Boreal Theater Spring Music Festival

Erica Brown & the Bluegrass Connection, Gus La Casse, The Yellow Sun Wreckers, and Mark Miller!

When: Noon. Where: Under the tent at Millinocket Heritage Park. $10.00 admission to support the arts!

Biographies:

Erica Brown and The Bluegrass Connection

Erica Brown and The Bluegrass Connection is a five-piece band featuring some of the finest musicians in New England. The band features award winning fiddler and singer Erica Brown, Matt Shipman on mandolin, Lincoln Meyers on guitar, Eli Gilbert on banjo and Kris Day on bass. A fun and energetic band, they incorporate a unique and diverse blend of original and traditional music from their Bluegrass, Folk and Country influences. As a band of renowned and respected musicians in their own right, together they form a bluegrass powerhouse of vocal and instrumental expertise that have delighted audiences all over the Northeast and Canada. Their latest album “Blue Pine Moon” has been well received by fans, critics and musicians alike. The album contains thoughtful, original songs from both Shipman and Brown and other carefully chosen songs from the Bluegrass tradition. Grammy award winning bluegrass songwriter Rick Lang says it is a “…must have for any lover of good Bluegrass music!” Some 2022 performance highlights include performing at the Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival and a collaboration with The Bangor Symphony Orchestra in which they performed 3 of their original songs with the Orchestra at the Kingfield Pops. “…real and honest music…”- The Gibson Brothers“… a stellar band featuring some of the finest pickers you could hope to find.”- Joe K. Walsh

For more information, please visit:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EBandtheBC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebandthebc/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BluegrassConnection
Bandcamp: https://ericabrown.bandcamp.com/releases

Website: https://www.ericabrownonline.com

Gus La Casse

“…a natural-born fiddle player…whose energy would power a small city.”
-Peter Sutherland,
Artistic Director, Young Tradition Vermont

Described as a “passionate and masterful player who values tradition” Gus La Casse is exploring the future of fiddle music.   His repertoire reflects his innovative spirit and dedication to the Cape Breton and Acadian fiddle traditions, playing both standards of the genre and original material.

Based in Downeast Maine, Gus maintains an active performance schedule as a solo artist with journeyman gigs along the way.

Gus’ music has also taken him beyond Maine. He was the 2014 student in residence at The Acadia School of Traditional Music, appearing on the Canadian international television broadcast from the Congrès Mondial Acadien 2014. He traveled to Ireland as part of the Young Tradition Vermont touring group in 2016, and has enjoyed playing the legendary Club Passim in Cambridge, MA.  In 2018 Gus was a featured performer at the American Folk Festival in Bangor, Maine.

https://www.guslacasse.com/

https://www.facebook.com/guslacassefiddler/

https://www.instagram.com/guslacasse/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMa7kHUEmqfxklIMMCDta-g

The Yellow Sun Wreckers

Renee St. Jean – lead vocals and rhythm guitar

Renee is the band’s leader. The name “Yellow Sun Wreckers”, an homage to the classic discs issued by Yellow Sun Records, reflects Renee’s deep musical roots in classic country-western, bluegrass, and rock and roll. The band’s repertoire features her powerfully expressive singing – sometimes sweet and low, sometimes belting blues – and driving guitar playing.

Frank Fotusky – lead guitar and vocals

Frank’s virtuosic electric guitar, soaked in rocking blues and always tasteful and faithful to what the music calls for, is a highlight of the Yellow Sun Wreckers’ sound. A nationally-known acoustic guitar picker in the Piedmont blues tradition, Frank frequently performs solo when not with the Wreckers.

Kim Chasse – drums

Kim’s a veteran of the Maine music scene.  A drummer’s drummer, Kim lays it down rock-steady and grooving, no fuss, no muss. Kim’s regarded as the band’s most amiable and affable member.

Todd Burrowes – bass

Rocking steady, Todd’s electric bass helps anchor the band’s rhythm section.  Todd has diverse musical tastes and interests and enjoys playing steel drum, arranging music for steel band, and composing instrumental music.

Ben DeTroy – mandolin and vocals

A fluid and creative improviser, Ben’s a well-known, highly-regarded mandolin player in the Maine bluegrass world. When not leading his newgrassy band, Bald Hill, Ben sometimes joins the Wreckers for its more acoustic or bluegrass- oriented gigs.

Mark “Guitar” Miller

Mark “Guitar” Miller – Considered by many as one of the best bluesmen in the country. Born in the northern Maine town of Houlton and raised in East Millinocket, Maine, Mark has been playing guitar since he was six years old, and for more than 45 years Mark Miller made his living by playing guitar.

In the early days, he played with his brothers on the porch. In high school he had a band playing top 40.  Later he played with a number of prominent bands as a “hired gun,” did studio work for numerous CDs, then he came back to Maine where he has reigned over the music scene ever since.

For more information, please visit: facebook.com/markguitarmiller

Welcome to the Boreal Theater. Located at the gateway to Millinocket’s downtown, the Boreal Theater is far more than a 48-seat black box community theater. With “community” placed at the heart of its design, the convertible space also function as a:

– Community meeting space
– Education & healing space for groups & individuals
– Art gallery
– Rental space for events
– Prominent downtown gateway presence

Boreal Theater is excited to be working with neighboring non-profit organizations to contribute to our downtown development and vibrancy. We are always looking for sponsors for our shows. If you’re a local business or individual call us 207-560-5256 or 207-249-5786. Your company or cause will appear in our advertising and programs.