FARMINGTON — Music will once again fill the North Church and surrounding neighborhood on Saturday, March 17, as the Farmington Historical Society resumes its Concert Series with Maine native Denny Breau taking stage at 7 p.m.
Breau’s style allows him to do amazing things with a six-string guitar. He first draws in an audience with a finely arranged melody, then slides effortlessly into scorching finger-work that sets ears aflame. He mixes genres with ease — folk, Delta blues, country and jazz.
As Breau greets concertgoers and shakes hands following his performances, guitar players invariably ask how he performs certain techniques and Breau, who has a passion for teaching, is happy to show them. This is especially true when demonstrating the guitar style of Chet Atkins, who was a family friend and major influence.
It is not an exaggeration to say that Breau was born to the instrument on May 26, 1952. His parents, Hal Lone Pine and Betty Cody, were popular country performers and RCA recording artists beginning in the 1940s. His older brother, the late Lenny Breau, is considered a jazz guitar giant.
Breau started playing guitar when he was 9 years old and was performing professionally by his early teens. During more than 30 years as a full-time musician, he has performed with many well-known artists and picked alongside outstanding guitarists, including Bryan Sutton, Harvey Reid, J.P. Cormier, Pat Donohue, Dan Crary and Steve Kaufman.
Breau was inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004, the youngest inductee in the history of the organization.
The North Church is located at 118 High St. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for a Pie Social and Jam Session.
Show tickets are $15 for the general population, $10 for high school and college students, $5 for elementary students. Preschoolers as well as any student participating in the Jam Session are free.
Denny Breau
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