The duo Castlebay will be in concert at the Little Brown Church at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Well-known for their original music and their thoughtful interpretations of traditional songs, Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee weave music, song, and story into a fascinating journey through time.


Julia Lane, singer, songwriter, and folklorist, has been playing the Celtic harp since 1989. A skilled and exciting player, she won the Senior Professional division at the New Hampshire Scottish Games Harp Competition in 1990 and 1991; and the International Folk Harp Competition at Stonehill College in 1992. Her vocals have been compared favorably to Judy Collins and Jean Redpath.

Fred Gosbee, singer, songwriter, and storyteller, plays 12-string guitar, violin, viola, and Irish flute. He learned many traditional songs from his family, who worked as lumbermen in the forests of New Brunswick and Maine. His original songs have been sung and recorded by other artists. Fred has built Julia’s harps and many other instruments.

Castlebay has toured the Eastern U.S. and Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Kosovo performing at festivals, museums, schools, and folk clubs. They have released over three dozen recordings that receive international airplay. Notable festival experience includes five International Festivals of the Sea in the U.K., the Mystic Festival, the New Bedford Working Waterfront Festival, the Golden Link Festival, and the Somerset Folk Harp Festival.

This concert will feature songs from Lane’s forthcoming book, “Bygone Ballads of Maine, Vol I, Songs of the Sea Ships & Sailors,”  some of Castlebay’s original work, and some old favorites.

When all their tour dates and bicentennial concerts were canceled last year, Lane was not idle. She spent many hours completing a book of music transcriptions. This songbook has 165 nautical songs collected in Maine from the 1880s through 1945, gleaned from several sources. The songs have been selected and edited where necessary to provide the best singable versions. The book is being published by Loomis House Press with an expected release in September.

The Little Brown Church on Rte. 32 in Round Pond is a historic meeting house built in 1853. Although there are now some pew cushions, it would be prudent to bring your own pillow. The water has not been turned on this summer. The sanitary facilities are limited to the original two-holer in the back.

Admission is by donation, $15 suggested. Kids under 12 are free. A portion of gate receipts will benefit the church. Un-vaccinated audience members are asked to wear a mask.

For more information or directions, call 529-5438 or email castlebay@castlebay.net.