NEW SWEDEN, Maine – A Maine music festival that began with an Aroostook-based musician will mark a milestone year this Saturday.
On July 13, Arootsakoostik will once again bring a range of musical talents to Thomas Park in New Sweden.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of Travis Cyr, an Aroostook-based folk musician, starting the festival in 2007. With the festival having taken 2017, 2020 and 2021 off, that makes 2024 the 15th year, Cyr said.
Cyr grew up near Van Buren and currently lives in New Sweden. He started the festival as a way to bring Maine’s most popular and diverse artists to Aroostook. Past acts have included The Mallett Brothers Band and Ghosts of Paul Revere, among other folk, rock and bluegrass musicians.
Starting at noon and going until 8 p.m., Saturday’s lineup will feature Cyr, Madawaska native Dominic Lavoie and his psychedelic rock band Full-On Voltron, former Ghosts frontman Griffin William Sherry, bluegrass band Tricky Britches, Portland band Rigometrics, Portland Americana band Dark Hollow Bottling Company, Liberty native Sara Trunzo, Caribou native Emily Irving, Americana and country duo Jaded Ravins, and Portland-based indie rock artist Jeff Beam.
Early weather forecasts are predicting a 30-percent chance of showers, but Cyr said that the festival will only be canceled if thunderstorms occur. Temperatures could reach 85 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Caribou.
“We won’t let the weather spoil our good time,” Cyr said. “We’ll prepare for whatever rain or extreme heat comes our way.”
Gates open at 11 a.m. and tickets will be sold for $30. Children under 10 years old get in free, according to the festival’s Facebook page. Several County food trucks – The Sizzle Shack, Fork in the Road, Cheri’s Wiener Wagon, Harper’s Brain Freeze and Storiboard Coffee will be selling food and drinks throughout the afternoon.
