Rock Blogster

5 things to do this weekend. 6.12.09

2009-06-12T00:53:00.001-07:00

video platform
video management
video solutions
free video player

Publish Post

5 hings to do this weekend, 6.5.09

2009-06-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

video platform
video management
video solutions
free video player

5 things to do this weekend, 5.29.09

2009-05-28T15:57:00.001-07:00

video platform
video management
video solutions
free video player

5 things to do this weekend, 5.15.09

2009-05-17T08:32:00.001-07:00

video platform
video management
video solutions
free video player

5 things to do this weekend, 5.8.09

2009-05-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

video platform
video management
video solutions
free video player

Mainers win major awards!

2009-05-06T03:42:00.000-07:00

Two pairs of Mainers have won big awards this past month!

First off: The Flannery Brothers, Maine's own kid's music stars, won the children's music category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest! Votes from fans online, undoubtedly many of you reading, helped nudge them over the top. For their victory, Mike and Dan receive $1,000 worth of Mackie, Ampeg and Crate recording products, as well as 1,000 custom printed CDs. Go Flan! Listen to "One Wasn't Enough," their winning song, at http://www.jlsc.com/winners/2008b/lennon_awards.php.

The other winning team is Eepy Bird, the Buckfield-based team who created the Webby Award-winning "mentos and diet coke" viral YouTube video. Well, they've won another Webby Award - this time for their Extreme Sticky Note Experiment video. Fritz and Stephen won the People's Voice Award for their video, which can be viewed at htttp://www.eepybird.com.

Congrats to everyone!

5 things to do this weekend, 5.1.09

2009-05-01T03:13:00.001-07:00

video platform
video management
video solutions
free video player

Maine YouTube infodump.

2009-04-24T04:21:00.000-07:00

Ice going out on the Penobscot - woohoo!

Poetry Out Loud Maine State Finals 2009

Full Contact Kitty, rockin' band from Belfast, live in Thomaston, 2008

Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race, 2009

5 things to do this weekend, 4.23.09

2009-04-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

video platform
video management
video solutions
free video player

5 things to do this weekend, 4.17.09

2009-04-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

video platform
video management
video solutions
free video player

Rock and/or roll.

2009-04-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

Dear everyone,
I downloaded these four albums last week, and must highly recommend them all. In no order:

PJ Harvey/John Parish - "A Woman, A Man, Walked By"
It's somewhere in between the ethereal, scary beauty of 2007's "White Chark" and the roaring blues rock of both "To Bring You My Love" and "Uh Huh Her." PJ and Parish haven't worked together since 1996's "Dance Hall At Louse Point." It's brutally lovely.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "It's Blitz!"
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are a wonderful combination of the Ramones, the Bangles and TV on the Radio - bouncy, fuzzy and fun. Karen O is my fashion hero.

Mirah - "(A)spera"
Mirah dresses up her spare, achingly intimate indie folk with string and horn orchestration. Mirah somehow manages to be both maternal and comforting and a total sex kitten, all at the same time. One of my favorite contemporary vocalists.

DOOM - "Born Like This"
Not a word out of rapper DOOM, aka MF Doom, aka Daniel Dumile, since 2005's "The Mouse and the Mask." Now, out of the blue, comes the dark, sinister, ridiculously eloquent and intelligent "Born Like This." Weird beats and even weirder rhymes, and yet it's still totally irresistable. And it's funny, too.

VOTE FLAN!

2009-04-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

From the Facebook group:
"The Flannery Brothers won Session II in the John Lennon Songwriting contest for our song "One Wasn't Enough," and now we need your help! We are going head to head in a popular vote with the winner from Session I, Gustafer Yellowgold. We are definitely the underdogs here, but with your support, we have a chance to win the Lennon Award!!!"

Vote once a day, every day @ www.jlsc.com/vote
For more visit www.flannerybrothers.com

http://www.jlsc.com/vote.php

5 things to do this weekend, 4.9.09

2009-04-09T15:06:00.001-07:00

video platform
video management
video solutions
free video player

5 things to do this weekend, 2.19.09

2009-03-19T07:37:00.001-07:00

1. OK, here's a big plan for a night out in Bangor on Friday. Start the evening off with the Downtown Bangor Art Walk, set for 5 to 9 p.m. and featuring seven locations around downtown, including 31 Central Street, the Bennett Gallery, also on Central Street, Central STreet Yoga and Studios, Metropolitan Soul, the Exchange Street Building, the University of Maine Museum of Art and One Lupine Fiber Arts on PArk Street. It's completely free, and you'll get a chance to see some of the great artists that live and work in our community. For more info, call 561-3350.

2. After that, check out the first Penobscot Theatre production of 2009 is "Dinner With Friends," the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama written by Donald Marguiles, which will open at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Bangor Opera House. Tickets are available at the box office; for more info, visit www.penobscottheatre.org.

3. And then, after you've had Dinner with Friends, go have some drinks with friends, at the newly-reopened Luna Bar and Grille on Park Street, the downtown nightspot formerly known as the New Moon Cafe. A renovated space includes a piano bar, a revamped menu and new cocktails. There, now isn't that a delightful evening in the Queen City?

4. HOWEVER! If you're not Bangor-centric, then take a drive up to Orono on Friday night to check out the National Acrobats of China at the Collins Center for the Arts. The performance starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are available by calling 581-1755.

5. Finally, opening on Saturday at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockport is a new photography exhibit titled "On and Off the Midway." 25 photographers, including the BDN's own Kate Collins and Bridget Brown, document the festivities at state fairs, ice fishing derbys and and beach side resorts throughout the summer in Maine. The exhibit runs through June 21; for more info, visit www.cmcanow.org.

5 things to do this weekend, 3.12.09

2009-03-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

1. They're back in their original formation, and I for one am thrilled: the Napper Tandies, Maine's finest Irish band, play a pre-St. Paddy's Day show this Saturday at Paddy Murphy's in Bangor. Original members Randy Billings, Matt Smith and fiddler Liam Andrews, on loan from South Carolina, will play starting at 9:30 p.m. For more info, visit www.myspace.com/thenappertandies.

2. Mystery man Leon Russell will play a show at the Skowhegan Opera House this Saturday. Russell is a rock legend, writing for some of the biggest names in the biz all the while sporting his trademark white beard and long white hair. Show starts at 7:30 p.m.; for tickets, visit www.skowhegan.org.

3. The Wrestler, featuring Mickey Rourke in the Oscar-nominated title role, starts at Movie Magic on the Odlin Road this Friday. As always, admission is just $3, and on Tuesday it's a buck!

4. The Bangor Symphony Orchestra plays its fourth concert of the season at 3 p.m. this Sunday at the Collins Center for the Arts. The BSO, led by conductor Trond Saeverud, will perform Dvorak's "New World Symphony," along with selections from Schumann and Saevurud's granddad, the Finnish composer Harald Saeverud. For more info, visit www.bangorsymphony.org

5. And finally, full disclosure: these guys are my buddies, but that means that I know how talented they are. The Colin Graebert Trio, a jazz group featuring pianist Graebert, will play from 4:30 until 9 p.m. at the Maine Cigar Shop on Main Street in Bangor. Smoke a stogie, listen to some sweet jazz, and unwind after work in one of Bangor's most comfortable, best kept secrets. For more info, visit www.cigarsmokeshoppe.com.

5 things to do this weekend, 3.5.09

2009-03-05T07:53:00.001-08:00

1. OK, technically, this is occuring this weekend. Tonight, at midnight, Bangor Mall Cinemas will screen the long-awaited film version of the great graphic novel "Watchmen," much to the delight of comic book fans the world over. It's one of my absolute favorite books of all time, so I'm kind of ridiculously excited to see it. And midnight screening are always fun.

2. On Saturday the Kave, the Bucksport all ages venue, will host about 8 bajillion bands starting at 5:30 p.m. See You Next Tuesday, Full Blown Chaos, Interrogator, A Plea For Purging, Grave Valor, A Day to Remember, The Falling Fight, Vail’s Gate, Fight For Blood and This and That Apocalypse will play until everyone is too tired to headbang. Admission is $15 at the door, for more info visit www.myspace.com/thekave.

3. River City Cinema again hosts two Oscar-worthy flicks at the Bangor Opera House this weekend. Friday night check out the delightful Lebanese film "Caramel," and Saturday go see "Frozen River," and indie drama who's star, Melissa Leo, was nominated for Best Actress. Both movies start at 7:30 p.m., and both are $5.

4. We don't get much ballet here in eastern Maine, so when one of our beloved regional dance companies perform, it's something you don't want to miss. The Atlantic Ballet Company will perform Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" this Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Camden Opera House. Admission is $14 for adults and $10 for students; for more info visit www.atlanticballetcompany.com.

5. Contrary to some silly rumors spread around the interwebs, the Bar Harbor Blues Authority is NOT closing, and in fact has expanded its weekend lineup of music to include a totally sweet blues brunch from 12 to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Local blues musicians spice up your post-Saturday night breakfast food extravaganze, and it's only 13 bucks. For more info, visit www.barharborbluesauthority.com.

Flan-tastic!

2009-03-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

The Flannery Brothers, the Bangor-based purveyors of delightfully wacky kid's music, have just received yet another major honor. Dan Flannery, one half of the songwriting team, won the children's music grand prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, a major yearly competition judged by music industry luminaries. Bob Weir, the Black Eyed Peas and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees were among the panelists this year. To listen to some Fllanery Brothers tunes, visit their web site, www.flannerybrothers.com. Congrats, fellas!

Eric Green, local bluesman extraordinaire.

2009-02-26T08:09:00.001-08:00

I search YouTube for Bangor-centric videos because I love you.

5 things to do this weekend, 2.26.09

2009-02-26T07:45:00.001-08:00

1. Psychedelic folk rock supergroup Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams are Maine favorites, and they're playing not one, but two shows in the area this coming weekend. Check them out Friday night at 8 p.m. at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, and Saturday night, also at 8 p.m., at the Unity Centre for the Performing Arts.

2. River City Cinema continues it's winter movie series, screening Academy Award-nominated documentaries and features. Friday night, check out "Trouble the Water," a documentary about Hurricane Katrina, and Saturday night go see the OScar-winning doc "Man on Wire," detailing the high-flying art of French tightrope walker Phillipe Pettite. Both movies screen at 7:30 p.m. at the Bangor Opera House.

3. Feel like taking the show on the road? Whether you're driving or you live in the area, take a haul down to Deer Isle and see almighty blues duo Green and Bosse play at Mikey's G Spot. It looks like we're in for slightly warmer weather this weekend, so hit the road and help bring spring a little closer.

4. 103 Ultra Lounge in Orono hosts a who's who of Maine bands this Friday, including the Divine Ruin, the Big Coffin Hunters, Afterblack, Wolves Among Sleep and the Exclusive. Show starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are $12 at the door.

5. And finally, OK, so Gilbert and Sullivan might not be everyone's cup of tea. But if it is, and you appreciate good, solid theater, then head down to Ellsworth this weekend for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society's take on "The Pirates of Penzance," set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Grand Theatre.

5 things to do this weekend, 2.19.09

2009-02-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

1. Here is a very important thing: Demetri Martin is at UMaine this weekend. You may have seen him on his new show on Comedy Central, "Important Things with Demetri Martin," or you may remember him from the Daily Show. Either way, he's absolutely hilarious. He'll take the stage at the Collins Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. Saturday. For tickets, call 1-800-622-TIXX.

2. The Grand Theatre in Ellsworth hosts a Cabin Fever Bailout concert featuring a tasty lineup of local bands, including Rant, A Dying Breed, Poetic Acrimony and Stiff Whisker and the Driftwood Kids. The show starts at 7 on Saturday, and admission is $15.

3. John Cariani's "Almost Maine" is enjoying a nice run at various theatres throughout the state. The Broadway play about a small Maine community will be produced this weekend and next at the Center Theatre in Dover-Foxcroft; showtimes are at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and also at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

4. The Bar Stewards, Bangor's best Irish band, play at Paddy Murphy's pub this Saturday, starting at 9 p.m. Expect loud, raucous songs about drinkin', fightin' and lovin'.

5. The Academy Awards are set for this Sunday evening, and several area theatres will host simulcasts of the show, including big fundraisers at the Grand Theatre in Ellsworth and Reel Pizza Cinerama in Bar Harbor. For 15 to 50 bucks, you get hors d'oeurves, champagne and a chance to get all dolled up which watching the Oscars, and all the proceeds go to benefit at Beth C. Wright Cancer Center. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m.; for more info, visit www.grandonline.org

5 things to do this weekend, 2.12.09

2009-02-12T08:28:00.000-08:00

1. OK, first off, it's a very, very sad day for the denizens of downtown Bangor. Christopher's and Red Martini, the two bars that have become staples of Queen City nightlife over the past few years, are closing tonight, Thursday, for good. Yes, I know - it was a shock to me too. So, give it one last hurrah and come out tonight to bid goodbye to yet another casualty of downtown Bangor. It was nice knowin' ya, guys.

2. UMaine's spring production of the musical "Side Show" opens Friday night. It tells the story of conjoined twins Violet and Daisy Hilton, who worked in freak shows and vaudeville along with other famous freaks, like the Dog FAced Boy and the pinhead. The show is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Hauck Auditorium on the UM campus. Admission is $10.

3. Saturday is the big day, and whether you've got a sweetie or not, check out the Lover's Leap event in downtown Bangor. From 4-6 pm River City Cinema will screen "Some Like It Hot" at the Opera House, from 6 to 8 p.m. J.B. Parker's will offer a delicious catered dinner, and from 8 to 10 p.m. the sweet sounds of Noir, Josh Mooers and Sarah Madelina will be on the bill back at the Opera House, along with a performance from the Penobscot Theater Company, magician Dr. Wilson and fashion designer Caitlyn Cogan. Admission is $10.

4. The International DAnce Festival takes the stage again this year at the Collins Center for the Arts on the UM campus. at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday dancers from places like Brazil, Iran, Cuba, Bulgaria and more will show off their skills. It's free, and it's a whole lot of fun.

5. Don't expect him to play "Rock n Roll Hoochie Koo." But do expect some serious blues chops to be on display when the legendary Johnny Winter performs at the Skowhegan Opera House on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at skowhegan.org.

New albums you should listen to.

2009-02-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

I think you should buy, download or whatever the following new albums:

Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
Franz Ferdinand - Tonight
Morrissey - Years of Refusal
Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
Mastodon - Crack the Skye

That is all.

Lincoln to Bangor in six minutes.

2009-02-05T09:20:00.000-08:00

5 things to do this weekend, 2.5.09

2009-02-05T09:18:00.001-08:00

1. The biggest band in the land, Rustic Overtones, will play a show with Tree By Leaf at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Camden Opera House. Tickets are $18-$28 and and are available by calling 470-7066.

2. Sometimes Why play progressive bluegrass, in the vein of Old Crow Medicine Show and the Yonder Mountain String Band, and its comprised of three massively talented young ladies. They'll play at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Unity Centre for the Performing Arts; for more info, visit www.unitymaine.org.

3. Hey, if you want to start your weekend early, you can head down to Benjamin's on Franklin Street in Bangor, the club formerly known as Fuzion, and party with Chris Rush, formerly of WTOS, as he spins rock n roll all night starting at 9:30 p.m. Classic rock, modern punk, punk rock, you name it.

4. Try something different this weekend. Saturday night at Dino's Pizza and Banquest Center on North Main Street in Brewer, Independent Wrestling Entertainment will host a night of local wrestling, featuring White War Pony Johnny Primer against Jivin' Jimmy Capone, Cameron Matthews versus Scotty Vegas, and Rockstar Chris Cole pitted against Mason X. Saturday, Saturday, Saturday! The bout starts at 7:30 p.m., and your $10 admission goes to benefit Eastern Agency on Aging's Meals for Me program.

5. Daniel Bernard Roumain is a composer and violinist who blends funk, rock, hip-hop and classical music into a new sonic vision of music. He's playing Sunday afternoon at Minsky Recital Hall on the UMaine campus, in a program titled A Civil Rights Reader, in which he pays tribute to people like MAya Angelou, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. It's probably some of the most interesting music you'll hear played in this area in a while. The performance starts at 3 p.m., and tickets are available by calling 581-1805.

5 things to do this weekend, 11.20.08

2008-11-20T07:36:00.000-08:00

Hey kids, I'm back!

1. For starters, check out the band Dreamosaic at the Red Martini Saturday night in Bangor. Dreamosaic are a southern Maine based electronic duo, who play techno-infused rock. It's seriously cool stuff, and this is their first appearance in Bangor, so go check it out. Music starts at 9:30 and it's 21 plus.

2. Oh my god you guys, "Twilight" opens this weekend. Based on the wildly popular young adult series by Stephanie Meyer, the buzz around this movie has been building for weeks. Hottie vampires, need we say more? There's a midnight showing at Bangor Mall Cinema tonight, and regular showing all weekend there and at Spotlight in Orono.

3. Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams take the stage at the Grand Theatre this Friday. As they describe themselves, they're like "hillbilly Pink Floyd," complete with stage theatrics and grandiose riffage. By most accounts, they are a killer live act. Show starts at 7:30 Friday night; for more info, visit www.grandonline.org

4. Winterport Open Stage continues it's run of "The Taming of the Shrew," with performances at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Wagner Middle School. However, this isn't the Shakespeare version - it's an adaptation using animal characters instead of the traditional characters. Hey, why not? For more info, visit www.winterportopenstage.com.

5. Nothing else to do on lazy Sunday? Close your weekend out with a performance from Carlene Carter at the Unity Center for the Performing Arts. Carter, daughter of June Carter and step daughter of Johnny Cash, has music running through her veins, and plays a mean guitar and a rootsy, easygoing brand of rock n' roll. For more info, visit www.unitymaine.org.

I'm Emily Burnham and I approved this message.

2008-11-06T07:25:00.001-08:00

Hey folks,

I'm on a top secret mission for the next twelve days. Rock Blogster will cease operations until I return. Keep yourself entertained during that time by watching this. Over and over again.

5 things to do this weekend, 10.30.08

2008-10-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

1. For starters, if you're looking for something genuinely frightful, you can always go to the Fright at the Fort, the annual haunted extravaganza at Fort Knox in Prospect. From 5:30 to 9 on Friday and Saturday you can get seriously creeped out - and I mean seriously creeped out. They do an amazing job with this one. Admission is $5, and it's best suited for thsoe 12 and over, so maybe don't take the little ones.

2. If that's not your thing, then try one of the not one, not two, but three midnight screenings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" in the area on Friday. The Alamo Theatre in Bucksport, the Criterion Theater in Bar Harbor and the Center Theater in Dover-Foxcroft will all show the campy classic at midnight. Bring your underwear, your fishnets, your toast and rice and mascara and do the time warp again. I think everyone, regardless of age, sex or tastes in movies, should go to a midnight screening of "Rocky Horror" at least once in their lives.

3. Feel like rockin' instead? Check out any of these options on Friday - Irish pub rock with the Bar Stewards at 9:30 p.m. at Paddy Murphy's in Bangor, River Bottom Funk performing two sets of all ACDC and Led Zeppelin, starting at 9:30 at Carolina's, also in Bangor, the Eric Green Party at 9 p.m. at the Bar Harbor Blues Authority, or The Brew at the Unity Centre for the Performing Arts, starting at 8 p.m. All shows encourage people to wear costumes, and with the exception of the Brew, they're all 21 plus. Sorry, kids.

4. The day after Halloween, check out Paradigm East, one of several belly dance groups in the Bangor area, perform from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Charles Inn in downtown Bangor. It's a special Halloween show, and Paradigm East has a slightly alternative, modern take on Middle Eastern dance, so it should be a spooky, interesting night.

5. And, rounding out your weekend festivities, weekend two of the Grand Players production of "Dracula," is set for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, as well as a midnight performance on Friday, at the Grand Theater in Ellsworth. It's a super creepy, super action-packed telling of the classic tale, and it's some perfect late fall fun. Admission is $10; for more info, visit www.grandonline.org.

Third session at Pop!Tech, 10.24.08

2008-10-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

Session three starts off with a short computer animated film by Nicholas Deveaux about an elephant jumping on a trampoline. Pretty much the cutest thing ever.

This session is about peace and reconciliation. N. Taylor Thompson and Nathan Sigworth are up; they have founded PharmaSecure, an organization that seeks to ensure that drugs that combat diseases like malaria are safe, authetic and effective. They say; we'd like to see a world where 200,000 less people have malaria, while the pharmaceutical agencies make billions of dollars more money. Thompson got malaria while working in Africa. He took medicine and got better; millions do the same and die. The medicine that those who do die take has little to no active ingredients. 53% of anti malarial meds in Southeast Asia are fake. WHO says 10-30% of drugs are counterfeit. It's a problem of information access; you can't tell what's real and what's fake. There are plenty of ways to figure that out, but they are expensive. There needs to be a regulatory process.

Heather Fleming is next, she's the co-founder of Catapult Design which provides engineering resources to third world nations. She grew up without power or water. She tried to get a job in her field; eventually came to Engineers Without Borders, who, like Doctors Without Borders, use engineering and design to provide infrastructure and resources to those who need it. She showed a hippo roller, which allows people in Africa to collect four days worth of water in a single trip; that's what EWB brings to people. Gahndi said, be the change you wish to see in the world; she adds, you must have the courage to be the change you wish to see in the world.

Gary Slutkin is an epidemiologist, worked in the HIV crisis in Uganda, now at University of Chicago. BUT he now studies human violence in the United States; he approaches it like it's another disease with his organization Pathways to Peace. He sez, the central question is, can we end violence? Yes, if we look at in an entirely new way. We can end it like we did smallpox, leprosy, plague, etc. Kids in Chicago don't want to go to school; people don't want work, businesses don't want to open; because of the intensity of the violence. Violence is a plague. The parallels between the disease plagues of old and the current plague of violence are striking. To an epidemiolgist, diseases and violence appear one and the same. How do you reserve this? 1. You interrupt transmission. For diseases, it's treatment; for violence, it's disrupting the chain of events. 2. You change social norms. Norms can be changed; we don't smoke anymore. We wear seatbelts. We only have a few kids now, as opposed to many. The etiologic agent of violence is thought, just as bacteria spreads plague and viruses spread HIV. Interesting interjection featuring a guy, kind of like a gangbanger type, showing how someone interrupts transmission and changes the norm. That's how it works. Real people get killed, yes, but that's how you work it out. Interrupters come in and cool down the situation, like immunization or disease control workers. It works too; crime has plummeted in Chicago since these programs were put in place. What if we were able to blow it up to scale, to put violence into the past? Not just in cities or gangs, but out towards war and genocide?

So after all the violence, how do you heal a community? Laura Waters Hinson, director of "As We Forgive," ask the question: could you forgive someone who killed your entire family? "As We Forgive" is a film about forgiving those who have wronged you - even those who's families and friends were slaughtered. Hinson went to Rwanda in 2005. President Paul Kagami released tens of thousands of genocide killers in 2003, to walk the streets with survivors of the genocide. He sets up a traditional court system, where killers and victims alike would gather in communities and try to reconcile with one another. How does something like that take place? How could you possibly forgive someone for doing that? And yet, it happened, and is still happening. As they say, to err is human; to forgive, divine.

Now it's time for music and ice cream.

Thoughts on Pop!Tech, midday Friday.

2008-10-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

Things noticed today at Pop!Tech:

Critical shortage of power outlets. People are wandering around, looking for a place to plug their laptops in. No luck. I myself am going to run out of power in about a half hour. Bummer.

I sat next to some dock workers at lunch at the Waterfront today. One of them asked me about Pop!Tech, and I showed him my schedule. He said, "Wow, that's some serious &%$#." I agreed.

I saw Malcolm Gladwell sitting in Boynton McKay's.

Popped into Wild Rufus Records. Matt sez, "You should check out Amos Lee when he plays tonight." Asked him if business picks up during the conference; he said, "a little bit."

This is a great place to overhear conversations. Two people behind me are talking about what makes a play or film great; she says the tangible aesthetic qualities, he says the realism. Walking to lunch, two more were talking about the state of nonprofits, and how you differentiate yourself from others so you can stay afloat. Now I'm hearing a lady bitch about the food at our quaint little local restaurants. My Maine blood boils when I hear people from away talk like we're a bunch of slack-jawed yokels. OK. I'm better now.

I'm surrounded by so much intelligence now I don't even know where to begin.

Second session at Pop!Tech, 10.24.08

2008-10-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

This year Pop!Tech announces the launch of Project Masiluleke, an initiative harnessing the power of mobile technology to bring critical resources to victims of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in South Africa. Mailuleke means "hope" and "warm counsel" in Zulu, and it brings together partners iTeach, the Praekelt Foundation, frog designs, Nokia Siemens Networks at the National Geographic Society to help establish the program in South Africa. An estimated 40% of the population in South Africa is infected with HIV/AIDS; less than 2 percent have been tested. Project Masiluleke will help that overwhelmingly underserved demographic by allowing them to download information about getting tested and getting treatment to their cell phones. Nearly 90% of South African have access to cell phones; Project Masiluleke will connect those cell phone users with a network of resources.

Project Masiluleke came out of the connections created at Pop!Tech; it's roots are in the 2006 Pop!Tech, where AIDS in Africa was a key issue. Leetha Filderman of Pop!Tech; Zinny Thabethe, a South African AIDS activist, leader of iTeach, and previous Pop!Tech presenter; Gustav Praekelt of Praekelt Consulting, who created the technology that will mobilize the cell phones; and Robert Fabricant of frog designs all presented today about the project. It's the first effort to come out of the Pop!Tech accelerator, a "social innovation incubator designed to foster breakthrough, interdisciplinary solutions to pressing global challenges." In other words, it's how a design firm, a mobile technology think tank and an activism network in Africa came together to address the AIDS crisis. That's Pop!Tech for you.

First session at Pop!Tech, 10.24.08

2008-10-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

Kushal Chakrabarti is speaking. He is the founder of the Vittana Foundation, an organization the helps high-achieving students in developing nations gain access to funds for college. He's a Pop!Tech fellow, one of a group of innovative people selected by Pop!Tech to talk about the ways in which their work helps the world - education, peace, medicine, technology, etc.

Now, we have Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired Magazine. I love Wired. The intersection of technology, pop culture and information. Anderson sez, "Every abundance creates new scarcity," paraphrased from Herbert Simon. New scarcities - time, money, happiness ("which money can't buy"), attention and reputation. Non-monetary economics. What would that look like? Measureable, finite and convertible to other economic models. That's the internet. The great equalizer. The playing field is leveled. Google information centers. The hyperlink is the foot in the door for reputation-based economics. Reputation-based economics? The hyperlink is reputation based. You're conferring your reputation for someone else, by linking to them. It's the exchange of reputation and goodwill. It helps you and it helps someone else. Reputation economics builds link by link. Oh, the internet. I could say something about Marxism, but I shall refrain.

PS Can I just say I hope I meet Malcolm Gladwell. Didn't get to see him yesterday. So sad. Probably my favorite working journalist at the moment. Anyway.

Now we have Clay Shirky from Digital Freedoms. He sez, Groban, pop rock star, sweet-voiced, emotionally demonstrative and cute, his fans are teenage girls and their grandmas. He couldn't have assembled that audience without the internet on his side. Radio won't play him. Crazy fans - Gronbanites - wanted to get him a birthday present. Pooled money. $75,000 check for the David Foster Foundation. These women were onto something! Asked Josh about it. His lawyers started freaking out. No precendent for this in philanthropy. Lawyers started a 501 (c)3 to "catch the money falling from the sky." Grobanites realized they were good at raising money - didn't need the Groban-approved org. Started Grobanites for Charity. 100% of the donations go to the recipients. The entire thing! Web site looks like 1997. Done by amateurs. Not professionals - done for love. We are used to large institiutions - now we have small, amateur ones. Individual people getting together to do things. Why did the Grobanites separate themselves? Motivation; they were more motivated by doing it on their own, rather than with lawyers and professionals. Community; they all knew each other. Entering an age of digital Krishna consciousness! Ha! Napster made it easy to be generous. Shawn Fanning designed for generosity, making it easy to be generous and making the payoff higher. Our world requires us to be able to share information and ideas freely. The question is - how do you make money? Everything is free. How can our economic model survive this? Web sites are different from businesses. It's generousity. Does it even matter if we can make money off it? Business folks are shocked that people do things like make web sites to share information about cell phones, or pop star fans banding together to raise money for charity, simply because they want to. Not because they want to be rich or famous. How do you design for generosity? There is no recipe. It just happens. Create an environment in which such things flourish. Fame and love are not on the same dial. People are not an aggregated bag of individual motivations, but people with love and desire and kindness.

Another intejection: I was 20 minutes late to this because there was a crazy roadblock in Prospect. Some guy brandished a gun at a cop in Searsport, and now there's a full blown manhunt in Waldo County. Searsport is my home town! Wow.

OK, now we've got Matt Mason, former pirate radio DJ and thinker about our new economic and information dissemination models. He wrote "The Pirate's Dilemma: How Youth Culture Reinvented Capitalism." Abundantly clear things about abundance. If you want to beat piracy, join them. Napster worked; adopt the model, rather than smash it. Record labels are finally grasping that. Pirate radio in London were totally illegal. They had millions of listeners; they were the bad guys, but they had a huge, huge audience at their disposal. Brilliant. Innovative. Popular. If you can't beat them, join them. Good business is the best art. Speaks to what Clay said; a generosity-based system works. People rebel differently - they don't start a band. If you think TV sucks, you start an alternative. Like YouTube. The art of storytelling is changing because of abundance. We communicate differently. Don't let legal ruin a remix. Abundance is better than advertising. Big pharma has a problem with abundancy - developing countries can't pay western prices for meds, so pirates make generic meds. Street pirates complain about digital pirates stealing their business. In economy based on abundance, your business model needs to be a virtuous circle.

Opening remarks @ Pop!Tech 2008.

2008-10-24T05:50:00.000-07:00

@ Yahoo! Video

Hey everyone,

I'm currently blogging from Pop!Tech 2008, here at the Camden Opera House. Don't know what Pop!Tech is? Well, you're not alone: not many people in Maine do. If they did, they might be surprised to learn about all of the progressive, vastly talented individuals who gather here each year to share ideas about the future. It's right around 9 a.m., and things are just getting started here - I'm only here for one day, but the slate of speakers is enough to keep me thinking for weeks. There are presentations about copyright law and creative expression and freedom in the digital age; about Project Masiluleke, the largest ever deployment of mobile devices to provide resources to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis-affected people in Africa; about the worldwide peace movement, and about new frontiers in medicine.

The theme for Pop!Tech this year is "Scarcity and Abundance" - we exist in a world of just that. There are vast resources available to everyone in the world, and yet most of those resources - energy, information, technology - are held by a select few. I'll elaborate more in a moment. Right now, the first speakers are starting, so I've got to cut this post short. If you weren't aware, you can stream the whole thing online at www.poptech.org. Watch along with me, and experience the wealth of information and ideas that will be shared today.

5 things to do this weekend, 10.23.08

2008-10-24T05:49:00.000-07:00

1. "State of the Union" opens this week at the Penobscot Theatre, with shows at 8 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Bangor Opera House. The PTC gets very timely, with a play that details the rise of a candidate during the 1944 presidential election. As you'll notice if you go to the show, not that much really has changed. For more info, visit penobscotheatre.org.

2. Boston-based heavy rockers Prospect Hill play a show at 103 Ultra Lounge in Orono on Friday night, with local bands Wolves Among Sleep, Soul Kill, Again I Rise and Rebel Angel. The show starts at 8 p.m., admission is 10 bucks, and it's all ages.

3. The Devil Music Ensemble visits the Strand Theatre in Rockland again, with their original music score for the 1920 silent film "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," which will be screened at 8 p.m. Saturday night. In the past, the Devil Music Ensemble has in the past performed their original scores for such films as "Nosferatu" and "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" at the Strand, and it's always been a creepy, cool night of sound and image. Admission is $13.50, and for more info www.rocklandstrand.com.

4. Jesus Mary and Joseph, would you believe that the Napper Tandies are playin' at Paddy Murphys in downtown Bangor Friday night? Well you better believe it, cause Maine's finest Irish band will take the stage starting at 9 p.m. that night. Come drink your fill of Guinness and drunkenly sing along to "The Fields of Athenry." For more info, visit www.myspace.com/nappertandies.

5. And finally, for something a little different, at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Recreation Center at the University of Maine, the public is invited to take part in "Thrill the World," an annual worldwide simultaneous dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Cities around the world are participating in the dance, and this year, UMaine is involved. Not clear enough for you? YouTube it. Then show up at the Rec Center at 1 p.m. and get your Thrill on.

5 things to do this weekend, 10.17.08

2008-10-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

1. Ten Bucks Theatre opens its new production, an Evening of One Acts, this weekend, with shows at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Next Generation Theater on Center Street in Brewer. The plays set to be performed include Dorothy Parker's "Here We Are," "The Attempted Murder of Ms. Peggy Sweetwater" by John Ruston and Frank Semarano, and David Mamet's "Duck Variations." Admission, of course, is ten bucks.

2. Jeezum crowe, buddy. She come right round sideways, she does! Hey, I hear that Bob Marley is gonna be at the Bangor Auditorium on Saturday. He's wicked funny, bub. When he does that thing about takin' the skiddoo upta camp and puttin' the hammah down? Hoo buddy, now that is a knee slappah! OK. I can't keep that up too much longer. Bob Marley's at the Auditorium. 7:30 Saturday night. 25 bucks.

3. The Ann Arbor Film Festival comes to College of the Atlantic on Saturday at 8 p.m., featuring a wealth of new and interesting 16mm experimental and independent films from all over North America. Admission is $6, for more info, visit www.aafilmfest.org.

4. 2007's Best House DJ in Portland, DJ MAtty T, will spin at the Red Martini in Bangor Saturday night. Swanky sounds, swanky drinks, swanky dress. Don't miss it.

5. And, rounding out your weekend festivities, get your Halloween on a little early with the Grand Players production of "Dracula," set for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Grand Theater in Ellsworth. It's a super creepy, super action-packed telling of the classic tale, and it's some perfect late fall fun. Admission is $10; for more info, visit www.grandonline.org.

5 things to do this weekend, 10.9.08

2008-10-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

1. The Databass, a WERU DJ and co-founder of the now-legendary Waldo County electronic music festival Beltek, will spin Saturday night at the Red Martini in West Market Square in downtown Bangor. For those not aware, West Market Square is pretty much the place to be on weekends in Bangor, and the Red Martini is a cool, hip but unassuming lounge fit for people from age 21 to 51. Good times. Music starts at 9 p.m.

2. The Belfast Maskets present Sam Shepard's wonderful 1980 play "True West" starting Thursday and running through Sunday at the Maskers Waterfront Theater. Two brothers, a lot of toasters and even more bottled-up anger. Apparently the fight scenes are amazing. Shows are at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, and admission is $12. For more info, call 338-9668.

3. Mushroomhead seem to love Maine. Or maybe Maine loves Mushroomhead. They've played up here multiple times in the past few years. Either way, there's a whole lot of heavy metal lovin' goin' on this weekend at 103 Ultra Lounge in Orono. Sunday night, the costumed metal collective Mushroomhead will play with the Autumn Offering, starting at 8 p.m. It's 18 plus, and tickets are available at Bull Moose Music locations.

4. The American Shakespeare Center brings its acclaimed production of "Hamlet" to College of the Atlantic's Gates Center at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The show employs a lot of physical action and contemporary touches, with a young, energetic cast. Best of all? It's free! For more info, visit www.coa.edu.

5. If you're feeling a little Indiana Jones-ish, might I suggest attending the Archaeology Conference, held at the University of Maine in Orono on Saturday and Sunday? It's not a rock show or a dance party, but it is a pretty cool way to spend your weekend - learning about ancient Andean civilizations from 35 renowned archaeologists and scholars from all over the world. It starts Saturday morning, and runs through Sunday afternoon at Wells Commons Conference Center on the UMaine campus. Admissino is free, for more info, call 581-1889.

Neverending Mix, 10.8.08

2008-10-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

I will openly admit that I am biased towards all-female rock bands. It's not that I don't appreciate music from people of every stripe and background - in fact, one glance at my iPod reveals that I pretty much like literally every kind of music - but when it's music made by exclusively women, well, that just makes me really happy. It should happen more often.

Here are the Vivian Girls. They are from New York City, they make reverb-heavy garage rock-influenced pop with amazing girl-group harmonies, and they are totally badass. This song is called "Where Do You Run To?" from the band's self-titled debut album. And yes - all girls. The album is comprised of two-to-three minute fuzzy, sometimes rather loud pop songs. Sounds like the Jesus and Mary Chain meets the Ronnettes. Which pretty much means I am guaranteed to like it!

Interesting factoid to accompany this post - the name of the band comes from the title of the massive, 15,000+ page manuscript written by outsider artist and author Henry Darger, called "The Story of the Vivian Girls, in What is known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glandeco-Angelinnian War Storm, Caused by the Child Slave Rebellion." Google it. Wild stuff.

5 things to do this weekend, 9.25.08

2008-09-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

1. Check out the Eric Green Party in a really big show at the Bangor Opera House on Friday. Green and his down n' dirty swamp-tastic blues rock band will play at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10, and you get the added bonus of seeing the band play on the set for the Penobscot Theatre's production of "On Golden Pond." Blues rock at an old fashioned Maine camp - kinda cool, huh?

2. The Slightly Off Center players present A. R. Gurney's "Sylvia" starting this weekend at the Center Theatre in Dover-Foxcroft. Come see what happens to a middle-aged husband who is depressed about his work and uninspired in life when a beautiful, vivacious, loving dog enters his life? Are the bonds of matrimony stronger than man's best friend? The show is at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and tickets are $12 at the door.

3. There's another punk rock show at the Worker Center on Ivers Street in Brewer this Friday. Megatime, Grendel's Army, Clinic Bomb, the Slum Lords and a reunited Taco Apocalypse will play starting at 5 p.m. and $5 gets you in the door.

4. The Camden International Film Festival is set for this weekend in locations in Camden, Rockland and Rockport. 20 documentary films about everything from the Iraq War to snow shoeing will be shown on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - for more info and for show times, visit www.camdenfilmfest.org.

5. If you feel like traveling southwards, go check out the crazy dance party that is a set from mash up DJ Girl Talk, who will play at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Gray Athletic Building at Bates College in Lewiston. Girl Talk, a.k.a Greg Gillis, has been known to strip down to his skivvies and lead a pack of partyers out into the streets. That's how much fun his sets are. Tickets are $12, and are available at the door or at batestickets.com.

5 things to do this weekend, 9.18.08

2008-09-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

1: The 32nd annual Common Ground Fair is set for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Unity Fairgrounds. It's the largest fair of it's kind in New England, bringing together farmers, vendors, exhibitors and volunteers to show off the vast array of organic, socially conscious goods and services that we have to offer in our state. That, and there's tons of great music and food to boot. Admission is $10, $8 for seniors and free for kids under 12, and gates open at 9 a.m. all three days. For more information, visit the Maine organic farmers and grower's web site at www.mofga.org.

2: Susan G. Komen's Race for the Cure is set for this Sunday, Sept. 21 starting at 10 a.m. on Front Street on the Bangor Waterfront. Those who wish to run the full 5k race start at 10; a shorter distance 1k walk starts at 10:15. Registration fees start at $20, which of course goes to an incredibly worthy cause - finding a cure for breast cancer. Additionally, on Friday night Susan G. Komen sponsors Blues for the Cure, a big party featuring three blues acts starting at 8 p.m. at Jeff's Catering in Brewer. Tickets are $10 at the door, and bands featured include Sista Sadie, River Bottom Funk and the England Brothers. For more info, visit www.komenmaine.org.

3: Get your metal on at the Kave i Bucksport this weekend, with a show featuring Death Threat, Crown of Kings, Cruel Hand, Bouny By Regret, the Brophy Monster and Thanks for Nothing. Ten bucks at the door, all ages, and it starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday. For more info, visit www.myspace.com/thekave.

4: The International Student's Association at the University of Maine hosts it's semesterly Oronoka party, starting at 10 p.m. Friday at 103 Ultra Lounge in Orono. It's probably the only chance you'll get for the rest of the year to hear dance music from all over the world - from Indian trance to Eastern European house music, from salsa to qawwali. If you like to dance, this is the party you want to go to. Admission is $7, and it's 18 plus, so anyone can go.

5: This isn't exactly eastern Maine, but it's something super cool to do this weekend - and it's something I'm quite distraught over, since I will not be able to make it. Why?, the indie rock-slash-hip hop group on Anticon Records, are playing at the Space Gallery in Portland on Saturday night, along with electro-indie group Alias. Why's album "Alopecia" is one of my favorite albums of the year, and if you feel like taking a trip down south, or will be in that area anyway, I most highly recommend checking it out. Tickets are 8 bucks at Bull Moose Music outlets; for more info, visit www.space538.org.

Neverending Mix, 9.17.08

2008-09-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

Three caveats before I say what I am going to say:

1. This video kind of sucks, though it's in the great tradition of the videos for "One" and other epic, long, plot-driven metal videos.
2. Lars Ulrich is still a greedy, whiny jerk, albeit a greedy, whiny jerk that's an ungodly awesome drummer.
3. I use "St. Anger" as a coaster. A coaster for crappy beer.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, though, here's what I think: "Death Magnetic," the new Metallica album, basically completely rules. They haven't put out a good album since self-titled, and that was 17 years ago, man. The breakdown about 6 minutes into this beast of a single, "The Day That Never Comes," is a glorious, interlocked guitar-packed, thunderous, thrash-y explosion of metal beauty. And it's not the best song on the album. I will never forgive them for their part in setting back digital media several years via their attacks on filesharing, but you know what? Metallica rules. Case closed. Story over. Time to rock out.

5 things to do this weekend, 9.12.08

2008-09-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

1. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals make yet another Maine appearance this weekend, when they take the stage at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Unity Centre for the Performing Arts. The Tickets are 26 bucks, but they're well worth it, because Potter and her band sound like Bonnie Raitt mixed with James Brown, backed by Booker T and the MGs. They're that good. For more info, visit www.unitymaine.org.

2. If you'd rather try something with a little more locally grown spice in it, item numero dos is the dance party hosted by Primo Cubano, a Portland-based Latin orchestra, set for 7 p.m. on Friday at the American Legion Hall on High Street in Belfast. Primo Cubano play son music, the highly syncopated style popularized by the album and film Buena Vista Social Club. Admission to the dance is $10, and there's a rumba lesson from 7 to 8 p.m. before the band starts.

3. The Penobscot Theatre Company kicks off its 35th season with a season opening production of Ernest Thompson's "On Golden Pond," set for 8 p.m. Friday at the Bangor Opera House. An old married couple, their daughter, her boyfriend, his kid and the mailman square off in a fight to the death over who ate all the strawberries. Aw, I'm just kiddin'! The funny, heartwarming family drama runs this weekend and next, and tickets are available at the opera house box office, or by calling 942-3333.

4. Movie buffs should take a trip down east this weekend, as the new Woody Allen film Vicki Cristina Barcelona screens at 7 p.m. nightly at the Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor. At 7 p.m. on Saturday, the annual Black Maria Film Festival rolls into town at the Grand Theatre in Ellsworth, showcasing a number of short films from directors from all over the world. Admission is $10; for more info, visit www.grandonline.org.

5. This weekend brings us BangPop!, Bangor's first comic book convention in more than 10 years, and certainly it's biggest. It's set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at Spectacular Events center on the Griffin Road in Bangor, and the ten dollar admission gets you in to meet lots of Maine's finest artists and writers in the medium, movie screenings, panels and a whole bunch of vendors selling comics both new and rare. For more information, visit www.bangpopmaine.com.

Lindsey Ray in Target commercial.

2008-09-04T13:52:00.000-07:00

You've probably seen this Target commercial on national network television, but did you know that the song in the background was recorded by Lindsey Ray of Belfast? Local girl makes good! Ray, who's living out in Los Angeles working on her burgeoning music career, recorded the song with Tim Myers, a member of the band OneRepublic, for his upcoming EP. Target snagged the catchy little ditty for its new ad campaign. Way to go!

5 things to do this weekend, 9.4.08

2008-09-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

1. First off, for some authentic reggae flavor, go check out the I-Tals, who are set to play at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Strand Theatre in Rockland. Since the mid-70's the three piece group has toured tirelessly, bringing its sweet, Jamaican-grown vocal harmonies to reggae fans the world over. Tickets are $20 at the door; for more info, visit www.myspace.com/theitals.

2. Ring 362 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians will hold its second annual Stage Magic Competition on Saturday at All Souls Congregational Church in Bangor. The competition features such astoundingly fantastic local luminaries as the Amazing Wes Booth and his parlor magic, Professor Miller and his Chinese rings, and, visiting from Massachusetts, up and coming magicians Peter Boie. Local legend Dr. Wilson will open the show by climbing the ladder of swords, and middle eastern dancers from Kahaz Productions will complement the program. Admission is $5, and the show starts at 7 p.m.

3. The Ottawa International Animation Festival's traveling film fest stops at the Grand Theatre Saturday night, starting at 7 p.m. 14 short films from some of the finest animators from around the world will be showcased during the program, ranging from the sweet and simple to the truly bizarre. For more information, visit http://ottawa.awn.com.

4. There'll be plenty of pickin' n' grinnin this weekend at the Paul Bunyan Bluegrass Festival, set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Paul Bunyan Campground on Outer Union Street. Artists set to play include the Adrians, the Katahdin Valley Boys and Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein; for more info and ticket prices, visit www.paulbunyanbluegrass.com.

5. And now, for something completely different. Do you like little dogs? Do you like little dogs in costumes? If yes, then it would behoove you to head down to Wienerfest on Sunday at the Boathouse on the Belfast waterfront. Dachshund owners from around the state will bring their hot dogs to participate in races, games, a costume contest and parade. Whether or not you've got your own dachshund, it'll at least be a ridiculously cute afternoon. Dogs in costumes! Come on! The fun starts at noon, and it's a dollar per person and a dollar per dog. For more info, visit www.geocities.com/belfastwienerfest. Don't believe me? Look at THIS:

That dog is either thrilled, or plotting its owners demise.

5 things to do this weekend, 8.28.08

2008-08-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

1. The Unity Centre for the Performing Arts hosts Boston chanteuse Miss Tess, who, with her band the Bon Ton Parade, plays a fun, engaging blend of ragtime, swing and blues that brings to mind both Billie Holliday and Tom Waits. She takes the stage at 8 p.m., and tickets are $20 – proceeds from which benefit the Unity Barnraisers. For more info, visit www.unitymaine.org.

2. The Blue Hill Fair is one of Maine’s oldest and most beloved fairs – it’s still got a traditional agricultural feel to it, and it’s not overpriced or overshadowed by the midway. This year’s fair opened yesterday, and continues through Monday. Some of the special attractions include musical performances by King Pirogi, the Gilpin Railroad Incident, the Eric Green Party, Flynnville Train, and, most importantly, Rick Charette and the Bubblegum Band! There’s also Timber Tina’s Great Maine Lumberjack Show, comedians, magicians, a pig race, a blueberry pie eating contest and sheep dog trials, in addition to the various agricultural displays. For more info on admission prices and schedules, visit www.bluehillfair.com.

3. For your third thing to do, one of my personal favorite local bands, the always rocking Full Contact Kitty, is set to play Sunday evening at the Belfast Public Library, along with New Hampshire-based gypsy jazz trio Ameranouche and local songwriter Blair Seifkin. Show starts at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $10 in advance at Mr. Paperback in Belfast.

4. Next up, through September 6, College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor will display the fascinating multimedia installation by artist Sam Van Aken, titled “Eden.” Working with a geneticist, Van Aken created his own strain of hybrid seeds, which he then grew inside a greenhouse that became part of the installation. It’s part Frankenstein, and part meditation on how we relate to the natural world. The exhibit is on view Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at COA’s Blum Gallery, for more info, visit www.coa.edu.

5. As it turns out, you get a long weekend, thanks to Labor Day! Celebrate the working man by attending Eastern Maine Labor Council and Food AND Medicine’s Labor Day Solidarity Concert, featuring the likes of the Barncats, Steel Rail Express, Deja Blue, Spare Time and the Working Chorus. $5 gets you in the door, and gets you a locally produced, organic barbecue. The party is set for 4 until 8 p.m. on Monday at the Worker Center on Ivers Street in Brewer. For more info, visit www.foodandmedicine.org.

Bangor Film Fest highlights.

2008-08-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

Two clips from the 28-Eighty Film Shootout, part of the Bangor Film Festival, held two weekends ago at Peakes Auditorium and at the Bangor Opera House. One of the rules of the contest was that the filmmakers were given a prompt that had to be used in the film, and be acknowledged by the characters. This time around, it was the 1950's educational film "Duck and Cover."

"Classified," directed by Joshua LeMay:

"Trippers Through Time," directed by Team No Milton Allowed:

Extreme blog makeover.

2008-08-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

In addition to sprucing up bangordailynews.com (tabs! So many tabs...) we also have moved Rock Blogster off the BDN web site, and onto BlogSpot - so change your bookmarks accordingly. We're now at the much more manageable rockblogsterbdn.blogspot.com, instead of the gobbledy gook that was the old URL.

What else is new? Well, there was the Folk Festival, which was a blast, as always (check out the site tomorrow for some video footage, shot by yours truly and BDN photog John Clarke Russ). We got totally excited about some new shows that are coming up in Maine. We marveled at Michael Phelps' torso. We pulled out a henley from the bottom of the shirt drawer in our dresser, since it's gettin' kinda chilly out there. We fell in love with two new bands - Made Out of Babies and Hercules and Love Affair, who couldn't possibly be more different from one another. And, we did the one thing that makes any summer complete: sat by a bonfire, had a couple frosty cold brews and were bitten mercilessly by mosquitoes. Thanks for rocking with us for the summer of 2008. Hope yours was as good as mine!

Neverending Mix, 8.19.08

2008-08-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

You know what? I don't need any more rain. I'm all set. Seriously. Monday it was all like 85 degrees and sunny and I was wearin' shorts and whatever. Then I wake up this morning and it's monsoon season out there. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.

I think a little John Denver is in order, to appease the rain gods.

Don't worry; I hear it'll be good and hot and muggy for the Folk Festival. Just the way we like it: uncomfortably humid! Isn't that why we live in Maine? For the sheer unpredictable thrill of it? And the low crime rate. And the I-talian sandwiches. Mmmhmm.

5 things to do this weekend, 8.14.08

2008-08-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

1. The third annual Black Fly Ball is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, August 16 at the Machias Grange Hall, during the Machias Blueberry Festival. It's sponsored by the Beehive collection, the super cool activist organization who spent the past five years renovating the Grange Hall into its current state - which is eco-friendly, loyal to its traditional roots and totally beautiful. The Black Fly Ball is one of the wildest, most fun hootenannies you'll experience in Eastern Maine - every year, the Orange River Jazz Band plays good, old-fashioned big band music. The Machias Ukulele Club rocks it Hawaiian style, and that's followed by a punk rock marching band that the Beehive folks bring up each year - this time, it's the What Cheer Brigade, out of Providence, R.I. Partygoers are encouraged to wear costumes; the more ridiculous, the better. It's all ages and chem-free, and it's there's no admission, but donations are gladly accepted. For more info, visit www.machiasblueberry.com.

2. Eric Green and his Party play at the Sea Dog in Bangor Friday night. Drinking is encouraged. Yes.

3. The Bangor Film Festival kicks off tonight at Peakes Auditorium with a screening of John Carptenter's "The Thing" at 7 p.m. There's a short film program tomorrow, also at Peakes, and Saturday the films from this year's 28-Eighty Film Shootout will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Bangor Opera House. For more info, visit www.bangorfilmfestival.com.

4. The Bar Stewards, a.k.a. that totally insane Irish punk band who play at Paddy Murphy's sometimes, are playing Friday night at the Wrong Turn Pub in Kenduskeag. PBR is a dollar. It's a hell of a joint.

5. Starting at noon Saturday, Bangor is going to the dogs: it's the third (or maybe fourth?) annual Dog Day. Come to Pickering Square. See a whole lot of dogs go crazy and chase each other, and see a whole lot of dog owners go crazy and chase each other. It's actually really fun. Check out www.downtownbangor.com for more info.

5 things to do this weekend, 8.7.08

2008-08-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

1. Hot on the heels of the double musical whammy of last weekend (The Shangri-La Festival and the Beltek Festival), there's yet another music fest set for this weekend. The first-ever Up North Festival will kick off on Friday at the Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds in the western Maine town of Hiram. The lineup is so full of jam bands that you won't be able to get the patchouli stink out of Oxford County for weeks. Check out Bob Weir and Ratdog, Umphrey's McGee, the Wailers, Assembly of Dust, Soulive, RJD2 and many more on Friday through Sunday. In all fairness, it's actually quite a stellar lineup of acts, and it's a festival that hopefully will come to be a regular part of the Maine summer music scene. For more info, visit www.upnorthfestival.com.

2. The Penobscot Theatre will present a concert version of "Guys and Dolls" live in Pickering Square in downtown Bangor, starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy some of the area's best voices, as they bring to life the "musical fable of Broadway."

3. Friday night in Bangor, Big Time plays at Paddy Murphy's, starting at 9 p.m., and DJ Emily Bee spins rock n' roll and electro at the Red Martini, starting at 9:30 p.m. Hey, wait a minute. That's me. Whoops. I forgot. Silly moi.

4. Old Grey Goose plays some serious Celtic-style old timey rockin' tunes. They'll play starting at 9 p.m. on Saturday at 3 Tides in Belfast. Pickle martini. Bocce court. Fire place. Quesadillas. Yum.

5. While you're in Belfast, it would totally be worth stopping by Waterfall Arts on High Street to see the two fantastic exhibitions currently on display: Beth Henderson's encaustic paintings, and Avy Claire's "For the Trees," an environmentally-minded installation. For more info, visit www.waterfallarts.org.

Neverending Mix, 8.7.08

2008-08-07T21:28:00.000-07:00

Man. Wolf Parade is so good. I don't think their new album, "At Mount Zoomer," is as good as "Apologies to the Queen Mary," but it's still pretty freaking good. Spencer Krug is a phenomenal songwriter, and for me, that's saying a lot, because as far as I can tell his lyrics don't make any sense. He's just got such an incredible sense of melody and of how to write powerful, anthemic rock songs, without letting it get bogged down by pompousity. And the keyboard sounds are awesome.

Canada! You've got some great indie rock bands. And you have poutine. And standardized health care. And polar bears. I vote that Maine becomes the next province. Whaddya say?