Unity Centre Shows in 2002

 
Felipe Arias
Friday December 13 at 7:30 pm
Operatically trained Philipe Arias has stage, screen, recording, and concert experience. He has sung professionally in most of Central and South America and across Europe. He will be accompanied this time by a full band, a well-known local pianist, a children's ensemble, and a number of other local artists. The evening will also include handbells and some live drama. For this Christmas show, he will perform favorite classical and traditional pieces appropriate to the season as well as favorite Christmas songs
Tickets: Adults $8, children $3.
Handel's Messiah
Sunday December 8 at 3 pm
The Androscoggin Chorale and the Maine Chamber Ensemble will perform Handel's Messiah.
"In the words of Dr. Charles Burney, 18th century music historian, Messiah 'has fed the hungry and clothed the naked, fostered the orphan, and enriched succeeding managers of Oratories more than any single musical production in this or any other country.' For more than 250 years, this great and most popular of oratorios has survived and endured numerous revisions and reorchestrations. Across the span of 250 years, Messiah still holds its extraordinary grip on musician and audience member alike. It reaches us with its directness of expression and its infinite capacity for self-renewal. It bestows on us the special gift of aesthetic and spiritual grace. " - Henley Denmead
Tickets: $15
 
Odetta
Saturday December 7 at 8 pm
Odetta is one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century. So many artists are indebted to her pioneering ways. Before Odetta, no solo woman performer (let alone an African American woman!) had sung blues, folk, work and protest songs. So much can be said about this incredible artist: she took part in the march on Selma; she sang for the masses at the 1963 March on Washington; she played for President Kennedy and his cabinet on the nationally televised Civil Rights program "Dinner with the President"; she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Arts in 1999; her first studio album (1958) inspired Bob Dylan to trade in his electric guitar and amp for a flat top Gibson acoustic guitar; she's acted in films and theater; her last album, called "Blues Everywhere I Go" (her 27th, and first in 14 years) was nominated for a Grammy in 2000.
Tickets $19
 
Derek Trucks Band
Friday November 22 at 8 pm
Although he's only 24, guitarist Derek Trucks and his band have been road-tested to a fine-tuned machine through constant touring with bands like the Allman Brothers, Joe Satriani and Gov't Mule, as well as appearing as part of the H.O.R.D.E. Tour in 1998. He got his first paying-gig when he was just 11, jamming from that early age with icons like Bob Dylan, Gregg Allman, Buddy Guy and Widespread Panic. His debut album in 1997 struck fear in the hearts of guitarists - and pure joy in fans of honest, soulful music. With Joyful Noise, their debut release on the Columbia Records labels, this quartet of stellar musicians delivers BIG-TIME. The DEREK TRUCKS BAND includes Derek on guitar, Kofi Burbridge on keyboards, flute and vocals, Todd Smallie on bass and Yonrico Scott on drums.
Tickets $17
 
The Peter Principle ?
Saturday November 16 at 8 pm
Peter Paton defies description because his friends aren't talking. He has performed often in Belfast and has trained in New York City, at UMaine, and at his farm in Troy. His show will be off the wall stuff -- funny, physical and perhaps painful if he's not careful.
Tickets $10/$5
 
Dana Robinson
Friday November 15 at 8 pm
"Powerful, rolling, fingerstyle guitar playing is the first aspect to grab you as you delve into Midnight Salvage. Lyrically, Robinson's songs are wonderful. Pure love for what life has to offer, without being over stated or painfully too-utopian about it. Perfect fodder for both old-time and contemporary folk enthusiasts." -- Crossroads
Tickets $10
 
The Laws
Friday October 11 at 7:30 pm
With their debut CD Estimated Time of Revival The Laws gracefully waltzed onto the music scene with their finely crafted country songs and winning stage performances. Their second CD will be released in September.
The Laws are John and Michele, husband-and-wife acoustic songwriting duo, performing original music that crosses the boundaries of country, bluegrass and folk. Known for their "tight-as-a-glove" harmony singing, John and Michele's vocal harmonies are exquisite and exciting, their solos powerful at times, angelic at others. With John on lead guitar and mandolin, Michele, rhythm guitar and bass, instrumental work is flawless and inventive.
"John and Michele Law's songs seem to be the lost essence of bluegrass and country music which has now become so commercial and formulaic sounding." --Randy Bachman
Tickets $7
 
The von Trapp Children
Saturday October 5 at 8:00 pm
Melanie (12), Sofia (14), Amanda (11), and Justin (7) are the descendants of the famous singing family whose story captivated the world in "The Sound of Music." As the great-grandchildren of Captain von Trapp, they have inherited the family's unique musical gift. They share songs (wonderful four part harmonies) and heart warming family stories of life before and after coming to America.
Listen to them sing Scarborough Fair
Tickets $15/$8
 
John Gorka
Friday October 4 at 8 pm
Gorka is heralded as the "preeminent male singer-songwriter of the New Folk Movement" by Rolling Stone and as "one of the smartest and most authentic folk voices of the decade" by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. In a rich baritone voice, he performs songs about clever, slice-of-life situations. These snapshot stories capture poetry and reality, showing Gorka's abilities to express delicate vignettes, social commentary and down-home humor in a way that demands the audience's attention from the first plucked string.
Tickets $18
 
Tinh
Thursday September 19 at 8 pm
Tinh's solo guitar compositions are an original blend of eastern and western styles. His music stuns audiences with its powerful emotions. Tinh uses his guitar as a way to communicate with the listeners of his own childhood experiences - the joys and sorrows of living under fire in a war torn Vietnam, the human spirit, and of salient beauty in the harshest of moments. Tinh is touring in support of his new album "Acoustic Rain" which was released in November, 2001.
Tickets $10 (This performance is free for Viet Nam Veterans.)
 
Zubot and Dawson
Sunday September 8 at 7:30 pm
#1 Pick for Roots album of 2000: These two twentysomething Vancouver virtuosos are the best thing to happen to acoustic music since David Grisman and Tony Rice put together their groundbreaking quintet 20 years ago. While managing to retain the essential character of traditional bluegrass and blues, Jesse Zubot (on fiddle and mandolin) and Steve Dawson (on guitars) wed those venerable music forms to jazz, pop, trance and other styles. The result is adventurous, intricate music that has one foot on the ground and the other in the ether.    -Ron Forbes-Roberts, Monday Magazine
Tickets $8
 
Sophie B. Hawkins
Monday September 2 at 8 pm
Grammy® nominated singer-songwriter-musician and provocative force of nature, Sophie B. Hawkins has followed up her two gold albums, with her latest release, Timbre, on which the musically accomplished Hawkins sings, plays piano, keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, udu, djembe, vibraphone and marimba. Sophie's song "As I Lay Me Down" was the longest running single (67 weeks) in the history of any Billboard chart.
Tickets $20
 
Lindisfarne
Friday August 16 - 8 pm
Lindisfarne, from Newcastle, England, is truly one of the best live bands to ever come out of the UK. No small statement for a band that in 1972 had the #1 selling album for all of the Great Britain, "Fog on the Tyne." Their brand of folk-rock, blues edged, Celtic-country music satisfies on many levels.
 
Kruger Brothers
Friday - August 2 - 8 pm
Traditional American Folk and Bluegrass music would probably be the closest description of their style. Add to that their personal musical development along with their classical music influences, and you have acoustic string music with a new rich flavor. Check out what Richard and Doc Watson have to say about them.
 
Garnet Rogers
Friday - July 26 - 8 pm
Hailed by the Boston Globe as a "charismatic performer and singer", Garnet is a man with a powerful physical presence - close to six and a half feet tall - with a voice to match. With his "smooth, dark baritone" (Washington Post) his incredible range, and thoughtful, dramatic phrasing, Garnet is widely considered by fans and critics alike to be one of the finest singers anywhere. His music, like the man himself, is literate, passionate, highly sensitive, and deeply purposeful. Cinematic in detail, his songs "give expression to the unspoken vocabulary of the heart" (Kitchener Waterloo Record). An optimist at heart, Garnet sings extraordinary songs about people who are not obvious heroes and of the small victories of the everyday.
 
Eight Strings and a Whistle
Saturday - July 20 at 8 pm
Eight Strings and a Whistle is an exciting and innovative trio which has been captivating audiences since 1998. Flutist Suzanne Gilchrest, violist Ina Litera, and cellist Matthew Goeke have each drawn on their international experience to create a unique voice on today's concert scene. Their repertoire combines fresh insights into the classics with the cutting edge of contemporary music.
 
Four Bitchin Babes
Friday July 12 at 8 pm
Start with four richly gifted singer-songwriters (Suzzy Roche, Sally Fingerett, Camille West, Debi Smith). Add 3/4 cup married life, five kids, four part harmony vocals, one piano, four guitars, a dollop of sharp social commentary and a wardrobe to die for. Put this on the road and allow to steep for ten years and you've got...Four Bitchin' Babes.
For Beyond Bitchin’, their fifth CD, The Babes turned to Grammy winning producer Jeff Bova (Celine Dion) who collaborated with them to create a recording of remarkable beauty, depth and wit.
On stage, these four vivacious performers take turns in the spotlight, supporting each other with guitars, piano and glorious harmonies. "When you’re on stage with your girlfriends," says Sally, "the musical exchange is really invigorating. We have our own identities, live in four different cities and have four distinct musical styles. But once we get on stage we’re the same person." SingOut! Magazine says, "The combination of these women works as well as sodium and chloride or oxygen and hydrogen. They combine with a bang and result in an essential substance."
More info and MP3 downloads at Babe Central
 

Solas
Tuesday - July 2 at 7:30 pm
"Solas is already considered one of the world's top Irish bands. Its mix of Irish natives and Irish-American players, drawn from such groundbreaking groups as Chanting House, Cherish the Ladies, the Sharon Shannon Band, Green Fields of America and Atlantic Bridge, has earned it the sobriquet of 'supergroup.' Each member is a virtuoso in his own right; together, Solas is to Irish music what some of Miles Davis's groups were to jazz in the 1960s and '70s." -- Seth Rogovoy in the Berkshire Eagle

"On the band's latest album -- its fifth -- Solas(Gaelic for 'Light') teamed up with rock producer Neil Dorfsman of Dire Straits, Sting and Paul McCartney fame to try a move away from its staple traditional Celtic music. So the The Edge of Silence includes Tom Waits' 'Georgia Lee,' Jesse Colin Young's 'Darkness Darkness' and Bob Dylan's 'Dignity.' " -- Bob Edwards of NPR

 
Bill Morrissey
Friday - June 28 at 8 pm
New England's great singer-songwriter, Bill's astute lyrical gifts and graceful, understated melodies have put him on festival stages across the world. Bill's latest album is Something I Saw or Thought I Saw.
 
Edie Carey
Saturday June 22 at 8 pm
"An Edie Carey concert isn't a somber affair; in fact, her before- and between-song banter is usually an uproariously funny, frequently self-deprecating stream-of-consciousness rap that endears her to the audience and lingers with them long after the last chiming chords of her Martin guitar have decayed into silence. Part of her charm is that she is able to remove the barrier that so frequently divides the performer from his or her audience. To see Carey in concert is more like settling down with a long-lost friend - albeit one that has been blessed with impressive songwriting skills, solid acoustic guitar chops and a soaring, emotive voice that can race from a whisper to a throaty roar in the matter of a heartbeat." -- Jim Willcox of StarPolish
 
Penobscot Singers
Saturday June 8 at 7:30 pm
Maine's own coastal singing ensemble who blend their voices and cover the full spectrum of music. The theme of this pops concert will be The Broken Heart.
 
Jeff Lang
Friday June 7 at 8 pm
Lang has built up a reputation for startlingly original performances, working without a set list, allowing the unique energy in each night to shape the songs. That Jeff Lang is a truly great guitar player is beyond question. The unusual thing is that the guitar playing never gets in the way of the music. He has toured with Ani Di Franco, Chris Whitley, Albert Collins, Bob Dylan, Loudon Wainwright III, Richard Thompson, Greg Brown, Dr. John and Dar Williams. Finding success in such diverse settings whilst maintaining his unique musical vision indicates that Jeff Lang is beyond being merely an amalgamation of musical styles. He has achieved what is a rarity in the cluttered world of contemporary sounds: his own voice.
 
Mt. View Chamber Singers
Tuesday May 21 at 7 pm
The Mount View Chamber Singers are a group of sixteen high school singers chosen by competitive audition. They perform about 50 a capella concerts a year. Their new album, Songs of Solace, include some favorite pieces that bear comfort and healing to many cultures. All proceeds from sales of the album are donated to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund.
 
The Neilds
Saturday May 18 at 8 pm
"As the work of the Everly Brothers or the McGarrigle Sisters has amply demonstrated, there are few sounds as sublime as close harmonies rendered by siblings. In the case of western Massachusetts folk rockers the Nields, the siblings are sisters Nerissa and Katryna Nields, and their inimitable vocal blend is a disarming mix of clean folk harmonies and clenched Generation-X angst." -The Chicago Tribune

On their new Zoë/Rounder CD, Love and China, the sisters push their art to the next level with a collection of songs that are personal, dynamic, and sublimely beautiful.

 
Bossov Ballet
Friday May 3 at 7:30 pm
Three one-act ballets featuring works of Tchaikovsky and Ravel.
  • Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, Mr. Bossov's interpretation of the struggles of lovers all over the world.
  • Bolero, music by Ravel, "An attempt to understand woman's inner world, with their love, passion and devotion." ~ Andrei Bossov
  • Pavana, music by Ravel, a reflection on innocence, youth and sudden death.
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    Whose Wilderness is This? The Stories of the Maine North Woods
    Thursday May 2 at 7 pm
    "Northern Maine is a biogem and must be preserved!"
    "Restore Boston, leave our Maine way of life alone!"
    This free play presented by Dr. John Zavodny's Perspectives on Conservation class will present a non-biased representation of what the student researchers found to be opinions of Maine residents on the issue of the proposed Maine Woods National Park. The production is meant to be compelling and provocative and to expose the audience to a wide range of views.
     
    Chamber Music Concert
    Saturday - Sunday April 21 - 2:30 pm
    Cellist Paul Perley, pianist Rebecca George, violinist J.J. Trudel will perform Baroque and lighter Romantic-era pieces including duets and trios by Marcello, Faure, Goltermann, Bridge and others.
     
    Cuts with Tim Collins and Amanda Raleigh
    Saturday - April 13 - 8 pm
    Cuts is a selection of fast-paced, comedic monologues which has delighted several sold out audiences with its sharp social-political satire, irreverent humor and exuberant wit. Fresh, innovative and cutting edge.
     
    Equalogy Presents One Night
    Thursday - April 11 - 8 pm
    Sometimes a dose of reality does wonders. That's just what Equalogy, Inc., was hoping when it put together an original theater program to raise awareness about acquaintance rape on college campuses. The play centers on a group of friends who gather to celebrate the end of classes. Their celebration involves drinking, joking around and flirting, with the evening ultimately ending in one friend accusing another of rape.

    Equalogy, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding and promoting social change around issues of equality, and One Night has toured to colleges and universities in 11 states in hopes of changing the alarming rape statistics on campuses.

    Beyond being entertaining, the play is highly informative. Students are given the opportunity to consider common misconceptions about rape, as well as practical information about legal, medical and community options available to rape victims. They also learn how drugs and alcohol are used to increase vulnerability, techniques in risk management, and ways for both genders to support victims and work to end rape.

     
    Willy Porter Saturday - April 6 - 8 pm
    Although Willy Porter is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, he's not necessarily a "singer/songwriter." At least, not in the usual coffee-house folkie sense. He can plug into the dance grooves and ambient electronics of modern rock, and a few minutes later reel off a slide guitar solo right out of the tradition of American folk guitar heroes like Leo Kottke and John Fahey.

    On his new CD, Falling Forward, Willy Porter combines stunning six and twelve string guitar work with powerful grooves resulting in a vitamin-rich, high-protein blend of pop, folk and rock.

    Sound clips available at his website.

     
    Gaelic Storm
    Wednesday - March 6 - 8 pm
    Five Irish expatriate musicians meet in Santa Monica and play the bars. Soon Hollywood notices. You saw them in Titanic. Now hear them in Unity. Read more about them
    Tickets: $15
     
    Life With Father
    Friday March 1 at 7 pm, Saturday March 2 at 1:30 and 7 pm, and Sunday March 3 at 2 pm
    Directed by Mt. View's Matt Hunter, this performance is a fundraiser for the class of 2002. Life With Father made its debut at Skowhegan's Lakewood Theater and went on to become Broadway's longest running non-musical. Set in the 1890's, it is a story about the epic struggle between a Father and a Mother.
    Tickets: Adults $8, Seniors $6, Students $5
     
    LeRoy White
    Thursday - February 21 - 7 pm
    LeRoy sings with a deep, rich, father mountain voice, words of encouragement and power. He plays congas, udo drum, crystal singing bowls, council drum, and an array of percussion instruments that fill the stage. He dances, talks, and laughs with you as if everyone in the audience is in his living room. He bonks you in the head to remember who you are. Then he sings you into power. He calls his music E.U.N.A.(Ethnic Urban New Age). Sample his web jukebox.
    Tickets $6
     
    Lowen & Navarro
    Wednesday - February 20 - 8 pm
    For more than a decade, Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro have written, recorded and toured for a growing national audience. Their five CDs showcase self-penned songs of experience, colored by supple acoustic-based arrangements centered around their intertwined voices. Their works have been recorded by artists as diverse as Pat Benatar ("We Belong"), The Bangles, The Four Tops, Dave Edmunds, The Temptations and a host of others. Out of their success as songwriters came the impetus for forming Lowen & Navarro. Now they sing their songs themselves.
    Rumor is that one of these guys grew up in nearby Knox. Read more about them.
    Tickets: $10
     
    TheatreWorks USA performs Reading Rainbow
    Thursday - January 24 - 9:30 am and 11:30 am
    Based on PBS' Award-winning television program, this musical revue brings beloved children's books to life on the stage. Adapted by some of the musical theatre's leading creative teams and performed by a multi-racial cast, the stories represent various issues, themes and ideas relevant to a broad and diverse audience of children. Some of the mini-musicals are funny, some poignant, some fantastical. Read more about the stories.