Beartracks band & friends are storming the Wayside stage Saturday

DEXTER — Wayside Grange & Theatre is excited to host Beartracks, featuring siblings Tommy and Julie & friends, bringing you a great night of bluegrass standards, originals, and songs with a twist on Saturday, Aug. 24. 

They began as a trio in 2004 when legendary dobro player Junior Barber convinced his cousins Tom and Julie to make the switch from playing traditional country music in clubs to playing bluegrass oriented material at festivals around the Northeast. The main focus of the group was the sibling vocal harmony of Tom and Julie and Junior’s unique stylist approach to playing resonator guitar. Although not a traditionally structured bluegrass group, the trio gained acceptance and a solid fan base at festivals throughout the Eastern US and in Canada from Calgary to Prince Edward Island.

When illness forced Junior to retire in June of 2013, Beartracks added a banjo and fiddle to give a more traditional sound. Beartracks has been fortunate to have some very skilled musicians working with them over the years and have found that as long as Julie and Tom are together, the backbone of Beartracks remains the same. 

Since their inception in 2004, Beartracks has recorded six albums, available on CD Baby, I-Tunes, Rhapsody, and Spotify which includes traditional bluegrass songs, classic country with a bluegrass twist and originals. 

Tom Foote, from KAOS-FM in Olympia, Washington, commented, “Smooth vocals from Tom and his sister Julie in the old-time duet tradition …” 

From now through October, Wayside Grange & Theatre will be entertaining the area with a wide  variety of music. Many of the musical groups stemming from the area and others traveling a great distance. McKusick Petroleum, again is fostering great music in the Penquis region with their generous donation to help  continue the Wayside Grange & Theatre music mission. 

The 2024 lineup continues: Aug. 24 Beartrack, Sept. 21 Denny Breau, and Oct. 26 Half Moon Jug Band.

The Wayside Grange & Theater presents programs of theater and music in an historic and  acoustically perfect setting. The building has served the Dexter community for decades and continues in 2024.  

The Wayside Grange Kitchen is open at 5:30 p.m. for a home cooked “by donation” crock pot supper. At 6:30 p.m. the doors open for the concert and Beartracks takes the stage at 7 p.m. There is no need for reservations and  tickets are only $15 per person. Desserts and “pretty good” coffee will be available in our downstairs dining  area at intermission. 

If you would like to join Wayside Grange & Theatre and/or volunteer, call Tim Breen at 207-355-5507 and please check out the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/waysidestage. 

The Grange volunteers have improved the comfort level at the Grange Hall with air conditioning. They also have access at ground level entrance, and can be found at 851 North Dexter Road (Route 23). 

Keep watching the Facebook page for more family fun events.