New Year's Portland Sponsored by Peoples Heritage Bank

Merrill event canceled due to weather

Revelers who want to ring in the New Year in style while getting the most out of their entertainment dollar need look no further than New Year's Portland, an exciting, fun-filled event sponsored this year by Peoples Heritage Bank.

The festivities get underway at noon on Tuesday, December 31, and won't end until 2002 does. Activities include ice sculpture, mascot hockey, juggling, magic, and music for every taste in venues stretching from Congress Square to Merrill Auditorium in downtown Portland.

(From MaineToday.com: Due to a winter storm in the Midwest, the band "Asleep at the Wheel" will not make it to Portland by the time of their performance this evening at Merrill Auditorium, according to New Year's Portland organizers. Instead, the "legend of the north country" Bill Chinnock and his band will be performing at Merrill Auditorium with opening act Peter Gallway. The start time for this event is still 8:30 p.m. Peter Gallway is a producer, songwriter and singer who has been called "A star in the making" by the New York Post. "Asleep at the Wheel" tickets will still be honored for tonight's new Chinnock/Gallway performance. Partial refunds of $10 will be given to ticket holders prior to the start of the show. No refunds will be issued after the Chinnock/Gallway performance. Full refunds of $22 will be issued to those ticket holders who do not wish to see a performance of Chinnock and Gallway or partake in any of the New Year's Portland festivities. Refunds will be made in person up to 8:30 p.m. this evening. New Year's Button holders can now see the Chinnock/Gallway show for no extra charge. Those interested in seeing this show do need to go to Port Tix to get a reserved seating ticket. For more information about tonight's performance call Port-Tix at 842-0800).

(Back to original news release): Badges good for all venues (except Merrill) are on sale now for just $12 in advance at all Shaw's, PortTix, the Civic Center, and the Portland Public Market. Badges will also be available on New Year's Eve at the venues for $15. For more information, log on to www.newyearsportland.com or call 772-6828 for a schedule.

Here is a rundown of the activities:

At noon, the Children's Museum will feature a workshop in circus arts, led by Sheila Curtis. Cambodian Music and Dance with Pirun Sen & Samaki Ensemble follows at 3:30 p.m.

One City Center will be headquarters for continuous dancing. Bands including State Street Traditional Jazz, Phil Rich Big Band, and Big Chief will play, alternating with DJ-PJ to keep the dance tracks constant and fun for dancers and listeners alike. Members of the Mainiac Swing Dance Society and Maine Ballroom Dance will be out in force.

Down Congress St. at the First Parish Church, acoustic and vocal music rules. A matinee set at 2:30 p.m. featuring Erica Brown and the Bluegrass Connection will get things rolling in fine style. These excellent musicians are creating waves throughout Maine and garnering national attention for their pristine harmonies, solid picking, and the virtuosity of 18-year-old Erica. Also at the First Parish will be Celtic treasures from CastleBay and the semi-goofball renderings of the Half Moon Jug Band. Later on in the evening, former Mainer Peter Gallway makes a rare appearance to bring us up to date on his work since he moved to New York and then Los Angeles. After comic relief from the unforgettable Michael Lane Trautman, the evening comes to a climax with a rousing performance by Rev. Margaret Lawson and The Gospel Explosion.

Portland High School on Cumberland Avenue will have a full schedule of exciting events. In the gym, Portland's Teen Idol competition will heat up as young people (ages 14-19) vie to see who has what it takes to win. A prize of $2003, courtesy of Peoples Heritage Bank, goes to the winner, along with an opportunity to sing for the crowd after the hockey game over at the Civic Center.

The evening in the gym will include performances by three of Maine's top bands ö Ransom, Rocktopus and 6Gig. The high school's Ford Auditorium will catch the triumphant return of "Junk to Funk," a percussion ensemble often compared to Stomp and Blue Man Group. At 7 p.m., the finalists of Teen Idol compete to find the big winner. Rock 'n roll for the kiddie set (of all ages) follows with Good Rockin' Daddies. A special appearance of Morton Soule is next, with his revered rendition of the classic, "Casey at the Bat". Next up are the 15-voice vocal stylings of !zing, directed by Charles Brown. Masterful juggling by Michael Lane Trautman is next. The evening finishes big with a show by a beat-heavy Afro-pop and Salsa band from the Boston area led by West African Mamadou Biop.

The Cumberland County Civic Center will be open to all wearing their New Year's Portland badges. An open skate takes place beginning at 1:30 pm. State Street Traditional Jazz will hold forth in the lobby prior to the action on the ice as the Portland Pirates have their way with the Philadelphia Phantoms beginning at 6 pm. During intermission from the hockey action, a special presentation of "Mascots On Ice" will take place. Watch for all your favorite mascots committing hi-jinks on the ice. After the game, the evening will be capped by a performance from the winner of the Teen Idol competition and a spectacular fireworks display.

The Portland Public Market (free to everyone, no badge needed) will feature puppetry and hat-making, Port City Jazz, Sean McGowan Band, and World Beat, plus Cooking with Shirley and fun with "Portly."

The Portland Museum of Art will host a very special event with Maine PBS. First, revelers will experience a backcountry adventure through northern New England by watching a sneak preview from the new season of QUEST ö the Maine PBS series that helps viewers make connections between nature and science in their daily life. Next, unearth clues in the Museum's wilderness art hunt. It's fun and educational for the entire family.

As always, the evening culminates with a countdown in Monument Square. This year promises to be different from past years in several ways. Some high tech surprises can be expected, along with a bit of good old fashioned flash, bang, and boom.

Food and warm beverages will be available at several venues, including One City Center, Merrill, and the high school, as well as from many restaurants and vendors.

The community event is sponsored by Peoples Heritage Bank, a Maine-based bank with more than 60 branches statewide.