Month: August 2015

AUBURN, Maine — In wake of a raucous, rug-cutting debut on Aug. 21, Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Co. will bring Bald Hill back for two more Friday night gigs, Oct. 2 and Nov. 20.

Bald Hill, those surprisingly hip purveyors of blues-inflected, swingin’ newgrass, rock and folk, couldn’t be more pleased to have secured these return engagements. Gritty’s is the finest music venue in the Twin Cities of Lewiston-Auburn, and all six members of Bald Hill reside in nearby New Gloucester.

With a private party on the docket for Saturday, Sept. 5, in Falmouth, Bald Hill will conclude a busy summer of shows. Autumn awaits, at Gritty’s and elsewhere. Fans should stay tuned to this space for upcoming dates and band news.

For those unfamiliar but curious as to what exactly “blues-inflected, swingin’ newgrass, rock and folk” entails, see here the set list from the last Gritty’s show — with the understanding there will be plenty of new/different material forthcoming:

Rocky Road Blues (Bill Monroe)

Whiskey Before Breakfast (Norman Blake)

Annabelle (Gillian Welch)

Nellie Kane (Tim O’Brien)

Dear Mr. Fantasy (Traffic)

If It Hadn’t Been for Love (Steeldrivers)

Sweet Amarillo (D.T. Weiss/Old Crow Medicine Show)

California Stars (Woody Guthrie/Wilco)

Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers)

Galway Girl (Steve Earle)

Walk Away (Tom Waits)

Duncan (Paul Simon)

Bad Angel (Dierks Bentley)

Friend of the Devil (Grateful Dead)

C’mon up to the House (Tom Waits)

Frolicking/Satan (Ben DeTroy/Uncle Tupelo)

Just Because (Stanley Brothers)

Folsom Prison (Johnny Cash)

In Spite of Ourselves (John Prine)

To Be Young (Ryan Adams)

Atlantic City (Bruce Springsteen)

Hold on to What You Got (Jimmy Martin)

Tear-Stained Eye (Son Volt)

New Madrid (Uncle Tupelo)

Vincent Black Lightening (Richard Thompson)

Rocket Man (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)

Nashville Cats (John Sebastian)

Rollin in my Sweet Baby’s Arms (traditional)

Does My Ring Burn Your Finger (Judy & Buddy Miller)

Wish U Were Here (Pink Floyd)

More Pretty Girls (traditional)

Wagon Wheel (Bob Dylan/Old Crow Medicine Show)

Rider (Grateful Dead)

Busy week on tap for Bald Hill, with a pair of shows scheduled for Thursday and Friday evenings.

On Friday, August 21, the band will bring its swingin’, blues-inflected newgrass and folk stylings to Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Co. in Auburn, Maine. Doors open early — Gritty’s serves the Twin City’s finest ale & pub fare starting at lunchtime. Bald Hill will take the stage at 8 p.m.

Some 24  hours prior, Bald Hill will perform from 6-9 p.m. at The Fisherman’s Catch in Raymond — on Route 302 (that’s Roosevelt Trail for you locals) just north of the strip in North Windham. Bring your lobster bib and toe-tapping shoes.

Both shows will feature the band’s new lead vocalist, Renée St. Jean, who joined Bald Hill this winter.

New Gloucester-based Bald Hill is thrilled to be playing Gritty’s in Auburn, and not merely because mando/fiddle player Ben DeTroy has his own mug there. It’s a spectacular venue, with a gorgeous deck looking out over the mighty Androscoggin. Gritty’s is rightly famous for pioneering the micro-brew movement here in Maine; its Portland and Freeport pubs are just fine. But the Auburn location, right on Main Street by the bridge, is the jewel in the crown.

Bald Hill is also keen to visit Raymond Thursday night, as the band was rained out here in July. The stage at Fisherman’s Catch is located outside, in a lovely beer garden — so do check the weather before heading out (though the forecast looks good). If you’re headed north on 302, look for the big, red A-frame on the left (if you come to the intersection with Route 85, you’ve gone too far).