The All Roads Music Festival, which started as a showcase for Maine-based independent music in Belfast 11 years ago, is expanding to Portland where it will focus more on nationally touring musicians and larger venues.
The festival will take place in Portland in May and then in Belfast in October.
The Belfast festival will keep its focus on homegrown talent and quirky venues, like a video store and a church, said Joshua Gass, chief operating officer of All Roads Presents.
“I don’t know if I can imagine that event happening anywhere else,” he said.
The Portland festival, scheduled for May 15 and 16, is headlined by The Beaches, a Canadian rock band, and the indie folk musician Mon Rovia.
Dozens of other acts from Maine and away — including the midcoast’s Oshima Brothers and Louisa Stancioff — will play shows across nine venues, including the State Theatre, Geno’s Rock Club and Space Gallery.
“It’s a little different in terms of scope and size,” Gass said of the Portland event, “and part of the mission of the Portland festival is to highlight the Arts District.”
The State Theatre, a longtime sponsor of All Roads, started the conversation about bringing the festival to Portland, said Gass.
The Portland festival will give local musicians a chance to reach a larger audience and to share a stage with more widely-known acts, said Gass.
Gass said he hopes the changes will also benefit Belfast by growing the festival and possibly opening up opportunities for more year-round programming.
The Belfast festival is scheduled for Oct. 16 and 17. Tickets will go on sale in June or July, Gass said.