The Lonesome Ace String Band bring grit, skill and abandon to Americana music, bridging old-time, bluegrass and folk traditions into a seamless hybrid of original material that is at once fresh and timeless. On Friday, April 11, the band arrives in Midcoast Maine to perform at the historic Boothbay Harbor Opera House.

The trio’s sound is anchored in the fiddle and clawhammer banjo of John Showman and Chris Coole. They are joined by a rotating cast of extraordinary upright bassists, for the Opera House show they will be joined by Noah Harrington. The band moves freely between a sound so commanding it doesn’t seem like it should be coming from a string band, to a sparse fragility that draws the listener closer. Whether singing about climate change, modern love, BBQ techniques, or life's inevitable existential crises, the band cuts to the core. They can also turn and churn out a tune with so much verve that it will make your heart spin and set the dance floor swirling.

There’s a reason why they are a smokin’ hot outfit - they’ve put in their time. In 2007, Lonesome Ace took up residency in Toronto’s legendary Dakota Tavern, routinely playing 10 sets of music every weekend. They went on to spend 7 years as the house band before ever taking the show on the road or recording a note. Those years of musical percolation honed them into a group that thinks and plays as one - something that comes from clocking thousands of on-stage hours together. Outside of their trio work, each musician is a veteran of the Canadian music scene, sought after for teaching camps, recording sessions and touring with some of the best artists in North America.

The evening marks the Lonesome Ace String Band’s first appearance at the Opera House. Advance discounted tickets are $20 if purchased directly from the box office at 86 Townsend Ave. Regular tickets are $25, online at boothbayoperahouse.com and at the door. Doors for seating open at 7 p.m., the music kicks in at 7:30.