RANGELEY — Foreigner, winner of multiple platinum awards, played a concert at the Rangeley Health and Wellness Pavilion to a packed crowd on Saturday night.

Responsible for some of rock ‘n’ roll’s most enduring anthems, including “Juke Box Hero,” “Feels Like The First Time,” “Urgent,” “Head Games,” “Hot Blooded,” “Cold as Ice,” “Dirty White Boy,” “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” and the worldwide No. 1 hit, “I Want To Know What Love Is.”

Opening for Foreigner were The Elmore Twist Band, a classic rock band from Windham, and Portland’s Sparks the Rescue, a high-energy pop rock band.

Alex Roy and Toby McAllister, lead singer and guitarist from Sparks The Rescue, respectively, said that playing before Foreigner was such an honor. 

“It’s a culmination of all our hard work over the last 10 years,” Roy said. “We love playing home shows like this.”

Excitement in the audience was palpable. The weather was in the low 80s with a slight breeze, but the heat didn’t seem to affect the crowd, even though the sun was directly behind the band.

Foreigner head vocalist Kelly Hansen quipped that he purposefully put the sun in their eyes, much to the crowd’s delight.

Numerous food and beverage offerings from Rangeley Health and Wellness, Bald Mountain Camps Resort, Scotty Macs, and The Shed BBQ lined the Pavilion.

Gates opened at 3:30 p.m., and a line of eager fans waiting to get in or purchase last-minute tickets stretched to the road. Inside, Foreigner fans were setting up lawn chairs and conversing about their love of classic rock.

Guy Genest of Shapleigh has been listening to Foreigner since 1977. It was his second time seeing Foreigner at The Rangeley Health and Wellness Pavilion. He said that dancing was going to be a common occurrence of the night.

“I will dance to most anything if it sounds good,” he said.

For Ralph Lapointe of Berlin, New Hampshire, this was the first time he had seen Foreigner in concert and the first time attending the Rangeley Health and Wellness Pavilion.

“This is an absolutely beautiful venue,” he said. “I would like to see more concerts here to benefit the Rangeley area. Maybe help with getting Saddleback up and going again.”

The Rangeley Health and Wellness Pavilion on Dallas Plantation Road has a spectacular view of Rangeley Lake.

This annual benefit concert raises money to support programs and services provided by Rangeley Health and Wellness Partnership to residents and visitors of western Maine.