Make it a jam-packed summer with these outdoor concerts – Press Herald

It sure seems like were making up for lost time when it comes to big outdoor summer concerts.

During the worst part of the pandemic in 2020, they were all but non-existent, and last summer, tour schedules were paired down and only a fraction of the usual number of large-scale outdoor shows took place in Maine.

This summer, however, the schedule is stacked.

Darlings Waterfront Pavilion is now the freshly renovated Maine Savings Amphitheater in Bangor and ready for a busy summer. Among the improvements are 214 new bathroom stalls, improvements to elevation and site lines and enhanced/increased food, beverage and merchandise sales points.

Vinegar Hill Music Theatre in Arundel is presenting some outdoor shows, as is Maine Maritime Museum in Bath and Maine Craft Distilling in Portland. Theres also a couple of shows that are part of the Whistlestop concert series, presented by Narrow Gauge Cinema in Farmington.

Meanwhile, Thompsons Point in Portland is about to launch into the busiest schedule its ever had with 21 shows booked and counting.

You want to dance? Sylvan Esso has that covered, and so do The Backstreet Boys. You want to rock out? There are plenty of shows for that (were looking at you, Aerosmith). You want to catch an 80s vibe? Hello, REO Speedwagon, Styx and Loverboy! And if you straight up just want to waste away (again) in Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffet is here for you.

To get you and your ears ready for a summer to remember, heres a highlight reel, so to speak, of some of whats in store, starting next weekend and heading all the way to September.

Head into Memorial Day weekend with a mega dance party starring Slyvan Esso, the duo of Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn. Theyre three studio and one live album into a wildly successful career that includes a Grammy nomination for best dance/electronic album in 2017 for What Now. The band is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, and itll be a hip-swaying soiree with tunes like Ferris Wheel, Die Young and Dress. The latest album is 2020s mesmerizing Free Love.

Slyvan Esso with Samia7 p.m. May 26. Thompsons Point, Portland, $40 in advance, $45 day of show. statetheatreportland.com

Every little thing is gonna be all right in Arundel with a show from The Wailers. Reggae legend Bob Marley has been gone for more than 40 years, but his spirit lives on in his bands music. Youll happily sway to hits like Three Little Birds, Could You Be Loved, Buffalo Soldier and Jamming. In 2020, The Wailers released One World, its first album in 25 years, which earned them a Grammy nomination for best reggae album. The single One World, One Prayer features Marleys daughter, Cedella Marley, and her son, Skip Marley. Stir it up, little darlin, stir it up!

The Wailers6 p.m. June 3. Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, 53 Old Post Road, Arundel, $50. vinhillmusic.com

Indie-folk act The Head And The Heart released its fifth album, Every Shade of Blue, at the end of April and will be at Thompsons Point in early June to play songs from it and the four than came before, dating back to 2011. Most of the Every Shade album was made remotely in the band members individual studios during lockdown, and the end result is 16 tracks. Every Shade of Blue is a collection of songs that celebrates the beautiful mess that we were during this time of transformation, says vocalist and violinist Charity Rose Thielen. British singer-songwriter Jade Bird opens the show.

The Head And The Heart with Jade Bird6:30 p.m. June 4. Thompsons Point, Portland, $45 in advance, $50 day of show. statetheatreportland.com

Singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow released her platinum-selling debut album Tuesday Night Music Club in 1993, and 10 have followed. Her hits are many and include All I Wanna Do, If It Makes You Happy, Everyday Is A Winding Road, A Change Would Do You Good and My Favorite Mistake. Crow and her band have been dialed in for decades, and their live show is a fierce and fun showcase of their talent. Crow manages to be both commanding and funny on stage, and her high-energy performance will stay with you for days. Whats more, Crow chose one heck of an opening act with Grammy-winning blues legend Keb Mo. Brush up on all things Crow-related by watching the new documentary Sheryl, streaming on Showtime.

Sheryl Crow with Keb Mo6 p.m. July 13. Thompsons Point, Portland, $55 in advance, $60 day of show. statetheatreportland.com

It will be an all-out pilgrimage to Bangor for legions of Phish fans, aka Phishheads, as the band plays at Maine Savings Ampitheater on a midsummers evening. The multi-genre band crosses over into jam and rock and is known for lots of improv during is live shows. Phish formed in 1983 at the University of Vermont. Its debut album was released in 1989, and 15 have followed along with a number of live ones. Fronted by Trey Anastasio, the band also features longtime Mainer Jon Fishman on drums. Fishman moved to Lincolnville from Vermont in 2006.

Phish7 p.m. July 16. Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, $49.50 to $95. waterfrontconcerts.com

Hey Parrotheads, chances are you wont blow out your flip-flop on your way to see Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band in Bangor. But if you own a colorful Hawaiian shirt, nows the time to bust it out, ditto for the hula skirts. Its all about the accessories at Buffet shows, and certainly all about the preshow tailgate parties, which always embrace the fact that its 5 oclock somewhere. Chances are excellent youll find a cheeseburger in Bangor and a margarita or two. Fins up!

Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band7:30 p.m. Aug. 2. Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, $45 to $145. waterfrontconcerts.com

After a two-year hiatus, Guster On The Ocean weekend is back, starting with an Aug. 12 concert at the State Theatre during which the alternative rock band will play an acoustic set and there will also be a performance by singer-songwriter Josh Ritter. On Aug. 13, things move over to Thompsons Point where the gates open at 2 p.m. The jaw-dropping lineup features folk duo Shovels & Rope, indie-folk act Darlingside, singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah (who just opened a show for The Who) and Maine singer-songwriter Pete Kilpatrick. There will also be a B-stage with comedy and improv. The weekend concludes on Sunday with Camp Guster at Camp Winnebago in Fayette.

Guster On The Ocean3 p.m. Aug. 13. Thompsons Point, Portland, $55 in advance, $60 day of show, $100 VIP. statetheatreportland.com

Heads up fans of Portland-based holler-folk act The Ghost of Paul Revere. ICYMI, the news recently broke that the band is disbanding after an 11-year run. This means that their Thompsons Point show is their swan song and will likely be an exuberant, emotional night for band members and fans alike. Theyre the headlining act of their annual Ghostland music festival, and this years lineup also features Hiss Golden Messenger, Marco Benevento and GoldenOak. Dont sleep on tickets, this one will surely sell-out.

Ghostland feat. The Ghost Of Paul Revere4 p.m. Sept. 3. Thompsons Point, Portland, $41 in advance, $46 day of show. statetheatreportland.com

For more than five decades, rock band Aerosmith has been blowing the roof off of venues, and this time around, theyll likely punch a hole right through the Bangor sky. Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford are all in their 70s, but dont think for a moment they wont be ready to rock. Theyll be coming into Maine on the heels of an eight-night run in Las Vegas, and a few days after Bangor, theyll head to Fenway Park. A scan of past setlists revealed that Aerosmith has many hits and like to play them live. Be ready to revel in the glory of Walk This Way, Sweet Emotion, Love in an Elevator, Cryin, Toys in the Attic and Rag Doll, to name just a few. Sing with them, sing for the year, sing for the laughter and sing for the tear but dream on if you think this show isnt going to sell out.

Aerosmith7:30 p.m. Sept. 4. Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, $47.50 to $167.50. waterfrontconcerts.com

Wait. What? REO Speedwagon, Styx and Loverboy all at the same show? Believe in this 80s music miracle because its coming true and will close out the season at Maine Savings Ampitheater in Bangor. Its hard to wrap ones head around all of the jukebox hits youll hear that night, but on the ballad front, keep your ears open for REO Speedwagons Keep on Loving You and Cant Fight This Feeling, Babe from Styx and Heaven In Your Eyes by Loverboy. And when its time to rock, all three bands will be slaying with Take It On The Run, Renegade, Mr. Roboto, Too Much Time On My Hands, Turn Me Loose and Working for the Weekend. Climb aboard this starship and come sail away with this trio of iconic acts who will be slaying you with nostalgic tunes all night long.

REO Speedwagon, Styx and Loverboy6:45 p.m. Sept. 18. Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, $28.50 to $353.50. waterfrontconcerts.com

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Make it a jam-packed summer with these outdoor concerts - Press Herald