Big weekend at UCCPA -- Strangefolk, Carlene Carter to take stage

UNITY (Nov 18): Nationally known performing artists will take the stage this weekend at the Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts.

Strangefolk, a rock-oriented jam band from Burlington, Vermont, will play at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. Since forming in 1991, Strangefolk has released five studio albums, two live albums and one live concert DVD.

Strangefolk

The band includes Jon Trafton (lead guitar, vocals), Erik Glockler (bass, vocals), Luke "Patchen" Montgomery (rhythm guitar, lead guitar, vocals), Don Scott (keyboards, vocals) and Russ Lawton (drums).

At the heart of Strangefolk's songwriting is a seamless blend of narrative lyrical content and inventive melody. Rock, folk, blues, and bluegrass influences converge to create an instantly recognizable sound, which keeps Strangefolk's listeners moving from start to finish.

When punctuated with Strangefolk's trademark three-part harmonies and soaring lead guitars, the band's unique songwriting ability develops a natural avenue for the band to extend themselves in a live setting. The result is one of the more gratifying live music experiences around.

Tickets are $24. The concert is presented by Sweet People Productions.

Carlene Carter

Then, fewer than 24 hours later, Carlene Carter will play at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23. Carter, born Rebecca Carlene Smith, is the prodigal child of country music royalty (granddaughter of Maybelle Carter of the original Carter Family, daughter of June Carter and Carl Smith, stepdaughter of Johnny Cash). She has been making a name for herself since her debut album, "Carlene Carter," on Warner Bros. in 1978.

Launched by Emmylou Harris's hit recording of her song "Easy From Now On," the young mother of two left Nashville at 22 to make a record in England with rocker Graham Parker's band, The Rumour.

Time magazine named the album "Tops in Pops" for the summer, and when Maybelle died that fall, Rolling Stone magazine wrote that she "lived to see her granddaughter Carlene merge Nashville with contemporary rock & roll."

Many albums later, Carlene is carrying the Carter name into the new millennium with her "Stronger" CD, released March 4.

"It has the kick and luster of Carter's best songs from the '80s and '90s. It's an ironically joyous, even witty CD, filled with the kind of rollicking roots rock that extends the great American legacy that lives in Carter's genes... " wrote Jim Farber of the New York Daily News.

Tickets for the show, presented by Unity College and Reverb Rock, are $25. They are available at the Music Gallery, Waterville; Crosstrax Restaurant, Unity; Cobbossee Coffee, Hallowell; Java Joe’s, Augusta; The Old Mill Pub, Skowhegan; and 948-SHOW.