It started as a small backyard gathering of musicians in 2010. That gathering became an annual tradition, taking place at The Stone Church in Newmarket in 2011, and then moving to Madbury in 2012, where it was dubbed the Seacoast Congress of Sound.
In 2013, the Congress of Sound moved again to Great Works Farm in North Berwick, Maine, and it’s remained there ever since. The festival has grown in scope each year, evolving into a full-blown celebration of art and community in the greater Seacoast. Past festivals have served as fundraisers for such organizations as 3S Artspace and the Cocheco Arts and Technology Academy.
The sixth annual Congress takes place Saturday, Aug. 22, featuring 15 musical acts, as well as local art and food. In advance of this year’s Congress, The Sound reached out to festival organizers to describe various aspects of the family-friendly event, which will benefit the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. — Matt Kanner
Mike Effenberger and Stu Dias on what makes the Congress of Sound a true celebration of the arts:
(Effenberger) “There is solid representation from great local visual artists, including some of the infamous Wrong Brain crowd. Food generously donated by my favorite restaurant anywhere, The Black Birch, is itself a celebration of culinary art. The fantastic lineup of local musicians doing what they do best in this ideal setting doesn’t hurt, either. I’m always blown away by the variety of people in attendance. Whether in the audience, on the bandstand, or at an art table, everybody is coming together to celebrate being here in the Seacoast at this time, all while supporting the Children’s Museum.”
(Dias) “It is incredible how many different types of arts are represented at the festival. What started in my backyard a few years ago has really grown into something special. Bands, volunteers, builders, chefs, and artists all donate their time and effort into making this something special, and not because it’s a financial gain. In fact, all profits are donated to a nonprofit. This is a celebration of art for art’s sake, a celebration of community, and it really shows how much everyone values that.
What makes this a true celebration of the arts is that it is priced so low. What we are trying to say is, ‘Come in! Join us! We want to share this with you. And we don’t want your money; we want to pour that back into the community!’ These days, it seems like a lot of festivals are put on for the sole purpose of making money. Ours is not. Ours is for us, by us.”
Jill Ketchen on what makes Great Works Farm the perfect festival venue:
“The topography of Great Works Farm is perfectly suited to the vibe and flow of the Congress of Sound. The rolling field is a natural amphitheater, with great stage views and room to set up camp for the day. Food options and market vendors are positioned around the perimeter of the field, which creates a more laidback and inclusive approach to the festival layout. The person giving you a sandwich isn’t cloistered away in a hot van on a dusty road, resenting you for having fun. Our hope is that they are having fun, too! Everyone is a part of the audience, part of the community.
The stage that Pete Dellea and Bert Stocking of Mapleridge Workshops created for the festival is basically installation art — a perfect marriage of form and function. The thought, time, and care that have gone into matching the structure to the landscape are unparalleled. You will find that generosity of spirit, commitment to community, and celebration of art throughout the festival.”
Left: Matt Young with flowers in his hair and ribbons in his beard at the 2014 Congress of Sound (photo by Madeleine Rae Gibson). Top right: People Skills performs at the 2013 Congress (photo by Zach Foote). Lower right: Jazzputin at the 2014 Congress (photo by Adam Magee).
Chris Chase on the Congress of Sound’s new and returning bands:
“Joe Young, Marty England and the Reconstructed, RMS 5 (Rock My Soul), Shango, and Equal Time are veterans of the Congress from years past. These five groups alone can speak to the diverse pool of talent that calls the Seacoast music scene their home.
This year, we wanted to focus on the new artistry that has sprung to life within the last year. We looked at new arrivals to the scene and artists that have released new recordings this past year. Bands like Mother Superior and The Sliding Royals, Gretchen and the Pickpockets, The Joshua Incident, and James Gilmore are all newer faces to the Seacoast music scene, and they all came out of the gate with fantastic new records this year.
Acts like Sojoy, Nat Baldwin, Moe Pope, Fiveighthirteen, and Nick Mainella really help to broaden the spectrum of musical diversity in this year’s lineup. Each of these acts has a foot in the world of jazz, hip-hop, electronic, classical, and improvisation.
I really think that this year we truly have something to offer for every kind of music fan in the area. We hope audience members will come to experience some familiar acts and leave having discovered their newest favorite bands.”
Ben Lord on the festival’s food, art, and vendors:
“The festival is a gathering for the community; we put together artists and vendors, local musicians, and food from local eateries. This year, the food comes from The Black Birch, Anju Noodle Bar, and 7th Settlement Brewery. Among the vendors that will set up in the “artist alley” are Sam Paolini, Hannah Ellingwood, Scott David Chase, Chris Kfoury, Emily Diaz Norton, Root Down Designs, and Wrong Brain.
The pieces fit naturally as they all come from the same place, geographically and spiritually. People enjoy celebrations — this one celebrates local talent, summer, and the natural beauty of the area.”
Zach Foote on the festival’s fundraising mission:
“First off, though I work at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, it was not my idea to have it be the recipient — though I certainly didn’t argue! The rest of the Congress committee made the decision, and the museum couldn’t be more honored. The museum has been serving Seacoast communities for over 30 years and is a nexus point of music, art, and culture that appeals to the whole family.
It’s so heartening to see people across the community donate either their time and talent or their money for a ticket so that underprivileged families can visit the museum or rural schools and libraries can have the museum travel to them to teach them about aerodynamics, sustainability, or bioluminescence. These children and families get access to knowledge and culture that can help them unlock their potential. It also teaches them how important it is for the community to give back. Donating to nonprofits is a very selfless endeavor, so to be able to donate to a Seacoast nonprofit and add to your good karma some of the best music, food, and art in the area? It’s a win/win/win.”
The Seacoast Congress of Sound takes place Saturday, Aug. 22, beginning at noon at Great Works Farm, 392 Oak Woods Road, North Berwick, Maine. Tickets are $12 per person or $30 per vehicle, whichever is lower (free for kids age 6 and under). For more information, find the Seacoast Congress of Sound 2015 on Facebook.
Top of page: 2015 Seacoast Congress of Sound poster by Matt Talbot.