Church anniversary celebration to include Sandy River Ramblers

WILTON — As part of the First Congregational Church’s 200th anniversary celebration, the Sandy River Ramblers will perform a concert of bluegrass and gospel music Saturday, March 17, following a traditional New England boiled dinner. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and the concert will follow at 7.

The Ramblers, one of Maine’s top bluegrass acts, will feature many of the Ramblers’ original songs about Maine, songs with titles like “Cry of the Loon,” “Slow Down (You’ll Hit a Moose)” and “Boots From L. L. Bean.” For their church shows, the Ramblers add hymn and gospel favorites like “How Great Thou Art,” “I’ll Fly Away” and “Kneel at the Cross.”

The Sandy River Ramblers feature the instrumental virtuosity of Dan Simon, mandolin, and Bud Godsoe, banjo, and the lead singing of Julie Davenport and 16-year-old Dana Reynolds. Stan Keach, a nationally-known bluegrass songwriter, who also won the Maine Songwriters Association 2018 Song of the Year award, also sings lead on some songs, including most of the comedy numbers.

The First Congregational Church is located at 386 Main St. More information on the event is available at the church, 207-645-2535 or Stan, 207-397-2241.

A Sandy River Ramblers bluegrass and gospel concert will be held after a New England boiled dinner on Saturday, March 17, at the First Congregational Church, 386 Main St. Dinner will be held at 6 p.m. with the concert to follow at 7 p.m. From left, the Sandy River Ramblers are Dan Simons, Dana Reynolds, Stan Keach, Bud Godsoe and Julie Davenport.