Maine
6 Must-Visit Outdoor Live Music Venues in Maine
Ah, summer in Maine. The sun is shining, the air is warm, and the time to enjoy the great outdoors is here. If you’re like me, one of the my favorite things to do in the summer in Maine is see some great live music…outdoors!
Whether you’re into rock, pop, folk, blues, or something else entirely, there’s probably a venue hosting a summer show that you will want to see. I came up with a little guide to some of the best spots to catch some great bands perform under the open sky this summer.
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1. Thompson’s Point – Portland
Thompson’s Point in Portland is a prime spot for outdoor concerts. This summer, they’ve locked in big names like Counting Crows, Flaming Lips, Guster, Primus/Coheed and Cambria, Lake Street Dive, Goose along with others. This venue has the perfect summer vibe along with beautiful views of the Fore River, which make it a must-visit for any music lover. Plus, it’s just a short distance from downtown Portland, so you can make a whole day of exploring the city before the show. Oh, did I mention the sunsets there are priceless?
Lauryn Hottinger
2. Maine Savings Amphitheater – Bangor
Maine Savings Amphitheater is a gem in Bangor. Maine’s largest outdoor venue offers a solid lineup each summer that include all different genres from rock, pop, country and beyond. From big names like Hootie & The Blowfish and Smashing Pumpkins to Niall Horan and Kenny Chesney, this recently renovated venue is perfect for those looking to see major acts in an outdoor setting. The waterfront location also adds a nice touch.
3. Snow Pond Center for the Arts – Sidney
I’ve seen a few shows at Snow Pond Center for the Arts and I absolutely love this venue. the place to be. Located on Lake Messalonskee, it offers all the summer vibes for enjoying live music. You can bring your chairs or blankets and set up towards the back or if you’re like me and want to get right into it, there is a general admission standing area near the stage. There’s no better venue to check out the legendary Beach Boys! They will be there this summer along with the Indigo Girls and others.
4. Thomas Point Beach & Campground – Brunswick
For those who enjoy a festival atmosphere, Thomas Point Beach & Campground in Brunswick is perfect. They host events like the Point Reggae Arts & Music Festival and the Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival. This venue is also perfect for those who love to camp out and enjoy multiple days of music.
5. L.L. Bean Summer in the Park – Freeport
Freeport’s L.L. Bean Summer in the Park series offers free outdoor concerts right in Discovery Park.. yes, free. This is a great option for families or anyone looking to enjoy some live music without having to dig into the wallet. With a diverse lineup and a relaxed atmosphere, these concerts are the perfect way to spend a summer evening. Don’t forget to bring your chairs.
Outdoor free jazz concert on grass in summer
6. Wells Harbor Park – Wells
Wells Harbor Park is a great venue that hosts a summer concert series every Saturday evening. These concerts that take place in a gazebo might not be big national recording artists, but it won’t matter as your overlooking the harbor on a beautiful day while watching live music, it doesn’t get much more summer than that! Expect an intimate setting, great way to unwind after a day at the beach or a hike.
2024 Concerts in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts
Check out this list of the biggest shows coming to New England in 2024. As more concerts are announced, we’ll add them to this list.
A List of Maine’s Longest Running Music Venues
Have you ever been to a show or concert that gave you memories to last a lifetime? Maine has produced some of the best shows, housed by the longest-running concert venues. Let’s take a peak at the longest-running venues in Maine.
Gallery Credit: Lizzy Snyder
Maine
This Classic New England-Style Cottage in Maine Has 200 Feet of Atlantic Ocean Frontage
A waterfront home with open ocean views on the coast of Maine came to market Tuesday asking $4 million.
Built in 1978, the three-bedroom cottage is at the southern point of Cape Elizabeth, less than 10 miles from downtown Portland. The 1.1-acre property on Sunny Bank Road features 200 feet of south-facing water frontage on the wide open Atlantic.
It is bordered by a rocky sea wall that’s about 28 feet high, according to listing agent Sam Michaud Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty
“The views are like a Monet painting,” he said via email. “The water sparkles and the waves are endless.”
MORE: Laid-Back Costa Rica Is Getting a $7 Million Mega-Penthouse
The 3,364-square-foot home was built in classic New England style, with shingle siding, a single sloped roofline and large windows—complemented by white-washed walls, exposed-beam ceilings and wide-plank flooring on the interiors.
The main common area features cathedral ceilings with a step-down between the living and dining room, and a partial wall divides the dining room from the kitchen. There is also a wood-paneled family room off the kitchen, a gym and a covered porch.
The sellers purchased the property in 2010 for $1.562 million, according to property records accessed through PropertyShark. They could not immediately be reached for comment.
“I have received quite a few inquiries since hitting the market two days ago,” Michaud said. “Buyers understand that this is a golden opportunity to own over an acre with 200 feet of bold oceanfront in Cape Elizabeth.”
MORE: Iranian Strikes on Dubai Put the City’s Roaring Real Estate Market to the Test
There are currently just seven three-bedroom homes available for sale in Cape Elizabeth and fewer than five waterfront properties, according to Sotheby’s and Zillow data. It is also the most expensive listing in the town, with another waterfront property on a tiny lot just south of Portland coming in a close second, according to Zillow.
Michaud sold the former Cape Elizabeth home of Bette Davis this past summer for $13.4 million, the priciest sale on the cape in at least a decade—and even those views can’t compare. They’re “just magical,” he said.
Maine
NECEC conservation plan will not protect Maine’s mature forests | Opinion
Robert Bryan is a licensed forester from Harpswell and author or co-author of numerous publications on managing forests for wildlife. Paul Larrivee is a licensed forester from New Gloucester who manages both private and public lands, and a former Maine Forest Service forester.
In November 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved a conservation plan and forest management plan as mitigation for impacts from the NECEC transmission corridor that runs from the Quebec border 53 miles to central Maine.
As professional foresters, we were astonished by the lack of scientific credibility in the definition of “mature forest habitat” that was approved by DEP, and the business-as-usual commercial forestry proposed for over 80% of the conservation area.
The DEP’s approval requires NECEC to establish and protect 50,000 acres to be managed for mature-forest wildlife species and wildlife travel corridors along riparian areas and between mature forest habitats. The conservation plan will establish an area adjacent to the new transmission corridor to be protected under a conservation easement held by the state. Under this plan, 50% of the area will be managed as mature forest habitat.
Under the forest management plan, a typical even-aged stand will qualify as “mature forest habitat” once 50 feet tall, which is only about 50 years old. These stands will lack large trees that provide wildlife denning and nesting sites, multiple vegetation layers that mature-forest birds use for nesting and feeding habitats and large decaying trees and downed logs that provide habitat for insects, fungi and small mammals, which in turn benefit larger predators.
Another major concern is that contrary to the earlier DEP order, the final approval allows standard sustainable forestry operations on the 84% of the forest located outside the stream buffers and special habitats. These stands may be harvested as soon as they achieve the “mature forest habitat” definition, as long as 50% of the conserved land is maintained as “mature.”
After the mature forest goal is reached, clearcutting or other heavy harvesting could occur on thousands of acres every 10 years. Because the landowner — Weyerhaeuser — owns several hundred thousand acres in the vicinity, any reductions in harvesting within the conservation area can simply be offset by cutting more heavily nearby. As a result, the net
mature-forest benefit of the conservation area will be close to zero.
Third, because some mature stands will be cut before the 50% mature forest goal is reached, it will take 40 years — longer than necessary — to reach the goal.
In the near future the Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) will consider an appeal from environmental organizations of the plan approval. To ensure that ecologically mature forest develops in a manner that meets the intent of the DEP/BEP orders, several things need to change.
First and most important, to ensure that characteristics of mature forest habitat have time to develop it is critical that the definition include clear requirements for the minimum number of large-diameter (hence more mature) trees, adjusted by forest type. At least half the stocking of an area of mature forest habitat should be in trees at least 10 inches in diameter, and at least 20% of stands beyond the riparian buffers should have half the stocking in trees greater than or equal to 16 inches in diameter.
Current research as well as guidelines for defining ecologically mature forests, such as those in Maine Audubon’s Forestry for Maine Birds, should be followed.
Second, limits should be placed on the size and distribution of clearcut or “shelterwood” harvest patches so that even-aged harvests are similar in size to those created by typical natural forest disturbance patterns. These changes will help ensure that the mature-forest block and connectivity requirements of the orders are met.
Third, because the forest impacts have already occurred, no cutting should be allowed in the few stands that meet or exceed the DEP-approved definition — which needs to be revised as described above — until the 50% or greater mature-forest goal is reached.
If allowed to stand, the definitions and management described in the forest management plan would set a terrible precedent for conserving mature forests in Maine. The BEP should uphold the appeal and establish standards for truly mature forest habitat.
Maine
Rage Room in Portland, Maine, Developing ‘Scream Room’ Addition
For a lot of people throughout Maine, there’s some built up frustration that they’ve just been keeping inside.
That frustration can come in a lot of different forms. From finances to relationships to the world around you.
So it makes plenty of sense that a rage room opened in Portland, Maine, where people can let some of that frustration out.
It’s called Mayhem and people have been piling in to smash, crush and do dastardly things to inanimate objects that had no idea what was coming.
But Mayhem has realized not everyone is down with swinging a sledgehammer. So they’ve decided to cook up something new.
Mayhem Creating ‘Scream Room’ at Their Space in Portland, Maine
Perhaps the thought of swinging a baseball bat and destroying a glass vase brings you joy. The thought of how sore your body will be after that moment makes you less excited.
Mayhem Portland has heard you loud and clear and is developing a new way to get the rage out. By just screaming.
Mayhem is working on opening their very first scream room. It’s exactly what you think it is, a safe place to spend some time just screaming all of the frustration out.
There isn’t an official opening date set yet but it’s coming soon along with pricing.
Mayhem in Portland, Maine, Will Still Offer Rage Rooms and Paint Splatter
While a scream room is on the way, you can still experience a good time at Mayhem with one of their rage rooms or a paint splatter room.
Both can be experienced in either 20-minute or 30-minute sessions.
All the details including some age and attire requirements can be found here.
TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Things to do in Portland, Maine
Looking for fun things to do in Portland, ME? Here is what the reviewers on TripAdvisor say are the 10 best attractions.
This list was updated in March of 2026
Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka
Top 15 of The Most Powerful People in Maine
Ever wonder who the most powerful players are in Maine? I’ve got a list!
Gallery Credit: Getty Images
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