HOULTON — McGill’s Community Band is gearing up for a summer of concerts under the direction of bandleader Kevin Mania. This year will mark a special milestone as the group celebrates 30 years of music.
All concerts will begin at 7 p.m. at the Houlton Amphitheater in Monument Park.
Contributed photo
GETTING READY — McGill’s Community Band is gearing up for it’s 30th year of performing music in Houlton’s Monument Park.
Performances are scheduled as follows:
Thursday, June 18: Ice Pops Night, sponsored by Machias Savings Bank.
Thursday, June 25: Balloon Night, sponsored by Katahdin Trust Co.
Friday, July 3, Houlton Military Covenant/Midnight Madness concert.
Saturday, July 4: The band will play in the Fourth of July parade, which begins at 10 a.m. Band members will gather at Houlton High School.
Thursday, July 9, Balloon Night, sponsored by The County Federal Credit Union.
Thursday, July 16, Rotary Balloon Night and Books for Kids.
Thursday, July 23, Popcorn Night, sponsored by Gardiner Health Care Facility.
Thursday, July 30, Popcorn and Photo Night, sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank.
Thursday, Aug. 6, Balloon Night, sponsored by TD Bank.
Thursday, Aug. 13, Balloon Night, sponsored by F.A. Peabody Co.
Thursday, Aug. 20, Band Party Night/Houlton Community Arts Center/Houlton High School.
McGill’s Community Band was founded in 1985 by David McGillicuddy. Michael Clark serves as band manager, and actually had a large hand in the construction of the amphitheater, which was completed in 1998.
Excited about having an amphitheater in the park, which would give McGill’s and any other group a place to perform, Clark built a scale model of how the building would look. He told the Houlton Rotary Club about the project, and they said they would help if the Town Council approved.
Clark and Bruce Glick presented the idea to the council, who gave their approval as long as two trees in the park were not cut. The Rotary Club took on the project. Rotarian Peter Chase said his construction company would build it. It took two years to get the money needed from the annual Rotary Auction, and two sound engineering companies from Portland donated their assistance at no charge.
The finished amphitheater has a built-in sound system and electrical outlets and lighting, which were donated in part by the Houlton Water Company.
For more information on McGill’s Community Band or for cancellations, check mcgillsband.com or listen to WHOU.
