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year of the zabal day 268
8 days until ZAOstock. Five of the eight acts on the bill are Maine artists, and this is who they are.
The Crown Vics
The Crown Vics open the festival at noon. They describe themselves as Maine's premier rock 'n' roll dance band, built on the bones of rockabilly, boogie woogie and honky tonk, twisted through classic rock, Americana and indie. They have played from Portland to Halifax, across ski resorts, theaters, corporate events and bar stages.
Their own account of how they play a room: no long solos, no slow fades, hardly a breath between numbers. In their words, every night is a show and every show is an experience.
zaostock.com/artist/the-crown-vics
OPEN X
OPEN X play second. Their own site introduces them as fresh from the emerging music scene of Maine, and their recent dates run through Ellsworth, Bar Harbor and Lucerne.
They are a bombastic, genre-blurring American rock power pop trio, in their own description, with a cinematic sound, classical influences and live shows built for a stadium. The roots are alternative rock, blended with progressive rock, heavy metal and modern pop. Thick guitar riffs set against delicate vocal melodies, with Ryan Miller's vocal delivery at the center, and three players producing a dense, symphonic wall of sound anchored by driving basslines and precise percussion.
Grass Rug
Grass Rug play third. They are a rock band from Portland, Maine, formed in 2025, known for an indie jam-rock sound: Sam Mitchell on vocals and rhythm guitar, Jack Howianec on lead guitar, Jacob Mitchell on rhythm guitar, Donny Bowman on bass and Peter Coleman on drums.
Their influences run from psychedelic 60s and 70s rock through 90s alternative and 2010s indie, and their live performances are improvisational, built for audiences across southern, central and downeast Maine.
Acadia Rising
Acadia Rising play fourth, and they are from Ellsworth, where the festival is held. They produce original flute and hand percussion music that blends global musical influences with the natural beauty of Maine.
Expressive flute melodies, dynamic rhythms and improvisation, with each piece drawn from landscapes, cultures and traditions from around the world while reflecting a contemporary voice. The site files them under world rhythms and global fusion.
zaostock.com/artist/acadia-rising
Michael Anderson
Michael Anderson plays fifth. A resident of Bar Harbor with roots in blues, soul and jazz, he pairs an outstanding voice with keyboard performance, at home as a solo act delivering a very full sound and equally at home in the bands he has performed with. His range covers jazz standards and popular hits.
In his own words: "I find it very important to connect with my audience."
zaostock.com/artist/michael-anderson
The ZAO musicians
Coming in from the DMV, DCoop plays 6th, blending classic hip hop with reggae, rock, punk, tribal, country, EDM and R&B. Read his edition.
Coming in from the Onondaga Reservation (NY), LyonsDen plays 7th, a Native American self-produced independent artist working where reggae roots, hip-hop grit, blues soul, R&B and EDM collide. Read his edition.
Coming in from the SF Bay Area, Tom Fellenz closes the day, a solo acoustic guitar instrumentalist whose originals draw on 70s and 80s progressive rock, smooth jazz and acoustic folk. Read his edition.
The day
ZAOstock is a free music festival on Saturday, October 3, 2026, on the Franklin Street Parklet in downtown Ellsworth, Maine, from 12 to 6 pm Eastern. 8 acts on 1 stage, free for all ages. It is part of the 9th Annual Art of Ellsworth during Maine Craft Weekend. At 6 the street clears and Black Moon Public House next door hosts its own evening.
See the running order. RSVP for free.
- BetterCallZaal on behalf of the ZABAL Team