Artist & Venue Spotlight with Dispatch at Thompson’s Point
Situated on the Fore River in Portland, Maine, Thompson’s Point is a great place to see a show. Outdoor music venues have always captured my soul. The combination of fresh air and live music moves through the body like a flowing river.
The only major concern was parking. We took Lyft going in, so this was not an issue for us. However, for the folks who chose to drive parking was limited.
Inside the venue, Thompson’s Point offers a unique layout. It is drastically different from the venues I have visited in the south. The location, which was once the port terminus for the Cumberland and Oxford shipping and railroad industry, is now home to one of Maine’s best outdoor music venues.
My favorite part about Thompson’s Point (besides the location) Is how well organized the actual venue is. From our arrival to our departure, the staff was as hospitable and as charming as a southern smile. Navigating the concessions, bathrooms, and water-refill station was an easy task. The line to grab a beer or snack was set up for pure volume, big props to the venue manager. Many events attempt to provide a fast concession experience but fail to execute it. The hanger which hosted the concessions also offered a great viewpoint of the show.
Moon Taxi & Dispatch
Sadly, I was unable to see Moon Taxi due to arriving later than expected. Yet, we were front and center for the entire Dispatch show. You could tell that Portland, Maine had been in need of a good rock/jam band show because the crowd was amplified. The most impressive part, the non-stop energy the band displayed. It is evident that Dispatch plays for their fans. Towards the end of the show, the band crowd surfed out to the middle of the field where a second make-shift stage was set up. It was here that they left their fans awestruck. This video was shot off my iPhone and will provide a better testimonial.
A couple of years back Mumford & Sons played a couple of songs in the middle of the crowd at a concert I attended. This switch-up offers fans a new vantage point.
Want to see more Artist Spotlights? Check out Dane Myers creating a documentary about the Rainbow River.
