LEWISTON — From traditional Irish dance music to Caribbean steel pan, the Midsummer Lakeside Concert Series at Bates College will bring a lively musical mix to Lewiston.

Presenting popular sounds from near and far, the series opens with Boghat, a Portland trio that performs Irish dance music with a contemporary twist, at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 12, in Florence Keigwin Amphitheater by the college's Lake Andrews.

The series continues with four more concerts, all at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Admission is free and listeners are encouraged to bring a picnic and lawn chairs or blankets. Rain site is the college chapel at 275 College St. For more information, call 786-6400.

* Boghat (July 12): From fiery reels and jigs to plaintive airs, Boghat covers the spectrum of Irish folk music, experimenting with contemporary elements while maintaining a healthy respect for tradition.

Uilleann pipes player Tom Rota knows a thing or two about that tradition. He received a master's degree in traditional Irish dance music from the University of Limerick, Ireland. His band mates are concertina and button accordion player Chris Stevens, who studies music at the University of Massachusetts Lowell; and multi-instrumentalist Mike Jeanneau, who was born in Peru and emigrated to the United States in 1983.

* Boreal Tordu (July 19): An upbeat quartet with a mission to keep the music of its Acadian heritage alive, Boreal Tordu uses spoons, horseshoes and feet to keep the beat. The group began when fiddler/accordionist Steve Muise and singer/dobro player Robert Sylvain realized their mutual interest in the musical traditions of the Acadians, Quebecois and French-speaking people of the Republic of Madawaska and New England's mill towns.

Guitarist Pip Walter, a familiar presence on the Portland scene, and bassist Andy Buckland round out the band that performs throughout the Northeast and Canada.

* Jenn Adams (July 26): Artfully combining jazz, folk and blues, this singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist has toured Europe and the United States. Along with intimate gigs in coffeehouses and listening rooms, Adams has performed at such popular gatherings as the Kerrville, Falcon Ridge and Rocky Mountain folk festivals and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. A recent graduate of the Berklee College of Music, she performs in the Northwest and New England.

* Merrymeeting Community Band (Aug. 2): Hailing from Topsham, the Merrymeeting Community Band is a multigenerational ensemble with musicians from 12 to almost 80 years old, all under the direction of horn player and musical educator Margery Landis. The group's diverse repertoire includes classic show tunes, marches, patriotic music, a little rock 'n' roll and contemporary compositions for concert band.

* Mango Grove Steel Band (Aug. 9): Known for its uplifting Caribbean groove, Mango Grove consists of a full range of steel pans — lead, alto, guitar and bass — supported by a conventional drum kit and other traditional percussion instruments.