Griffin returning to Maine

Beloved by folk and alt-country fans nationwide, Patty Griffin is best known round these parts as the only Grammy nominee ever to come out of Old Town, where she grew up with her seven brothers and sisters and lived until her late teens. Now she has settled down in Austin, Texas, but she tries to make it back to Maine to visit her family as often as she can.

Her performances at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, April 11 and 12, will be her second appearance at the newly renovated Grand Theatre in Ellsworth.

“One of the reasons I wanted to tour is so I can come back to Maine,” said Griffin. “I go on little minitours now. I’m not crazy about doing 200 dates in a year now. I don’t need to beat myself up on the road. I’ve been focusing on putting material together for a new record.”

And she’s always writing songs, even if they aren’t about anything in particular.

“It’s good to keep your hands in writing all the time,” said the 42-year-old Griffin, speaking from a tour stop in Ann Arbor, Mich. “It’s like painting, or cooking. You lose your chops if you don’t keep at it. Even if it sometimes feels like there’s nothing to say, keep at it anyway.”

That philosophy has paid off well for Griffin, who has recorded four albums of her ethereal but tough folk-rock since 1996, been nominated for two Grammy Awards, and has had her songs covered by everyone from Martina McBride to Emmylou Harris to Bette Midler.

After leaving A&M, the major label that released her first two albums, she has moved away from her more rock-influenced early sound to embrace a more sparse – but no less complex and compelling – acoustic folk style. In 2001 she signed with ATO, the independent label founded by Dave Matthews.

Her last release, 2004’s “Impossible Dream,” was peppered with elements of gospel and blues in addition to folk music, and featured her other remarkable talent, besides songwriting: her strong, highly distinctive, country-inflected voice.

It’s no wonder that not only does she have a devoted fan following, but also bands like the Dixie Chicks choose to cover her music – twice, on both of their last two albums.

Griffin’s tastes run a bit to the left and the right of the music she writes on her own – she counts Icelandic ambient post-rockers Sigur Ros as a new band she has on repeat on her iPod, and older musicians such as Sam Cooke and Elton John as favorites as well.

And as for that new album, Griffin says she’s going to head into the studio in May or June to start recording it. Expect to hear some new songs at her Ellsworth shows.

“The reason we’re going on this tour is to prime the material for the new record,” said Griffin. “I’m excited about it.”

Patty Griffin plays at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, and Wednesday, April 12, at the Grand Theatre in Ellsworth, with opening act Michael Fracasso. Tickets are $26 and can be purchased at www.grandonline.org. For information, visit www.pattygriffin.net. Emily Burnham can be reached at eburnham@bangordailynews.net.

Supporting acts:

. The Nine Inch Nails show originally scheduled for Feb. 28 at Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland has been rescheduled for June 21. All tickets for the original date will be honored on the new date. Also, Saul Williams is no longer opening for Trent Reznor and company; this time around, you get reunited goth pioneers Bauhaus and the filthy-minded electro-rock of Peaches. A strange combination of bands indeed, but not likely to be one the average NIN fan will ever forget.

. The most emo lineup of the year passes through Orono next week, when the “Screaming Is For Babies” tour comes to Ushuaia on Wednesday, April 12. The Starting Line, Copeland, Gatsby’s American Dream and Cartel take the stage at 8 p.m. Tickets are $17 and can be purchased on www.eye9d.com, and the show is all ages. Black wristbands, dyed black hair and studded belts are highly recommended.