DAMARISCOTTA — The Damariscotta River Association’s Midcoast Music Fest is back this July with some longtime favorite musicians as well as some great newcomers. The Jason Spooner Band with The Beat Horizon start the festival off on Thursday, July 17. David Mallett with Heather Hardy, and Anna Pillsbury takes the stage on Saturday, July 19. Wrapping up the festival are The Mallett Brothers Band (with Amy and the Engine, and Joe Gallant and the Transit) on Thursday, July 24.

Tickets and details are available online at the festival website www.midcoastmusicfest.com. 

The festival kicks off with an evening of dancing at Darrows barn as Portland’s own Jason Spooner Band takes the stage on Thursday, July 17. The Jason Spooner Band brings together the talents of Jason Spooner on lead vocals and guitar, Adam Frederick on bass and vocals, Reed Chambers on drums and  Warren Mcpherson on keyboards and vocals. 

The band’s latest studio album has been featured heavily on Sirius/XM’s The Loft channel, on NPR’s All Things Considered and at over 11,000 Starbucks retail locations nationwide. In addition to glowing recent press in High Times Magazine and USA Today, the band was named one of Relix Magazine’s “On The Verge – Bands you should know.” At last year’s festival the band’s unique blend of roots, blues, funk and folk made dancing irresistible. Toward the end of the show, the entire audience was on its feet, yet a cross-breeze coming up from the river kept the barn cool.  

Opening for The Jason Spooner Band will be The Beat Horizon. Formed in 2007, The Beat Horizon combines diverse musical influences to create a unique, high-energy sound. Funk, soul, reggae, ska, hip-hop, latin, afrobeat and straight ahead rock & roll all find their way into the mix. The Beat Horizon never fails to get a crowd on its feet and moving. 

David Mallett, one of America’s and Maine’s true original troubadours takes the stage on Saturday, July 19 for a relaxing summer evening in the barn. In a career spanning four decades, he has recorded 14 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 U.S, Canada and Europe. Although it is rooted in place, his music speaks to the essential things that move us all. Mallett knows the factory work, the field work, the memories of summer dances, the loves and losses, and the stunning incidents of courage and despair. 

New to the Midcoast Music Fest this year are two Maine singer/songwriters who will open the show back to back for Mallett – Heather Hardy and Anna Pillsbury. Hardy is co-host of the DRA Round Top Coffee House in Damariscotta. Winner of the 2013 Maine Songwriting Competition and 2nd place winner of the 2012 New England Songwriting Contest, Hardy is a singer-songwriter living in Bristol. She plays guitar and baritone ukulele, and has a blast playing her guitar like a stand-up bass. Heather blends her unique voice with rich melodies, often highlighting mouth trumpet instrumentals in her songs. 

Pillsbury is a natural-born songwriter and new talent on the rise in the local Maine music scene. With a soothing, intimate voice and an acoustic guitar, her original songs combine a perfect blend of honesty, humor, and charm that are both fun and empowering to listen to. Her music draws inspiration from folk pop as well as the singer/songwriter genre and is brimming with catchy melodies and witty lyrical content that make her style unique.  

Just days after their father held the stage The Mallett Brothers Band will wrap up the festival on Thursday, July 24. An alt-country/rock band from Portland, The Mallett Brothers Band draw from an array of influences including rock and roll, folk, blues, bluegrass, neo-traditional and classic country and even punk, Led by brothers Luke and Will Mallett, the band is rounded out by Brian Higgins on drums, Nick Leen on bass, Wally on dobro and electric guitar and Nate Soule on electric and acoustic guitars and mandolin. The Mallett Brothers Band was named best band in New England, and received best album in New England for "LAND" at the New England Music Awards. 

Also new to the festival stage this year and opening for The Mallett Brothers Band are Amy and The Engine, featuring Amy Allen. Self-described as "indie-folk-pop," the band features the songwriting of Amy Allen. Now touring in New England for the 2014 summer season, Amy & The Engine's debut single, "I Got You," will be released to radio in mid-July and a highly anticipated six-song EP will be completed in the fall of 2014. 

In addition to Amy and the Engine, Joe Gallant and The Transit (JG+T) will also open for The Mallett Brothers Band. JG+Tis a four piece alt-country rock act based out of Portland. Drawing from an influence of country, blues and rock, JG+T keeps their audience dancing and singing along throughout their latest release "The Rise and The Fall." 

The Midcoast Music Fest is known for its great music as well as its dedication to bringing local restaurants serving delicious food, oysters and beverages.

The 2014 shows will be no different, with food and beverages available for sale at each show from one of the following local restaurants: Newcastle Publick House, Damariscotta River Grill and King Eiders Pub. Additionally, this year the festival will feature beer from sponsor Baxter Brewing Company.
The Midcoast Music Fest supports the conservation and education work of the Damariscotta River Association.

Tickets are available at www.midcoastmusicfest.com, DRA headquarters at 110 Belvedere Road in Damariscotta, and at Maine Coast Book Shop & Café in Damariscotta. 

The Damariscotta River Association is a non-profit membership supported organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the natural, cultural, and historical heritage of the Damariscotta River, its watershed, and adjacent areas for the benefit of all. DRA has active programs in the areas of land conservation, stewardship, community education, water quality monitoring, marine conservation and cultural preservation. Visitors are welcome at the Great Salt Bay Heritage Center in Damariscotta as well as the many other DRA properties throughout the region. For more information call 207-563-1393, email dra@damariscottariver.org, or view their web site at www.damariscottariver.org