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Old Port Festival: Rock this town

Music lovers, this year's festival is for you, with more than 30 acts playing six stages.

By Ray Routhier rrouthier@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

Is there a better way to kick off summer than with an afternoon of free music and entertainment?

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The Pete Kilpatrick Band will play at the WCLZ stage at the Old Port Festival on Sunday.

Courtesy photos

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38TH ANNUAL OLD PORT FESTIVAL

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, rain or shine

WHERE: Sites throughout Portland's Old Port district, in an area roughly bordered by Congress, Pearl, Union and Commercial streets

HOW MUCH: Free admission and entertainment. Food and crafts will be sold; admission to some rides will be charged.

INFO: 772-6828; portlandmaine.com

LET THE MUSIC PLAY

HERE'S A GUIDE to the six stages of live -- and free -- music at Sunday's Old Port Festival. Most stages will have music from noon to about 5 p.m.

Q97.9 STAGE

Middle and Temple streets

(Times approximate for this stage)

12:05 p.m. -- iSquare, an R&B/pop act similar in style to The Black Eyed Peas, signed to the Interscope label

12:35 p.m. -- Tino Coury, a solo artist on an indie label known for energized live shows

1:10 p.m. -- The Downtown Fiction, an up-and-coming pop group signed to Atlantic Records

2:10 p.m. -- We the Kings, a pop/punk band best known for the 2010 pop radio hit "We'll Be a Dream"

3 p.m. -- Hot Chelle Rae, a pop/rock band whose single "Tonight Tonight" is currently in the Billboard Hot 100

4 p.m. -- Allstar Weekend, pop rockers recently seen on the Disney Channel show "Sonny with a Chance"

WCLZ STAGE

Fore and Sliver streets

Noon -- The Lucid, a Portland--based rock band

1 p.m. -- Zach Jones, a Portland--based rock/pop artist

2 p.m. -- Marie Moreshead, a Portland--based singer--songwriter

3 p.m. -- Pete Kilpatrick Band, a Portland--based rock band

4 p.m. -- The Alternate Routes, an indie roots-rock band from Connecticut

THE COAST 93.1 STAGE

Middle and Pearl streets

Noon -- Coast Morning host and musician Jon Armond and his son, Tate

12:45 p.m. -- Matt Hires, a pop/rock singer--songwriter known for the single "Honey Let Me Sing You a Song"

1:45 p.m. -- Ryan Star, a rock singer--songwriter with two radio hits: "Breathe" and "Start a Fire"

2:45 p.m. -- Andy Grammer, an L.A. singer--songwriter who currently has a radio hit called "Keep Your Head Up"

3:45 p.m. -- The Daylights, a pop--rock band known for the single and video "I Hope This Gets to You"

WPOR STAGE

Fore and Union Streets (all country acts)

Noon -- The Eric Grant Band

1:15 p.m. -- Matt Stillwell, best known for the 2008 hit "Shine"

2:40 p.m. -- Ira Dean, formerly of Trick Pony

4 p.m. -- Glen Templeton, who just released his debut, "I Could Be the One"

MAINE ACADEMY OF MODERN MUSIC STAGE

Dana Street (Maine-based teen bands)

Noon -- Parenthesys, metal

12:15 p.m. -- Disgruntled Citizens, indie rock

12:30 p.m. -- The KGT, indie rock

12:50 p.m. -- Static, alternative rock

1:10 p.m. -- Chrome, hard rock

1:30 p.m. -- Average Suburban Housecats, classic alternative folk-rock

1:50 p.m. -- MAMM faculty spotlight: Chas Lester, beat boxer

2 p.m. -- The OxyMorons, alternative rock

2:30 p.m. -- Shift, classic rock

3 p.m. -- The Twisted Truth, power pop

3:30 p.m. -- Beware of Pedestrians, pop/punk

4 p.m. -- Dusty Grooves, rock/jazz fusion

4:30 p.m. -- MAMM Slamm winner The Modest Proposal

BULL FEENEY'S IRISH MUSIC STAGE

Moulton Street

Noon -- Maine Public Safety Pipe and Drum Corps

12:30 p.m. -- The Milliners

1:30 p.m. -- The Napper Tandies

2:30 p.m. -- The Squid Jiggers

3:30 p.m. -- Maine Public Safety Pipe and Drum Corps

4 p.m. -- The Pubcrawlers

Luckily, people around here don't have to try to find out, because the 38th annual Old Port Festival is scheduled for Sunday. There will also be activities for children, the traditional parade, and lots of food and crafts.

"It's a way to kick off summer; for people to come and enjoy the first festival of the summer," said Sayre English, special events manager for Portland's Downtown District, which organizes the festival. "We really have something for everyone."

Especially in the area of music, which is always a focus of the festival. This year there are six stages of live music, with more than 30 acts ranging in genres from pop and rock to country and Irish.

Several national bands are playing on stages booked and sponsored by Portland radio stations, including WJBQ (97.9 FM), WCLZ (98.9 FM), WPOR (101.9 FM) and WMGX (93.1 FM).

"It's a great marketing opportunity and a way to say thanks to our audience," said Tim Moore, program director at WJBQ, known as Q97.9.

None of the bands are household names, but many have songs now being played on the stations that booked them.

Moore said often his station books newer artists, because they are especially motivated to get out in front of a live audience. Allstar Weekend, iSquare and We the Kings are among the bands on WJBQ's stage this year. (For a list and description of bands playing the festival, see the box below this story).

Randi Kirshbaum, program director at WMGX -- known as Coast 93.1 -- starts booking bands by talking to record labels to see who is available. Then she tries to get a diverse mix of styles. WMGX's stage this year will include Matt Hires, Ryan Star and The Daylights, among others.

"We're thrilled at who we got," said Kirshbaum.

Besides the radio station stages, the Maine Academy of Modern Music has a stage where some of the state's top teen rock bands will perform. And Bull Feeney's pub is sponsoring a stage where Irish music will be performed.

There will also be a children's entertainment area in Post Office Park, where the Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine is sponsoring block tower building, crown making and bubble blowing. Also in the park will be various dance demonstrations and a fencing demonstration.

There will be children's rides and games, mostly on Federal Street, that will cost money. Food and craft vendors will be on site, and Maine crafters will be selling their work on Market Street.

The festival kicks off with a parade at 11 a.m., beginning at Exchange and Congress streets and heading down to the water. Mascots, dancers, giant puppets and stilt walkers will all be part of the action.

As for parking, at least one local garage is offering a deal: People can park in the Fore Street garage for an all-day fee of $10 by using the Union Street entrance.

The festival is being co-sponsored by several organizations, including MaineToday.com and RaisingMaine.com, both of which are owned by MaineToday Media, the parent company of The Portland Press Herald. Check out MaineToday.com's booth at Exchange and Middle streets for free items.

Staff Writer Ray Routhier can be contacted at 791-6454 or at:

rrouthier@pressherald.com