For the past two years, this cozy downtown bar has hosted a diverse array of live music from around the state. Located in the same building as the Trade Winds Motor Inn, you’ll be as likely to see tourists from away as you will locals blowing off some steam after work. The owners have put a lot of work into booking a regular lineup of live music all year-round, and it shows: consistency is the key, and the Speakeasy’s got it. Coming up in the next few weeks, the place will host the Jesse Feinberg Project, a jazz group, on Aug. 7, Cuban band Primo Cubano on Aug. 8, Portland reggae band Roots, Rhythm & Dub on Aug. 14 and the Mojo Orchestra on Aug. 15. It’s located at 2 Park Drive near the Rockland Waterfront.
While this music and events venue might not have a great deal of consistency in terms of regular programming, it makes up for it in making it count when there are shows. Several times a month the Mezzenine Social Club — located within Zen Asian Bistro on Main Street in bustling downtown Bangor, in the spacious upstairs part of the building — features big lineups of Maine bands, from local metal bands like Holy Filth, Manic Abraxis and Bellyache (who are playing on Aug. 28), to indie rock and experimental bands from all over New England (like last weekend, July 31), to hip hop nights and EDM nights, as well as comedians and other events. Want to book your own show? Give Mezzenine Social Club an email at mezzsoc.207@gmail.com.
Strong Brewing Company, Sedgwick
Though this is still a warmer-months-only kind of venue, between June and October Strong Brewing Company hosts a huge array of Maine bands on its outdoor patio and stage, along with food provided by Blaze Restaurant’s catering truck and, of course, lots of delicious craft beer. Coming up at Strong Brewing, located just off Route 176 at 7 Rope Ferry Road in Sedgwick, there’s music from the 220s on Aug. 7, Not Too Far From The Tree on Aug. 14, the Blood Orange Martinis on Aug. 21 and a special two-year anniversary party featuring When Particles College on Aug. 29.