Maine blues legend celebrates album release at Johnson Hall Opera House

Join Johnson Hall Opera House in celebrating Maine’s own blues legend, David Wakefield, for his 79th birthday and the release of his new album at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 14, at Johnson Hall Opera House in Gardiner. Wakefield will be joined by The Boneheads as his backline and a cast of some more of Maine’s vintage local players for this outstanding achievement. Wakefield has had an incredible career as a blues songwriter, singer, saxophonist and harmonica player, and has performed throughout Maine and New England with notable bands beginning with his brother, Bruce Wakefield, in Jupiter Blues and Shack Bully. He then went on to The Rockin’ King Bees, Big Chief and The Continentals, The Blue Willow Band, and The Upsetters. He played for three years with the late, legendary musician Bill Chinnock and became a member of the House Band in The Peter Giftos House of Blues band in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In addition to this, he played with The Swinging Blue Matadors — together winning the Strawberry Bank New England Road to Memphis competition in 1996. He was also a longtime member of the Portland-based powerhouse blues band Red Light Revue, Central Maine’s Pat Colwell and the Soul Sensations and many more. Wakefield wrapped up his new album, “Turnpike Crows,” in late 2025 at The Root Cellar in Hallowell with Bob Colwell and Steve Jones producing the work, and The Boneheads as his studio recording band. He is currently playing regularly with Continental Shakedown, Kris Day and his New Imperials, and still gracing many duo gigs with local favorites Steve Vellani, Dave Archibald, Dave Gagne and Mark Storer. Doors open for the show at 6:30 p.m. [Tickets are $25 in advance](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988338740698?aff=oddtdtcreator). Online tickets can be purchased at any time at johnsonhall.org. All over-the-phone or online purchases will receive a digital ticket sent to your email. You must have a valid email to purchase tickets for this event. The box office can be reached at 207-582-7144 or [\[email protected\]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection). Johnson Hall Opera House is located at 280 Water St., Gardiner, and is handicapped accessible. [](https://www.bowdoin.edu/?utm_source=TimesRecord&utm_medium=SupportingSponsorship) **The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor **We believe a community must be informed to thrive. [**bowdoin.edu**](https://www.bowdoin.edu/?utm_source=TimesRecord&utm_medium=SupportingSponsorship) Copy the Story Link Tagged: [Johnson Hall Opera House](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/johnson-hall-opera-house/), [Midcoast Go](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/midcoast-go/), [music](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/music/), [Times Record](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/times-record/)