BELFAST — The Huddled Masses Orchestra (Maine's only Serbian-style brass band) and Kotwica (Armenian dance band from Bar Harbor) with Chris Rocciotti, Carolyn Rapkievian and special guest stars offer an alternative end-of-year daytime family-oriented dance party and solstice celebration, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m., at Belfast UU Church, 37 Miller Street, Belfast.

In traditional cultures they celebrate solstice to coax the days to lengthen once more, which after all, is the flip side of long nights. The Huddled Masses Orchestra and Kotwica will play for a daytime event on the 29th as a prelude to the big bash of "Last Night" on the 31st.

"Belfast has a terrific participative dance community, with many persons who enjoy a chemfree community event," said Joe Niemczura, leader of the Huddled Masses Orchestra, in a news release. "We play a lot of summer festivals, and our tunes originated in rural European villages where people are close to the annual cycles of the earth. We will guide the audience in how to do circle and line dances that reinforce that sense of community. It's a low-cost family event."

The Huddled Masses Orchestra is a ten-member brass band from Midcoast Maine. They are the only Serbian-style brass band in the whole state of Maine.

"In Serbia, brass music is a 'thing,'" said Niemczura. 

The country hosts the annual Trumpet Festival in the rural town of Guca, which attracts 400,000 people. Serbia was part of the Ottoman Empire, and the music reflects this by using minor keys and odd time signatures. The melodies are earworms and fun to play. People dance in lines or circles and often sing along.

For this event, the dancing will be assisted by Chris Rocciotti, of Searsmont.

"People know Chris as a contradance caller but his knowledge of traditional dance is also an asset," said Niemczura. "He makes it easy for people to join in. It's as if he is the local tour guide to show you all the fun stuff when you travel."

Kotwica has seven members. David and Carolyn Rapkievian draw on folk music from many countries, but specialize in Armenian style. Their band has been a mainstay at the annual Armenian Festival every summer in Searsport. They play regularly at the Bar Harbor YMCA. 

Admission is $10 max per family. Adults $6, students are $5. Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. It's chemfree. Bring a snack. Wear comfortable shoes. 

You can find The Huddled Masses Orchestra on FaceBook. 

FMI: call (808) 352 1714 or find The Huddled Masses Orchestra on FaceBook.