Midsummer Lakeside Concert Series offers world's worth of music

From Celtic to pop to sounds from ’round the world, the 2006 Bates College Midsummer Lakeside Concert Series offers acoustic music for every taste. Starting at 6 p.m. every Thursday through Aug. 10, concerts take place in the Florence Keigwin Amphitheater, overlooking Lake Andrews at Bates College. The rain site is the adjacent Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, 75 Russell St.

Concerts are open to the public at no charge. Bring blankets or lawn chairs and a picnic supper. For more information, please call 207-786-6400.

Based in midcoast Maine, King Pirogi performs at Bates on July 27. This lively, danceworthy quartet covers the musical waterfront, from polka to swing to Elvis and beyond. Its members are accordionist Tom Jamrog, reedman Dwight Burtis, lead singer and drummer Hank Lunn, bassist Dave Kirkham and trumpeter Jake Thomas.

The One-World Music Ensemble plays its annual Midsummer Lakeside concert on Aug. 3. The ensemble comprises musicians from the Bates Dance Festival, which takes place at the college for four weeks in July and August. Using percussion, accordion, bouzouki, marimba, kalimba and other instruments, these expert players weave a intricate tapestry of sounds from all over the planet.

The Bates Midsummer Lakeside Concert Series concludes on Aug. 10 with singer-songwriter Carolyn Currie — of whom the respected folk-music magazine Dirty Linen said simply, “Look out, Dar Williams and Catie Curtis . . .” Celebrated for her deeply felt lyrics, ringing melodies and captivating voice, Currie is a prizewinning veteran of festivals and folk competitions all across the continent, including the gold-standard Kerrville Folk Festival, in Texas.

A student of the Beatles, Judy Collins, Simon and Garfunkel and other ’60s icons, Currie was also influenced by such writers as Henry David Thoreau and Emily Dickinson. She has shared stages with such respected artists such as Cheryl Wheeler, Tom Rush and Maine’s own Ellis Paul. Her latest recording, Kiss of Ghosts (Etherean), was chosen as one of 2004’s top independent releases by Performing Songwriter Magazine. She lives in Cumberland.