By Hailee Morin
Special to the Republican
The Arootsakoostik Music Festival returned with a bang to Thomas Park in New Sweden for its third consecutive summer celebration on June 28, drawing a half a dozen venders, 15 bands, and approximately 200 audience members to the show. The festival’s founder Travis Cyr, originally of Van Buren, stated that he was “extremely proud of the event put on. It was a great day of kids and Frisbees, food and art, dogs and ducks, and top-notch musicians from all over our beautiful state.”
Contributed photo/Doug Morin
Members of the band Cursillistas perform at the Arootsakoostik Music Festival on Saturday. Playing, from left, are banjo player Jeremy Robinson, Dawn Marna playing slide guitar, Matt Lajoie on drums, and Ian Page on bass guitar. Lajoie commented that the Arootsakoostik Music Festival was one of the most “visually stunning places” the band has had the pleasure of performing at.
This year the Arootsakoostik Music Festival was able to raise approximately $1,000. Cyr donated $500 to Thomas Park to help with maintenance and improvement, and volunteers replaced several of the benches in the park and worked on the outhouse. The music festival also raised approximately $100 in food items for the New Sweden Baptist Church food pantry. Cyr was also able to offset some of the travel expenses for the musicians, all of which donated their time to play at the event. Last year the music festival raised $350 dollar for the Make a Wish Foundation and $100 for Thomas Park.
The festival also drew a number of highly talented local artists, food venders and craftsmen. Festival-goers could choose from a variety of food items including hamburgers, hotdogs, chili, and onion rings. A Fort Kent-based message therapist was also on hand to give audience members a chance to relax in her massage chair and receive a massage. Audience members clearly enjoyed the festival, and children and adults could be seen swinging on the swing set and playing Frisbee, hacky-sack, and tag.
Some of the musical highlights at this year’s festival were the performances given by the singer songwriter Frank Hopkins and the alterative rock band Dead End Armory.
The popular Portland-based band DEA made the five-hour drive north to headline in this year’s festival after being contacted earlier in the year by Cyr. The band’s front man Wesley Hartley stated that this was DEA’s “first performance in Aroostook County.”
The four-man band, consisting of Hartley, guitarist Mike O’Connor, drummer Chris DiBiasio, and bassist Ron Harrity, splashed onto the southern Maine music scene in 2005 playing original cutting edge tunes like “Wooden Overcoats” and “Baggage.” They were signed by the Portland based recording studio Peapod Recordings in spring 2007, and released their first full length album “Hope Your Good” a little over a year later. The album is currently available online, and at Bull Moose Music stores. Hartley stated that he and his band enjoyed the festivals “beautiful location, and relaxing vibe,” and they hope scheduling will allow them to participate again next year.
Another highlight of this year’s festival was the edgy, jazz infused sound produced by the multitalented musician and vocalist Frank Hopkins. Hopkins participated in Arootsakoostik last year as a solo act, and this year he returned to play with two bands “Frank Hopkins and the Line of Force” and “Adam and the Waxmen.”
In addition to performing, Hopkins proved himself invaluable as he doubled as the festival’s soundman. Hopkins stated that Arootsakoostik Music Festival is his “favorite gig all year.”
Like many of the musicians participating in the festival, Hopkins has special ties to Aroostook County as he was raised in Fort Kent. After leaving Fort Kent, Hopkins worked with a number of bands included Big D and the Kids’ Table, Subject Bias, and Strange Pleasure. He has released two CDs over the course of his musical career, and he was recently signed as a solo artist with Cat and Mouse Records. His newest musical creation, “American Dreams” will be released on CD later this summer. He commented that “the caliber of talent [at Arootsakoostik] is unbelievable.”
Cyr encourages folks to mark the festival on their calendar for next year, stating that he “thinks it’s very important that people and business from the area support and encourage this type of event, so that [Arootsakoostik and events like it] can continue to take place.” He added that he would “like to thank all of Arootsakoostik’s sponsors as well as all of the audience members that came out to the festival.”
For more information about Arootsakoostik Music Festival, visit www.myspace.com/amusicfest.
Contributed photo/Doug Morin
Members of the band Adam and the Waxmen, Mike Chasse, center, and Adam Waxman, share a musical moment with keyboardist Frank Hopkins.
Contributed photo/Doug Morin
Boston musician Audrey Ryan, originally of Mount Desert Island, sings her original tune entitled “People” at the Arootsakoostik Music Festival on June 28. About 200 people attended the concert at the outdoor venue. A total of $1,000 was raised during the concert, and $500 was donated to town officials for the upkeep of Thomas Park.
Contributed photo/Doug Morin
Arootsakoostik Music Festival organizer, Travis Cyr, wows the crowd when he performs a controversial number at the New Sweden festival.
Contributed photo/Doug Morin
Tree by Lead keyboardist, Cliff Young, rocks the crowd at the Arootsakoostik Music Festival in New Sweden on June 28.
