On Saturday, April 16, at 7 p.m., Putnam Smith will perform at the Houlton Unitarian Church as one of the featured events of their Bicentennial Year Celebration. Joining Putnam will be Nate Spencer from Asheville, N.C., adding tight harmony vocals, as well as some fancy pickin’ on mandolin, guitar and mando-cello. Smith, who hails from Portland, Maine, could be an old-world troubadour fresh from the 19th century. After all, he lives in a log cabin, plays his grandfather’s banjo, and has printed up the jackets of his new CD on a 1901 Pearl letterpress. Yet this rootsy, multi-instrumentalist songwriter (he also plays guitar, mandolin, fretless banjo and piano), steeped as he is in old-time Appalachian traditions, is very much a storyteller for the modern age. With his sophomore release, “Goldrush” reaching #5 on the national Folk DJ charts (and making it on five “Favorite Albums of 2009” lists) Putnam has begun to establish himself as an acoustic tour-de-force not only in his hometown of Portland, but as a nationally touring musician from east coast to west. Putnam puts on a show that makes people want to do a little knee-slappin’ one moment and then kick back for some quiet relaxin’ the next.
The performance will be held in the church’s sanctuary at the corner of Military and Kelleran streets. Ticket prices are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Student tickets are $6 and children under 12 are admitted free with an adult. Tickets are available at York’s Bookstore in Market Square and Visions, 66 Main Street. Concessions will be available during a short intermission and The Cup Café espresso bar will be open in the basement.
This concert is one event of our bicentennial year celebration at First Church. Please join us for a memorable night of music and arts.
