POPS a smash for the eighth year
Kingfield POPS board president Donald Tranten gets a charge out of guest conductng the Bangor Symphony Orchestra on the “Stars and Stripes Forever.” (Mark Robie photo) KINGFIELD — Mother Nature was smiling down on Kingfield Saturday as some 2,000 people jammed the highway leading to the Kennedy Farm field for the eighth annual Kingfield POPS Concert.
During the day, 35 artisans sold their creations downtown while such entertainers as the Pineland Fiddlers and Mason Strunk provided great music throughout the day. “This is one of the largest crowds we have had downtown,” Pat Johnson, one of the board members for the Kingfield POPS said.
What would the POPS be without Bobby Brown —one of the events’ founders and concert emcee all eight years— introducing the performers for the evening.
Donald Tranten, President of the Kingfield POPS Board of Directors, said he was thrilled by the “weather and the turnout of people,” which was larger than last year. Tranten commended the board for all its hard work in getting the annual event under way.
Mainely Acapella Tranten also said that it took the crew only five hours to put up the staging, most places he said it took six, “So we hold the record here in Kingfield.” Rick Bronson, Brewer Fire Chief, has provided the staging for the Kingfield event for all eight years.
Tranten also remarked that it was great having the Bangor Symphony back, this time under the direction of Trond Saeverud. “We had a great time for two days,” said Tranten, as he and Saeverud walked around town checking out the Kennedy field. Tranten said that Saeverud enjoyed eating at the Kingfield Woodsman and staying at the Grand Herbert Hotel.
Everyone attending enjoyed the warm early afternoon. Many brought picnic lunches but for those who didn’t, the lines were long as Morgan Dunham and her crew from the Orange Cat Café provided lobster rolls, sandwiches and all kinds of fixings.
Mason Strunk The evening got underway to the distinctive sounds of the area’s own Western Mountains Trash Can Band, followed by the Pineland Fiddlers, a youth ensemble that performs throughout Maine and further.
Everyone enjoyed the toe tapping music of the Boardman Family and the Gawler Family. The Boardmans included music educator Eric Boardman and his sons, Isaac, Ethan and Aidan. John and Ellen Gawler were joined by their daughters Edith, Molly and Elsie. The two families also performed together to the delight of the audience.
The Bangor Symphony Orchestra, along with award winning vocalist Suzanne Nance, brought the people to their feet, as did Gene Nichols on the musical saw especially when Nance performed “Let’s Have a Bug Squashing Party Tonight.”
Greg Thomas Photographer Sami Stevens, a 17-year-old graduate of Kents Hill, opened for the symphony singing the Star Spangled Banner and then later Nance led everyone with a salute to the armed forces.
One of the favorites of the night was Nance and Nichols performing a “Cat Duet” with Nance’s singing and Nichols on the saw —a “yawling” duet.
The evening concluded with fireworks that could be seen from all over town.
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Pineland Fiddlers
