A celebration of Maine-made music at Thomas Park on Saturday, Aug. 7
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
NEW SWEDEN — Throw the bug spray and sunscreen into a beach bag and head on over to Thomas Park in New Sweden on Saturday, August 7th for some of the finest music The County has to offer.
Organized by Van Buren natives Travis Cyr and Matt Beaulieu of the band “Strings of Calamity,” 26 bands — many featuring County natives — will be outdoors playing tunes with a very Aroostook vibe.
The gates open at 10 a.m., rain or shine, with music playing on two stages from approximately 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
“Proceeds from the event will be donated back to Thomas Park to help with preservation and maintenance,” Cyr explained.
With on-site food and crafts vending and a kids playarea, there’s something for everyone at the Arootsakoostik music festival.
Folding chairs, picnic baskets, blankets and coolers are all welcome to the event but pet owners are asked to please leave their dogs at home.
“Come enjoy the park and support some great music all for a good cause,” Cyr said. He also reminds patrons to bring a canned food item to donate to the local food pantry.
Tickets are available at the gate on the morning of the musical event for $10; children under 10 are free of charge.
Appearing on the Thomas Park Stage will be: The Toughcats; Brown Bird; Class Machine; Bass Box; The Lucid, including Chuck Gagne and Nate Cyr of Fort Kent and Tim Beaulieu and Dominic Lavoie of Madawaska; Wesley Harley & the Traveling Trees; Frank Hopkins, of Wallgrass, and Line of Force; Putnam Smith; Bearkat; Meghan Yates; and the Nadeau Family Band, who are from the greater Caribou area and have been making music in Aroostook County since 1967.
Appearing on the Acoustic Stage include: Dark Hollow Bottling Co.; Jesse Pilgim and the Bonfire; Good Kids Sprouting Horns; John Nels from New Sweden; the Loblolly Boy; the Mighty Oak, including Matt Connolly from Washburn and Derek Smith and Roy Tweedie of Mars Hill; Party At Troy’s, a Mapleton-based band; Johnny Fountain; Mark Shaw from Presque Isle; John Clavette of Madawaska; Paul Houston Project, including Thomas Doucette from Van Buren; Carol Ayoob and Ryan Ashby of Mapleton.
Planets Around the Sun, including Matthew Lajoie from Van Buren, will be playing on the Earthcraft Stage.
Fort Kent native Jack Murray, who now runs Odds Are Productions in Kennebunk, will be running the sound on the main stage
Van Buren native Rodney Devost, representing the “Dog + Pony” film crew based in Portland will be on location documenting the event for a potential DVD release.
Additional information about featured bands, including songs and video clips, can be obtained by visiting www.myspace.com/travcyr.
