STONINGTON — The town of Stonington has a deep connection to its Scots-Irish roots and what better way to celebrate that history than with the not-quite-traditional, Celtic-inspired, four-piece folk band from Maine — Bailey’s Mistake.
The band takes its name from a legend told for generations along the Maine coast. A 19th century ship captain named Bailey ran his ship aground in a shallow, rock inlet just south of West Quoddy Head lighthouse. To this day, on most good maps, the little harbor is labeled as “Bailey’s Mistake.”
Bailey’s Mistake is made up of four seasoned musicians who all went to the same rural high school in Maine. They mix traditional music from Ireland, Scotland and Newfoundland with brand new songs about contemporary life in New England. The group’s pulsing sound is driven by bass, drums, and guitar topped with hearty vocal harmonies and thrilling bagpipes and whistle tunes.
Troy R. Bennett plays guitar, sings soulful lead and writes most of the band’s original songs. Travis Cote learned to play the bagpipes at 10 and thrills audiences with his rhythmic, majestic sound. Dean Clegg is the band’s inventive percussionist and oversees all technical aspects of every show. Rob Babson plays bass, sings delicate harmonies and is the band’s musical leader.
The group will perform on the historic stage of the Stonington Opera House on Friday, July 25 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are offered half price for those age 17 and under.
For more information or to purchase tickets visit operahousearts.org or call 207-367-2788.
The Stonington Opera House is a historic center of culture and entertainment, a performance space, and a civic gathering place. Our work is rooted in the belief that access to and participation in the arts transforms lives.
The Stonington Opera House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 and in 1999, it was rescued by the founders of Opera House Arts, a 501 (c) 3, that was established specifically to restore this historic building to its original purpose.
A cornerstone of a year-round, vibrant Main Street located at the top of the busiest commercial fishing pier in Maine, the Stonington Opera House is an economic engine for the creative economy of Deer Isle.