Downeast Friends of the Folk Arts
Music and Dance for the Maine community
Sundays in the Park starts at 2:30 p.m. with a music workshop focusing on a distinctive branch of the contra dance music repertoire, followed by a 3:30 p.m. percussive dance workshop, to help participants discover and practice exciting ways for their shoes to fly. Guest performers and workshop participants will strut their stuff at the […]
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Each event starts at 2:30 p.m. with a music workshop focusing on a distinctive branch of the contra dance music repertoire, followed by a 3:30 p.m. percussive dance workshop, to help participants discover and practice exciting ways for their shoes to fly. Guest performers and workshop participants will strut their […]
A Trip to Scotland with Champion Fiddlers, Sean Heely & Owen Kennedy Monday, October 11 2:00 music workshop 3:00 concert Session after the concert, with Sean & Owen and local musicians at Searsport Shores Oceanfront Camping, 216 West Main St in Searsport Free admission Welcoming donations $1 - $35 to support performer compensation, Belfast Flying […]
Hailing from Vermont, Va-et-vient includes Carol Reed on voice, guitar and mandolins, Suzanne Germain on voice and percussion, and Lausanne Allen on voice, fiddles, flutes, and mandolins. With backgrounds rich in French cultures and language, through lifelong experiences living and traveling in French-speaking lands, they create beautiful harmonies, teaching and engaging audiences. Since 2001, this […]
Elsie Gawler is a multi-instrumentalist and songster rooted in Maine's traditional folk music and culture. With her family, the Gawler Family Band, she has played throughout the state and beyond, sharing traditional fiddle tunes, songs, and original works since she was 6 years old. From this foundation, she has branched out and launched her debut solo […]
The Gawlers are a fun-loving, fiddling family band-- from the heart of Maine-- with shining smiles and joyful sounds. John and Ellen Gawler are master fiddle and banjo players and their three daughters, Molly, Edith and Elsie grew up with the music and formed a band of their own - The Gawler Sisters. The band […]
Molly Gawler presents Droplet Dance: a collection of solo dance works with the music of the Gawler Family Band. Molly's choreography has elements of acrobatics and story told by movement created with live music from the folk traditions of Maine. Enjoy the captivating movement and toe-tapping fiddle music that will leave you with a smile. All […]
Belfast Flying Shoes presents “March Forth”, on Fri, March 4, 6:00 pm at the First Church, 8 Court St. in Belfast (Fellowship Hall entrance is on Spring St). A trio of beloved Maine Fiddle Camp staff musicians, Greg Boardman, Elsie Gawler & Steve Muise, will teach tunes in 4/4 and 2/2 time, followed by a […]
Belfast Flying Shoes presents “Musical Mischief”, Fri, April 1, 6:00 pm at the Bazz, 17 Court St., in Belfast. The renowned contra dance musician and tunesmith, Larry Unger will lead a musicians’ workshop followed by a concert that highlights his varied repertoire - finger-style blues guitar, old-time banjo, original waltzes and fiddle tunes, and plenty […]
Belfast Flying Shoes presents King of Ragtime: The Story of Scott Joplin on Sunday, June 5 at the Colonial Theater. Local author, illustrator, and musician, Stephen Costanza hosts a multimedia book celebration featuring projections of book art, narration, and live music with Rita Brown, Maria Keeler, Edith Gawler & Zeb Campbell. Before the show, pianist […]
Le Bon Truc’s music is fun to listen to and fun to dance to. The concert will include many tunes that folks with some experience can dance to - part of the room will be open to dance in. So that everyone can get a taste of this, we'll be mixing in quick lessons by […]
Le Bon Truc’s music is fun to listen to and fun to dance to. The concert will include many tunes that folks with some experience can dance to - part of the room will be open to dance in. So that everyone can get a taste of this, we'll be mixing in quick lessons by […]
Maine Fiddle Camp IS BACK at our new location, Pilgrim Lodge, in West Gardiner, Maine Go to the MFC web page for lots more info: Maine Fiddle Camp
Come and hear The Winifred Horan Quartet! Featuring: Win Horan on Fiddle, Ustav Lal on Piano, John Williams on Accordion, and Kate Grennan on Fiddle. This concert is part of the Peaks Island House Concert Series. There is a suggested donation of $20, per guest, at the door. (Free to folks under age 18 […]
Maine Fiddle Camp IS BACK at our new location, Pilgrim Lodge, in West Gardiner, Maine Go to the MFC web page for lots more info: Maine Fiddle Camp
Come hear world class musicians John Doyle and Mick McAuley! The concert will be outdoors, on the grass! Bring a blanket or a chair. There is a suggested donation of $20, per guest, at the “door”. Free to folks over age 80 or under age 18. This concert is part of the Peaks Island House […]
We are sorry to announce that due to unforeseen circumstances we will need to cancel this show. Please stay tuned as we hope to reschedule. For updates, and for links to other concerts, please visit our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/peakshouseconcerts/events
Come see Choro Louco play at the TEIA out on Peaks Island. Featuring: Nicole Rabata, flute; Carl Dimow, guitar, flute; David Newsam, 7 and 8 string guitar, mandolin; Joel Eckhaus, cavaquinho, mandolin; Eric LaPerna, pandeiro. Brazilian Choro has been around for over a hundred years, but in this country itʼs virtually unknown. David Grisman, Mike […]
The Middle East meets the Midcoast! Announcing the second annual Armenian Picnic at Searsport Shores Oceanfront Campground, on Saturday, July 23, from 11am - 4pm. The event features Armenian food from shish kebab and falafel to lamejun and paklava; music by master oud player, Leo Derderian, with Bob Arzigian and friends; crafts, games, and joyful […]
Side By Each features two powerful musical couples, Don and Cindy Roy and Matt Shipman and Erica Brown.The roots run deep in Side By Each as Don and Cindy Roy’s music goes back in each of their families to the Canadian Maritimes and Quebec. In 2018, they were awarded a National Heritage Fellowship Award as […]
Local nonprofits, Atlantic Challenge USA and Belfast Flying Shoes, jointly present the Gawler Family in a special fundraising concert on Friday, July 29, at 7:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Belfast. “Come one, come all!” for sea shanties, work songs, fiddle tunes, and the lush harmonies and beaming faces of these beloved Maine musicians: […]
Maine Fiddle Camp IS BACK at our new location, Pilgrim Lodge, in West Gardiner, Maine Go to the MFC web page for lots more info: Maine Fiddle Camp
Louise Bichan is a fiddle player and photographer who grew up in Orkney, a group of islands in the north of Scotland. She graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 2011, and later attended Berklee College of Music. Her project “Out of My Own Light” explores her family ties to Canada, through photographs and […]
Maine Fiddle Camp IS BACK at our new location, Pilgrim Lodge, in West Gardiner, Maine Go to the MFC web page for lots more info: Maine Fiddle Camp
Four days celebrating the maritime heritage of Wiscasset, including the Hesper and Luther Little, which were part of the town waterfront for so many years, with schooner cruises, music, art, reenactors, kids activities, a triathlon, food and drink.
With multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards, as well as Juno and ADISQ nominations, GENTICORUM have earned a reputation as a leading voice in the evolution of Québécois traditional music. For over twenty years, the trio has earned a place of privilege on world, traditional, folk and Celtic music stages. Known for their unbridled energy, their […]
We are not helpless as long as we can sing. CALL FOR SINGERS WINTER 2023 TO JOIN CHOIR TO SING UKRAINIAN FOLK SONGS WHO: The Huddled Masses Orchestra (Joe Niemczura), The Maine Balkan Choir (Anne Tatgenhorst) and Shana Hanson (folk dance organizer in Belfast). WHAT: first meeting to organize a choir to sing in Slavic […]
Hear original works with a focus on storytelling and skilled musicianship by songwriter Gordon Bok.
The Gawlers are a fun-loving, fiddling family band with shining smiles and joyful sounds. John and Ellen Gawler are master fiddle and banjo players and their three daughters, Molly, Edith and Elsie grew up with the music and formed a band of their own - The Gawler Sisters. The band includes "brother" Bennett Konesni and […]
The Eastport Arts Center is pleased to present an evening Concert with Gerry O’Connor and Kevin McElroy performing a selection of Irish fiddle compositions. O’Connor has played and recorded with such highly-regarded groups as Lá Lúgh (Eithne Ní Uallacháin, Sony Music) and Skylark (Len Graham, Gary O’Briain & Mairtin O’Connor), recording four CDs on the […]
The Katahdin Valley Boys have been entertaining appreciative audiences throughout New England since 1998, repeatedly receiving “Bluegrass Band of the Year” awards from the Maine Academy of Country Music and the Maine Country Music Association. Consisting of Jeff Folger of Sidney, Dan Simons of Vienna, Ken Brooks of Athens, and Steve Bixby of Round Pond, […]
The Vienna Union Hall, located at 5 Vienna Mountain Road in Vienna announced it will feature the trio of Greg Boardman, Elsie Gawler, and Steve Muise performing music drawing from a Scotch, Irish and French repertoire and culture. These three musicians are some of the finest that Maine has to offer. They bring together an […]
UUCB Concerts for a Cause will host Porch Party Mamas on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick to raise money for the Brunswick Area Teen Center and Maine Family Planning. The Porch Party Mamas are an engaging and magnetic Boston-area band of four female musicians who've developed a […]
For centuries, Downeast Maine has flourished as a crossroads for many styles of music and dance: Acadian, Cape Breton, Irish, Scottish and Québécois – just to name a few. The Acadia Trad Festival is dedicated to promoting education and appreciation of these traditions through an annual celebration held June 26-July 2, 2023 at the beautiful […]
The Maine Balkan Choir was founded in 1998. Since January 2023, we worked on a program of all-Ukrainian songs, and presented a benefit concert in Portland May 21st, you can see the videos of that event here: https://youtube.com/playlist... We will reprise that concert in honor of Ukraine Independence Day, in Lewiston Maine for Aug 27th at […]
The Maine Balkan Choir was founded in 1998. Since January 2023, we worked on a program of all-Ukrainian songs, and presented a benefit concert in Portland May 21st, you can see the videos of that event here: https://youtube.com/playlist... We will reprise that concert in honor of Ukraine Independence Day, in Lewiston Maine for Aug 27th at […]
The Maine Balkan Choir was founded in 1998. Since January 2023, we worked on a program of all-Ukrainian songs, and presented a benefit concert in Portland May 21st, you can see the videos of that event here: https://youtube.com/playlist... We will reprise that concert in honor of Ukraine Independence Day, in Lewiston Maine for Aug 27th at […]
The Maine Balkan Choir was founded in 1998. Since January 2023, we worked on a program of all-Ukrainian songs, and presented a benefit concert in Portland May 21st, you can see the videos of that event here: https://youtube.com/playlist... We will reprise that concert in honor of Ukraine Independence Day, in Lewiston Maine for Aug 27th at […]
Live music is back at the JCA! To kick off our 2023-24 season, we are delighted to present Owen Kennedy and Owen Marshall, who will dazzle you with their virtuosic arrangements of traditional Maine Maritime and Celtic tunes! Concert runs from 7:00-8:20 PM, followed by a light reception and CD-signing.
https://makersguildmaine.org/armenian-picnic/ Armenian Picnic-Food, Crafts, Music, Folk Dancing
Fourth Times A Charm Returning for an unprecedented fourth concert appearance, guitarists Kyle Knuppel and Matt Davis are set to perform at the Vienna Union Hall on Friday, August 4th, at 7 PM. Kyle Knuppel and Matt Davis have been performing together for many years. They will once again join forces and bring their […]
The Chesterville Center Union Meeting House is pleased to once again host Chesterville Poetry Night. Poetry authors and enthusiasts with a connection to the town of Chesterville or the surrounding area are invited to share their poems and remembrances Friday, October 20, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The Meeting House is located at 3 Borough Road […]
Maine's Largest Fiddle Orchestra – Fiddle-icious - Announces 17th Season Concerts FALMOUTH, ME-- Tap your toes, stomp your feet, and clap your hands as Fiddle-icious, a community fiddle-based orchestra with 100+ musicians from Kittery to Augusta, takes the stage to share their unique, uplifting music! Fiddle-icious is a fun-loving Maine orchestra playing fiddle, piano, harp, guitar, banjo, […]
Maine's Largest Fiddle Orchestra – Fiddle-icious - Announces 17th Season Concerts FALMOUTH, ME-- Tap your toes, stomp your feet, and clap your hands as Fiddle-icious, a community fiddle-based orchestra with 100+ musicians from Kittery to Augusta, takes the stage to share their unique, uplifting music! Fiddle-icious is a fun-loving Maine orchestra playing fiddle, piano, harp, guitar, banjo, […]
Maine's Largest Fiddle Orchestra – Fiddle-icious - Announces 17th Season Concerts FALMOUTH, ME-- Tap your toes, stomp your feet, and clap your hands as Fiddle-icious, a community fiddle-based orchestra with 100+ musicians from Kittery to Augusta, takes the stage to share their unique, uplifting music! Fiddle-icious is a fun-loving Maine orchestra playing fiddle, piano, harp, guitar, […]
Maine's Largest Fiddle Orchestra – Fiddle-icious - Announces 17th Season Concerts FALMOUTH, ME-- Tap your toes, stomp your feet, and clap your hands as Fiddle-icious, a community fiddle-based orchestra with 100+ musicians from Kittery to Augusta, takes the stage to share their unique, uplifting music! Fiddle-icious is a fun-loving Maine orchestra playing fiddle, piano, harp, guitar, banjo, […]
One short movie: "One Week," and the main feature: "Sherlock Jr.," starring Buster Keaton and accompanied on Old Time Piano by Doug Protsik. on Saturday Jan. 27 at 7pm with a snow date of Sunday, February 4 at 7 pm. Tickets $15; free for 18 and under. Free for UMF students. No-one turned away.
Join us at Artsworth for our Leap Year Listening Room Concert and Dance with Kotwica. Folk music from the Baltic to the Black Sea and Beyond will include Ukrainian, Polish, Greek, Armenian, Jewish, Macedonian, Slovakian and Breton songs and dances. All dances will be taught.
Celebrate traditional music and dance in Maine. Dance all day - contras, waltz, stepdance, Zweifacher, Cajun, English & more - plus workshops, jam sessions & family fun. Featuring Eloise & Co. with Lisa Greenleaf calling and Ben Foss, Bennett Konesni, and Noah Fishman with Hannah Chamberlain calling. Please see the DEFFA Festival page to volunteer […]
Armenian / Eastern European Folk Dance ~ Special program of folk dancing led by Carolyn Rapkievian, with music and singing by Kotwica, 3:00 - 5:00 pm at the UU Church, 37 Miller St, Belfast. Admission $15-20 sliding scale. Program partnership with the Makers Guild of Maine. (Program partnership with the Makers Guild of Maine) Carolyn is […]
The Brooks Contra Dance returns for 2024 with a very special combination! The Pine Tree Flyers (Katie McNally, Emily Troll, Neil Pearlman, Owen Marshall) will be joined by caller Chris Ricciotti to kick off the season here in Brooks. The Pine Tree Flyers are top shelf masters of New England dance music, and Chris is […]