BELFAST — Cara & the Crowd, the latest project of Maine songwriter and fiddler Cara Lauzon, will take the stage at The Underground Lounge at 17 Court St. in Belfast, on Saturday, Nov. 7.
The group — best described as a world jam band — creates an outrageous blend of genres. Their songs tell the story of Lauzon’s life of adventure, joy and trauma, drawing on influences from her travels across 45 countries by hitchhiking, horseback riding and caravanning. The band’s fiddle-driven sound tells a story of adventure and healing.
The group features acoustic guitar, violin, electric bass, harmonious vocals and percussion. Their sets pair traditional music from around the globe with fusion originals that incorporate poetry from Lauzon’s travels, along with a healthy dose of funk. The group came together while Lauzon was studying abroad in Valencia, Spain, where she saw an opportunity to bring her travel stories and poetry to life alongside the traditional music she loves. Melissa Kelly, chef and owner of Primo Restaurant and 0km, has said that the band’s sound is like her food, “one foot in the future, one foot in the past.” For more information and to hear their live sound, visit www.caralauzon.com/caraandthecrowd.
The band strives to bring awareness to mental wellness, pairing the soaring tones of the fiddle with lyrics pulled from the journeys of Lauzon and her bandmates: AnneMarie Shawi, Sofia Hart, Xander Haselmann, Graham Lent and Connor Merenberg.
The Underground Lounge is Belfast’s volunteer-led, coffeehouse-style DIY music series, held beneath the Basil Burwell Community Theatre and dedicated to bringing Maine-based and regional talent to the stage during the off-season. Known for its warm, intimate atmosphere, the venue offers food and drink by donation. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the music starts at 7 p.m. Sliding scale admission is $10-$20 at the door, cash only.