EARLY ISLAND PARTY JAMS IP23

Many of us arrive before the weekend of the Island Party, and so the music begins well before the major events take place. Most of these extraordinary Early Jams were located on and around Captain Dave’s porch, and the rest, at the big fire pit by the Clubhouse.

This music was recorded in August 2023, on an island in the middle of a big lake in Northwest Maine, where we’ve been gathering, thanks to the Loons, for decades. Many of these friends, musicians, and singers hadn’t seen each other, much less played with each other, for at least a year. It’s all improvised, a Jam, not a Performance, with no prior Rehearsals, or Song Lists, so this is as real as it gets. This album is arranged in the actual order in which the music was played, minus the many out-takes, but, when it’s all done, it seems I couldn’t have thought of a better order. The music is all acoustic Americana, though it ranges all over the place, from Bluegrass to Jazz to Folk to Country to Rock to Reggae, but it really works as an organic album, and that’s big for people like me, who still appreciate albums.

Sounds best, like you’re right on that island in Maine partying with us, when played on a good stereo with two separated speakers, left and right, or on a headset, or, one of my favorites, on a car stereo, so that this stereo recording will actually sound three-dimensional. You can hear the location of each instrument and singer. More than ever before, I was able to immerse myself (and my stereo pair of mics) into the belly of the music, literally surrounded by the musicians, the instruments, voices, and harmonies, so that, if you listen in true stereo, I can take you right in there with me.

On some songs, there’s a little too much chatter, but when you’re really at a campfire, and people are talking, laughing, and partying, you filter that out, and the only thing you hear is the music. Crank it up, and let your imagination take you there, and enjoy. It’ll surprise you.

Recorded, edited, and mastered by Mike Berliner

EARLY ISLAND PARTY JAMS

Quand Le Soleil Dit Bonjours Au Montagnes

MAINE ISLAND PARTY SHOW  SILENT STAGE THEATER

Jesse's Classical Guitar "If She Asks"

MAINE SUNDAY ISLAND PARTY JAMS IP23

The tents start getting folded up on Sunday morning, and the boats start shuttling dozens to the mainland, but this year, again, enough musicians and singers remain,  and, so, the Sunday Jams begin. 

This music was recorded in August 2023, on an island in the middle of a big lake in Northwest Maine, where we’ve been gathering, thanks to the Loons, for decades. Many of these friends, musicians, and singers hadn’t seen each other, much less played with each other, for at least a year. It’s all improvised, a Jam, not a Performance, with no prior Rehearsals or Song Lists, so this is as real as it gets. This album is arranged in the actual order in which the music was played, minus the many out-takes, but, when it’s all done, it seems I couldn’t have thought of a better order. The music is all acoustic Americana, though it ranges all over the place, from Bluegrass to Jazz to Folk to Country to Rock to Reggae, but it really works as an organic album, and that’s big for people like me, who still appreciate albums.

Sounds best, like you’re right on that island in Maine partying with us, when played on a good stereo with two separated speakers, left and right, or on a headset, or, one of my favorites, on a car stereo, so that this stereo recording will actually sound three-dimensional. You can hear the location of each instrument and singer. More than ever before, I was able to immerse myself (and my stereo pair of mics) into the belly of the music, literally surrounded by the musicians, the instruments, voices, and harmonies, so that, if you listen in true stereo, I can take you right in there with me.

On some songs, there’s a little too much chatter, but when you’re really at a campfire, and people are talking, laughing, and partying, you filter that out, and the only thing you hear is the music. Crank it up, and let your imagination take you there, and enjoy. It’ll surprise you.

Recorded, edited, and mastered by Mike Berliner

MAINE SUNDAY ISLAND PARTY JAMS IP23

Strange Parade

This music, representing the Oral Tradition of the Rainbow Family of Living Light, was recorded at a different nearby location (for production reasons), shortly after the 1997 Oregon National Rainbow Gathering. It was produced as a VHS video tape (by Conscious Wave), into thousands of copies, that were given away for free (our second favorite 4-letter word). Boxes of VHS tapes were mailed to health food stores and regional Rainbow distribution points nationwide, where they were given away, all for free.
Many of us, who loved and chanted and sang and played instruments in this endeavor to share our music, were proud of this awesome effort, and of the quality produced. But it was widely criticized, for not having been recorded at an actual Rainbow Gathering, and because the hippie garb we wear was way too clean, and that that somehow meant that the participants were ego-tripping, and not genuine. Having experienced these same songs in the bosom of the music of hundreds of brothers and sisters, many of whom were the actual artists performing these songs, and many of whom were my dear friends, I contend they are most genuine.
This is music, to be experienced through your ears. With audio only, it doesn't matter how clean their clothes. this music belongs to everybody, and to nobody.
it is ours to share and enjoy.

24 Humble Yourself

23 Find Yourself In Harmony

22 Love Love Love Love

The Way Of The Heart

Universal Lover

MAINE EVENT FRIDAY ISLAND PARTY JAMS IP24

This year, the Friday jams we were fortunate enough to capture started at the fire pit by the Clubhouse in the daylight before dinner, then went well into the night around a raging campfire. 

This music was recorded in August 2024, on an island in the middle of a big lake in Northwest Maine, where we’ve been gathering, thanks to the Loons, for decades. Many of these friends, musicians, and singers from Maine and from all over the country and abroad, hadn’t seen each other, much less played with each other, for at least a year. It’s all improvisation, Jams, not Performances, with no prior Rehearsals or Song Lists, so this is as real as it gets.

This album is arranged in the actual order in which the music was played, minus the many out-takes, but, when it’s all done, it seems I couldn’t have thought of a better order. The music is all acoustic Americana, though it ranges all over the place, from Bluegrass to Jazz to Folk to Country to Rock to Reggae, but it really works as an organic album, and that’s big for people like me, who still appreciate albums.

Sounds best, like you’re right on that island in Maine partying with us, when played on a good stereo with two separated speakers, left and right, or on a headset, or, one of my favorites, on a car stereo, so that this stereo recording will actually sound three-dimensional. You can hear the location of each instrument and singer. More than ever before, I was able to immerse myself (and my stereo pair of mics) into the belly of the music, literally surrounded by the musicians, the instruments, voices, and harmonies, so that, if you listen in true stereo, I can take you right in there with me.

On some songs, there’s a little too much chatter, but when you’re actually at a campfire, and people are talking, laughing, and partying, you filter that out, and the only thing you hear is the music. Crank it up, and let your imagination take you there, and enjoy. It’ll surprise you.

Recorded, edited, and mastered by Mike Berliner, aka ‘Mikethemikeman’

03 Bill Cheatham

MAINE SATURDAY WRAP PARTY IP24 Part 1

After all the effort to put on our annual show in the middle of the woods at the Silent Stage Theater, all the puppeteers, performers, stagehands, and audience deserve a big Wrap Party at Captain Dave’s log cabin porch to celebrate. These jams were extraordinary, perhaps the best recordings I was able to capture at the 2024 Island Party. There was such an abundance of wonderful must-include
songs, they wouldn’t fit on 1 CD, so we broke it into 2 parts.

This music was recorded in August 2024, on an island in the middle of a big lake in Northwest Maine, where we’ve been gathering, thanks to the Loons, for decades. Many of these friends, musicians, and singers from Maine and from all over the country and abroad, hadn’t seen each other, much less played with each other, for at least a year. It’s all improvisation, Jams, not Performances, with no prior Rehearsals or Song Lists, so this is as real as it gets.

This album is arranged in the actual order in which the music was played, minus the many out-takes, but, when it’s all done, it seems I couldn’t have thought of a better order. The music is all acoustic Americana, though it ranges all over the place, from Bluegrass to Jazz to Folk to Country to Rock to Reggae, but it really works as an organic album, and that’s big for people like me, who still appreciate albums.

Sounds best, like you’re right on that island in Maine partying with us, when played on a good stereo with two separated speakers, left and right, or on a headset, or, one of my favorites, on a car stereo, so that this stereo recording will actually sound three-dimensional. You can hear the location of each instrument and singer. More than ever before, I was able to immerse myself (and my stereo pair of mics) into the belly of the music, literally surrounded by the musicians, the instruments, voices, and harmonies, so that, if you listen in true stereo, I can take you right in there with me.

On some songs, there’s a little too much chatter, but when you’re actually at a campfire, and people are talking, laughing, and partying, you filter that out, and the only thing you hear is the music. Crank it up, and let your imagination take you there, and enjoy. It’ll surprise you.

Recorded, edited, and mastered
by Mike Berliner, aka Mikethemikeman

01 Dirty Old Town

This song was recorded on cassette in the 90s while I was in the midst of raising four children, primarily single, devoted every inch of the way, and still composing songs to express the heart of the matter!  Single Mom pretty much describes the situation,  basically for all mothers, as does every minute detail of this illustration drawn by my daughter!

01 Dirty Old Town

Mikethemikeman

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