Maine

19 live music concerts in Maine worth traveling for this summer

Published

3 weeks ago

June 13, 2026

19 live music concerts in Maine worth traveling for this summer

Summertime means packed touring schedules for bands of many musical genres, and plenty of them are making stops in Maine. From ’90s alternative darlings The Breeders to legends like Joe Jackson and Barry Manilow, along with Maine acts 12/OC and The Ghost of Paul Revere, there are many ways to make this a live music summer to remember.

Here are 19 shows to consider between now and early September at some of Maine’s biggest indoor and outdoor venues.

Mumford & Sons

6 p.m. June 16. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $63.75-$159.75. waterfrontconcerts.com.

One of the biggest events of the summer of 2013 was Mumford & Sons bringing their “Gentlemen of the Road Stopover” festival to Portland’s Eastern Prom. This summer, the band will be performing in Bangor, in support of its sixth album “Prizefighter.” Dylan Gossett opens.

The Breeders

8 p.m. June 18. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, $49.50 in advance, $55 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.

Alternative rock darlings The Breeders is sisters Kim and Kelley Deal, Josephine Wiggs and Jim MacPherson. Since 1990, the band has released five albums and gone through several hiatuses while members were involved with other projects. Most notable is their 1993 release “Last Splash,” home to quintessential ’90s tune “Cannonball.”

Jelly Roll

7:30 p.m. June 20. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $85.25-$223.95. waterfrontconcerts.com.

Jelly Roll is the professional name of Jason Bradley DeFord. Popular songs by the country, rock and hip-hop singer-songwriter include “Need a Favor” and “Son of a Sinner.” Jelly Roll won a 2024 Best Contemporary County Album Grammy for “Beautifully Broken.” His Little Ass Shed Tour pulls into Bangor with blues, country, rock and folk artist Kashus Culpepper opening the show.

Wilco

7 p.m. June 21. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $62 in advance, $70 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.

Chicago-based rock band Wilco has played in Maine many times through the decades, and the next show is an outdoor one. Fronted by Jeff Tweedy, Wilco also features bassist John Stirratt, who owns a home in the Midcoast. With 13 albums of material to choose from, the show should satisfy new fans and longtime ones.

Barry Manilow

7 p.m. July 3. Cross Insurance Arena, Portland, $77-$385. crossarenaportland.com.

Pop singer Barry Manilow’s final concert in Portland is one of the crown jewels of the summer, after being rescheduled from April 19 because Manilow was ill. With classic songs like “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” “Can’t Smile Without You” and “Copacabana (At the Copa),” the legacy artist will likely draw a huge crowd as he takes his final bow in Maine.

Joe Jackson

8 p.m. July 11. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, $55.50-$99.50. statetheatreportland.com.

British singer, songwriter and pianist Joe Jackson released the album “Hope and Fury,” his 20th, in April. The Grammy winner’s discography dates back to the 1979 debut album “Look Sharp!,” home to Jackson staples “Sunday Papers,” “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” and “Fools in Love.” His piano chops are as impressive as his vocals, so you expect a first-rate show from Jackson and his band.

Alison Krauss & Union Station

6 p.m. July 11. The Bowl in the Pines at Snow Pond Center for the Arts, 1 Geranium Lane, Sidney, $70-$153. snowpond.org.

Alison Krauss & Union Station have been in the forefront of bluegrass and roots music for more than 40 years. With a show that will include songs from their latest album, “Arcadia,” you can look forward to a fantastic performance from the multiple Grammy winners. The band includes Krauss (fiddle, vocals), Jerry Douglas (Dobro, lap steel), Ron Block (banjo, guitar, vocals), Barry Bales (bass, vocals) and Russell Moore (guitar, mandolin, vocals). Theo Lawrence opens the show.

12/OC

6:30 p.m. July 18. The Bowl in the Pines at Snow Pond Center for the Arts, 1 Geranium Lane, Sidney, $27.76. snowpond.org.

This on-the-rise Maine country band was founded by Portland brothers Will and Reid Nichols, who started playing gigs when they were 10 and 13. 12 O/C has been building a loyal following in Maine for several years and moved to Nashville about two years ago. The show is a benefit for the Travis Mills Foundation, with Kelsey Hart opening.

Weird Al Yankovic

7:30 p.m. July 19. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $56.75-$213.45. waterfrontconcerts.com.

No one writes and sings pop parodies quite like Weird Al Yankovic. The Grammy winner has been at it for more than 45 years, and has sold more than 12 million albums. Hits include parodies of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” (“Eat It”) in 1984, Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” (“Like a Surgeon”) in 1985 and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (“Smells Like Nirvana”) in 1992. Yankovic’s “Bigger & Weirder” show will kick off with Puddles Pity Party, a sad clown character who sings covers.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

6:30 p.m. July 21. The Bowl in the Pines at Snow Pond Center for the Arts, Sidney, $63.43-$120.06. snowpond.org.

For a summer night full of rock, funk, soul, jazz, blues, hip-hop and Caribbean-influenced music, head to Sidney for Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Shorty is the pride of New Orleans and his shows are both celebratory and musically tremendous. JJ Grey & Mofro will open the show.

Toto, Christopher Cross and the Romantics

6:45 p.m. July 23. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $35-$233.50. waterfrontconcerts.com.

Relive the heyday of ’80s pop music with a trio of acts who know how to pack a Top 40 punch. Toto will have you scream-singing along to “Africa,” Christopher Cross will remind you that the canvas can do miracles with “Sailing,” and the Romantics will have you jumping up and down with “What I Like About You.” All three have multiple hits, so plan on a highly entertaining and nostalgic night of music.

Herbie Hancock

7:30 p.m. Aug. 1. Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, $75-$110. porttix.com.

Herbie Hancock, 86, has been a huge presence in modern jazz, funk, electronic music, rock and other genres for his entire career. It’s no wonder he’s won 14 Grammys, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. You may recall Hancock’s 1983 instrumental hit “Rockit,” and his 2007 release “River: The Joni Letters” with its lush piano interpretations of Joni Mitchell’s songs like “Both Sides Now” and “Sweet Bird.”

Guster on the Ocean

4 p.m. Aug. 8 & 9. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $70, $40 kids, $130 adult two-day pass, $30 kids two-day pass. statetheatreportland.com.

This will be the eighth year that the rock band Guster, featuring Cape Elizabeth singer and guitarist Adam Gardner, has made Portland the home of its summer festival. The Merrill Auditorium show on Aug. 7 with the Portland Symphony Orchestra is long sold out, but there are still tickets to two big outdoor shows at Thompson’s Point. The lineup features Iron & Wine, Watchhouse, The Barr Brothers, Neal Francis, Eggy, Dave Butler & Friends, Bebe Stockwell, Khatumu and Cilla Bonnie.

Billy Idol

7:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $44.50-$181.50. waterfrontconcerts.com.

British rocker Billy Idol will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with the ceremony taking place in Los Angeles in November. Before that happens, he’ll be on a huge tour that includes a show in Bangor. Sing along with hits like “White Wedding,” “Eyes Without a Face,” “Dancing With Myself” and “Rebel Yell,” among others.

Brandi Carlile

7 p.m. Aug. 13. Cross Insurance Arena, Portland, $85-$497. crossarenaportland.com.

Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile’s latest record is “Returning To Myself.” The Human Tour, named for its second track, swings through Portland in August. Since 2005, Carlile has released nine studio albums, including a collaboration with Elton John, and has won 11 Grammy Awards. Some of Carlile’s best known songs include “The Story,” “Hold Out Your Hand” and “The Joke.”

Indigo Girls

7 p.m. Aug. 25. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $53 in advance, $61 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.

Indigo Girls is the folk duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, known for their vocal harmonies, songwriting and musicianship. The show will feature sing-alongs of Indigo Girls’ signature songs like “Closer to Fine,” “Galileo” and if we’re lucky, “Kid Fears.”

ZZ Top

7 p.m. Sept. 6. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $65.20-$304.70. waterfrontconcerts.com.

Texas rock band ZZ Top’s hits include “Legs,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and “Sharp Dressed Man.” The band continues to play righteous shows after losing original Dusty Hill, bassist, in 2021. “The Big One!” tour features opening act George Thorogood & The Destroyers. Be ready to belt out “Bad to the Bone.” B-b-b-bad!

Ghostland

5 p.m. Sept. 6. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $55 in advance, $65 day of show, free for kids 3 and under. statetheatreportland.com.

Take part in a festival that’s a reunion for one of Maine’s best-loved bands. The Ghost of Paul Revere, started by childhood friends Griffin William Sherry, Sean McCarthy and Max Davis from Buxton and Hollis, were together for more than a decade and toured nationally before breaking up in 2022. The band hosted its own annual festival, Ghostland, usually at Thompson’s Point. They’ll play this year’s Thompson’s Point show with Futurebirds, Weakened Friends and Mikaela Davis.

LCD Soundsystem

7 p.m. Sept. 9. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $75 in advance, $85 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.

With a devoted following, dance-punk act LCD Soundsystem is led by James Murphy. Popular tracks include “Dance Yrself Clean” and “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House.” They called it quits in 2011, then rebooted in 2016. They’ve released five albums, starting with their breakthrough self-titled 2005 release.

This story was originally published by the Maine Trust for Local News. Aimsel Ponti can be reached at aponti@pressherald.com.

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Maine

Where did Maine’s 24/7 restaurants go?

Published

3 hours ago

July 4, 2026

Press Room

A sign taped to a window at the Palace Diner in Biddeford shares the diner’s hours and reminds customers it accepts cash only. The restaurant was open 24/7 during the city’s heyday as a mill town but now only opens for breakfast and lunch. (Teddy Almond/Staff Writer)

For decades, Dysart’s Restaurant and Truck Stop was the kind of spot where night didn’t really end.

Truckers came off long-haul drives looking for coffee and a hot meal. Hospital workers stopped in after overnight shifts. When the bars closed, late-night crowds spilled through the doors, still awake and hungry. At any hour, someone could sit down just outside Bangor and be served a hot meal.

But in 2019, Dysart’s ended its around-the-clock restaurant service, marking what felt like the end of an era for Maine’s late-night dining scene.

Once, a handful of diners and roadside restaurants across the state stayed open through the night, serving the workers, travelers and night owls who kept Maine moving after dark. Today, those options have all but disappeared.

What remains is mostly convenience-store food and a handful of 24/7 Burger King locations.

Restaurant industry veterans and experts say a host of combining factors have made 24/7 restaurants harder to sustain, including Maine’s demographics and changes to the way people work.

Norman O’Reilly, dean of the University of New England’s College of Business, says Maine’s status as the nation’s oldest state is likely a key factor.

“Most of those people are retired, or semi-retired, or doing consulting work,” he said. “They’re not out looking for a Becky’s late-night coffee and meals, right?”

O’Reilly also said the seasonal, tourist-centric nature of Maine’s economy creates inconsistency, making it potentially harder for businesses to maintain 24/7 service year-round.

Maine’s not alone in having fewer all-night options: A Yelp survey found that 24/7 restaurants declined nationwide by 11% from 2020 to 2025. Even New York City, “the City that Never Sleeps,” has seen a decrease; the New York Times attributed that to rising costs and changing sleep schedules.

THE LAST BASTION

Dysart’s, founded in 1967 in Hermon, was one of the last true 24/7 restaurants in the state.

“Either in 2016 or 2017, we started noticing a significant difference,” said Carol Brooks, a manager with more than 20 years of experience at the restaurant.

Brooks attributes the decline in late-night diners to two trends: changes in the trucking industry and a downturn in local nightlife.

“When they started making the truck drivers stop for a full eight hours, they (would just) come in and sleep,” she said. “They don’t eat anymore at night because they don’t have to keep on the road.”

O’Reilly also noted the advent of remote work in recent years has meant fewer people stopping for a meal on their way home.

Brooks reminisced about how Dysart’s used to often see an influx of late-night partiers after the bars closed — everyone from the patrons of the local strip club, Diamonds, to hospital shift workers coming off duty.

But soon, it got to the point where Dysart’s was spending more money staying open at all night than it was they were making. By then, the restaurant only had one cook and one server for the overnight shift.

O’Reilly noted that there’s been a national decline in nightlife, with fewer Americans going out to bars and restaurants late at night, making around-the-clock dining less profitable for businesses.

Although Dysart’s restaurant is no longer 24/7, its adjacent truck stop is. It’s stocked with premade hot meals like pot pies and hot dogs. While nothing compared to the menu once offered all night, sales of the premade meals are steady, Brooks says, with a lot of late-night construction workers stopping by to grab a bite.

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS?

It’s not clear exactly how many 24/7 joints once operated in Maine, but many Mainers can recall at least one they frequented in the past.

Biddeford’s popular Palace Diner used to serve patrons 24/7 in the 1960s, said co-owner Chad Conley. Although now the diner closes at 2 p.m. each day, back when Biddeford was a bustling mill town, Palace Diner served workers as they got off shifts throughout the night.

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The interior of the 15-seater Palace Diner located in Biddeford. (Teddy Almond/Staff Writer)

In Maine’s industrial heyday, the 15-seater railcar diner was a bustling center of activity.

“The shifts were happening around the clock, and people needed to stop in and have a quick meal,” Conley said. “It just made sense for the business to be open 24 hours a day when there was a constant stream of workers coming in and out of the mills.”

Conley is the sixth owner of the restaurant since it opened in 1927. To celebrate five years of their ownership, he and his business partner Greg Mitchell kept the restaurant open 24 hours for a single day in 2019.

“People really showed up,” Conley said. “I remember this one moment that was really special: At 3 in the morning, like three or four cops came in and (they said), ‘This is awesome that you guys are doing this, because we work at night, and we can’t come to your restaurant unless you’re open at 3 in the morning.”

While Conley wishes he could do that every night, he understands that it’s not realistic.

“Maybe if we do it once every five years, we can fill the seats in the middle of the night, because people are willing to stay up for the novelty of it,” he said.

Dan Beck, the third-generation owner of Moody’s Diner in Waldoboro, shared a similar experience. Late-night business was good when truckers used U.S. Route 1, but as Interstate 95 became the preferred route, the nighttime customer base dwindled. Eventually, in March 2000, Moody’s decided to end 24/7 service.

“I just think times change,” Beck said. “The main trucking route changed, the way goods are transported changes, so, the need for something like that wasn’t as great. And then you add the advent of 24-hour convenience stores where people can get a cup of coffee or a snack.”

Beck also says the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in a further reduction of late-night hours, which he said was typical of many restaurants along the Midcoast.

LAST OPTIONS STANDING

So what are we left with? Not much. There are four 24/7 Burger Kings, all of them in southern Maine. Portland’s only Denny’s — the diner chain synonymous with late-night meals — closed its doors in 2022.

Burger King’s South Portland location actually transitioned to 24/7 after the start of the pandemic, in 2021. The store’s general manager, Tracy Fairbrother, said rising sales since 2015 prompted the restaurant to keep extending its hours. She said she was inspired by the burger chain’s Forest Avenue location, which was already open around the clock.

“Just seeing them continue to grow and grow and grow made us realize, ‘Why don’t we try and steal from that pool a little bit?’” she said.

Fairbrother says lots of shift workers frequent the restaurant late at night. For those whose days are ending during the morning, she’s found that many don’t want breakfast food and would rather get a cheeseburger.

She also believes being located in the Portland area plays a role in the move’s success, since more people means more potential customers.

Asked how the company felt about its apparent status as the last 24/7 restaurant standing in Maine, a Burger King corporate spokesperson responded: “We know that access to delicious meals for a great value is important to many Guests, and we’re glad to be able to provide a reliable option for those looking to enjoy Burger King whenever it’s most convenient for them.”

The all-night diner booth may be harder to find, but the lights are still on somewhere — even if these days, they’re glowing above a Burger King drive-thru.

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Maine

Maine should have participated in Great American Fair | Letter

Published

14 hours ago

July 3, 2026

Press Room

Maine should have participated in Great American Fair | Letter

I am amazed by the beauty and rich history of Maine. There is so much to be shared with all the people from away. The citizens of our special state work hard and know how to play hard in all the beautiful seasons: snow sports, camping, hiking, our immense wilderness, all of this must be shared with the world.

Think of Maine’s abundant natural resources, from blueberries, apples, potatoes, lobsters and wood products to the great shipbuilding legacy. Every Mainer, regardless of party affiliation, can agree on the things that set our state apart from others.

That’s why I was so dismayed that Maine was one of a few other states opting out of the Great American Fair, the event celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary on the National Mall.

As the only true political peers of Gov. Janet Mills, Sens. Collins and King and Reps. Pingree and Golden need to let Mills know that this was not a good thing to do to our state, our industries and our people.

This arbitrary decision was shameful. There are times in life when we have to rise above the fray, take the high and right road and not let negative emotions drive our actions. This was a doable project if delegated to groups with interests on the line to plan, organize and secure funds for exhibition costs. What a missed opportunity for us here in Maine.

Jane Atkinson Leifester
Turner

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Maine

Magalloway Conservation Project in western Maine nearing completion

Published

24 hours ago

July 3, 2026

Press Room

Magalloway Conservation Project in western Maine nearing completion

A historic 78,000-acre conservation project in the western Maine woods is nearing completion.

The Magalloway Conservation Project will ensure the land remains open for fishing, hunting, and other recreational activities for generations to come.

The project will also protect wildlife habitat and support the regional timber economy.

The effort began last March and is expected to be completed later this month.

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Four conservation groups are leading the project.

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