Hunt and Allison Smith in concert April 29

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Maine Highlands Council for the Arts presents their own Hunt and Allison Smith in concert from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, April 29 at the Central Hall Commons.

Hunt and Allison are lifelong musicians who live in Atkinson. They play for contra dances and family/barn dances, as well as giving music and dance programs to schools, libraries, weddings, and jollifications of all sorts. They coordinate contra dances at Finn Hall in Monson and the Central Hall Commons in Dover-Foxcroft, where they are the arts coordinators for the Maine Highlands Council for the Arts. 

Hunt plays a violin of his own making, as well as mandolin, guitar, and banjo, and is also a noted maritime artist. 

Allison taught elementary music and is also a song leader. She plays accordion, keyboard, recorders and harp, and teaches traditional and Colonial-style dance. She is the “house caller” for the contra dances at the Commons and Finn Hall. Hunt and Allison also play with the contra dance band, Some Reel People.

Hunt and Allison are teaching artists with the Maine Arts Commission and the New Hampshire Council for the Arts and have given residencies and programs all over New England and the eastern United States.

The concert will include songs, stories, and tunes from a variety of traditions including traditional dance music from old New England and the Celtic countries, some more contemporary duos for mandolin and accordion, and more. 

Admission is by donation and can be paid at the door. 

For more information, call Allison at 207-598-6398 or email arts@centralhallcommons.org.