Portland Ovations Presents Progressive Bluegrass Ensemble The DePue Brothers Band at Hannaford Hall

PORTLAND, Maine - Portland Ovations in collaboration with 317 Main Street and North Yarmouth Academy presents Philadelphia based DePue Brothers Band at Hannaford Hall, USM Portland Campus for a concert Saturday, March 29 at 8 PM as part of the 2nd Annual Maine Acoustic Festival.

Classically trained with a love for rock and blues, this band of brothers has been making music together for over 25 years. Based in Philadelphia, brother Wallace plays with and is the assistant concertmaster for the Philadelphia Pops Orchestra, while his younger sibling Jason is a first violin with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Joined by drummer Don Liuzzi (principal timpanist for the Orchestra), guitarist Mark Cosgrove (a regular with the David Bromberg Band), and bassist Kevin MacConnell, who's sought after in the jazz world - the DePue Brothers take bluegrass to an entirely new place and it has never sounded so good or been so fun. With World Café Live stating, "This band of brothers gives real meaning to the phrase 'progressive bluegrass,' bending genres while delivering a powerful mix of classical chops, blazing bluegrass, and rock and roll."

The DePue Brothers will work with participants at the Maine Acoustic Festival. The festival is made up of middle and high school music students from throughout Maine who have distinguished themselves in the traditional acoustic music styles of bluegrass, old-time American, Franco-Acadian, and Irish with an additional category for singer/songwriters selected by audition to participate in an intensive three-day festival of workshops, rehearsals, and performances which will culminate with a student showcase at the Maine Acoustic Festival Saturday, March 29th at 4 pm over at Hannaford Hall, USM Portland prior to the DePue Brothers Band concert.

The Maine Acoustic Festival is a statewide student festival presented by 317 Main Community Music Center, North Yarmouth Academy, and Portland Ovations. The festival promotes traditional acoustic music styles that have shaped Maine's culture.

Tickets for the DePue Brothers Band concert are $35 for Ovations' Members, $38 for the general public and a limited amount of $10 student tickets are also available. Support for the DePue Brothers Band is generously provided by the Center for Cultural Exchange Foundation. To purchase tickets visit www.portlandovations.org, call PortTIX at 207.842.0800 or go to the box office window at Merrill Auditorium.

For high-resolution photography of the DePue Brothers Band please visit the 'press' link at the bottom of the Portland Ovations homepage at www.portlandovations.org.