Music

Walking down Main Street of just about any town in Maine, you will hear music coming from coffee shops and bars, churches and performance halls. Music is a big part of Maine’s culture and there is something about the state’s natural beauty that brings out creativity in everyone. Maine’s music embraces traditions of the past with classical, folk, klezmer, and jazz alongside today’s rock, country and indie music. The state has some of the country’s best blues and bluegrass music festivals – tribute indeed to our love of all things musical.

Performance Halls
You’ll find homegrown talent and nationally known artists at small-town venues, like the Stone Mountain Arts Center, a cozy timber-framed barn in the foothills of the White Mountains, or Rockland’s Strand Theatre. The biggest cities are popular stops for today’s stars on national tours, like Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor, a large open-air amphitheater on the banks of the Penobscot River. Portland’s historic Merrill Auditorium is home to the Portland Symphony Orchestra and the Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ, and is an incredible venue for shows like Ray LaMontagne and David Byrne.

Music Festivals, Series’ & Venues
Maine has more than two dozen music festivals each year, some for pop, rock and traditional music, others specializing in classical and orchestral music. In addition, Maine boasts some terrific music series and venues, some indoors, some outdoors, that draw everything from top-name international acts to local talent.

Free Concerts
There are also numerous free music events at fairs, festivals, and outdoor concerts, as well as L.L. Bean’s free outdoor summer entertainment program – which features big-name shows from around the country. Communities often present concerts in historic venues, gardens and park settings, like Camden’s Summer Sounds.