Internationally renowned Canadian Brass, acclaimed singer-songwriters The Contenders, NYC’s hot jazz group The Hot Sardines, and Maine’s own Grammy-winning Patty Griffin on stage in the coming week.

What’s up at the historic Boothbay Harbor Opera House this week? In short, a lot. In a summer filled with highly respected, nationally-recognized, chart-topping acts, the week ahead holds a particular bonanza for music lovers. From the golden horns of Canadian Brass to the Grammy-winning music of Patty Griffin, the nights ahead hold perhaps too many choices for ticket buyers.

For more than four decades Canadian Brass has built its reputation and is considered to be the gold star of best brass ensembles touring today. Joe Burgstaller and Mikio Sasaki will bring their trumpets, accompanied by Jeff Nelsen on Horn, Achilles Liarmakopoulos on trombone and founding member Chuck Daellenbach on tuba. Audiences can expect to hear everything from Bach to Gershwin and Vivaldi to Ellington to Joni Mitchell to Bruce Cockburn from this multiple Grammy and Juno nominated brass ensemble. Tickets for their Friday, July 12 concert are $30 in advance and $40 on the day of the show.

On Wednesday, July 17, The Contenders arrive in Boothbay Harbor. Featuring two seasoned vets of the music scene–Jay Nash on guitar and Josh Day on drums–this Americana-Folk duo has toured the country extensively, bringing their troubadour spirit to small halls and packed-to-the-gills venues. These two are the real thing – mixing a little country sound with Southern Rock with folk and bluegrass. This is a wholly Americana sound from these superb singer-songwriters. The Contenders show is generously sponsored by Camden National Bank. Advance discounted tickets are $25, regular tickets are $30.

It’s always a hot night when The Hot Sardines return to Maine on Thursday, July 18, to play the Opera House. In the talented hands of this New York-based ensemble, music first made famous decades ago comes alive through their brassy horn arrangements, rollicking piano melodies, and vocals from a chanteuse who transports listeners to a different era with the mere lilt of her voice. They’ve been called “Simply phenomenal” by The Times (London), while Forbes calls them “One of the best jazz bands in NY today.” Fueled by the belief that classic jazz feeds the heart and soul, The Hot Sardines are on a mission to make old sounds new again and prove that joyful music can bring people together in a disconnected world. The band has been featured at the Newport Jazz Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival, and have sold out NYC venues from Joe’s Pub to the Bowery Ballroom and more than 150 tour dates from Chicago to London. Don’t miss the chance to hear this jazz powerhouse! Sponsored by the Knickerbocker Group. Advance discounted tickets are $35, regular tickets are $40.

Rounding out this middle of July concert line-up is Maine native, Grammy-winning Patty Griffin and her band on Saturday, July 20. She is among the most consequential singer-songwriters of her generation, a quintessentially American artist whose wide-ranging canon explores the intimate moments and universal emotions that bind us together. She’s topped the Billboard charts for best “independent Album” as well as for “Best Folk Album,” and has seen unprecedented worldwide acclaim for her 2019 album Patty Griffin. Having crafted a rich catalog that chronicles love and death, heartache and joy, connection and detachment, Patty Griffin continues to push her art forward, as always imbuing every effort with compassion and craft, uncanny perception, and ever-increasing ingenuity. Last year, Griffin was awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting" by the Americana Music Association. Advance tickets for the concert are $40 and regular tickets are $50.

Tickets for all performances are available directly from the box office at 86 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor or by calling 207-633-5159. Discounted advance tickets may only be purchased from the box office. Regular tickets are available online at boothbayoperahouse.com.

Ticket buyers are urged to avoid the multiple ticket scam and reseller sites when searching for tickets to Opera House performances. Only tickets purchased directly through the Opera House website or box office are considered legitimate tickets. If in doubt, please call the box office- open Wednesday - Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All shows at 7:30 p.m.  doors for seating open at 7.