Upcoming Events 2026

-All Shows $15.
-Concert doors open at 6:30 P.M.
-Shows start at 7:00 P.M.

No reservations.

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Four old friends, Ken & Jane Brooks and Joe & Nellie Kennedy, perform acoustically on guitar, mandolin, stand-up bass and harmonicas with renditions of classic/traditional country and Americana music. The lead and harmony vocals are tight, sweet and well rehearsed. The instrumental work of Ken on guitar and Joe’s harmonicas are just right for every song and they are ably backed by Nellie’s mandolin work and Jane’s bass playing.

All four band mates are extremely active in promoting country and bluegrass music in Maine and have been inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Ken serves as the chairman of the board of directors and Jane and Joe serve on the board. Joe and Nellie serve as officers for the Bluegrass Music Association of Maine. All four have performed numerous times at the Wayside in various configurations: including in Evergreen, the Katahdin Valley Boys, and Ken and Jane Brooks duet, etc.

The Tuesday Knights consist of Joe & Nellie Kennedy plus three old friends whose favorite location to gather was at Patkus Guitars in Waterville, usually on a Tuesday nights (hence Tuesday Knights): Terry Spearin (bass, guitar), Bernie Staples (guitar) and Harry Richter (resophonic guitar, guitar).

All the Knights share the vocals and each brings a long history of performing; representing a wide variety of styles of music. The Wayside show will showcase some of their current favorites of classic country, bluegrass, swing, & instrumentals.

All the Knights have previously performed at the Wayside: Harry with Mes Amis, Bernie with the Misty Mountaineers and Terry with the Katahdin Mountain Boys.

Tuesday Knights will open the show and Brooks & Kennedy will perform after intermission.

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Carl McPhee returns to Wayside this year as a staged concert free to the public as The Wooden Project, a Bluegrass and Country ensemble from the south shore of Massachusetts. Catch him again at the South Sangerville Grange in August for the Perseid Meteor Show.

Facebook: The Wooden Project

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Stillwater makes their debut appearance at Wayside in 2026. Taking their name from the river in Old Town, this six-piece band from near and far formed in 2023 and consists of Trip Nickel (flatpick guitar), Yoni Musher (mandolin, mandola), Kiera Luu (double bass), George Horvat (fiddle), Noah Vaughn Jackson (banjo), and Jack Pasternak (dobro, banjo). They played at the well respected Joe Val Bluegrass Festival in 2026.

stillwaterband.com

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Original skits, comedy, and local musicians comprised this annual, old-fashioned variety show. Last year, we took Big Pharma’s advice and found out whether Skyrizi is right for you. The year before, a snarky Artificial Intelligence gas pump outwitted Bill Egerd. What social trend gets humorously picked apart next? Resolve to come and see this and a whole lot more for yourself.

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Siblings Tom Venne (guitar) and Julie Hogan (bass guitar), backed by Freeman Corey, Jr. (fiddle) and Sten Isachsen (mandolin), return to Wayside for the third, consecutive summer. Not strictly a Bluegrass band, they wander to Country songs. They have fun, engage the audience and are a joy to see and hear.

beartracksband.com

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