Not too many details yet, but they have a poster and a website for the Belfast Free Range Music Festival happening at multiple venues in Belfast, Maine on Saturday, April 24.

Things have been a little quieter here recently (thanks to a new job at SPACE Gallery and an increasingly busy freelance photography schedule) and this week they’ll go (almost) silent. I’m off in Austin, TX for the annual SXSW Music Festival (or rather all the free/unofficial shows that coincide with every band in the universe being in one place for it). I’ll be back on the 22nd with lots of stories and bands to try to lure back to Portland. See you then!

Two shows that are a bit of a change of pace were announced for Port City Music Hall today: Against Me! (pictured above in Brooklyn) on 4/28 and Isis (with Cave In) on 6/22! This is probably just the beginning, as we get closer to summer and more national acts confirm tours that bring them through our city. Keep an eye on the showlist for new show announcements all the time.

At last year’s South By Southwest music festival in Austin, I was assigned to shoot someone called P.O.S. I had no idea what to expect, but went to the show and was really impressed by his energy and blend of rap and rock styles (note: not “rap-rock”). The show went to an entirely other level when Astronautalis joined him on stage for a few songs. If you haven’t head the pleasure of seeing either of these artists before, than tonight is your chance, as they’ll be playing at SPACE Gallery along with Dessa. Getting tickets now is highly recommended.

According to their Myspace page (where you can listen to the track “Rum Runner”), Kaveldt is a “new band featuring ex-members of Conifer, Purse, Haru Bangs and Ruler Of The Raging Main. Debut show this March, 2010. Upcoming 12″ vinyl split record with AoK Suicide Forest in the works for this summer.”

Sounds good. Check out their first two shows, 3/19 at Geno’s and 4/23 at Apohadion.

The March First Friday is here, and though I’ll probably miss most of the fun due to other obligations, there’s enough good stuff happening in Portland that I just have to share.

For the first time, Eternal Otter Records will be opening their Headquarters at the Building Of Song location (142 High St, Suite 513) and will be open every friday from 11am-4pm. This week they will be followed by a Building Of Song concert featuring Dominic Lavoie (of The Lucid – they’ve shortened their name from Dominic & The Lucid), Meghan Yates & the Reverie Machine, and Matt Lajoie (of Cursillistas).

At SPACE Gallery, Greg Davis‘ Ocean Mind exhibit/sound installation kicks off, followed by a performance/concert at 9pm.

The Dooryard debuts an exciting group show, Monsters And Robots “No Humans, No Masters” that – from the looks of what I saw the other day while the artists were putting it up – is not to be missed.

Geno’s turns art gallery again, this time with Michael Batchelder’s music photos (15% of sales go to the musicians in the photos). The exhibit is followed by a concert with Aok Suicide Forest, Bora, and Roadshow (from Boston).

As if I need to mention it, the 48 Hour Music Fest is Saturday. It’ll probably be huge again, rightfully so (though somehow there are 3 other simultaneous attractive shows that night). Check out the PHX article if you haven’t seen it yet and get tickets/show up early if you want to witness the randomness.

Last Friday (February 26) at the Hogfarm Annex in Biddeford, Dilly Dilly and Sontiago played their last show as a duo in Maine before Dilly Dilly left on her great trip west. She’s moving to LA via an epic drive with pal Becca Redman, and you can follow their adventures (and those of their not-always-trusty-steed, No Sexy) right here. At the moment they’re apparently camping in Abilene State Park, TX. We hope their journey goes well and that Erin (Dilly) finds great success out on the west coast.

Read on for photos from the show, which also included Lady Lamb The Beekeeper (and thus a surprise return of Hairy Brass Knuckles, a year later!) and the excellent Pearl And The Beard from Brooklyn, NY. Fun fact: Jocelyn from Pearl And The Beard actually used a pair of the Ferdinand-created (for DraculaZombieUSA’s Maine debut) hairy brass knuckles, as you’ll see below. Photos by Bryan Bruchman.
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This year officially sees the launch of Graeme K’s new label, mckeenstreet.

The first releases will begin to roll out in May and include efforts by Brenda, Dethro, The Last Sip (Vince Nez), Horse Thief (Chad Chamberlain), and Graeme K. Feeling a little lost? I suggest starting with these videos to get acquainted with some of these acts.

It’s not quite the confirmation that we’re all looking for, but it’s at least looking good: through all the speculation and rumors, there is now at least some solid info out there about the renovation of the State Theater. Read the Press Herald article here, and if you happen to have a couple million dollars and experience running a large venue, perhaps you can be the one to take it over, when it’s ready.

Last week Theodore Treehouse played at Slainte as part of their Mardi Gras celebration. I wrote a review of the show which appears in this week’s Portland Phoenix, and can be seen online here. The photo above is from that performance.

I was away for the weekend and am still catching up.

Jon Donnell was at the HillyTown Presents show last Thursday at the Apohadion and took these photos:

Jon was ALSO at the Mayo Street Arts event on Saturday, a concert that included Asian Mae, Thunderbow/Brushes With Death, and Hobgoblin. Check out his photos:

The new venue has announced another show, this time taking it in a more electronic direction, with Computer At Sea and id m theftable. That should definitely be interesting in that space! Also, there is currently an art studio/small office space available in the building, so if you’re interested take a look here!