The crash of surf on the rocks. The cry of a loon gliding over a lake. The gentle lilt of amplified guitars floating into the night sky.
The sounds of summer in Maine are hard to match. Especially if you’re a music fan.
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Lots of clubs and restaurants in Maine take advantage of the fleeting summer to offer live music on their patios and decks. No matter where you like to spend your summer hours, you can probably find a place with a regular schedule of outdoor entertainment.
Many of the places will be hosting outdoor shows this weekend for Memorial Day, then starting their regular summer schedule later on. But it’s never too early to start planning how you will spend your precious outdoor time.
To get you started, here’s a sampling of some places that will offer a regular schedule of outdoor music this summer. Most also offer food and drink.
THE BRUNSWICK
Weather permitting, The Brunswick has live music on its patio — the largest on the beach, its promotional material claims — every afternoon and night from mid-June through Labor Day, with no cover charge. Performance times are 1 to 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Local favorites such as Motor Booty Affair and Don Campbell play often, with the latter playing Friday afternoons. There will also be outdoor music there this Saturday and Sunday — if the rain ever stops.
39 W. Grand Ave., Old Orchard Beach. 934-4873; thebrunswick.com.
THE LANDING AT PINE POINT
Located near Pine Point Beach, The Landing at Pine Point hosts two free outdoor music series in July and August. On Tuesdays, local band Primo Cubano plays as part of the Havana Nights series from 6 to 9 p.m. On Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m., the Jim Ciampi Quartet and guests play a range of jazz and pop standards as part of the Seaside Martini Club.
353 Pine Point Road, Scarborough. 774-4527; thelandingatpinepoint.com.
THE PORTHOLE
Located near the Casco Bay Lines ferry terminal and Maine State Pier, this charming restaurant right on the wharf is known for its live reggae series. An eclectic selection of local musicians comes together from 4 to 7 p.m. Sundays to play reggae on the wharf. The series kicks off June 12 during the Old Port Festival, with reggae all day.
20 Custom House Wharf, Portland. 780-6533; portholemaine.com.
PORTLAND LOBSTER CO.
Located right in the heart of Portland’s waterfront tourist district, this seafood restaurant has an extensive deck on Chandler’s Wharf with a great view of boats and the harbor. The music list is extensive too, with live bands playing from 7 to 10 every night from mid-June to the end of September, as well as on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Local acts such as Jason Spooner, Rustic Overtones and Pete Kilpatrick are scheduled this summer. There should be some bands playing there this weekend as well, management said, though the regular nightly schedule won’t start for a couple of weeks.
180 Commercial St. at Chandler’s Wharf, Portland. 775-2112; portlandlobstercompany.com.
SURF 6
Local bands playing classic rock and “beachy” music can be found at Surf 6’s beachside deck from noon to 4:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday from mid-June through Labor Day. Bands include Kingpin and Tilben Katz. Like a lot of places, it’s planning to have some music this weekend on the deck before starting up the regular outdoor music in mid-June.
2 Cortland St., Old Orchard Beach. 934-2058.
GREAT LOST BEAR
The Great Lost Bear opens its patio to live music on Wednesday nights starting June 1. Amidst a myriad of beer offerings, you can sip, sup and sit while the tunes go down from 6 to 9 p.m.
540 Forest Ave., Portland. 772-0300; greatlostbear.com.
EL RAYO TAQUERIA
They took a parking lot and put up a patio. Wednesday nights in June will be filled with the sounds of The Delta Knights at El Rayo Taqueria. They get going by 7 p.m. and will go for at least two hours. Since 1996, the band, based in Portland, has specialized in the best of R&B, blues, classic rock and swing. El Rayo said it has a ton of other live music that is being scheduled as we speak. Excellente!
101 York St., Portland. 780-8226; elrayotaqueria.com.
AMIGO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT
The 21-and-older crowd can flock to the back patio of Amigo’s in the Old Port. It’ll have live music every Friday and Saturday night and likely on many Thursdays starting the weekend of June 17. The music starts at 9 p.m. and goes till ’round midnight. You will need your ID, but there’s no cover charge.
9 Dana St., Portland. 772-0772
RICK’S CAFE
Although the bands technically play indoors at Rick’s Cafe in Naples, their large open-air deck has its doors wide open, so we consider this to be good enough — especially since they have a huge schedule of bands that starts on July 1 and goes through Labor Day. Acts include Bruce Marshall, Now Is Now, Velourosoraus and The Nikki Hunt Band. On Thursday night, the music starts at 8:30 and goes until 10:30, and on weekends, it runs from 9 p.m. until midnight.
On the causeway, corner of Route 302 and the Roosevelt Trail (Route 114), Naples. 693-3759; rickscafenaples.com.
Staff Writer Ray Routhier can be contacted at 791-6454 or at:
rrouthier@pressherald.com
Staff Writer Aimsel Ponti can be contacted at 791-6455 or at:
aponti@pressherald.com
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