Bill Lundgren

Jan 9, 2024 | thebollard.com | Annie Cutler |Bill Lundgren

D.GrossWelcome Homeself-releasedThe weeks before winter officially begins are not Maine’s best look. It’s dark, cold and sparse. The leaves are off the trees but snow hasn’t yet blanketed the brown grass. It’s a time when some of us Mainers daydream of faraway places where the sun is shining, the sand is warm, and only the tropical drinks are ice cold. Portland singer-songwriter, guitarist and sax player Dana Gross (who performs as D.Gross) has released the perfect soundtrack to this daydream.

Jan 9, 2024 | thebollard.com | Annie Cutler |Bill Lundgren

Snaex Has Been GivenEl Gran E RecordsWhat has the experimental indie-folk group Snaex given us? Over the past decade, the answer is several excellent albums and singles pairing socially conscious lyrics with intriguing instrumentation. Their new release, Has Been Given, is an ode to what you find when you sit back and open yourself up to whatever comes your way.

Nov 5, 2023 | thebollard.com | Annie Cutler |Bill Lundgren |Chris Busby

The StationUp From Hereself-releasedIt’s been so long since the busy signal has been part of everyday life that I question if that’s what it was even called. To clarify for youngsters, busy signals are the annoying, repetitive beeps you’d hear if you called a landline phone and its owner was either talking to someone else on the phone or the receiver was off the hook. It’s the sound that lets you know the person you’re calling cannot be reached.

Nov 5, 2023 | thebollard.com | Annie Cutler |Bill Lundgren |Chris Busby

Upper NarrowsWhile We’re WarmRepeating CloudI have always felt that certain records sound like certain seasons. Upper Narrows’ debut, While We’re Warm, feels distinctly like a fall record. The title is perfect for its mid-October release here in Maine, and the autumnal vibe is reflected in the music itself. It’s in the pace (slower than summer’s manic energy, but not as sleepy as winter) and the texture (the beats are warm, but pop) of these 10 new songs.

Nov 5, 2023 | thebollard.com | Dan Zarin |Samuel James |Kenneth W. Beek |Bill Lundgren

photo/Dan ZarinBird & Co.539 Deering Ave., Portland747-4056thebirdandco.comDid you know Woodfords Corner is experiencing a cultural revival? At least, that’s what some out-of-state newspaper or glossy magazine proclaims every year or two, so it must be true, right? In reality, the development of this off-peninsula Portland neighborhood into a dining and arts destination is still very much a work in progress.