I heard Sara Willis talking about the following show during a recent broadcast of “In Tune by Ten” on Maine Public Radio, and if it gets her stamp of approval, then it sure as heck gets mine. I’ve never met her, but if Sara Willis isn’t the coolest person pretty much ever, then I don’t know who is.

Now where was I? This show is part of the ongoing Red Curtain Music Series that features two local and two, as Willis put it, “from away” acts. The locals are Lady Lamb the Beekeeper and the Loblolly Boy (aka Luke Kalloch).

Although he’s living in Austin, Kalloch still considers himself a Mainer, and his music is of the Americana/folk/alternative persuasion. I landed on www.myspace.com/theloblollyboy and gave a listen to all six songs he has posted. He’s got a sturdy, slightly twangy voice that loosely brings to mind Gary Louris of the Jayhawks. Really great stuff.

Nina Violet is from Martha’s Vineyard, and she calls her genre “chamber folk.” I don’t need to grasp the definition of that to love it. Check out “The Dog Tomorrow” and “Better to Bruise You” at www.myspace.com/ninaviolet and hear Violet’s acoustic guitar along with assorted other strings and vocal sounds.

Nick Vandenberg is from a town near to my heart, because its next to the one I grew up in and is home to the best Italian bread this side of Italy — Lawrence, Mass. Vandenberg’s got a rock/bluegrass sound, and you can hear a bunch of songs at www.myspace.com/nickvandenberg.

All four of these acts are worthy of your time.

Red Curtain Music Series with Lady Lamb the Bee Keeper, the Loblolly Boy, Nina Violet and Nick Vandenberg. 8 p.m. Saturday. North Star Music Cafe, 225 Congress St., Portland. $8; $5 for students with school ID. 699-2994; www.northstarmusiccafe.com

 

Local pop-folk flower children Truth About Daisies have downsized from a quintet to a trio, and are working on a new CD. Sheila McKinley is on acoustic guitar, harmonica and lead vocals; Doug Swift handles acoustic/electric guitars, mandolin, banjo, lead and back-up vocals; and Ronda Dale plays the electric bass and contributes back-up vocals.

Despite the changes, the band is still all about vocal harmonies and original songs that draw from urban folk, country and pop. Dan Sonenberg, who just so happens to be the former drummer from Truth About Daisies and is also a songwriter and University of Southern Maine professor of composition, will be opening the show.

Truth About Daisies with Dan Sonenberg. 8 p.m. Saturday. Dogfish Bar& Grille, 128 Free St., Portland. All ages. Free. 772-5483; www.thedogfishbarandgrille.com

 

Luna Madidus (“Moon Drunk”) is a modern jazz ensemble out of Belfast. Pianist/composer Tom Luther formed the group last year as a means of performing his original jazz compositions. Along with these originals, which are terrific, Luna Madidus will hit you with some Charles Mingus, and has worked its arrangement magic with tunes from composer Gustav Mahler.

The group is also a purveyor of George Harrison and David Bowie and, get this, music from Morphine, a defunct Boston alt-rock band fronted by the late Mark Sandman. Along with Luther on piano, Luna Madidus consists of vocalist Kristen Burholder, trumpet/flugelhorn player Mike Whitehead and bassist Doug Kennedy. Their show at Blue will also include guest musicians Mark Barnette and Dana Gross.

Luna Madidus. 8 p.m. Thursday. Blue, 650A Congress St., Portland. All ages. $7 suggested donation. 774-4111; www.portcityblue.com

 

Anni Clark, Kate Schrock and Lynn Deeves celebrate the solstice with their Sweet Sounds of Summer show at One Longfellow Square. The trio will play solo sets interspersed with spontaneous collaborations that will include folk, soul, blues and gospel.

Anni Clark, Kate Schrock and Lynn Deeves. 7 p.m. Monday. One Longfellow Square, Portland. $12 advance; $15 door. www.onelongfellowsquare.com

 

Aimsel Ponti is a Portland freelance writer. Contact her at:

aimselponti@yahoo.com

 

Copy the Story Link