ALL ROADS LEAD TO BELFAST

Perched on Penobscot Bay, Belfast glitters beneath blueberry skies and candy clouds.

Working-class stamina mingles with rural bliss, a salty oasis chucked up the Atlantic coast. 

The heart of Waldo County, Belfast has a history of boat-building, seafood packing, and ancient shoe stores — but now stands as a bastion of chic New England culture. 

Echoing over fields, calling to the coast and roaming wild — Maine is home to countless musical gatherings. Heavy metal festivals punch holes in the artistic fabric while reggae, jam, and bluegrass flower in the woods and burn on beaches. 

Founded in 2015 by Meg Shorette, executive director of Bangor-based arts nonprofit, Launchpad, (and others) — All Roads ascended to the top of the Maine music scene, boasting stellar lineups and heavyweight sponsors: 

Atlantic Farms, Oxbow Brewing, State Theater, Mainebrews N’ Musicreviews. 

Year after year, lineups soared, capturing attendees with fascinating depth and stainless talent. 

With the gut wrenching loss of Old Port Fest after 2019, All Roads became Maine’s superlative grassroots music event, launching directly from community to stage. 

The largest of Maine’s independent music festivals, All Roads hosts 30+ acts, totaling over 130 artists. In the first two years of the festival alone, over 1,000 fans attended, and that number has blossomed into afterparties, VIP tickets, and frequent sellouts.

Alas, the arts are not impervious to the thorns of industry… This year, All Roads has jumped on a growing trend, offering “buy now, pay later” credit lines for event tickets. 

It’s fantastic that more people may be enticed to support their community, but personal debt for the sake of local music isn’t a winning message. 

In the end, the festival is a huge driver of community, bringing Belfast together.

Spread across town, hidden in guts and gutters, All Roads is an ‘all hands on deck’ affair. 

Over the years, acclaimed artists, ranging from The Mallett Brothers Band, Love by Numbers, Spose, to  Weakened Friends and The Ballroom Thieves have blossomed at this spring fling. 

As the State Theater notes: 

“Hosted every May in the coastal community of Belfast, Maine; All Roads is a celebration of indie + Maine music talent that brings some of the finest emerging musicians under one banner in a city known for its passionate support of the arts and locally grown creative talent.” 

Downeast offered that, “since 2015, the All Roads Music Festival has been showcasing the very best of Maine music talent every May in Belfast…” 

As we approach the big weekend, let’s spotlight some names, getting to know a bit about the artists, their music, and the stories that wove them together… 

Spanning two days, five different venues, All Roads is the future of Maine’s music scene. The festival begins Friday evening and runs until 12:30 am, resuming for Saturday’s musical marathon – kicking off at 1pm and burning the midnight oil once again.

2025 venues include:   

– Lafayette Hotels Stage at The Legion Hall

– Opera House Video 

– Marshall Wharf Brewing Co. 

– Oxbow Brewing / Mainebrews N’ Musicreviews Stage at The Bazz

– The Church Stage 

MEET THE ARTISTS: 

MANUEL — Latin-fusion with a metal flare – 

Born in 2022 thanks to Craigslist and friendship, MANUEL is a Latin-fusion outfit that blends ostentatious modern metal with traditional South American rhythms. The group has traversed the Northeast, becoming one of the region’s hottest instrumental acts. Led by Manuel Urgiles, guitar extraordinaire and proud Los Angeles transplant, the quartet features DJKTF on electronics and percussion, drummer Jason Ingles, and me on bass guitar.

Catch MANUEL at 1pm on Saturday, 5/17 opening up the Lafayette Hotels Stage at The Legion Hall

VIQUEEN – thrash metal with a punk spirit – 

VIQUEEN is a thrash metal band starring the wife duo of Courtney Cavanagh and Alexa Rae, bolstered by Tom Couture and Chris Leighton, two of the finest sidemen around. The intrepid pair kept the dream alive, bouncing between Austin and San Francisco before the dust settled in Portland. Courtney, a Tattoo artist and business owner; and Alexa, a veteran restaurant manager – endured lineup changes and relocations to pursue this vision. Recently featured in Beer & Weed Magazine alongside other leading Maine women, this duo – and their fiery band – is always busy, putting rubber to road across New England. From Eyehategod, Anvil, to Tree and more — this all-star act has supported the best of the best. 

Catch them rocking The Legion Hall, Saturday, 5/17 @5:30 pm

Plague Dad – American folk –  

The withered fruits of a COVID-era job layoff — Plague Dad began as a bitter soliloquy, just Frank Gallagher counting the grievances of a New England life. Just a man and his guitar, it proved quite cathartic and soon his melancholic musings swelled to high demand. This troubadour is always busy, singing his quiet blues on Wharf Street, in small corners and cozy places. Plague Dad spreads his introspective, honest folk across New England, singing of trial and triumph. 

Catch him at the Opera House Video venue at 2:15 pm on Saturday, 5/17.