Cure for spring fever: more music

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Forgive me, readers. I appear to have lost my mind.

You see, this past week of unseasonably warm weather has turned my brain to goo. The balmy breezes enter one ear and go straight out through the other. The smells of grass growing and neighbors firing up the grill have driven me to distraction. A late afternoon stroll in a skirt, T-shirt and sandals was more of a float, an effortless glide on top of the sidewalk. I practically skipped my way around.

Hey, you’d wax poetic, too, if you hated winter as much as I do. This hint of a very-much-wanted climate change has given me a seriously severe case of spring fever. And the only prescription is not more cowbell, though that never hurt anyone. Nope, I’m talking about my favorite self-prescribed medication: more music. Here’s what’s cookin’ for the spring and early summer in Maine.

Now you’ll have to excuse me. I’ve got some frolicking to do.

The Station, Portland

www.myspace.com/thestationlive

Hard-core band Ashes Divide, featuring members of Tool, plays at this Portland venue on May 20, while Ellison and Alias Grace will play June 24. Oh yeah, and remember that band Green Jello? They had that song “Three Little Pigs?” They’re playing on July 7 with local boys Covered in Bees. Now THAT’s a show worth seeing!

Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield

www.stonemountainartscenter.com

Gospel queen Mavis Staples will take the stage on June 15. Jazz vocalist Madeleine Peyroux is set for June 21, while swing-revival hangers-on Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will turn the place into a dance party on June 22. Then there’s the one-two-three punch of Martin Sexton June 29, Richard Thompson June 30, and two nights with Judy Collins July 3 and 4.

Merrill Auditorium, Portland

www.porttix.com

B.B. King plays here May 18, while Lyle Lovett and his Large Band will perform June 26.

Space Gallery, Portland

www.space538.org

While the coming months seem more devoted to film and discussions, the Space Gallery plays host to Boston-based world-punk weirdos Beat Circus May 14, and on June 20 will offer a special performance from two-thirds of now-defunct, legendary experimental band Sun City Girls, an extremely rare treat that will most likely never happen again.

Androscoggin Bank Colisee, Lewiston

www.thecolisee.com

Not eight months after his last appearance in Maine, Bob Dylan will play in Lewiston on May 17. Opener has not been announced.

University of Maine, Orono

www.umainetix.com

Panic at the Disco, Motion City Soundtrack, the Hush Sound and Phantom Planet play here on May 2. Like OMG!

Shangri-La, Ellsworth

667-2699

We’re eagerly anticipating the opening of this new Ellsworth music venue May 9, with a performance from British songwriter Graham Parker. It later hosts Sarah L. Guthrie (Woody’s granddaughter) and Johnny Irion May 23, former Toad the Wet Sprocket frontman Glen Phillips May 29, Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles June 6, bluesman John Hammond June 13, songwriter Shawn Phillips June 27, Celtic punk Casey Neill June 28 and indie rocker Chuck Prophet July 9.

The Fiery Furnaces show originally set for mid-May has been postponed; check www.sha-la.com for details. And let’s not forget the Shangri-La Festival, set for Aug. 1-3 at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds. Details on that yet to come.

The Grand, Ellsworth

667-9500

Big Brother & the Holding Co. is still a band, even though Janis Joplin died nearly 40 years ago. And they’re playing at The Grand May 8.

Criterion Theatre, Bar Harbor

288-3441

James McMurtry and the Heartless Bastards will make a Maine appearance at the Criterion on May 4. You’re gonna have yourself a time.

Camden Opera House, Camden

236-7963

The Opera House hosts two big names in the coming months: sweet-voiced Americana chanteuse Iris DeMent on June 5, and the brilliant guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson (a personal favorite) on July 1.

eburnham@bangordailynews.net

990-8270