Maine’s near-legendary folk king, David Mallett, returns to the Boothbay Harbor Opera House this summer with his band. On Thursday, July 20, this songwriter and troubadour brings his classic Americana music to the historic stage.

Of Mallett The New York Times says, “He harks back to the earnest ambitions and heartfelt melodies of Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, singing with the conviction that folk can still be heroic.”

In a career spanning four decades, he has recorded 17 albums, had several hundred covers of his songs, including the American folk classic Garden Song (inch by Inch, Row by Row] and performed in clubs, concert halls and festivals across the US, Canada and Europe. He has appeared on numerous broadcasts, including National Public Radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion.”

Known for his carefully written, poetic offerings, his body of work has provided material for an eclectic list of artists that includes Alison Krauss, Pete Seeger, Hal Ketchum, Emmylou Harris, John Denver and the Muppets.

Advance discounted tickets are $25 and are available directly from the box office at 86 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor, or by calling 207-633-5159. Regular tickets are $30 and available online at boothbayoperahouse.com. Doors for seating open at 7 p.m. and the band goes on stage at 7:30.