A national recording artist will come north next month for Madawaska’s inaugural Northern Maine Summerfest.
Cody Lohden, who is signed to Nashville-based DeVille Records, will headline the festival. He will be supported by Anthony Todd, a Maine-based artist who blends country and hip-hop.
It’s rare that nationally recognized artists travel as far north as Aroostook County, and rarer still that they perform in the St. John Valley. Fort Fairfield’s County Bluegrass Festivals draw national talent, and in 2019 Uncle Kracker performed at the Houlton Fair. Now, Madawaska is navigating what it takes to bring a big name north.
Madawaska Economic and Community Development Director Kristen Henry has been working to ensure that the festival goes smoothly. She is corralling support from local high school students and roughly 50 volunteers to work behind the scenes.
“We are blessed that we have a number of very talented production people in the area who are volunteering their time to help,” she said. “Because bringing in a national recording artist is a little bit different. There are a lot of requirements that are needed.”
Students will help musicians with their gear. The artist’s production team will work with talented local volunteers to set up the stage and sound, help install lights, hook up equipment and make sure everything is wired properly.
The festival is not using tax money for the event, so they also had to get creative with the artists’ riders — agreements that specify technical, logistical and accommodation requirements.
Madawaska, a town of about 3,800 people, has no major hotels, so the town sought Airbnb options. A resident donated the use of a lake house with outdoor recreation opportunities.
“The artists and the booking agent that we worked with were amazing, and they were actually appreciative of the hospitality,” Henry said. “And who doesn’t want to spend two days at a lake house in northern Maine?”
Summerfest is slated Saturday, Aug. 22, at Birch Point along the shore of Long Lake.
A New England-based rapper is also expected to play, but town officials will not reveal the name until additional contract details are finalized. UnderWay, a popular local act, will also perform.
The waterfront festival will include children’ s attractions, vendors, beer gardens and mobile eateries. Any proceeds from the event will go directly back into community development, Henry said.
The event will be funded through public sponsorships, Henry said. Final costs are expected to be in the tens of thousands.
Tickets are available for the first 48 hours at a discounted price of $15, after which it will cost $45 at the gate to attend.
The festival will cap off with a lengthy fireworks show, at least 20 minutes long, by a local vendor.
Henry hopes Summerfest will become an annual festival where nationally touring artists and rising stars can play.
“I foresee this festival continuing annually as the place ‘where you saw them when,’” she said. “So you see Cody Lohden right now in Madawaska, Maine, and four months down the line he’s at the CMT Awards accepting his new artist award. That’s what we foresee this event to be.”
