NEW SWEDEN, Maine — In its eighth year, Arootsakoostik saw around 700 patrons for its annual Thomas Park performance — which Fort Kent native Nate Cyr of Dominic and the Lucid says is a good number.
Cyr and his predominantly Aroostook-based band mates made the trek up from Portland to participate in the inceptive Arootsakoostik eight years ago, and he’s watched the festival grow over the years.
“If it got any bigger, it would have to go somewhere else,” he said.
But with a bit of luck, event organizer Travis Cyr of Van Buren hasn’t had to worry about outgrowing the scenic New Sweden venue.
“I’d be happy if this was as big as we got — I said that last year, I said that the year before,” he said of the crowd that seems to be holding steady around the 700-person line. “I don’t know what we’d do if we got any bigger, but we’re staying around the same size.”
First-time festival-goers Ras Wilson and Michael Prasad, both originally from Hartford, Conn., had thoughts about what they’d find at the park — Prasad was expecting a packed summer concert and Wilson was under the impression that only a handful of cars would be there, but they were both pretty satisfied with the scene they found.
“I’ve been to outdoor concerts, and this one is more chill,” Wilson said. “Good music, friendly people, beautiful scenery — it’s something a lot of people should take in, and that’s the truth.”
Rebecca Dean, from Presque Isle, was also a first-time Arootsakoostik attendee, and her love of jam-band style music made for a pretty great afternoon. Dean works at The Aroostook Medical Center and had never even been to Thomas Park — but one of the surgeons kept nagging her to go to Arootsakoostik.
“He was at me for a month to come see the festival, so I did — and I love it,” she said late afternoon, laughing at the fact that she hadn’t even seen her coworker all day long.
Though the point of the festival is to hear some great music, attendees had a chance to make music of their own on Saturday afternoon. Heading down one of the little side trails at the park, Van Buren native Matt LaJoie set up microphones in the trees and invited everyone to make noise that he would turn into a musical recording.
“There were flutes and drums, some people brought harmonicas, a dog came along and barked into the microphone,” LaJoie described.
“And I made the ‘yeah’ sound!” interjected 6-year-old Joshua David Smith of Van Buren, who was tapping away at a drum next to LaJoie.
Smith paused waiting for the cassette tape (yes, cassette tape) to signify his arrival in the music, and perked up when the audio hit a strikingly noisy note.
“That was me!” he said.
LaJoie has made a similar tape at Arootsakoostik before, but this was the first year he offered open mic participation for the audience members — which he said felt really good.
“Sometimes people think to be a musician, you need to have training or you really have to practice, but really the root of it is,”
“You can just make a bunch of loud sounds!” interjected the neighboring 6-year-old, still banging away on a drum.
“Absolutely,” LaJoie encouraged, “That’s music. Anyone can participate and express themselves, and that’s what I wanted to bring to this festival.”
Back when LaJoie was around 6, it was none other than Arootsakoostik organizer Cyr who first acquainted him with music.
“Travis was one of the first musical influences on me: he was my summer rec coach and he introduced me to Neil Young when I was maybe six years old,” LaJoie said with a laugh.
While the festival has gained notoriety with performers across the state, Cyr has a bit of notoriety himself.
“Travis is awesome,” said Alicia Schenk of Fort Kent, owner of Sally Bateau, which sells handcrafted soaps and lotions. She’s set up shop at the festival for half a decade, and Arootsakoostik’s pull brings her back every year.
“I love the music, I love the people, and it’s just a perfect environment,” she said.
But when Arootsakoostik was in its infancy, Cyr didn’t anticipate the festival growing to its current state.
“We were always just looking to the next one and never thought this far down the line,” he admitted. One of the most pleasant changes he’s seen over the years was the family involvement.
“Some of the bands and the people who’ve been involved year after year — we’ve all had kids, and the kids come along to the festival, so I’m not only seeing my friends, but my friends’ kids,” he said. “It’s truly become like a family reunion … the sense of community we’ve created has been mind boggling and the biggest, most unexpectedly pleasant thing.”
For the children of Jack and Liz Murray of Portland, Arootsakoostik attendance is almost a birthright; little Ethan Murray was 6-weeks old, serenely cradled in the nook of his dad’s arm while dad ran the sound booth during the festival.
It was clearly the first festival for the newborn — and a few years ago, it was the first festival for his older brother, Sebastian.
Jack Murray is a Fort Kent native, and he’s been working the Arootsakoostik sound booth for six years now.
“I just love the festival,” he said.
Family is an important aspect of Arootsakoostik … after all, Cyr’s father in law Jeff Lagasse of Caribou has been volunteering at the show for seven years. He was busy on Saturday helping vehicles find parking spaces at the crowded park, but he had fantastic things to say about the festival, its music and the spectators.
“They’re happy, they’re relaxed, and they all love music,” he said.
