JULY 2026 & BEYOND! — Anni Clark

HOWDY Y'ALL! Happy July... & safe & happy 250th to all in the USA! Something else to celebrate: the Annual Anni's Birthday Bash on THURSDAY, JULY 9th @ LENNY'S in Westbrook... this year, an added bonus: my very talented pal Dan Capaldi will be joining me! I am soooo looking forward to this show & more coming up in August & September... but let's not rush things...

Details, Links & Musings are listed below in this order:

1. TARGET GIGS (Full Details)

2. CURRENT CEREBRAL WANDERINGS

1. TARGET GIGS (Full Details)

THURSDAY / JULY 9th / LENNY'S / WESTBROOK ME / 6:30 to 9PM / 207-591-0177... The Annual Anni's Birthday Bash, this year with Dan Capaldi! So excited about this gig! Dan is a multi-instrumentalist, an amazing singer-songwriter & recording artist, he's toured all over the map & he's joining me on this special night to share some music & to celebrate my birthday at Lenny's once again... (not sure how many years, but guessing maybe 7 by now?) OUTDOORS, weather allowing & NO COVER... but THANKS for remembering the suggested donation for music is $10 pp in "Phil" the tip basket ("Phil" is short for "fill it up please!") The Phil basket will help both of us keep gas in our cars to get us to the rest of our gigs this summer & beyond. We'll set up inside if it rains. If that happens, come early for seats. See y'all there!

SUNDAY / AUGUST 16th / BOREAL THEATER / MILLINOCKET ME / 3PM / 207-560-5256... my longtime friend & fellow musician Mark Miller (fabulous blues guitar player, singer & great songwriter!) suggested I check out this venue. Mark plays here regularly & he loves the space. I followed through on his lead & was able to secure a concert date this August for my debut there. If it feels as good as Mark suggests, I imagine this won't be the one & only time I perform at The Boreal Theater. Please join me for the first show & make me feel at home. Really looking forward to this one!

MONDAY / AUGUST 24th / SCHOONER LANDING / DAMARISCOTTA ME / 4 TO 7PM / with DENNY BREAU! / 207-563-7447... now THIS is gonna be a "DO NOT MISS IT!" few hours of fun & good tunes. I rarely get the chance to play a gig with the one & only Denny Breau cos this Maine music legend is in demand & always BUSY! I have frequented Schooner Landing for years, enjoying food, drink & a whole lotta great music, but this will be another first for me in August (the other first is listed above at The Boreal Theater in Millinocket.) So excited that Scott Folsom & his team are back up & running for the 2nd summer since that awful fire in 2024. It'll be an honor to be part of the topnotch 2026 lineup of talent gracing the outdoor stage there in Damariscotta. Come on ovah & help us create a stellar afternoon by the water. Bring your appetites too... the food is awesome!

2. CURRENT CEREBRAL WANDERINGS

I'd have to look back at past calendars to figure out how many years I've been doing a show at Lenny's in Westbrook ME on or near my birthday. This July gig has become "The Annual Anni's Birthday Bash" & THIS year the gig falls on Thursday, July 9th, a day after my actual birthday. My good friend & very talented multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter & recording artist Dan Capaldi will be on board with me for the first time ever & we are really looking forward to sharing this night with you all. We are praying to the weather Gods for an outdoor show, but we'll move indoors if need be. Trust me, if that happens, you totally need to get there early for seats... this is usually a busy & fun evening of music & camaraderie. Here's a picture that new owner Jill Piker shot of us by the brandy new outdoor stage doors:

Dan Capaldi & Anni @ Lenny's, Westbrook ME, 6/9/26

June was a beautiful yet very emotional month for me & many others. I either spoke or sang & played guitar (or all of the above) at 3 Celebrations of Life for 3 brave & lovely friends, each of whom had recently died after a valiant struggle with different kinds of cancer. This video was shot by Carol Segal at her farm in Auburn ME where we celebrated the life of Cathie Stebbins Peterson. Here is the link: "Danny's All Star Joint" 6/6/26) As difficult as it can be to perform in these settings, I remind myself that the gift I am blessed with would lose its value if I didn't rise to the occasion & share it with those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. After each of these gatherings, I felt a measure of peace that might not have felt so comforting had I not sung or spoken. At one such gathering, on a beach in Wells, we said good-bye to Chuck Stair, an ex-boyfriend & a true soulmate of mine. It was a small group of us, mostly family... & to end our time there, we each took a white rose to the breakwater to say a final farewell to Chuck while tossing petals into the sea. This picture warms my heart. When I look at it, I remember well the words I shared with Chuck as the petals hit the water below.

With 2 of these ceremonies behind me & a few days off from commitments, I took time to nurture my soul with some outside adventures close to home. I feel so lucky to live where I do... so close to spaces that resonate with me & urge me to slow down & soak in the beauty of nature... & to be purposefully conscious of the gift of good health that allows me to seek these places out when I need a restorative experience.

"Bike Ride Pause", Scarborough Marsh (ME) 6/16/26

After a 3rd Life Celebration honoring my very special friend John Goran, I played some music at a fabulous outdoor 80th birthday party for my good friend Ken Gaudin in New Gloucester ME. It was a great way to conclude a series of very meaningful gatherings. Subsequently, I rose early one morning & ventured over to a spot I had not been to in years. Why I have not just baffles me, as this is one of the most breath-taking spots ever & so very close to me. I shot this picture just after 6AM... the light was so sweet & fine... & only a couple other people were there walking the cliff trail at Fort Williams Park.

Portland Headlight, Cape Elizabeth ME, 6/24/26

I will continue to enjoy a lot of 2026 bike rides, numerous beach walks & I am looking forward to more hikes in the mountains. All this & great gigs ahead, too! My summer dreams include seeing many of you at some (or all?) of my shows... & maybe I'll see you on the trail or at the beach as well. Thanks much for your support now & over the years... this means more to me than y'all can ever know.

Peace,