The eclectic folk-rock group the Zulu Leprechauns continues the annual Bates College Midsummer Lakeside Concert Series on Thursday, July 29, in the Florence Keigwin Amphitheater at the college’s Lake Andrews.

Midsummer Lakeside concerts start at 6 p.m. on six consecutive Thursdays in July and August. The series will continue with hammered-dulcimer player Harry Vayo and the Celtic-bluegrass fusion band Irish Hill.

Sponsored by the Garcelon Society, the Bingham Betterment Fund and the Harward Center for Community Partnerships at Bates, these family concerts are open to the public at no cost. Listeners are encouraged to bring a picnic and lawn chairs or blankets.

An alternative site will be announced in case of rain. For more information, please call 207-786-6400.

Here’s the remaining summer schedule:

July 29, The Zulu Leprechauns: These eclectic, improvisational folk-rockers play a mix of original and familiar music, incorporating styles from West Africa, rock ‘n’ roll, bluegrass and folk. In addition to their own songs, they cover such artists as Neil Young, Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, Lou Reed and Robert Johnson, among others. They have made three recordings: the eponymous “Zulu Leprechauns,” “Mixed Messages” and their latest, “L.A. To Zaire.”

Founded in 1993, the ensemble comprises bassist John Shaw, banjoist and electric dulcimer player John Schwellenbach, percussionist and violinist Annegret Baier and percussionist Jeff Howe. Their instrumental arsenal includes djembe, six-string bass, guitar, dumbek, conga, shakers and cymbals. They have played the Maine Festival, Congress Square Festival and New Year’s Portland, along with such venues as Portland’s Oak Street Theater, the Waldo Theater and the Camden Opera House.

Aug. 5, Harry Vayo: A master of the hammered dulcimer and a self-described healing musician, Vayo performs his own compositions, Celtic and Asian tunes, Beatles songs, Cajun sounds and an occasional classical piece. He has made two recordings and has appeared at the Common Ground Fair and New Year’s by the Bay in Belfast, among many other Maine venues.

Aug. 12, Irish Hill: This local quartet offers a heartfelt blend of Celtic, bluegrass and old-time fiddle music. The players are guitarist Scott Williams, mandolinist Roberta Hill, fiddler-banjoist Michael Conant and bassist Tim Clough. Rich harmonies by Hill and Conant round out Irish Hill’s distinctive sound.

Here is a preview of public events at Bates College for summer 2010. Click “Print this post” at the bottom of the page for a version especially formatted for printing.

For up-to-date information throughout the month, see our Upcoming Events list. Questions or comments? Contact the calendar editor at this calendar@bates.edu.

Also at Bates each summer is the nationally renowned Bates Dance Festival, with public concerts, workshops and lectures taking place this year from July 5 through Aug. 7. For tickets, contact 207-786-6381 or this dancefest@bates.edu. Learn more.

Except as noted, events in the following listing are open to the public at no charge.

Saturday, June 12

2:30pm

A lecture by the artist and a reception open Joseph Nicoletti: A Retrospective, the major summer exhibition at Bates and a comprehensive look at one of Maine’s foremost realist painters. FMI: 207-786-6158 or this museum@bates.edu.
Olin Arts Center, Bates College Museum of Art

Saturday, June 19

8am

Clean Sweep: Bates’ annual “garage sale” of electronics, furnishings, household items, bikes, books, sporting goods, toys and other articles donated by departing students and the campus community. Clean Sweep keeps perfectly good items out of the landfill while proceeds from the sale benefit local nonprofits. For more information contact 207-786-8367 or this jrosenba@bates.edu .
Underhill Arena

Thursday, July 8

6pm

Midsummer Lakeside Concert: Pan Loco Steel Band. This foursome has brought the sounds of the Caribbean to New England since 1991. Featuring two steel drummers, a bassist and multi-percussionist, Pan Loco is known for its contagious enthusiasm for the calypso, reggae and island music that it plays. Bring a picnic, lawn chairs or blankets, family and friends. For more information call 207-786-6400.
Florence Keigwin Amphitheater, overlooking Lake Andrews (rain site: Bates College Chapel)

Thursday, July 15

6pm

Midsummer Lakeside Concert: Anni Clark. Nominated for “Female Vocalist of the Year” at the 2006 Texas Music Awards, this veteran Maine singer-songwriter has released seven albums and appeared with the likes of Shawn Colvin, Richie Havens and Patty Larkin. Audiences love her humor and expressive power. Bring a picnic, lawn chairs or blankets, family and friends. For more information contact 207-786-6400.
Florence Keigwin Amphitheater, overlooking Lake Andrews (rain site: Bates College Chapel)

Thursday, July 22

6pm

Midsummer Lakeside Concert: Highland String Trio. Lauren Scott, Chris Bannon and Walt Bannon are known for their energetic blend of Celtic, bluegrass and Americana. Scott is a fiddler who also performs with Fiddle-icious. Chris Bannon plays guitar and mandolin, and Walt Bannon provides vocals, flute and guitar. Bring a picnic, lawn chairs or blankets, family and friends. For more information contact 207-786-6400.
Florence Keigwin Amphitheater, overlooking Lake Andrews (rain site: Bates College Chapel)

Thursday, July 29

6pm

Midsummer Lakeside Concert: The Zulu Leprechauns. Using violin, banjo, bass, guitar, percussion and electric dulcimer, the Leprechauns tap styles from Africa, rock ‘n’ roll, bluegrass and folk. Performing originals and songs by Bob Dylan, Lou Reed and Robert Johnson, among others, they have played some of Maine’s top festivals. Bring a picnic, lawn chairs or blankets, family and friends. For more information contact 207-786-6400.
Florence Keigwin Amphitheater, overlooking Lake Andrews (rain site: Bates College Chapel)

Thursday, Aug. 5

6pm

Midsummer Lakeside Concert: Harry Vayo. A master of the hammered dulcimer, Vayo performs his own compositions, Celtic and Asian tunes, Beatles songs, Cajun sounds and an occasional classical piece. He has made two recordings and has appeared at the Common Ground Fair, among many other Maine venues. Bring a picnic, lawn chairs or blankets, family and friends. For more information contact 207-786-6400.
Florence Keigwin Amphitheater, overlooking Lake Andrews (rain site: Bates College Chapel)

Thursday, Aug. 12

6pm

Midsummer Lakeside Concert: Irish Hill. This local quartet offers a heartfelt blend of Celtic, bluegrass and old-time fiddle music. The band consists of guitarist Scott Williams, mandolinist Roberta Hill, fiddler-banjoist Michael Conant and bassist Tim Clough. Rich harmonies by Hill and Conant round out their distinctive sound. Bring a picnic, lawn chairs or blankets, family and friends. For more information contact 207-786-6400.
Florence Keigwin Amphitheater, overlooking Lake Andrews (rain site: Bates College Chapel)

The Midsummer Lakeside Concert Series is sponsored by the Garcelon Society, the Bingham Betterment Fund and the Harward Center for Community Partnerships.

Bates College Museum of Art

Museum hours: 10am–5pm Tuesday–Saturday

June 12 – Sept. 25

Joseph Nicoletti: A Retrospective: An important realist painter, Nicoletti joined the Bates art and visual culture faculty in 1981. Although his art has appeared in our exhibitions numerous times, this is the Bates museum’s first exhibition showing a broad range of Nicoletti’s work. Featured are paintings and drawings from the museum’s collection, from other museums and private collections, and from Nicoletti himself. The catalog includes an essay by the eminent art historian Jeffrey Muller.