Wayside Grange and Theatre

Wayside Grange and Theatre Great summer last-Saturday-of-the-month concerts with Maine bands, and Real comfy theater seating. Beginning January, 2021 the monthly meetings are over Zoom.
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History
The North Dexter Grange was incorporated around 1916 into the National Order of Patrons of Husbandry. Granges were originally founded as a cooperative agricultural organization which equally valued both men’s and women’s work as well as their vote. All grange hall buildings were designed to serve as a hub for local social and community activities. This includes a stage, large meeting hall

space, a kitchen and dining area. Times change, though, as do businesses, occupations and social needs and so the North Dexter Grange eventually folded, ownership was reverted to the Maine State Grange (MSG) and the building was abandoned. In the late 1990s several Dexter residents rallied and tried to buy the building. Their hope was to revive it as a social and community hub by creating a theatre. But the MSG didn’t want to lose a grange, so in 2002 a new grange (Wayside Grange #590) was created which would share space with the separately incorporated Wayside Theatre. Wayside Theatre is a 501c(3) non-profit and all Theatre members are also members of the Grange. The Wayside Grange/Theatre meets monthly, usually the second Tuesday. If you want to contribute to the Zoom meeting contact Dave at [email protected]. You can also contact Dave at 924-5035, or Joe 277-3733

If you can spare a little bit of time to help us, we’d sure like to hear from you. We’re a group of friendly, local people who love bringing fun, food and music to our little Grange and Theatre.

Final concert of the 2024 season...
10/31/2024

Final concert of the 2024 season...

ATTENTION:
The Denny Breau Concert is TONIGHT, Saturday NOVEMBER 02nd....

DEXTER - Wayside Grange & Theatre is excited to once again host the ever popular Denny Breau, entertaining you with with a night filled with a variety of audience pleasing music.

A Musician’s Musician, Denny Breau’s rhythmically flawless and dazzlingly clear style allows him to do amazing and stunning things with a six-string guitar. He first draws in an audience with a finely arranged melody and then slides effortlessly into scorching fingerwork that sets ears aflame. The lighting fast guitar lines that seem almost humanly impossible to accomplish are balanced with those that have a quiet intimacy and wrap tenderly around his carefully crafted songs. He mixes genres with ease — Folk, Delta Blues, Country and Jazz — “creating a totally accessible musical mélange that captivates as it entertains,” according to Lucky Clark writing for the Kennebec (Maine) Journal.

Guitarists in the audience often suspect that they have been left in the dust and regularly tell Denny that they might as well hang up their guitars! As Denny greets concert-goers and shakes hands following his performances, guitar players invariably ask how he performs certain techniques and Denny, who has a passion for teaching, is happy to show them. This is especially true when demonstrating the guitar style of Chet Atkins, who was a family friend and major influence. Shows usually include a “smartly executed Chet Atkins medley by Breau who truly does the late Atkins proud,” according to a review in Dirty Linen magazine.

The Wayside Grange & Theater in Dexter Maine, presents their programs of theater and music in an historic and acoustically perfect setting. The building has served the Dexter community for decades and continue in 2024 and hopefully many more years.

The Wayside Grange Kitchen is open at 5:30 pm for a homecooked "By Donation” Light Potluck Supper. At 6:30 pm the doors open for the Concert and Denny Breau takes stage at 7 pm. There is no need for reservations and tickets are only $15 per person. Desserts and pretty good coffee will be available in our downstairs dining area at intermission.

If you would like to join Wayside Grange & Theatre and/or volunteer, a call Tim Breen at 355-5507 and please check out our page at Wayside Grange and Theatre.

The Grange Volunteers have improved the comfort level at the Grange Hall with AIR CONDITIONING!!! We also have access at ground level entrance, and can be found at 851 North Dexter Rd (Rt 23) in North Dexter, Maine.

Keep watching our page for more family fun events!

Fall is cooling down BUT this Band will get your Warmed Back UP!!!
10/06/2024

Fall is cooling down BUT this Band will get your Warmed Back UP!!!

ATTENTION: The Denny Breau Concert is TONIGHT, Saturday NOVEMBER 02nd....DEXTER - Wayside Grange & Theatre is excited to...
09/19/2024

ATTENTION:
The Denny Breau Concert is TONIGHT, Saturday NOVEMBER 02nd....

DEXTER - Wayside Grange & Theatre is excited to once again host the ever popular Denny Breau, entertaining you with with a night filled with a variety of audience pleasing music.

A Musician’s Musician, Denny Breau’s rhythmically flawless and dazzlingly clear style allows him to do amazing and stunning things with a six-string guitar. He first draws in an audience with a finely arranged melody and then slides effortlessly into scorching fingerwork that sets ears aflame. The lighting fast guitar lines that seem almost humanly impossible to accomplish are balanced with those that have a quiet intimacy and wrap tenderly around his carefully crafted songs. He mixes genres with ease — Folk, Delta Blues, Country and Jazz — “creating a totally accessible musical mélange that captivates as it entertains,” according to Lucky Clark writing for the Kennebec (Maine) Journal.

Guitarists in the audience often suspect that they have been left in the dust and regularly tell Denny that they might as well hang up their guitars! As Denny greets concert-goers and shakes hands following his performances, guitar players invariably ask how he performs certain techniques and Denny, who has a passion for teaching, is happy to show them. This is especially true when demonstrating the guitar style of Chet Atkins, who was a family friend and major influence. Shows usually include a “smartly executed Chet Atkins medley by Breau who truly does the late Atkins proud,” according to a review in Dirty Linen magazine.

The Wayside Grange & Theater in Dexter Maine, presents their programs of theater and music in an historic and acoustically perfect setting. The building has served the Dexter community for decades and continue in 2024 and hopefully many more years.

The Wayside Grange Kitchen is open at 5:30 pm for a homecooked "By Donation” Light Potluck Supper. At 6:30 pm the doors open for the Concert and Denny Breau takes stage at 7 pm. There is no need for reservations and tickets are only $15 per person. Desserts and pretty good coffee will be available in our downstairs dining area at intermission.

If you would like to join Wayside Grange & Theatre and/or volunteer, a call Tim Breen at 355-5507 and please check out our page at Wayside Grange and Theatre.

The Grange Volunteers have improved the comfort level at the Grange Hall with AIR CONDITIONING!!! We also have access at ground level entrance, and can be found at 851 North Dexter Rd (Rt 23) in North Dexter, Maine.

Keep watching our page for more family fun events!

Back by Popular Demand, Saturday August 24th!!!“Bluegrass” BearTracks Band & friends are storming the Wayside stage Augu...
08/13/2024

Back by Popular Demand, Saturday August 24th!!!

“Bluegrass” BearTracks Band & friends are storming the Wayside stage August 24th

DEXTER - Wayside Grange & Theatre is excited to host Beartracks, featuring siblings Tommy and
Julie & friends, bringing you a great night of Bluegrass Standards, Originals & Songs with a Twist.

They began as a trio in 2004 with Legendary Dobro player Junior Barber who convinced his cousins,
Tom and Julie, to make the switch from playing traditional country music in clubs to playing bluegrass
oriented material at festivals around the Northeast. The main focus of the group was the sibling vocal
harmony of Tom and Julie and Junior’s unique stylist approach to playing resonator guitar. Although
not a traditionally structured bluegrass group, the trio gained acceptance and a solid fan base at
festivals throughout the Eastern US and in Canada from Calgary to PEI.

When illness forced Junior to retire in June of 2013, Beartracks added a banjo and fiddle to give a
more traditional sound. Beartracks has been fortunate to have some very skilled musicians working
with them over the years and have found, that as long as Julie and Tom are together, the backbone of
Beartracks remains the same.

Since their inception in 2004, Beartracks has recorded six albums, available on CD Baby, I-Tunes,
Rhapsody and Spotify which includes traditional bluegrass songs, classic country with a bluegrass twist
and originals.

Tom Foote, from KAOS-FM, Olympia, WA commented, “Smooth vocals from Tom and his sister Julie
in the old-time duet tradition...

From now through October 2024, Wayside Grange & Theatre will be entertaining the Penquis area with a wide variety of music. Many of the musical groups stemming from the area and others traveling a great distance. McKusick Petroleum, again is fostering great music in the Penquis Region with their generous donation to help continue the Wayside Grange & Theatre music mission.

The 2024 lineup continues:
August 24 - Bear Tracks
September 21 - Denny Breau
October 26 - Half Moon Jug Band

The Wayside Grange & Theater in Dexter, Maine presents programs of theater and music in an historic and acoustically perfect setting. The building has served the Dexter community for decades and continue in 2024.

The Wayside Grange Kitchen is open at 5:30 pm for a homecooked “By Donation” Crock Pot Supper. At 6:30 pm the doors open for the Concert and Beartracks takes stage at 7 pm. There is no need for reservations and tickets are only $15 per person. Desserts and “pretty good” coffee will be available in our downstairs dining area at intermission.

If you would like to join Wayside Grange & Theatre and/or volunteer, a call Tim Breen at
355-5507 and please check out our page at www.Facebook.com/waysidestage.

The Grange Volunteers have improved the comfort level at the Grange Hall with AIR CONDITIONING!!! We also have access at ground level entrance, and can be found at 851 North Dexter Rd (Rt 23) in North Dexter, Maine.

Keep watching our page for more family fun events!

Schedule for this Sunday. It’s going to be a good time. Drop in and say hi, listen to some music and have a fun time!
08/07/2024

Schedule for this Sunday. It’s going to be a good time. Drop in and say hi, listen to some music and have a fun time!

08/06/2024

Coming up this Sunday, August 11th

08/06/2024

The Perseid Music Festival has been an annual event, ongoing since 2006.

Musicians gathered on the shore of Center Pond in Sangerville to enjoy the Perseid meteor showers in the vast dark sky and share some great music.

Playing bluegrass, traditional, country and original music, they invite folks to come, listen, and join us in support of the Wayside Grange Theatre.

A couple of the bands performing will be Northwoods Rail and The Wooden Project.

So tune up your instruments, warm up your voices and stop in for some great family fun. No instrument? No problem. We need listeners or it will only be practice.

So please come and support the Grange! Sunday August 11, 8 am to 4 pm at Wayside Grange Theatre on Rt 23 in Dexter.

Coffee and light lunch. Admission by donation ($10 suggested)

SCHEDULE
- 8 AM Doors open. Warm up and tune-up and set up
- 9 AM Gospel Hour
- 10 AM Picking Parlor
- 11 AM Band One
- 12 AM Lunch / Picking Parlor
- 1 PM Band Two
- 2 PM Picking Parlor
- 3 PM Band Three
- 4 PM Closing Ceremony

07/10/2024

Wayside Grange & Theatre features the Annual 2024 Variety Show

DEXTER - Once in every orbit around the Sun, Wayside Grange Theatre presents its infamous Variety Show. This year we will be celebrating it on July 20th with a light supper starting at 5:30 pm, theatre doors opening at 6:30 pm and our variety show at 7:00 pm.

Among the acts featured will be Timberdoodle, Some Reel People, the Penquis Ukelele Players, and cellist Ruth Fogg, and possible surprise appearances. These are all local musicians and they are all damn good.

This year we also feature the return of Bill Egerd, Wayside's hard luck Every Man, who will be confronted with a new 21st Century problem: Dealing with artificial intelligence. Come and enjoy the show!

From now through October 2024, Wayside Grange & Theatre will be entertaining the Penquis area with a wide variety of music. Many of the musical groups stemming from the area and others traveling a great distance. McKusick Petroleum, again is fostering great music in the Penquis Region with their generous donation to help continue the Wayside Grange & Theatre music mission.

The 2024 lineup continues:
July 20 - Variety Show w/Timberdoodle
August 24 - Bear Tracks
September 21 - Denny Breau
October 26 - Half Moon Jug Band

The Wayside Grange Kitchen is open at 5:30 pm for a homecooked “By Donation” Light Supper. At 6:30 pm the doors open for the Variety Show and they takes stage at 7 pm. There is no need for reservations and tickets are only $15 per person. Desserts and “pretty good” coffee will be available in our downstairs dining area at intermission.

The Wayside Grange & Theater in Dexter, Maine presents programs of theater and music in an historic and acoustically perfect setting. The building has served the Dexter community for decades and continues in 2024.

If you would like to join Wayside Grange & Theatre and/or volunteer, a call Tim Breen at
355-5507 and please check out our page at www.Facebook.com/waysidestage.

The Grange Volunteers have improved the comfort level at the Grange Hall with AIR CONDITIONING!!! We also have access at ground level entrance, and can be found at 851 North Dexter Rd (Rt 23) in North Dexter, Maine.

Keep watching our page for more family fun events!

Our yearly event, featuring local folk who have a heck of a time entertaining you during our Annual Variety Show.Lots of...
07/02/2024

Our yearly event, featuring local folk who have a heck of a time entertaining you during our Annual Variety Show.
Lots of Laughs on July 20th!!!

06/29/2024

We are performing a concert at Wayside Grange Theatre TONIGHT at 7pm! We'll be performing a set of our original music, and there will be a dinner served before the show at 5:30pm. Come join us for a lovely summer evening! ✨

Wayside Grange & Theatre starts out the Concert Season with the Katahdin Valley DEXTER - Wayside Grange & Theatre is ple...
05/18/2024

Wayside Grange & Theatre starts out the Concert Season with the Katahdin Valley

DEXTER - Wayside Grange & Theatre is pleased to open their 1st Concert of the 2024 Season with the Bluegrass sensation The Katahdin Valley Boys at Wayside Theatre in North Dexter on June 1st.

The Katahdin Valley Boys, one of Maine's most popular and respected Bluegrass bands, has been entertaining appreciative audiences throughout New England since 1998. The Maine Academy of Country Music, and The Maine Country Music Association have both recognized The Katahdin Valley Boys with their respective “Bluegrass Band of the Year” awards on numerous occasions! The Katahdin Valley Boys take pride in presenting a top quality show featuring traditional, and contemporary Bluegrass and Bluegrass Gospel music.

Each band member brings with them many years of experience and a mastery of their instruments. Their repertoire features vocal versatility in tight harmonies, smooth solos as well as flashy, fiery instrumentals.

Jeff Folger, a native of Sidney, Maine is the towering high lead and tenor harmony vocalist, plays the 5-string banjo in a traditional, hard driving style. He began performing in1993, and since 1998 has been a KVB founding member.

Dan Simons makes his home in Vienna, Maine. A talented, “Super Picker”, Dan sings lead and harmony as well as playing Mandolin, Guitar, and Fiddle! Dan draws from a deep well of experience and join KVB in 2016.

Ken Brooks calls Athens, Maine home and has performing for over 50 years and was honored by being inducted into The Maine Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012! His lead, rhythm guitar and vocals are a hallmark of The Katahdin Valley Boys sound.

Steve Bixby of Round Pond, Maine, keeps the beat and does much of the MC work plus adds his vocals and enjoys telling a good tale or two during the show. An accomplished Bluegrass Bass Player and recording artist, Steve has played with several well know acts at numerous Bluegrass Festivals in the Northeast.

From now through October 2024, Wayside Grange & Theatre will be entertaining the Penquis area with a wide variety of music. Many of the musical groups stemming from the area and others traveling a great distance. McKusick Petroleum, again is fostering great music in the Penquis Region with their generous donation to help continue the Wayside Grange & Theatre music mission.

The 2024 lineup is as follows:
June 1 - Katahdin Valley Boys
June 29 - Sagittarius Rising
July 20 - Variety Show w/Timberdoodle
August 24 - Bear Tracks
September 21 - Denny Breau
October 26 - Half Moon Jug Band

The Wayside Grange & Theater in Dexter, Maine presents programs of theater and music in an historic and acoustically perfect setting. The building has served the Dexter community for decades and continue in 2024.

The concert doors open at Wayside Grange, 851 North Dexter Rd (Rt 23), at 6:30 pm, The Katahdin Valley Boys take stage at 7 pm and there is no need for reservations. Desserts and “pretty good” coffee will be available in our downstairs dining area at intermission.

If you would like to join Wayside Grange & Theatre and/or volunteer, call Tim Breen at 355-5507 and please check out our page at www.Facebook.com/waysidestage.

The Grange Volunteers have improved the comfort level at the Grange Hall with AIR CONDITONING!!! We also have access at ground level entrance and a chair lift.

Keep watching our page for more family fun events!

Save these dates! Lots of great performances coming this year!
05/14/2024

Save these dates! Lots of great performances coming this year!

Excitment is mounting so mark your calendars for June 1st!!! Wayside Grange & Theatre is starting their 2024 Concert Se...
05/06/2024

Excitment is mounting so mark your calendars for June 1st!!!
Wayside Grange & Theatre is starting their 2024 Concert Series with a Bluegrass Bang featuring The Katahdin Valley Boys Bluegrass Band .....

We have a website! It’s still a work in progress, but all future info will be posting at Waysidegrange.orgPlease take a ...
05/03/2024

We have a website! It’s still a work in progress, but all future info will be posting at Waysidegrange.org
Please take a minute to check it out.

Music and Fellowship in Dexter Maine

Last Big Concert featuring Castlebay on the Wayside Grange & Theatre Stage in 2023!!DEXTER – Castlebay is gracing the Gr...
10/02/2023

Last Big Concert featuring Castlebay on the Wayside Grange & Theatre Stage in 2023!!

DEXTER – Castlebay is gracing the Grange stage with toe tapping tunes at Wayside Grange & Theatre on Saturday, October 14th.

Since 1986 Castlebay has been weaving together Maine's nautical and British Isles legacies transporting their audience through time and across the Atlantic. Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee have loved and researched traditional music for most of their lives and blend history, legend and experience into their personable performances.

Finely crafted ballads with evocative imagery and beautiful melodies depict Maine characters, history, and life close to the elemental beauty of the sea and shore. Their renditions of traditional and original songs are supported with Celtic harp, 12-string guitar, fiddle & woodwinds

Julia & Fred have toured the Eastern US and Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Kosovo performing at festivals, museums, schools and folk clubs. They have released over three dozen recordings which receive international airplay. Notable festival experience includes five International Festivals of the Sea in the UK, the Mystic Festival, the New Bedford Working Waterfront Festival, the Golden Link Festival, and the Somerset Folk Harp Festival.

Since 2003 they have annually toured the east coast in the late winter from their home in coastal Maine to Florida, performing in libraries, concert series, folk clubs, retirement communities, and house concerts and we are very pleased they are joining us to end our 2023 Concert Series.

The Wayside Theater in Dexter, Maine presents programs of theater and music in an historic and acoustically perfect setting. The building has served the Dexter community for decades and will continue in 2024. More information can be found at Wayside Grange and Theatre .

Wayside has received a generous donation from McKusick Petroleum again this year to help bring in these great bands from all over!

Please join us on Saturday October 14th when the doors open at Wayside Grange, 851 North Dexter Rd (Rt 23), North Dexter at 6:30 pm and Castlebay takes to the stage at 7 pm. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door. Light refreshments and drinks will be available in our downstairs dining area.

If you know of a band, theater group, debate club or social group that are looking for a venue to practice or perform to an audience of ninety or less, or just use the hall for music jams or sound checks please contact Tim Breen at 355-5507 and we can try to work something out for them, although the Grange building will be put to bed for the winter soon.

If YOU would like to join Wayside Grange & Theatre and/or volunteer call Tim at 355-5507 or Dave at 924-5035 or and please check out our page at Wayside Grange and Theatre

Last big concert of 2023 at Wayside and it is a really GREAT one!
09/29/2023

Last big concert of 2023 at Wayside and it is a really GREAT one!

Address

851 North Dexter Road (Rt 23)
Dexter, ME
04930

Telephone

+12079245035

Website

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Videos

The concert series starts tomorrow, Saturday night! Check the flyers below for details. Until then, here's a video from Joe Kennedy about the 2021 Summer Concert Series (starting tomorrow night!). Joe also goes into a little history about the concert series at Wayside Grange and his hopes for next year. Check it out!

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