rio bisbee band 40

Bisbee-Ites!



Can you believe it? Rio Bisbee Band turned 40 years old this year! Wow! That’s right! In January 1980 Rio Bisbee Band was formed at Paul Cartwright’s house by the rocky banks of the broad, beautiful Bisbee River in Camdonia, Maine. We started out playing contradance gigs as a safe sextet: guitar, bass, trumpet, fiddle, concertina and caller. We did 13 dances at granges and clubhouses around Mid Coast Maine that first year.

Soon however Rio Bisbee Band emerged from its Sunday matinee cocoon evolved into the power trio format well known to rock aficionados. With that solid foundation, it is a snap to include horns, keyboard and singer, if they are willing. In 40 years, over 50 Bisbees have performed or recorded Rio Bisbee music. We ain’t giving up yet!

Thank you to Joey, Nathan and John at Fogtown for the enthusiastic welcome at open mic on Wednesday evening. It was wonderful to see our friends, and meet new. We had been working on Testify, Arvela, Shopping at the Mall, (Ode to) Barbara Jo and Be Thankful There’s Rock ‘n Roll all summer. Our latest versions were well received by the sparse yet enthusiastic audience. Special thanks to Ken, and Steve for inviting Rio Bisbee Band to join them for an encore during their slots. Steve’s request list: Funky Rockland, Painfully Numb, and Tribal Man, which I have long considered Rio Bisbee Band’s greatest hit. They were hits that night!

It’s an early evening at Fogtown, so even stopping for a bite, we arrived home at a reasonable hour. I, we, the Bisbees had a great time playing for you again at Fogtown open mic!

Op hoy!

Yobassman