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In Concert – Summer Brings Out the Free, Live Music in Southern Maine

July 08, 2009 - SOUTHERN MAINE -- Summer concert season has begun and southern Maine is the place to be for free live music in the coming months. Several concert series are starting up this week and next, and it’s time to mark your calendars to make sure you’re in town when your favorite bands perform.

Each concert series has its own atmosphere, and appeals to a different crowd. A few local bands – Tony Boffa and Don Campbell, to name a couple – will appear at several of the venues throughout the summer. Discovery Park, outside L.L. Bean’s flagship store in Freeport, will attract some bigger acts, such as Blues Traveler and The Wallflowers. Young local musicians are more likely to be found on Thursdays in Portland's Monument Square.

With free concerts held most days of the week, music lovers are likely to find several shows to satisfy their tastes. Here's the lineup:

Summer Entertainment Series
Tuesdays, 6:45 p.m.
Higgins Beach, Scarborough
July 14 – The Wicked Good Band
July 28 – The Stowaways
Aug. 4 – Tony Boffa Trio
Aug. 18 – Don Campbell Trio

Deering Oaks Bandstand
Tuesdays
Deering Oaks park, Portland
July 7 – Don Campbell, 7:30 p.m.
July 14 – Sidecar Heroes, 7:15 p.m.
July 21 – Sean Mencher and his Rhythm Kings, 7:15 p.m.
July 28 – Italian Heritage Center Band, 7 p.m.
Aug. 4 – TROUT, 7 p.m.
Aug. 11 – Strause & Company, 7 p.m.

Concerts in the Park
Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m.
Riverbank Park, Westbrook
July 8 – Westbrook City Band
July 15 – Cool Water
July 22 – Portland Jazz Orchestra, tribute to Don Doane
July 29 – Wavelength
Aug. 5 – Bob Charest Band
Aug. 12 – Common Ground
Aug. 16 – Easy Money
Aug. 23 – Tony Boffa

Summer Concerts at Mill Creek Park
Wednesdays, 6:30-8 p.m.
Mill Creek Park, South Portland
July 8 – Primo Cubano
July 15 – Dave Rowe Trio
July 22 – Don Campbell Trio
July 29 – Delta Knights Band
Aug. 5 – Joan Kennedy Trio

Sunset Folk Series
Wednesdays
Western Prom Park, Portland
July 8 – Tree By Leaf, 8 p.m.
July 15 – Darien Brahms, 7:45 p.m.
July 22 – Black Powder, 7:45 p.m.
July 29 – Sara Cox with special guest Nate Schrock, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 5 – Truth About Daisies, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 12 – Slaid Cleaves, 7:30 p.m.

Concerts in the Park
Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.
Memorial Park, Scarborough
July 2 – Bob Charest Band
July 9 – Don Campbell Band
July 16 – Wavelength
July 23 – Motor Booty Affair
July 30 – Montgomery Road
Aug. 6 – Tony Boffa Band

Alive at Five
Thursdays, 5-8 p.m.
Monument Square, Portland
July 9 – Spencer and the School Spirit Mafia; This Way
July 16 – The Clash of the Titans Showcase
July 23 – Dave Gutter; Tony McNaboe
July 30 – All the Real Girls; The Leftovers
Aug. 6 – Dominic and the Lucid; The Pete Kilpatrick Band

L.L. Bean Summer Concert Series
Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.
Discovery Park, Freeport
July 4 – Patty Loveless with special guest Marcia Ramirez
July 11 – Dan Zanes and Friends
July 18 – Matt Dusk
July 25 – Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile
Aug. 1 – Blues Traveler
Aug. 8 – Dar Williams
Aug. 15 – The Wallflowers
Aug. 22 – An Evening of Maine Songwriters: Carol Noonan, Ellis Paul and Slaid Cleaves
Aug. 29 – Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience
Sept. 5 – Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul
Sunday, Sept. 6 – Asleep at the Wheel


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