Thompson Free Library and MHCA to host Songwriters in the Round with Mallett brothers, Eric Bettencourt, and Pat Byrne
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Thompson Free Library and Maine Highlands Council for the Arts will host a Songwriters in the Round concert featuring four talented musicians: Will Mallett, Luke Mallet, Eric Bettencourt, and Pat Byrne on Friday, July 21 at 6 p.m. Part concert, part conversation, the four will share their original songs and the inspiration behind them, allowing those in attendance an inside glimpse at these musicians’ conversations and insights into each performer’s unique songwriting and performing process. The show is sponsored by Central Maine Smiles, Dave’s World Heating and Cooling, Vail’s Custom Cakes and Icelandic Bakery, Sweet Lou’s Barber Shop, and Seeds Early Learning Center.
Will and Luke Mallett, sons of Maine music legend Dave Mallett, head The Mallett Brothers Band, an independent rock and roll/Americana/country band from Maine. With a style that ranges from alt-country to Americana, country, jam and roots rock, theirs is a musical melting pot that’s influenced equally by the singer/songwriter tradition as by harder rock, classic country and psychedelic sounds. Bill Copeland Music News says “Combining their authentic roots rock sound with a reflective lyrical style that perceives stories on the level of epic myth, it’s like William Faulkner has been resurrected with an electric guitar in hand.”
Bettencourt is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, recording engineer, freelance artist, piano enthusiast, and genre masher who fixes his own cars and cuts his own hair. He belongs to both Austin, Texas and Portland.
An Irish singer-songwriter, in late 2017 Byrne began his migration to Austin, Texas. In 2019, he took the US by storm, with breakout performances at the 30A Festival, SXSW, Kerrville Folk Festival and the Americana Festival. Being immersed in the Texas music scene, Byrne’s sophomore US release “Into the Light” has an edgier feel,, underscoring both emotional depth and greater confidence, while blending new influences with his rich Irish heritage.
The show will highlight the library’s wonderful new pavilion, built thanks to monetary donations from Ware Butler, Bangor Savings Bank, GFWC/MIOSAC, and the work of Dover True Value, Charleston Correctional Facility Trades Program, Shane Mailloux, Johnson Foundations, and Bishop Concrete. The TFL Association and staff would like to thank everyone who made the pavilion a reality, as events such as this would not be possible without it!
The concert will start at 6 p.m. and is open to everyone. Donations are appreciated by the artists, but not required. Seating is limited but the space is accommodating, so lawn chairs and/or blankets are recommended.
Thompson Free Library is open Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All summer we have children’s programs every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and all ages programs every Thursday at 6 p.m. Visit our website www.thompsonfreelibrary.org, our Facebook page at facebook.com/thompsonfreelibrary, Instagram @tf_library, or email thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com to sign up for our newsletter and keep up with what’s going on at the library.