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Style & Culture

Maine Live Music Summer Preview

Free Range Music Fest – April 28 in Belfast

Just $18 (or $12 for kids) will get you an all-day pass to the Free Range Music Fest, with stages on eight different venues around town. Over 30 bands will perform, including Great Western Plain, When Particles Collide and The Rugged. Passes can be purchased at freerangefest.com, where you can also download a free 19-track sampler featuring songs from the festival’s best bands.

The Way Life Should Be – June 3 to 5 in Brooks

This unique festival will have both music and camping, so bring a tent and get ready to see some of Maine’s finest, including The Running Gags, Gorilla Finger Dub Band and The Cyborg Trio. Only 2,500 tickets are being sold and they’re currently selling for $35 on their website, but will get more expensive as they run out, so act quickly to secure a great time at a great price.

Arootsakoostik – July 7 in New Sweden

Northern Aroostook County will likely be far out of the way for most University of Maine students this summer, but with past performers like The Lucid, Milkman’s Union and Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Arootsakoostik could be the destination of a fun weekend road trip. Neither ticket prices nor the lineup have been announced, so like the festival’s Facebook page for updates.

American Folk Festival – August 24 to 26 in Bangor

This big annual event is far more than just a music festival. Aside from bands that have not yet been announced, the three-day event will also feature demonstrations and exhibits of traditional crafts, regional food and treats, and a children’s area to keep the kids and the whole family busy. The suggested donation per day is $10.

KahBang Music & Art Festival – August 9 to 12 in Bangor

Since its first year in 2009, KahBang has established itself as the premier music event in Bangor and one of the rising festivals in New England. The lineup and ticket prices have yet to be revealed, but the past performers inspire confidence in the potential of this year’s acts: My Morning Jacket, Lupe Fiasco, OK Go, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, BoB and Matt & Kim. Like KahBang on Facebook for the latest updates.

Waterfront Concerts in Bangor

It seems there will be few nights this summer when the Waterfront stage is empty. Aside from KahBang, tickets are currently on sale for performances by the Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, the Beach Boys, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Def Leppard, Ted Nugent and many others. Tickets for these and other acts are available on the Waterfront Concerts website.