Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
There’s no better way to celebrate the end of the semester and the giving spirit than with a weekend chock-full of rock.
Two separate benefit concerts will be taking place in Orono: The Fourth Annual Christmas Rock Spectacular on Friday at the Keith Anderson Community Center and Cluckfest on Saturday at The Roost. While the music at each venue will be vastly different, the same charitable attitude will be present at both shows.
Christmas Rock Spectacular
While it has expanded over the past three years, the Christmas Rock Spectacular is sticking to its roots. Like last year, there will once again be shows in Portland and Belfast, but the Orono show is returning to the original venue at the Keith Anderson Community Center. And there’s still going to be plenty of decorations.
The Orono show will feature stalwarts of past concerts such as casio-folk trio Good Kids Sprouting Horns and indie duo Rotundo Sealeg, whose member Nate Oldham helped organize the event. However, there will be some new faces such as folk project In Houses In Trees, solo act Strawberry Allstars and the alt-country rockers The Hampden Mountain Boys.
Proceeds from each of the shows across the state benefit hunger relief, with five dollar donations for the Orono show going to Manna, Inc. The event is being co-sponsored by WMEB, who had their Halloween show at Keith Anderson canceled when the headlining band dropped out.
Tim Berrigan of The Hampden Mountain Boys said he was contacted by Anthony Bitetti of Good Kids Sprouting Horns, who planned the Orono and Portland shows. They attended high school together and Berrigan said Bitetti learned of his band’s desire to play shows outside of the bar scene.
As new-comers to the holiday tradition, Berrigan said his band was both nervous and eager. They are also coming off more than a month hiatus from playing live.
“We’ll be out of our comfort zone, but we’re excited to play to different people,” Berrigan said.
Bitetti said the show will be very similar to past years.
“There will be plenty of vegan-friendly cooking, more decorations than anyone can handle and music,” Bitteti said.
The Keith Anderson Community Center is located near the post office at 19 Bennoch Rd. The all-ages show gets under way at 7 p.m. Friday.
Cluckfest
Three of the area’s jam band powerhouses — Suit Mullet, Frank and the Red Hots and Restless Groove — will take the stage at The Roost on Saturday to help raise money for the Maine children’s cancer research fund Chords for a Cure.
According to owner Jim Coleman, the entire five dollar donation, which gets attendees access and a wristband, will be going to the charity. Coleman said his establishment will never require a cover charge, unless it is for a cause.
“It’s kind of a farewell for kids going away on break and a benefit concert,” Coleman said.
He said he liked doing something bigger every six months or so to keep people interested. During the summer, The Roost hosted a similar show supporting Chords for a Cure that Coleman said was a success.
According to the Cluckfest Facebook page, the 21+ event will feature acoustic music earlier in the day with the bands beginning at 6 p.m.
Bangor Daily News