By: Chris Czachor, student journalist
BANGOR- Can you believe it? Summer is already almost here. For residents of the Bangor area, that means that the party is just getting started. Soon enough, the Darlings Waterfront Pavilion will be rocking, with a bevy of talented artists set to perform this Summer.
The Darlings Waterfront Pavilion is an outdoor theatre that is put together every Summer inside Bangor’s Waterfront Park. Waterfront Park is a 58 acre public park located in the downtown district of Bangor, close to the Penobscot River. Because it is located in a public park, the stage and seating can be rearranged however the performing act wants it to be. The Waterfront Pavilion has played host to some of music’s biggest names for years, such as B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban, just to name a few. The Waterfront Pavilion provides a unique venue that hosts some of the world’s most famous musicians in a comfortably small, intimate venue.
Husson University student Jonathan Lancaster is excited about the Waterfront Pavilion’s Summer lineup.
“The lineup for this Summer is honestly loaded with great artists. I’d go to all of them if I could, but I’ll have to put some thought in to which ones I will want to see the most,” said Lancaster.
The Summer will start off with Dierks Bentley coming to Bangor on June 4. Bentley is on his “Somewhere On a Beach Tour”. The tour is named after his hit single “Somewhere On a Beach” from his upcoming album “Black” which will be released in May. Concert goers will only have a month or so to learn all of the lyrics to his new songs before heading out to the show.
On June 8, Dave Matthews Band will be in town to rock the Waterfront Pavilion. The band will head out on their North America tour on May 11. The tour is in honor of Dave Matthews Band’s 25th anniversary.
Old and new country music fans alike will surely gather at the Waterfront Pavilion on June 18 to see the legend Dolly Parton perform. Parton’s stop in Bangor is part of her 60 city “Pure and Simple” tour. This is Parton’s first large scale U.S. tour in 25 years.
One of country music’s biggest names, Florida Gerorgia Line, will come to Bangor on June 23. The show will be a part of the groups “Dig Your Roots tour”. Florida Georgia Line performed at the Waterfront Pavilion last August, and decided to stop by and perform in front of their faithful Bangor crowd again. Lancaster says that Florida Georgia Line is on the top of his Summer must-see list.
“One show that I have to go to is Florida Georgia Line’s. That was a great time last year, so it is awesome that they are coming back.
Luke Bryan will roll into town on July 17 during his “Kill the Lights” tour. The tour is named after Bryan’s 2015 album “Kill the Lights”.
It looks like it will be another wild Summer at the Darlings Waterfront Pavilion. Tickets for all shows are available at http://pavilionbangor.com/?gclid=CLnpme-YocwCFcxZhgod12ILCw.