Pour one out for Novel. The beloved Portland, Maine, venue is closing on April 17. Novel Events & Marketing Manager Adam Paul emailed artists who had played there in the past or have upcoming shows on the books a couple of days ago to break the news. “For those of you with whom I wasContinue reading “A Beloved Portland Venue Is Closing, But A New Showcase Series Is Stepping Up”
Author Archives: Plague Dad
Portland’s New Music Venue, Madrid’s, Is Launching Its Lounge Space With a Killer Show Tonight
So I wandered down to Madrid’s of an evening last night after work for the soft launch of Madrid’s Lounge room. That’s the smaller room up front, where they’ll be featuring a wide-ranging assortment of local bands and, I would imagine, an impeccably curated roster of touring acts, as well. Speaking of local acts, didContinue reading “Portland’s New Music Venue, Madrid’s, Is Launching Its Lounge Space With a Killer Show Tonight”
Hair of the Pig That Bit Ya
Don’t look now, but some of the most adventurous live music shows in Portland have been happening on certain Sunday afternoons at a little thing called the Hair of the Pig down in Portland’s Old Port. Ah, you know what? Fuck that. Go look. Right now. Go ahead, I’ll wait. And while you’re there, checkContinue reading “Hair of the Pig That Bit Ya”
Aedan MacDougall: Doin’ It One Show at a Time — But Some Shows Are Better Than Others
Records and tapes are cool, and streams sure are convenient, but for a lot of folks the show is the thing. Playing and hearing live music and experiencing that shared sense of community as it’s created right there in the moment, there’s a lot to be said for that, whatever the genre. Ed. note —Continue reading “Aedan MacDougall: Doin’ It One Show at a Time — But Some Shows Are Better Than Others”
Heckling the band: A True Story, starring Vapors of Morphine, Warren Zevon, and Paul Westerberg
So I went to see Vapors of Morphine last night at the Bayside Bowl and they were fantastic. Dana Colley is a sublime sax player; his phrasing and dynamics are something to behold, and hearing him play live is well worth the price of admission, whatever it may be. It was a helluva show. TheyContinue reading “Heckling the band: A True Story, starring Vapors of Morphine, Warren Zevon, and Paul Westerberg”
Two Can’t-Miss Shows in Portland Tonight
Lots going on tonight for live music, with some pretty good shows at venues all over town, but two stand out, and if I play my cards right I can make both of ‘em. First up, we got Troy Hudson playing with Dan Capaldi over at the Orange Bike Brewery in the Bayside. It’s anContinue reading “Two Can’t-Miss Shows in Portland Tonight”
Last Chance to Get WMPG’s Compilation Record: Local Motives, Vol. 1
Back around Thanksgiving, in response to the federal government’s decision to withhold SNAP benefits from Democratic states, the folks at WMPG 90.9 FM put together a digital compilation record to benefit the University of Southern Maine’s Oakhurst Food Pantry – and Monday, March 9, will be absolutely the last day you can get it. It’sContinue reading “Last Chance to Get WMPG’s Compilation Record: Local Motives, Vol. 1”
Rebel Songs, Sea Chanteys, and Working-Class Acoustic Punk at Novel on Friday, March 6
Back in the day, when they ran more detailed event listings in the front of the book, The New Yorker used to publish each week a brief disclaimer atop their Night Life column, where thumbnail descriptions of all the live music shows in town could be found. It read, “Musicians and night-club promoters lead complicatedContinue reading “Rebel Songs, Sea Chanteys, and Working-Class Acoustic Punk at Novel on Friday, March 6”
Portland Planners Ditched Plan for Hundreds of Units of Housing to Pave The Way For LiveNation
Portland planners set aside an approved Master Development Plan that anticipated nearly 300 units of housing in downtown Portland so LiveNation could move forward with a proposed music venue across the street from the Merrill Auditorium. According to a May 23, 2025, memo from Portland planning staff to the members of the Portland Planning Board,Continue reading “Portland Planners Ditched Plan for Hundreds of Units of Housing to Pave The Way For LiveNation”
Local Artists Wicked Stoked To Play Portland’s Back Cove Music Festival
The inaugural Back Cove Music Festival is set to go off this weekend, on Saturday, Aug. 2 and Sunday, Aug. 3, and the lineup offers a strong slate of headliners, including Jack White, Lord Huron, The Roots, and Thee Sacred Souls, as well as a deep bench of local acts, including the Oshima Brothers, WeakenedContinue reading “Local Artists Wicked Stoked To Play Portland’s Back Cove Music Festival”