Announcing the Macisso Family Music Festival in Westbrook!
Discover Downtown Westbrook is pleased to announce the addition of The Macisso Family Music Festival. This will be an addition to the very popular Vallee Square Concert Series.
Keep reading to learn more about the Macisso family and this great event!
Who is the Macisso Family?
The Macisso family is arguably one of Westbrook’s most extraordinary and significant musical families. Marc, Tommy, and Jimmy have all made tremendous contributions to the world of music.
Each has been a solid foundation in branding Westbrook as Maine’s music city. The Macisso Family Music Festival will showcase the rich history of musicians from Westbrook and its influence on our town.
Rudy Vallee, Don Doane, Billie Gouzie, Peter Albert, Al Hawks, Steve Noyes, Bess Jacques, the Macisso brothers, and many more talented players have put Westbrook on the map for having the best musicians. Having this incredible foundation will only continue to pave the way for more talented musicians coming out of Westbrook for years to come!
What is the Macisso Family Music Festival?
This event is scheduled for Saturday, August 6th! Make sure to mark your calendars for this can’t miss event! The Macisso Family Music Festival will showcase many Westbrook musicians.
In addition to hearing fantastic local musicians, you’ll also have the opportunity to see several influential people recognized with official awards. There will even be an open jam available to musicians in the area who want to contribute and make music!
As always, Discover Downtown Westbrook is working hard to make our vision of “embracing the downtown” a reality. One great way to do this is by making music the star! Our goal with the Macisso Family Music Festival is to celebrate the historical music legacy of our city.
Celebrating Our Historical Greats!
One of the most well-known stars from Westbrook is none other than Rudy Vallee. After all, if you know of Rudy Vallee Square, you may already know about his incredible legacy and star power.
About Rudy Vallee
The family moved to Westbrook, Maine, outside Portland, during Rudy’s childhood. He took immediately to a snare drum his family gave him when he was 11 years old.
After learning the snare drum, he soon taught himself piano and clarinet in between school, worked at the family pharmacy, and performed drum duties in his high school band. Back in Maine in 1925, Vallee landed a job in the resort town of Old Orchard Beach that involved singing and playing saxophone.
Frustrated by the problem of being heard in the large dance halls in which he appeared, Vallee unscrewed the bell from his baritone saxophone and used it as a megaphone when he sang.
About Al Hawkes
Another incredible Westbrook native is Al Hawkes. His contributions to country and bluegrass are extraordinary!
Al Hawkes, a bluegrass and country music pioneer from Westbrook, once advised Chet Atkins on making better recordings and helped integrate bluegrass music. He was considered country music royalty, a singer and songwriter with a good voice and a friendly personality who could also play the guitar and mandolin.
The International Bluegrass Museum in Kentucky recognized Hawkes for his pioneering work. He is a member of the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame and America’s Old-Time Country Music Hall of Fame.
Discover Downtown Westbrook is proud to bring the Macisso Family Music Festival to Westbrook this summer. If you are a Westbrook musician and would like to play, please reach out to James Tranchemontagne at [email protected]
We hope to see you all there during this fantastic event, either playing music or listening along with our talented musicians!
