BANGOR, Maine — Waterfront Concerts is getting ready for its biggest season yet in Bangor, bringing 26 shows to the Maine Savings Amphitheater beginning at the end of this month.
“It’s really fun. It makes the whole town more booming I would say, and it creates a good vibration to Bangor,” frequent concert-goer Aaron Gilstrap said.
Booming is right—the Maine Savings Amphitheater can hold over 16,000 people. Waterfront Concerts is expecting this season to draw more than 200,000 people to Bangor.
The venue is finishing up some construction before the shows begin, giving concert attendees easier access to concessions and bathrooms.
“Our business creates what is called circular flow, and that circular flow is just getting people multiple ways in and out,” Alex Gray of Waterfront Concerts said.
The first show of the season is country singer Parker McCollum, who's performing on May 26. Country music fans will also have the chance to see Luke Combs and Tyler Childers.
Also performing this summer are James Taylor, Pitbull, Hozier, The Smashing Pumpkins, and many more.
“It's a good time, everybody seems to enjoy themselves,” Bangor concert-goer Paul O’Neal said. “It brings economic wealth to Bangor, so it's a positive thing for the waterfront.”
Gray said Todd Gabe, an economist at the University of Maine, has done studies on how music venues in Bangor are boosting the local economy.
“We estimate now, by extrapolating his numbers for inflation, we're approaching 100 million dollars of local economic impact annually,” Gray said.
Gray said having such a large venue in Bangor makes it easier and cheaper for people to see shows, without having to travel hours south to places like Portland or Boston.
“That opportunity cost is huge,” Gray said. “You don't have to take a day off from work, you're not buying a hotel, you're not paying for gas, tolls, food, all those types of things.”
Folks around Bangor are getting ready to go outside and enjoy some music.
“I think there should be more concerts, not even just the waterfront, like everywhere down the street, more outdoor performers,” Gilstrap said. “I think that's what makes Bangor shine.”
Waterfront Concerts is hoping to add two more shows to its lineup, to be announced soon.
You can find the full lineup and tickets to all the shows this summer at waterfrontconcerts.com.