Maine touring acts roundup, September-November 2013

State Theatre, Portland

Friday the 13th brings the uplifting sounds of Michael Franti and Spearhead (pictured) to Portland yet again. On Sept. 20 you can check out Hinder and Candlebox, on Sept. 22 there’s roots rockers Dawes with songwriter Jonathan Rice, and on Sept. 28 there’s jam favorites Strangefolk. In October, the man, the myth, the legend, “Weird” Al Yankovic is set for Sept. 7, followed by Flux Pavilion Oct. 8, Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull on Oct. 13, and two nights with the Black Crowes on Oct. 15 and 16. October wraps up with Fitz & the Tantrums on Oct. 26, followed by Dweezil Zappa on Nov. 1, the Yonder Mountain String Band on Nov. 2, Bullet For My Valentine, the Black Veil Brides and others on Nov. 3, and Matt Nathanson and Joshua Rabin on Nov. 8.

Port City Music Hall, Portland

It’s definitely going to be hard to keep up with all the stuff set for Port City Music Hall, now that it’s under the management of the State Theatre and Lauren Wayne. To start with September, there’s soulful rockers JJ Grey & Mofro on Sept. 12, Black Joe Lewis with local rockers Murcielago on Sept. 13, One More Time: A Tribute to Daft Punk on Sept. 14, 90s rockers Toad the Wet Sprocket with the Ryan Montbleau Band on Sept. 18, Delta Rae on Sept. 20, and electronic musician Ott with Anomie Belle on Sept. 22.

October heats up further, with The Last Bison on Oct. 1, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad on Oct. 4, Toubab Krewe and the Beat Horizon Oct. 5 and Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr (pictured above) on Oct. 6. Once that long run of shows is over, there’s Vanessa Carlton on Oct. 11, Conspirator and Higher Organix on Oct. 12, A Great Big World Oct. 14, The English Beat Oct. 17 and Kung Fu Oct. 18. Mike Doughty returns to Portland yet again on Oct. 20, Donna the Buffalo and Adam Ezra are set for Oct. 24, and the always fun Lazerdisk Party Sex will get down on Oct. 25. Bronze Radio Return is set for Nov. 1, and Lucero and Titus Andronicus play on Nov. 10.

Asylum, Portland

10,000 Maniacs take the stage at the Asylum on Sept. 20. The always enjoyable Robert Randolph and the Family Band (pictured) are set for Sept. 21, a double dose of 90s rock with Fountains of Wayne and Soul Asylum are slated for Sept. 27, and the Misfits, sans Glenn Danzig, are set for Oct. 7. Ed Roland from Collective Soul and his band, the Sweet Tea Project, play on Oct. 11, Rickie Lee Jones is set for Oct. 19, and rockers Prospect Hill close out the month on Oct. 25.

Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield

Out in western Maine, country songwriter Suzy Bogguss performs on Sept. 13, the Sweetback Sisters are set for Sept. 27, and a rare opportunity to see an array of some of the greatest banjo players currently working – like Tony Trishka and Noam Pikelny – at Bela Fleck’s Banjo Summit (pictured) on Oct. 8. Ellis Paul and Antje Duvekot are set for Nov. 1, Martin Sexton plays on Nov. 2, Marcia Ball takes the stage on Nov. 9, the Duhks and Hoots & Hellmouth are slated for Nov. 10, and road warrior Ani DiFranco performs on Nov. 13.

Waterville Opera House, Waterville, and The Grand Theatre, Ellsworth

Maine’s small theaters have several fun shows coming up this October, including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on Oct. 3 at the Waterville Opera House, Noel Paul Stookey, Dave Mallett and others at the WERU 25th anniversary concert on Oct. 6 at the Grand Theatre in Ellsworth, and the Robert Cray Band on Oct. 27, back at the Waterville Opera House.

Emily Burnham

About Emily Burnham

Emily Burnham is a Maine native, UMaine graduate, proud Bangorian and a writer for the Bangor Daily News, where she's worked since 2004. She reports on everything from local bands to local food to all the cool things going on in the Greater Bangor area. In her quest for stories, she's seen countless concerts and plays, been lobster fishing, interviewed celebrities, hung out with water buffalo and played in a ukulele orchestra. She's interested in everything that happens in Maine.