SCARBOROUGH — Scarborough Downs could host several major outdoor concerts this summer, after the promoter of the successful Bangor Waterfront Pavilion concert series got Town Council approval this week to start booking shows at the racetrack.
Bangor-area promoter Alex Gray presented the Town Council this week with a list of possible shows he might be able bring to Scarborough Downs this summer, including country artist Miranda Lambert on July 27, WCYY’s Oxxfest rock show on Aug. 10, rockers Train and Matt Carney with Demi Lovato on Aug. 24 and Aug. 26, and the Rockstar Energy Drink Tour on Sept. 1.
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The list presented to the council also included the possibilty of a show by pop singer Jason Mraz in late July and an undated show featuring music legends Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson.
Gray said today that none of the shows listed are definite, and that other shows not listed may happen. He said the Town Council approval allows him to now go out and “further negotiate” with artists touring this summer, to try to firm up dates for Scarborough Downs. Gray said he could not say for sure yet how many shows he might try to bring to the racetrack.
Last year at the outdoor Bangor Waterfront Pavilion, Gray staged 17 concerts, and already has 12 confirmed there this year. He said his success in Bangor, plus the lack of a major outdoor concert venue in southern Maine, convinced him to propose a concert series at Scarborough Downs.
“This approval gives us the ability now to further negotiate with these shows,” said Gray, of Waterfront Concerts. “The shows on that list might happen, or they might not. Several other possibilities have surfaced just in the past 24 hours. We may be able to confirm fairly soon, but we’re at the mercy of the industry.”
Susan Higgins, marketing director for Scarborough Downs, said the track’s management realized that there is a demand for outdoor concerts in the area after hosting one show last summer, a concert by country star Brad Paisley.
That show – organized by a New Hampshire promoter – had “very few incidents” Higgins said, though some town officials said there were a few noise complaints. Higgins said that show was viewed by the track’s management as sort of a “test run” to see if concerts at Scarborough Downs could be successful.
“Right after that show (by Paisley) people began asking us when the next one would be,” said Higgins.
Carol Rancourt, a Town Council member, said she felt the Scarborough Downs site was roomy enough and close enough to the Maine Turnpike to hold large concerts – with several thousand people in the audience – without causing major traffic problems in town.
The town’s police and fire departments recommended approval of Gray’s proposal to stage concerts, Rancourt said. Though she added that “some details” will still have to be worked out once Gray has specific shows and dates booked.
“We know there have been concerts there before, but not a whole series of them,” said Rancourt. “If this is successful, it could be a real boon to town.”
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