BRIDGTON — Several hundred people braved near zero-degree temperatures Saturday night to hear three hours of foot-tapping, hand-clapping bluegrass music at the old Town Hall on North Street.

The Lakes Environmental Association held its sixth annual Deep Freeze Mostly Bluegrass Music Festival to celebrate the association’s 40th anniversary. Bridie McGreavy, LEA’s conservation and education director, said the event was the most well attended in his six-year history.

LEA member David Lee brought together four bands that played everything from traditional bluegrass to Celtic, folk, country and even yodeling for three hours to a crowd estimated at around 300 people. Many families brought their young children to the celebration.

The Rusty Hinges, a local quartet that plays a mix of music, warmed up the crowd before Bethel resident Jewell Clark, the daughter of cowboy yodeler Yodeling Sam Clark, took the stage, winding the crowd up with her largely country-style songs and yodeling numbers. Squash and Gourds, a family band from New Gloucester and Gorham including bluegrass veterans Dan Grass and Carter Logan, and the Hemingway Brothers of Harrison, a hard-driving traditional bluegrass band that played many of the old-time tunes like those of the Stanley brothers, brought the festival to a riveting crescendo.

The event was one of many the organization has held each year in its attempt to protect Maine’s lakes over the last 40 years. Proceeds will go to furthering the organization’s work.
– Leslie H. Dixon

Sarah Logan, 13, a member of the Squash and Gourds family bluegrass band, wowed the crowd Saturday night with her violin and singing ability.

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