MEET MAINESQUEEZE
MAINESQUEEZE is a brilliant mix of Texas swing, folk, R&B and country with 3-part harmonies, hot guitar and pedal steel. From sultry ballads to flat-out fun, they squeeze it all in.
The band members are all heavy hitters. Highly revered for their versatility and originality, they draw on varied types of music and have each made their living at it at one time or another performing with many well-known musicians in their local area and nationally. Their new CD, Long Way Home is just out!
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MAINESQUEEZE is...
SAMMIE HAYNES
Vocals/guitar
Award-winning children’s music songwriter and performer, Sammie Haynes, leads on sultry yet spirited vocals with her roots in folk, country and blues. Her first children’s CD, Many Hands received high acclaim, and her newest, released in November 2004, Nature’s ABC’s (on NY-based label, A Gentle Wind), has received several awards: Parent’s Choice, 2 Children’s Music Web awards, and the Film Advisory Board’s Award of Excellence. It’s received great reviews in the School Library Journal and ALA’s Booklist.
When not performing with MAINESQUEEZE, she tours performing children’s music and also with her husband, nationally known singer/songwriter, Cormac McCarthy, who claims MAINESQUEEZE is his favorite band.
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DOUG BENNETT
Lead guitar/vocals/bass
Doug Bennett has released 2 terrific solo blues recordings: “Dog Bones” and “Long Time Blues”. He was also the lead singer in the Doc Johnson Blues Band with 2 CD’s to their credit. Presently, along with MAINESQUEEZE, he’s got a little trio going with guitarist Woody Allen and MAINESQUEEZE’S pedal steel player, Bruce Derr, called the Al Derben Trio. They do swing-era jazz standards and have had several gigs at the Portland Museum of Art as well as a few local ones. Doug’s also played at the Portsmouth Blues Festival –including this past year with Woody Allen and ex-local, Rockin’ Jake.
Earlier in his career he made a name for himself with the Fleet Street Shuffle and the well-traveled duo, Bennett & Lawson. He keeps MAINESQUEEZE on its quirky axle of swing, blues, and shuffle creating remarkable renditions of old standards. And no one can sing like Doug! |
BRUCE DERR
Pedal steel/vocals
Bruce Derr is one of New England’s most sought after session musicians playing pedal steel, guitar, lap steel and bass. His playing is creative and impeccable. He was a member of the NY-based bluegrass band, The Dixie Doughboys before moving to New England. Since moving to New England in the mid-eighties, word’s gotten out and he’s performed with Rounder Recording artist, Slaid Cleaves, Hog Mawl, Joyce Andersen, Lex & Joe, Say ZuZu, John Nolan & Hokum, and of course, the Al Derben Trio with Doug Bennett and Woody Allen. |
JON BOOTH
Bass/guitar/vocals
Jon Booth is a Berklee College of Music graduate and has played for many years in a variety of bands. In the Seacoast area, he was in the early 80's original rock band The Motives, and before that in the duo Booth & Whyte. His main instrument is guitar and he plays quite a bit of it with MAINESQUEEZE, but since his bass playing is excellent also, the band uses him to his full capacity. In his day job he's lead architect at Bowstreet Software. |
JAMIE DECATO
Drums
The newest member of the band, Jamie Decato drums not only with MAINESQUEEZE but with other local groups: Color (who won best jazz band of the year in the seacoast 3 times, and whose first self-titled CD was ardently received), as well as with the popular Serfs (who have won best alternative band 2 times) and Tongue and Groove. He also teaches drums privately and at Berwick Academy. |
KENT ALLYN
Keyboards
Kent Allyn plays incredible keyboards with MAINESQUEEZE when he can squeeze it in…he also performs with Ben Baldwin and the Big Note (for nearly 30 years now!) as well as with almost every other artist in the seacoast. His session work is highly sought after and praised and has been featured on numerous recordings. The band feels it’s a lucky day when Kent can sit in with them. We’re always thrilled to have such a fine musician and friend join us. |
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MAINESQUEEZE APPEARANCES (Partial):
HOT SUMMER NIGHTS CONCERTS - S. Berwick, ME
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL - S. Berwick, ME
PRESCOTT PARK - Portsmouth, NH
FIRST NIGHT – Portsmouth, NH
DOVER HARVEST FESTIVAL - Dover, NH
ROCKLAND LOBSTER FESTIVAL - Rockland, ME
NORTH HAMPTON SUMMER CONCERTS - N Hampton, NH
THE HAMILTON HOUSE – S. Berwick, ME
THE PRESS ROOM - Portsmouth, NH
APPLECREST FARM ORCHARD - Hampton Falls, NH
SMOLAK FARM - N. Andover, MA
ELIOT SUMMER CONCERTS – Eliot, ME
CONCERT FOR A CURE 2005 – Portsmouth, NH
And various private events and fundraisers
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