Aug. 1 Finding Our Voices fundraiser will “make you dance your butt off for a good cause”
APPLETON — A music festival at a wondrous lavender farm in Appleton will light up the summer as well as the lives of domestic abuse survivors.
Dance Into the Light, a fundraiser for Finding Our Voices, takes place Saturday, Aug. 1 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Glendarragh Farm Lavender.
The festival grew out of a powerful moment after Camden’s Fourth of July Music By the Sea celebration last summer. Finding Our Voices Founder, CEO Patrisha McLean told The Right Track Band’s Jen Feldman how moved she was by the experience of dancing joyfully alongside members of her community. She shared that it was the first time she had danced in public since being in a long abusive relationship. In that moment, they recognized the power of music, celebration, and community to bring healing and freedom — and Dance Into the Light was born.
The festival kicks off at 5 p.m. with Camden-raised singer-songwriter siblings Jackie and Wyatt McLean, followed by Midcoast favorites The Sugar Snaps at 7 p.m. and The Right Track at 8 p.m. Together, the bands promise an evening that will “make you dance your butt off for a good cause.”
Jackie McLean, formerly known as Roan Yellowthorn, has released three albums, while Brooklyn-based Wyatt McLean has performed in New York City and Ireland. The siblings will perform original songs along with favorites they’ve been harmonizing on together since childhood.
The Sugar Snaps are an energetic nine-piece soul and funk band featuring powerhouse vocals, a classic horn section and an irresistible mix of deep-cut R&B, funk, soul and original music. The Sugar Snaps are Emma Theobalds (vocals), Will Field (guitar), Mo Lotman (keys), Adam Nordell (bass), Willy Crighton (drums), Adam Tangarone (trombone/drums), Julian Sterns (trumpet), Steve Orlofsky (sax) and Dan Wenger (trombone).
The Right Track, recently voted Midcoast Villager’s Best of the Best Band for the third consecutive year, is an 11-piece soul, funk, and classic R&B band with one mission: fill the dance floor and keep it hopping. The band features David Butler (bass), Jen Feldman (vocals/sax), John Gass (trombone), Justin Milliken (guitar), Kristi Kalajian (vocals), Lincoln Blake (keys), Pete Kalajian (live sound), Peter Stuart (trumpet), Scott Kessel (sax), Tom Gray (vocals), Tom Oldakowski (drums/percussion) and Tom Rodman (drums/percussion).
The event’s artwork, created by visionary artist Christina DeHoff, depicts a woman emerging into the light amid lavender fields — a symbol of healing, hope, resilience and transformation. DeHoff, formerly of Midcoast Maine and now based in Hawaii, generously donated the artwork and original 24- by 32-inch painting to Finding Our Voices to support its mission.
Authentic Puerto Rican and Paraguayan food and cold-pressed juices and smoothies will be available from Joshua and Dakota’s Cantina and Graze, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Finding Our Voices. Guests are welcome to bring picnics and their own beverage, as well as blankets and lawn chairs.
Attendees are encouraged to wear yellow to bring even more healing light to domestic abuse survivors amidst the English and Dutch lavender and other fragrant perennials at the wondrous 200 year-old riverside farm in Appleton.
Yellow is the signature color of Finding Our Voices because of how the survivor-led nonprofit is “shining a light for our sisters who are still in the dark.” The Aug. 1 event caps July’s fourth annual month-long Into the Light! Yellow Festival and Finding Our Voices fundraiser taking place in 126 businesses across Midcoast Maine, Bucksport and the Blue Hill Peninsula.
Dance Into the Light is presented in partnership with Midcoast Music Academy and Glendarragh Farm Lavender. Sponsors include Susan and Shane Flynn, Maureen and Michael Rhodes, Highland Events, Tailwind Media and media sponsors WERU-FM, Star 97.7, 105.5 The Wave and Midcoast Villager.
Carpooling is encouraged. A free shuttle service will be available from Appleton Village School, 737 Union Road, with accessible parking at Glendarragh Farm.
Advance tickets are $35 and are available at findingourvoices.net or in person at Glendarragh Lavender in Camden, Midcoast Music Academy in Rockport and Camden Curated in the Reny’s shopping center. Tickets will be available at the event for $40.
Finding Our Voices is the Camden-based grassroots and statewide sisterhood and nonprofit breaking the silence of domestic abuse including in schools and providing such practical and heart-healing resources as donated dental care, Get Out/Stay Out funding, healing retreats and a weekly online support group. For more information visit https://findingourvoices.net/.