Portland PrideFest Cranks the Volume on Live Music Look, we all know the Portland Pride Parade is the main event. But once the last float rolls by and the glitter begins its inevitable migration into every crack in downtown Portland, the party shifts to Deering Oaks Park for PrideFest. This year’s festival takes place Saturday,Continue reading “Get Your Portland Pride On!”
Author Archives: Plague Dad
Anti-Folk Legend Hamell On Trial Rolls into New England for Four Shows
In this age of backing tracks and AI slop, there aren’t many performers left who can walk onstage with nothing but an acoustic guitar and not only command, but reward a roomful of attention for ninety minutes. Hamell On Trial is one of them. The anti-folk lifer, punk-rock storyteller, professional rabble-rouser, and all-around force ofContinue reading “Anti-Folk Legend Hamell On Trial Rolls into New England for Four Shows”
Another Southern Maine Music Venue Bites The Dust
Rumors, a scrappy, DIY venue carved out of some unused space above the venerable Mulligan’s in Biddeford, will shut down on Sunday, barring an act of God or a miracle of equal measure from some other unlikely source. “We’re closing our doors as of Sunday because the building is being sold,” Rumors mastermind Austin Hunter-MelansonContinue reading “Another Southern Maine Music Venue Bites The Dust”
Whitney Walker: Blood Harmony
New music from Portland’s Whitney Walker is his best yet.
A Beloved Portland Venue Is Closing, But A New Showcase Series Is Stepping Up
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”
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”