Maine

The 14 biggest outdoor concerts coming to Maine this summer

Published

2 years ago

May 20, 2024

The 14 biggest outdoor concerts coming to Maine this summer

The first day of summer is still a month away, but it’s time to dive into big, outdoor concerts because there are a ton scheduled, starting this weekend.

Country singer Parker McCollum kicks things off on Saturday at the Maine Savings Amphitheater in Bangor.

From newer bands to acts that date back decades, this year’s outdoor summer concert season has something for everyone, and the shows don’t let up until after Labor Day.

Here are 15 of the summer’s biggest outdoor shows.

Aeriel view of the Snow Pond Center for the Arts amphitheater in Sidney. Photo by Izzy Bouchard

Jo Dee Messina
June 6. Bowl in the Pines at Snow Pond Center for the Arts, Sidney, $40 general admission lawn, $60 general admission pit. snowpond.org
Country singer Jo Dee Messina struck gold with her debut 1996 song “Heads Carolina, Tails California” from her self-titled release. Four albums have followed along with five EPs, and Messina has racked up nine No. 1 singles including “Bye, Bye” and “Stand Beside Me.” She’ll be the first outdoor act of the season at the Snow Pond Center for the Arts.

Hootie & The Blowfish
June 14. Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, $56.25 to $211.95. waterfrontconcerts.com
Thirty years ago, Hootie & The Blowfish released its debut album “Cracked Rear View” with hits like “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry” and “Only Wanna Be With You.” The album is a ’90s pop culture zeitgeist and won the band Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for “Let Her Cry.” You can expect to hear all the hits along with tunes from the rest of the rock band’s catalog. Collective Soul and Edwin McCain, who also rose to fame in the ’90s, open the show.

See jam band Goose at Thompson’s Point on June 25 & 26. Photo by Daniel Prakopcyk

Goose
June 25 & 26. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $59.95 in advance, $70 day of show, $119.50 two-day pass, $184.95 VIP, free for kids 3 and under. statetheatreportland.com
Goose is a Connecticut-based rock and jam quintet that formed a decade ago and released its first album in 2016. The band has risen quickly up the ranks and has played venues like the Red Rocks amphitheater in Colorado and Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Goose’s latest album, released in February, is a three-hour live improv compilation called “Ted Tapes.” With two nights of shows at Thompson’s Point, fans can expect some epic, wandering jams.

James Taylor & His All-Star Band
June 30. Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, $62.25 to $228. waterfrontconcerts.com
Singer-songwriter James Taylor has countless iconic songs, and his first hit was from the 1970 album “Sweet Baby James.” “Fire and Rain,” about the death of a childhood friend of Taylor, reached the No. 3 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and still elicits an emotional response from audiences when he performs it live. With six Grammy awards, 19 albums and 38 charted singles, we’ve all got a friend in Taylor.

Patty Griffin Photo by Michael Wilson

Patty Griffin
July 17. Wilcox Main Stage at Prescott Park, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, $15. prescottpark.org
Singer-songwriter Patty Griffin is a longtime resident of Austin, Texas, who was born and raised in Old Town, Maine. With 11 albums and a pair of Grammy Awards, Griffin continues to be a highly respected artist on the strength of songs like “Let Him Fly,” “One Big Love,” “Rain” and “Heavenly Day.”

The British Invasion
July 20. Narrow Gauge Amphitheater, Farmington, $30. whistlestopconcertseries.com
Here’s a chance to hear two Maine bands pay homage to two of the biggest British musical acts in one night. Based in Augusta, Yellow Brick Road – A Tribute to Elton John, fronted by singer and pianist Gerald Brann, will be playing all of the British pop star’s biggest hits. The spirit of Freddie Mercury will be present with Portland’s The Masterstroke Queen Experience, fronted by Sean Slaughter.

Hozier performing in Amsterdam, Nov. 28, 2023. Ben Houdijk/Shutterstock.com

Hozier
July 24. Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, $55.95 to $122. waterfrontconcerts.com
Irish singer-songwriter Hozier (Andrew John Hozier-Byrne) released his debut single in 2013. “Take Me to Church,” with more then 2.5 billion streams on Spotify, appeared on the U.S. Billboard charts seven times, including at No. 1 on the Adult Top 40 and Hot Rock & Alternative Song categories. Hozier has released three albums and is currently touring “Unreal Earth,” released last year.

The Flaming Lips
July 25. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $49.50 in advance, $59.50 day of show. statetheatreportland.com
The Flaming Lips is an alternative and psychedelic rock band that formed in 1983 and has a cult following. Fronted by Wayne Coyne, the band has an astounding 22-album discography. Alternative rock fans might remember the 1993 single “She Don’t Use Jelly” as well as popular tracks “Do You Realize,” and “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Vol. Pt.”

Elle King
July 28. Bowl in the Pines at Snow Pond Center for the Arts, Sidney, $39.50 general admission in advance, $45 day of show, $89.50 VIP in advance, $95 day of show. snowpond.org
Blues and country-infused singer-songwriter Elle King collided with Billboard charts in a huge way in 2014 with the track “Ex’s & Oh’s.” Since then, King has released the albums “Shake the Spirit” and “Come Get Your Wife.” The latter peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard U.S. Top Country Albums chart. King’s latest single, released in April, is the country call and response rocker “Baby Daddy’s Weekend.”

Rock band Styx. Left to right: Todd Sucherman, Will Evankovich, Lawrence Gowan, James “JY” Young, Terry Gowan, Tommy Shaw and Chuck Panozzo. Photo courtesy of the artist

Foreigner and Styx
Aug. 3. Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, $44.10 to $399.95. waterfrontconcerts.com
You can’t talk about music from the ’80s without mentioning the bands Foreigner and Styx. The tour is called Renegade & Juke Box Heroes, and the opener is John Waite who surely will be singing his 1984 hit “Missing You.” Some of Foreigner biggest hits are “Jukebox Hero,” Hot Blooded,” “Cold As Ice” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.” Styx is famous for “Come Sail Away,” “Too Much Time On My Hands,” “Babe” and “Mr. Roboto,” among others.

The Smashing Pumpkins
Aug. 4. Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, $67.25 to $150.50. waterfrontconcerts.com
In 2000, alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins was given a key to the city from then Portland Mayor Nicholas Mavodones. Fans flocked to Bull Moose on Middle Street to get autographs. This time around, the band, fronted by Billy Corgan, will be in Bangor as part of its The World Is a Vampire tour. From albums like “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” and “Siamese Dream,” some of the band’s best-known songs are “1979,” “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” and “Disarm.”

Guster. Photo by Alysse Gafkjen

Guster On The Ocean
Aug. 10 & 11. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $110 to $290, $20 kids. statetheatreportland.com
This is the sixth time alternative rock band Guster, featuring Mainer Adam Gardner, has presented its multi-day Guster On The Ocean shows. It starts on Aug. 9 at the State Theatre then heads to Thompson’s Point for two days of music. Every year, Guster invites other bands to be part of the weekend, and this year’s lineup features Grace Potter, Kevin Morby, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Dip, Trousdale, Sunny War and The Wolff Sisters.

Lake Street Dive. Photo by Shervin Lainez

Lake Street Dive
Aug. 17 & 18. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $55 in advance, $65 day of show, $104 two day pass, $180 VIP, free for kids 3 and under. statetheatreportland.com
Pop/soul group Lake Street Dive celebrates its 20th anniversary with a pair of shows at Thompson’s Point. Fronted by vocalist Rachael Price, Lake Street Dive has played in Portland many times through the years including a few shows at One Longfellow Square in the early 2010s. The concerts are always a fun and festive experience. On both nights, fans will be treated to opening sets from singer and electrifying guitarist Celisse.

Emily Saliers (left) and Amy Ray of Indigo Girls. Photo by Jeremy Cowart

Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge
Aug. 18. Bowl in the Pines at Snow Pond Center for the Arts, Sidney, $99.50 general admission in advance, $105 day of show, $99.50 VIP in advance, $105 day of show. snowpond.org
For the first time in both of their long careers, Indigo Girls (the duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers) and Melissa Etheridge are touring together. Indigo Girls’ debut album “Strange Fire” was released in 1987 and Etheridge followed a year later with hers. The Etheridge album went Platinum and a few years later she won a pair of Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance. In 1989, Indigo Girls won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album for their second album featuring the duo’s signature song “Closer to Fine.” Both acts have released numerous albums and have loyal followings.

Bret Michaels
Sept. 1. Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, $56.15 to $334.90. waterfrontconcerts.com
It’s back to the ’80s and ’90s for Parti-Gras starring Bret Michaels from the rock and glam metal band Poison on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Warrant, Firehouse and Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) will also be slinging the hits during a night of music that starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends when the last bit of hairspray has been used up. It ain’t nothin’ but a good time in Bangor, even if every rose has its thorn.

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Maine

Maine Jewish community mourning, on edge after attack in Australia

Published

3 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Maine Jewish community mourning, on edge after attack in Australia

PORTLAND (WGME) — The Maine Jewish community says the attack in Australia has left them mourning and on edge.

It comes amid an increase in antisemitic rhetoric, online and in our communities.

Members of Maine’s Jewish community say they have no choice but to take these increased threats seriously, especially in wake of the tragedy in Australia.

They are now increasing security, like during the menorah lighting for the first night of Hanukkah outside Portland City Hall Sunday.

The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine says they’ve been coordinating with local law enforcement across the state since Sunday about heightened threat levels.

They say the attack in Australia is just the culmination of an increase in antisemitic actions that have been seen across the world in recent years, which Maine has not been isolated from.

“There were about, almost 16 antisemitic incidents, documented antisemitic incidents in 2024,” Jewish Community Relations Council Director Zach Schwartz said. “That represents the same increase that Sydney saw, which is a three-fold increase, so yeah, we could say by the numbers, that there is multiple orders of increased antisemitism in the state.”

The alliance says the story of Hanukkah is also more relevant than ever amid these attacks.

They say amid dark days, the Jewish community still finds ways to come together in hopes of lighting the way for a brighter future.

Governor Janet Mills issued a statement on both the shooting in Australia and at Brown University.

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“My prayers are with the victims of the tragedies in Providence and Australia, and I hope for the full recovery of all those injured. Innocent people, like those gathering for school or to celebrate their faith, should be free from fear of hateful acts such as these.”

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Maine

Eight Maine Subway locations reopen

Published

15 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

An image from Michael T. Fay’s Facebook page shows him in front of the location on Allen Avenue in Portland, one of the franchises ordered closed. (Facebook screenshot)

Eight Subway locations closed last week by state regulators have reopened.

MTF Subway franchise owner Michael T. Fay has confirmed that all of his franchise locations in Maine are open for business, following the closure of eight of them last Wednesday.

Maine Revenue Services ordered what it characterized as “several” Subway locations closed for “for noncompliance with Part 3, 36 M.R.S.A.,” which primarily governs Maine’s sales and use tax.

The agency did not elaborate and would only reiterate Monday that, “Due to confidentiality requirements, MRS cannot comment on individual tax situations.”

In an email to the Sun Journal on Monday, Fay confirmed that eight of his locations were affected by the ordered closures, after the state revoked the registration certificates for each location.

Fay stated that none of his employees were laid off by the company.

MTF Subway locations affected:

Blue Hill

Brunswick

Hampden

Lisbon Falls

Portland

Topsham

Westbrook

Wiscasset

A long-time journalist, Christopher got his start with Armed Forces Radio & Television after college. Seventeen years at CNN International brought exposure to major national and international stories…
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Maine

Maine’s first temple announced during stake Christmas fireside

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Maine’s first temple announced during stake Christmas fireside

As members of the Portland Maine Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered for a stake Christmas fireside Sunday evening, Dec. 14, they received an unexpected and joyful announcement from the First Presidency.

A house of the Lord will be constructed in Portland, Maine — the state’s first temple.

“We’re pleased to announce the construction of a temple in Portland, Maine. The specific location and timing of the construction will be announced later,” said the First Presidency statement read by Elder Allen D. Haynie, General Authority Seventy and president of the United States Northeast Area.

“This is a reason for all of us to rejoice and thank God for such a significant blessing — one that will allow more frequent access to the ordinances, covenants and power that can only be found in the house of the Lord,” the statement concluded.

Speaking to attendees in the Portland stake center in North Yarmouth, Elder Haynie said: “In a recent meeting of the First Presidency of the Church, a decision was made that, when directed by the First Presidency, the announcement of the construction of a new temple should be made on location by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, or a member of an area presidency.

“Such an announcement by a member of the area presidency has never occurred before,” Elder Haynie said. “Tonight will be the first time.”

On behalf of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Allen D. Haynie, General Authority Seventy and president of the United States Northeast Area, announces a new temple will be built in Portland, Maine, during a stake Christmas fireside in the Portland stake center in North Yarmouth, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. | Screenshot

The Portland Maine Temple is the first house of the Lord announced by the First Presidency since President Dallin H. Oaks was set apart as the 18th President of the Church on Oct. 14, following the death of President Russell M. Nelson. No temples were announced during October 2025 general conference.

Maine is home to more than 11,000 Latter-day Saints who comprise 27 congregations. The Portland Maine Stake was created earlier this year and is one of three stakes in the state, along with the Augusta and Bangor stakes. Church members in these stakes are currently part of the Boston Massachusetts Temple district.

The stake fireside, titled “Come Let Us Adore Him,” featured a variety of musical selections and messages about the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ. Individuals and families of all ages attended the event. Elder Haynie was accompanied by his wife, Sister Deborah Haynie.

A choir performs during the Portland Maine Stake Christmas fireside on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in North Yarmouth, Maine. | Screenshot

Temple announcement

A new temple in Maine brings the total number of the Church’s temples — operating, under construction, or announced worldwide — to 383.

This temple announcement is a deviation from a pattern established in recent years in which leaders announce temples mostly during the Church’s semiannual general conferences.

Of the 200 temples President Nelson announced during his seven years as President of the Church, only one was announced outside of a general conference session — the Ephraim Utah Temple. President Nelson announced the Ephraim temple on May 1, 2021, in a prerecorded video shown at a press conference inside the Manti Tabernacle. In this message, President Nelson also explained modified plans for the Manti Utah Temple’s renovation.

President Thomas S. Monson, who served as the 16th President of the Church from February 2008 to January 2018, announced 45 temples during his administration — 40 of which were done in a general conference session. Prior to President Monson’s tenure, however, a majority of temples were announced outside of general conference.

More about the Church in Maine

Latter-day Saint missionaries first arrived in Maine in 1832 by canoe, crossing the Piscataqua River which forms the boundary of Maine and New Hampshire. A branch was established in Saco later that year.

In August 1837, missionaries Wilford Woodruff and Jonathan Hale arrived in the Fox Islands, today known as Vinalhaven and North Haven. By that winter, the Church established branches on both islands, with about 100 members total. Church activity slowed in Maine after 1844, when most Church members moved west to escape persecution.

Missionary efforts and Church activities resumed in 1904, and local members hosted worship services and activities in their homes. In 1957, meetinghouses were dedicated in Portland and Bangor. The state’s first stake, the Maine Stake, was organized on June 23, 1968.