TUNA MELT

With a tour schedule that includes Seattle, Portland, Ore., Boulder, Colo., New York City, and Asbury Park, N.J., it doesn’t seem there would be much time to cruise up to Maine for a concert.

But, when you’ve been enshrined at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, you can do more or less anything you want.

Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, two men who made Jefferson Airplane all the rage in its heyday, are coming to Bar Harbor’s Criterion Theater for a two-man acoustic show.

The duo, better known as Hot Tuna, will perform Saturday, July 21, at Bar Harbor’s historic theater.

Kaukonen and Casady were the backbone of Jefferson Airplane, which produced nine Top 20 albums and two Top 10 singles.

The two split from the band in the early 1970s in search of their own sound and promptly found a following mixing their folk and blues roots for a sound that spans generations of listeners.

Hot Tuna. So good, and so good for you.

For tickets, call the Music Bar in Bar Harbor, 288-5070; The Grasshopper Shops in Ellsworth, 667-5816, or Bangor, 945-3132; or the Criterion Theater, 288-5829.

TRAVELIN’

BAND

The Criterion Theater isn’t the only coastal connection to catch well-traveled and critically ac-claimed acoustic duos.

As part of the Austin-Acadia Connection Series, Albert and Gage will perform at the Neighborhood House in Northeast Harbor at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 21.

Albert and Gage, so named for its members – Christine Albert and Chris Gage – has had its own share of tours, but not before its virtuoso members took off around the world in some impressive company.

Albert has appeared on “Austin City Limits” with her own band and has been named female vocalist of the year at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival.

Gage has toured with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Roy Clark, appearing at different times on the “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” and at Carnegie Hall.

So, when a duo with as much experience and talent makes its way into this area, there aren’t too many good excuses not to go see them.

Tickets are $15 apiece at the Music Bar in Bar Harbor, The Grasshopper Shops in Bangor and Ellsworth or through Ticketmother (288-4740).

VAUDEVILLE RETURNS

OK, OK, so you’re not into electrifying acoustic music or the world-famous musicians who play it. We’ve thought of you, too.

You want funny, you say? Well, then check out New Wave Vaudeville.

This national touring company is on its way to The Camden Opera house for two nights of “incredible juggling, amazing illusions, hilarious comedy, and adventurous audience participation.”

This troupe has been lauded worldwide and even has had occasion to perform at The White House. And you thought the president was the only one goofing around in Washington.

The shows will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday, July 20, and Saturday, July 21.

For the regard this group carries, $10 for adults and $8 for senior citizens and students isn’t too much to ask. To reserve tickets, call the Camden Opera House at 236-7963.

If you’d like an item publicized in the Coming Up section of the scene, drop us a line at sceneguy@hotmail.com, 990-8028 or the scene, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402.

– By Matthew Paul