The Sunday Jam of the Island Party in Northwest Maine this year was extraordinary. This music was recorded at a Party and Jam, not a Performance, with no prior Rehearsals, so this is as real as it gets. Again, this album is arranged in the order in which the music was played, minus the many out-takes, but, when it was all done, I realized I couldn’t have thought of a better first song, or last song, and everything in between. This music is Americana, though it ranges all over the place from Old-time to Folk to Rock, and even to Opera, but it really works as a very 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, or on a car stereo, so that this stereo recording will actually sound three-dimensional.
On some songs, there’s a little bit too much chatter during the music for my taste as a sound recordist, but these songs are so damn good, I couldn’t not include them. 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 with us and enjoy. It’ll surprise you.

Recorded, edited, and mastered by Mike Berliner

Bury Me Beneath The Willow

Anthony Arya joined by singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Casey Wickstrom and lap-steel legend Patti Maxine sliding into the new yearrrrr!

released January 2, 2022

Recorded live at Felton Music Hall - Felton, CA (January 2nd, 2022)
Edited/Mastered by Mike Berliner

© all rights reserved

Kansas City (live)

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

Captain Dave's Preview of A I Barbie

Quand Le Soleil Dit Bonjours Au Montagnes

Sweet Sue

MAINE EVENT FRIDAY NIGHT IP23

This year, the big Friday Night Maine Event at the Island Party could have been a disaster, if not for our big white tent near the clubhouse, where despite a major driving rainstorm, the musicians were able to get together and play throughout. Listen to the hornpipes, tracks 3 and 4, and hear the thunder and how hard the rain was coming down. Eventually the rain stopped, we moved back to the fire pit, and the Dave contingent appeared out of the woods (track 12), and we made music well into the night.

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 EVENT FRIDAY NIGHT JAMS

Dim Lights Thick Smoke

MAINE ISLAND PARTY SHOW  SILENT STAGE THEATER

She Just Wants To Dance

Jesse's Classical Guitar "If She Asks"

MAINE SATURDAY NIGHT WRAP PARTY

After all the effort to put on a 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. See for yourself, but the jams this year were extraordinary.

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 at our Island Party, 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 SATURDAY NIGHT WRAP PARTY JAMS IP23 

07 Vincent Black Lightening 1952

02 I Can't Give You Anything But Love

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!

Bury Me Beneath The Willow

Mikethemikeman

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