Musical humorist and harp guitarist Andy Wahlberg will perform two live, recorded shows at Maine Sound Stage in Brunswick. His “Fool Me Once…” show, scheduled for Friday, March 31, is geared toward teens. His “Fool Me Twice…” show, Saturday, April 1, April Fool’s Day, contains more adult themes and humor. It’s for adults 21 and older.
All audience members will receive a CD of the night’s performance and can partake in a reception with Wahlberg after the show.
Wahlberg has been playing guitar for more than 20 years. Today, the 6-foot-8-inch-tall musician entertains audiences with his mixture of rhythm and blues, folk and pop with some comedy mixed in.
Give him a harmonica and sunglasses and he transforms into made-up character Blind Man Sludge. For a moment he’s serious, hunching over his 1920 harp guitar and offering up a soulful melody. The next minute, he’s raising his eyebrows mischievously as he breaks into a chorus of “I’m My Own Grandpa”or “Bovine Freedom.”
His songs vary from his comical, tongue-in-cheek “Mechanic Blues,” to “Destiny’s Child,” one of several autobiographical songs laden with emotion and self -discovery, to the lilting instrumental “Earth Dance,” part of his New Age music repertoire.
A master of ad lib, Wahlberg will break into “Feelings” during his monologue or invite someone from the audience up to the stage for an impromptu duet of “Jingle Bells.” (Yes, “Jingle Bells” at any time of year… it’s a song everyone knows.)
His trademark is the antique harp guitar he found in a pawn shop 20 years ago. The time-worn instrument offers both a standard guitar neck with six strings and an additional neck with six bass strings. The pawn shop owner wanted $400 for it. Wahlberg offered $325. He took it home, fixed it up and removed the name “Ike” that someone had scratched into the top. He has been playing it ever since.
Wahlberg, who lives in southwest Florida with his wife and two children, maintains a busy touring schedule, and is currently working on a soundtrack for a PBS special on Florida lighthouses.
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