Ray Routhier

Staff Writer

Ray Routhier has written about pop culture, movies, TV, music and lifestyle trends for the Portland Press Herald since 1993. He is continually fascinated with stories that show the unique character of Maine’s people and places. He’s written about why so many businesses use the made-up word “Mainely” in their names, how you can trace Portland’s history through its various smells and why Mainers lament the loss of Portland-made B&M baked beans. He’s interviewed a wide variety of filmmakers, actors, musicians and authors, including Patrick Dempsey, Tony Shalhoub, Richard Russo, Tess Gerritsen, Tony Bennett, Anna Kendrick, and Stephen King. His passions, besides writing, include baseball history, old movies and “Jeopardy!” A native of Manchester, New Hampshire, he graduated with a degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire. He lives in South Portland with his wife and two children.

Uncategorized

Off Beat: ‘Clown’ show puts hip-hop, Phil Collins in same tent

by Ray Routhier August 9, 2012

First, there’s the pulsing beat of Insane Clown Posse’s hard-core hip-hop songs. Then there are the costumed performers spewing profanity at the audience one minute and spraying Old Spice cologne into the air to “create a safe space for masculinity” the next. And at some point in the show, the softer sounds of Dan Fogelberg […]

Uncategorized

Some ‘tomfoolery,’ but so far Music at the Track a winner

by Ray Routhier August 9, 2012

Oxxfest is the second concert in the new Music at the Track series at Scarborough Downs, started this year by Bangor-area music promoter Alex Gray of Waterfront Concerts. The first show was a hip-hop festival headlined by rapper Wiz Khalifa on July 31, which attracted more than 6,000 people. About 20 people at that show […]