Wilco is scheduled to play an outdoor concert at Thompson’s Point in Portland Aug. 25. Photo by Zoran Orlic

After an eerily quiet 2020, venues all over Maine will be filled with music this year.

There were some small outdoor shows in Maine last year – at drive-ins or musicians’ homes – but this year, indoor venues and large outdoor ones are booking national acts once again.

The summer concert scene is still in flux right now but got a major boost in mid-May when Gov. Janet Mills announced that all venues could welcome back audiences to their full capacities and that fully vaccinated people will no longer have to wear masks as of Monday.

Some smaller venues had already booked a full schedule of summer shows, with limited capacities, and may now sell more tickets. Many of the larger venues were waiting for capacity limits and distancing requirements to be lifted and for national acts to start touring again and are now announcing dates.

Here are some of the highlights of what’s been scheduled so far for pop music concerts this summer. Keep in mind things might change and shows could be added or rescheduled, so call the venue or check their websites for the latest information and any changes to state COVID-19 restrictions.

ROCK OUTSIDE

Thompson’s Point in Portland is an open-air venue on the Fore River with a maximum capacity of 7,500, where audiences spread out on a lawn with folding chairs and blankets. The venue so far has four shows shows scheduled for the summer and early fall with more to be announced in coming weeks, according to Lauren Wayne, who books the venues concert and is also general manager of Portland’s State Theatre.

The indie rock band Lake Street Dive is scheduled for Aug. 21 while influential alt-rockers Wilco come to the venue Aug. 25. The rock band 311 plays Aug. 26 and Maine’s own The Ghost of Paul Revere, known for its holler folk music, will headline on Sept. 4. Deer Tick and fellow Mainers The Mallett Brothers Band will also be on that bill. For the Wilco show, bassist John Stirratt won’t have far to travel, since he owns a home in the midcoast area. Information and a full schedule can be found at statetheatreportland.com.

Two of Maine’s other large outdoor venues – the 8,000-capacity Maine Savings Pavilion at Rock Row in Westbrook and the 16,000-capacity Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor – also have some summer shows scheduled. The promoter, Alex Gray of Waterfront Concerts, said he’s still working out details with band management to make sure those shows happen as planned. The Maine Savings Pavilion schedule features country band Brothers Osborne on July 31 and the Darling’s schedule includes country singers Luke Bryan Aug. 5 and Thomas Rhett Aug. 20. For information and more shows, go to waterfrontconcerts.com.

Folk legend Ramblin’ Jack Elliott will play The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor on July 30. Photo by Dan Dion

THE IN CROWD

The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor will host Maine native Ellis Paul on June 13, pianist Jim Brickman on June 26, singer songwriter Susan Werner on July 8, contemporary folk musician John Gorka on Aug. 20 and Maine folk veteran Dave Mallett on Aug. 28, among others. Folk legend Ramblin’ Jack Elliott will play the opera house July 30, just two days before his 90th birthday. For more information, tickets and more scheduled shows, go to boothbayoperahouse.com. 

The Vinegar Hill Music Theatre in Arundel also has shows planned all summer long and into the fall. They include Livingston Taylor on June 25, pianist George Winston July 2 and 3, singer and actress Linda Eder July 15 and 16, singer-songwriter Martin Sexton on July 18, Joan Osborne – known for her 1995 hit “One of Us” – on July 24 and country musician Larry Gatlin on Aug. 26. The theater also has several driveup evening concerts planned in the parking lot, including Adam Ezra Group on June 19, Recycled Percussion July 8-10, Aztec Two-Step on July 22 and Dar Williams on Aug. 7. For tickets, information and the full schedule, go to vinegarhillmusictheatre.com.

Jonathan’s in Ogunquit will host storytelling musician Tom Rush on June 4, James Montgomery and his Blues Band on June 5 and rock-Celtic-bluegrass band Carbon Leaf on June 12. Enter the Haggis brings its eclectic musical mix to the venue on July 18, and Maine-based folk singer Jonathan Edwards, whose 1971 hit “Sunshine” is still played on radio today, will be there on July 28. For a complete schedule and more information, go to jonathansogunquit.com.

Singer songwriter Joan Osborne will perform at Vinegar Hill Music Theatre in July. Photo courtesy of Vinegar Hill Music Theatre