The Bollard Bulletin for June 20-22, 2025
A veritable frenzy of festivals!
Friday
As of this morning, there are still general admission tickets available to see the fabulous filmmaker John Waters perform his new comedy monologue, “The Naked Truth,” at The Waldo Theatre (916 Main St., Waldoboro) at 8 p.m. Tix: $70 (21+ or with parent/guardian).
The big weekend party celebrating 15 years of Bayside Bowl (58 Alder St., Portland) kicks off tonight with a show by Maine rock heroes Rustic Overtones, with guests Angelikah Fahray and DJ mosart212 opening at 8 p.m. Tix: $30-$35 (all ages). Stick around Saturday for The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, reggae faves John Brown’s Body, and many others, and catch the closing party atop the rooftop deck with Primo Cubano on Sunday — but please, go home and shower in between.
Psychobilly guitar slinger and singer The Rev. Horton Heat brings his blistering band to Aura (121 Center St., Portland) for a bash with Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas and The Brad Marino Band at 9 p.m. Tix: $45.50 (18+).
Vivid Motion Dance turns up the heat to raise funds for The Hill Arts (76 Congress St., Portland) during Steamy Nights, a sexy show that also features local burlesque performers at 9 p.m. Tix: $25-$30 (all ages).
The annual PortFringe festival of unconventional theatrical works begins today and runs through June 28 at various unconventional venues in Portland. The only performer or organizer who contacted The Bollard to tell you about the fest was Steven Nicholas, whose telepathic show, “Mind Reader,” will be performed four times — but, of course, Nicholas knew we’d promote it! Full schedule and tix here.
An exhibit of hauntingly beautiful prints and clay sculpture by artist, educator and musician Colleen Kinsella (Big Blood), titled Shadow Works, opens this evening at The Crow’s Nest (153 Island Ave., Peaks Island) from 5-8 p.m. and continues through June 29. Stunning ferry ride across the bay not included.
As noted in an op-ed we published last weekend, Presente! Maine is the real deal, a grassroots mutual-aid organization doing vital work for dispossessed people in our area. A kick-ass punk and indie-rock benefit show for the group happens at SPACE (538 Congress St., Portland) with “far left” agitators Wake in Fright, the mighty Mouth Washington, Adlt Grrl and Vehicular Manslaughter at 7:30 p.m. Tix: $15 (all ages).
Other live music of note tonight includes a performance by Starling, the folk-pop ensemble that pairs Sara Hallie Richardson’s divine voice with strings by the Amarantos Quartet. Acclaimed Maine singer-songwriter Max García Conover opens at One Longfellow Square (181 State St., Portland) at 8 p.m. Tix: $20 (all ages). Neo-classic-rock trio Rigometrics has a ball at Portland House of Music (25 Temple St.) with openers Kendall Street Company and Gnocchi at 8 p.m. Tix: $30 (21+). Local soul-singing sensation Gina Alibrio’s rock band, Subs, surfaces on the deck of Portland Lobster Company (180 Commercial St.) at 7 p.m. Free (all ages). And New England power-punk act Megan From Work rocks out at Blue Portland Maine (650 Congress St.) alongside The Dreaded Laramie and Borderlines at 8 p.m. Tix: $15 (21+).
Saturday
Big Portland Pride Month party at Aura (121 Center St., Portland) tonight featuring appearances by Rosé and Kerri Colby of Rupaul’s Drag Race, plus local hosts Cherry Lemonade and Gigi Gabor with a cavalcade of other Maine drag stars dancing to music by DJ Skooch at 8 p.m. Tix: $30-$35 (18+).
The Portland Pride Parade & Festival begins at 1:30 p.m. with a procession starting at Monument Square and leading to Deering Oaks, where the fun (officially) continues until 7 p.m. Merriment goes on during Queer As In … A Pride Dance Party, an unapologetically joyous and rebellious night of liberating club music by DJs Red Tide and Showtime Goma at Flask Lounge (117 Spring St., Portland) at 8 p.m. Tix: $15-$25 (21+; benefits Portland Outright).
OK, just one more Pride event for today: a free screening of director Sean Baker’s visually intoxicating 2015 film Tangerine, about a sex worker and her friend’s odyssey through the subcultures of L.A., at the Portland Museum of Art (7 Congress Square.) at 4 p.m.
A fantastic daylong music festival called Cultural Crossroads brings Canadian, Franco-American and Cajun acts together at the Chocolate Church Arts Center (804 Washington St., Bath) from 2 p.m. till 9 p.m. Featured performers include Maine’s red-hot Acadian Aces, Side by Each, the Montreal group Genticorum, T Marie & The Bayou Juju, and more. Tix: $35-$50 ($10 kids 12 and under).
Boston’s Queen of the Blues, Toni Lynn Washington, belts it out at Lenny’s Pub (1274 Bridgton Rd. Westbrook) backed by a peerless trio that includes bassist Kris Day, drummer Per Hanson and guitarist Mike Williams at 6:30 p.m. Tix: $20 (all ages).
Local ensemble Gruppo Antudo, featuring guitar virtuosos Amos Libby and Doug Porter, plays folk music of Sicily and Southern Italy at Blue Portland Maine (650 Congress St.) at 7 p.m. Free (donations encouraged; 21+).
Sunday
Sleep Theory combines metal riffs, bouncin’ beats and pop harmonies into soaring, radio-friendly songs at the State Theatre (609 Congress St., Portland) with Nevertel, Oxymorrons and Stray View opening at 7 p.m. Tix: $27-$30 (all ages).
Locals already know this — and may still have some regrets/legal bills — but here’s a friendly reminder that Stream Reggae spreads irie vibes every Sunday at Jones Landing (6 Welch St., Peaks Island) at 1 p.m. It’s free and all ages.
The 63rd annual Windjammer Days festival in Boothbay Harbor begins today with a sailing competition, numerous harbor tours, and a talent competition, and continues through June 28. Full schedule of events here.