Roots-based band to play new songs in Orono Blue Northern merges bluegrass, American folk

A blue cloud is expected to descend and hover over Orono on Saturday night.

It might look a little strange, but the sound it’s going to emit will be a gentle blend of bluegrass and American folk music that weaves traditional tunes with original songs to create an intricately simple sound.

Blue Northern will perform at the Keith Anderson Community Center. The concert, sponsored by the DADGAD Coffeehouse, will include the songs released this summer on the group’s first CD, “Why So Blue?,” and new material.

This new millennium Blue Northern should not be confused with a previous rock ‘n’ roll incarnation of the same name in the previous century. Band members include a boat builder, computer engineer, carpenter, former fisherman and academician. In total, they’ve played in 10 different bands.

“This particular band truly plays ensemble style and we listen to each other carefully,” said mandolin and guitar player Paul Anderson of Winterport. “I guess we’ve matured into our musical instruments enough so that we identify with the musical sound of the band rather than our own instruments. That lends itself to an ensemble feeling like a string quartet.”

Anderson, head of the Sea Grant program at the University of Maine, has played with several Maine bluegrass acts, including the Kinsman Ridgerunners, the Mud Cove Ramblers, and the Johnny Combo. In 1989, he started the bluegrass radio program “Bronzewound” on WERU-FM and hosted it for eight years. Now, he occasionally appears as a substitute.

Gregg TeHennepe of Lamoine is a computer programmer who started his musical career playing the flute in fifth grade. A few years later, he discovered that electric guitar was more effective for soothing the rages of teenage testosterone poisoning, according to information on the band’s Web site. After a stint of heavy metal and blues followed by a long musical hiatus, he became a bluegrass fan when his wife encouraged him to get a dobro back a decade ago.

Past bands have included Josh and the Senators and the Mud Cove Ramblers, where he met Anderson. He plays dobro and guitar for Blue Northern.

Boat builder David Lewis lives at the geographical center of the band, in Belmont, and anchors it with his doghouse bass playing. Over the years he has mastered the French horn and pedal steel guitar, among others. He played them all until about 15 years ago he had an epiphany and decided, “I am a bass player!”

He’s played bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll and jazz in Maine and Virginia in bands like New River Train, the Searsmont Street Band and the Bel-Isle Trio. He also played with TeHennepe in Sick Puppy, the Perfect Erasers, Low Tide, and the rock ‘n’ roll version of Blue Northern.

Sepp Huber of Franklin stole his first banjo from his brother 27 years ago and has been picking ever since. Years of homesteading and masonry work have left his hands suitable only for claw hammer banjo, he has said, but that doesn’t stop him from taking an occasional turn at the accordion and whistle.

Most recently, he played with the Grist Mill Boys, the Sonic Burdocks, the West Bay String Band, and Angeline the Baker. He and his banjo volunteer regularly at the Mountain View School in Sullivan.

A former fisherman, Pete Henry Davis of Rockport and his good friend Huber first played together in a snowmobile bar in Vermont. A move to Islesboro brought Davis in contact with many Midcoast musicians.

Bands stints have included joining Davis in Sick Puppy, the Perfect Erasers, Low Tide, and the rock ‘n’ roll Blue Northern. He is much in demand in the Augusta area as an accompanist. Davis plays guitar, tenor guitar, bass and almost anything other instrument put into his hands.

Every member of Blue Northern sings vocals and writes songs. In a democratic move that would implode many a rock ‘n’ roll band, they recorded two songs written by each member on the CD. Anderson said they have enough material for a second and plan to record this winter while continuing to work their day jobs.

“Music is my yoga,” said Anderson, explaining the place making music has in his life. “It’s the one thing I have that’s my own. It’s a wonderful thing to do for a calming effect. To have as a hobby performing with a band is a great treat.”

He said that after a summer of playing at weddings, events and parties, the band is looking forward to playing a concert.

“I’m hoping some other folks come out and hear us for first time,” he said. “Our music’s really innovative and challenging but it’s also gentle music, not in-your-face hard bluegrass.”

Blue Northern will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Keith Anderson Community Center on the Bennoch Road in Orono. For more information, call 866-5854 or visit www.dadgadcoffeehouse.org.