John Sullivan, Gen. Manager
42 Depot Street     207 948-SHOW
show@unitymaine.org
 Ticket Outlets: Crosstrax Restaurant in Unity, the Music Gallery in Waterville, Mr. Paperback in Belfast.
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Built from a hundred year old barn, the Unity Centre is a comfortable 200 seat theatre with a great sound system. The generosity of Unity philanthropists Bert and Coral Clifford made it happen.
In January 2007, the Cliffords donated the theater to Unity College.
Tickets bought online will be held for you at the box office.
There are no additional charges for tickets bought online.
   
Strangefolk
Saturday November 22 at 8 pm
Strangefolk is a rock-oriented jamband originally from Burlington, VT. Since forming in 1991, they have released five studio albums, two live albums and one live concert DVD. The band consists of 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 $24     
 
Carlene Carter
Sunday November 23 at 7 pm
Born Rebecca Carlene Smith, this 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) 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 now carrying the Carter name into the new millennium with her "Stronger" CD, released on March 4, 2008. "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... " -- Jim Farber - New York Daily News
Tickets $25     
 
Frank Vignola Quintet
Friday December 12 at 7:30 pm
The Frank Vignola Quintet has shattered the barriers between popular music and traditional jazz to create an exciting new sound in acoustic string music. Mixing high-energy original material with new unique renditions of contemporary tunes by the likes of The Police, Frank Zappa, Black Sabbath and even Slayer, the quintet also taps into the standard songbook, creating unique interpretations of classic jazz tunes. Vignola and the band also tackle new arrangements of Bach and Mozart. It's a melding of contemporary gypsy jazz, bluegrass, toe-tapping swing, blues and acoustic rock, and great renditions of old standards. Frank is one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional players walking the planet today. Monster player, composer and improviser, Frank plays proficiently in every genre, from jazz to bluegrass, and works with everyone and their brother. Other members of the quintet are Vinny Raniolo on guitar, violinist Aaron Weinstein, Pete Coco on bass , and percussionist Rich Zukor.
"How versatile is Frank Vignola? He's collaborated with Lionel Hampton and Madonna, covers Mozart and Black Sabbath on the same record, and is one of Les Paul's favorite guitarists." - Joan Anderman, Boston Globe 8/29/08
Tickets $15     
 
Roy Davis and the Dregs plus Tree By Leaf
Saturday December 20 at 7:30 pm
The sound of Roy Davis and the Dregs is Americana Pop-Rock at it's best, shifting easily from country shuffles to heartbreaking ballads to two-step sing-a-longs. Think Bruce Springsteen's flair for simple poetry meets Neil Young & Crazy Horse after 3 beers. Add the modern touch of the Jayhawks' vocal harmonies, subtract any lyrics about churning butter or shotgun weddings and you've begun to get the picture.
Tickets $7
Sometymes Why
Saturday February 7 at 7:30 pm
You might know the three women of Sometymes Why as singers with one of their other bands. Aoife O'Donovan (Crooked Still), Kristin Andreassen (Uncle Earl) and Ruth Ungar Merenda (The Mammals) have been at the center of a creative revolution in the acoustic stringband scene for the past few years. With Sometymes Why, Aoife, Kristin & Ruth create music that moves past the "stringband" label entirely. They sing their own songs and back each other up on Wurlitzer, glockenspiel, high hat & tambourine. They appeal to a part of their audience (and a part of themselves) that's more aligned with Feist, Joni Mitchell, and Bessie Smith than by Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys. The band is best heard live. "There's an instantly appealing quality to the trio-harmony blend of their voices, and in live performance they relate to each other with a charm and ease that radiates to the audience," said No Depression, which claimed that Sometymes Why's impromptu Sunday morning set in a parking lot at North Carolina's epic festival Merlefest "stole the show." Since their first show at the Sidewalk Café in New York City in 2005, Sometymes Why has played extensively in the northeast, toured across Ireland, and joined their friend, Chris Thile (Nickel Creek, Punch Brothers), as the opener on two sold out tours.
Tickets $15     
 
Ryan Montbleau
Friday April 3 at 8:30 pm
Emerging onto the national music scene from his home base of Boston, Ryan Montbleau has been described as something of a Martin Sexton by way of Van Morrison and Stevie Wonder. Yet Ryan Montbleau Band’s music is difficult to pigeon-hole or neatly categorize. It is original yet familiar—-a fresh sound full of firmly-rooted ingredients, including Americana, folk, blues, ragtime and 70’s R&B and soul. Whereas the band’s intriguing instrumentation and arrangements (not to mention top notch chops) help to create this unique sound, all is firmly anchored by Montbleau’s water-tight lyrics and unmistakable voice. Having begun his career playing Boston’s coffee shops and folk venues as a solo artist with an infectious, percussive, fingerpicking guitar style, the charismatic Ryan Montbleau has evolved into the front man for the eclectic ensemble that bears his name. Make no mistake—this is a band in every sense of the word and is powered by the dynamics of Matt Giannaros (acoustic upright bass, electric bass, vocals), Laurence Scudder (viola), Jason Cohen (piano, organ, clavinet, Rhodes, Moog) and James Cohen (drums).
Tickets $16     

 

All dates & performers subject to change.
Call 207 948-SHOW for latest update or email show@unitymaine.org.

Past Shows
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001