15, the State Theatre reopened with My Morning Jacket. Biddeford’s Hogfarm Studios Annex may be gone but the space has been reinvigorated and renamed The Oak + The Ax.