Imminent doom no excuse not to rock ’08

Years from now, when we’re all paying 27 bucks a gallon for gas, the polar ice caps have melted, and Miley Cyrus has been appointed United Nations secretary-general, we’re all going to look back on the summer of 2008 as the end of an era. The end of innocence, if you will. Like that Enigma song. Wait, that was “Return to Innocence.” That one with the crazy chanting. Yeah.

Anyway, despite the inevitable changes that are on their way – I’m looking at you, dude driving a Hummer – there’s at least one thing about the summer of 2008 that doesn’t involve environmental or economic woes. And that’s the fact that you can always count on rock ‘n’ roll to come through for you, no matter what kind of bad stuff is going down. And golly gee, the summer of ’08s got some righteous gigs lined up. Two new festivals! Two old festivals, bigger and better! A whole bunch of other shows! John Fogerty! Wow!

At the least, it’s an excuse to have one last hurrah before the proverbial hammer drops. When George W. Bush heads off to a quiet retirement of golf, barbecue and “The Price is Right,” and the food rations begin, then we can start worrying. But until then – might as well fiddle while Rome burns, eh?

Up North Festival, Hiram (www.upnorthfestival.com)

Maine gets its own sweet hippie music festival this year. Take the trek on down to the Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds in Hiram Aug. 8-10 to see a who’s who of the jam scene, including Bob Weir and Ratdog, Umphrey’s McGee, the Wailers, The Everyone Orchestra conducted by Matt Butler featuring Jon Fishman, Soulive, RJD2, Assembly of Dust, Railroad Earth, the Ryan Montbleau Band, Lettuce, John Brown’s Body and many more.

Shangri-La Music and Arts Festival, Blue Hill (www.sha-la.com)

I enjoy telling people I’m going to this, because I get to say, “I’m going to Shangri-La.” The inaugural fest is set for the Blue Hill Fairgrounds Aug. 1-3, and features Steve Earle and Alison Moorer, Southern Culture on the Skids, Josh Ritter, Juana Molina, Bill Evans and Soulgrass, Erin McKeown, Luke Rathborne, the Winterpills, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, the Infamous Stringdusters, the Barra Macneils, Tim Krekel and more.

Beltek Festival, Belmont (www.beltekfestival.com)

The sixth annual Beltek Festival descends on a field in the Waldo County town of Belmont Aug. 1-3. There are seriously about 80 bajillion amazing DJs and bands from all over Maine and the country playing. There’s also tons of art, both visual and performance. And guess what? It’s completely free. Yeah. You heard me. Free. Astounding.

Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland (www.theciviccenter.com)

We all love that dirty water, even though Boston’s not our home – and that’s why the Beantown bands the Dropkick Murphys and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are playing in Portland tonight, in a show that sold out so quickly it had to be moved from Hadlock Field to the Civic Center. Later, Three Doors Down, Hinder and Staind rock the Civic Center on July 23.

Maine State Pier, Portland (www.porttix.com)

Two big shows here this summer – the first is jam band extraordinaire Moe, with guitar whiz Kaki King, Massachusetts-bred Ryan Montbleau and Mainers Hot Day at the Zoo, in double shot set for July 12 and 13. The Baystock Festival sets up shop here on Aug. 9, with the completely and totally awesome John Fogerty headlining, and a lineup of supporting acts to be announced soon.

Space Gallery, Portland (www.space538.org)

The indie-rock-a-licious Portland art space and venue offers three great shows in July – indie-pop band Elf Power this Saturday, July 12; Ladybug Transistor and Winterpills on July 18; and buzzworthy indie folkie Bon Iver, with Bowerbirds, on July 25. Ladybug Transistor also will play on July 19, at the Lompoc Cafe in Bar Harbor.

The Asylum, Portland (www.myspace.com/asylumlive)

They played the American Folk Festival two years ago, and now they’re back in Maine – the Skatalites will be at the Asylum on July 24. A month later, Fishbone plays on Aug. 31, and two weeks after that, the Celtic rockers Flogging Molly will rock Portland on Sept. 12.

Merrill Auditorium, Portland (www.porttix.com)

Merrill Auditorium stays relatively quiet this summer, and then has back-to-back concerts in mid-September – legendary songwriter John Prine on Sept. 11, and groovy jam-rockers O.A.R. on Sept. 12.

Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownville (www.stonemountainartscenter.com)

Man, how does this place get so many good acts coming through? Brownville is out in the middle of nowhere! Anyway, here’s the list of great folk and Americana acts playing here this summer: Nanci Griffith, July 19; Crooked Still, July 20; Jimmie Dale Gilmore, July 23; Cowboy Junkies, July 31 and Aug. 1; Tom Rush, Aug. 3; Aaron Neville and the Neville Brothers, Aug. 4; and John Hiatt, Aug. 26.

Augusta Civic Center (www.ticketmaster.com)

So if I go see Foreigner and Bryan Adams here on July 15, and I stand outside and listen to the awesome rock ‘n’ roll power, will I too become a juke box hero? No? Dang it.

Emily Burnham is a cynical optimist, and can be reached at eburnham@bangordailynews.net.