Blistered Fingers Festival: Three Decades of Music in Central Maine

Musicians and event organizers Sandy and Greg Cormier have certainly made a mark on the bluegrass community of central Maine. For the past 34 years, they have put their hearts and souls into creating family-oriented gatherings that welcome some of the best in bluegrass to perform on stage.

The Blistered Fingers Festival occurs twice yearly, in June and August. Next up is the fest, which will take place August 21-24 at the Litchfield Fairgrounds in Litchfield, Maine. It features a nice lineup of performers, including headlining act Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, The Gibson Brothers, and more.

“We’ve got a variety of everything. It’s a nice, clean, family event,” explained Sandy Cormier.

She said the festivals are a true family affair, not just for attendees, but also for the organizers. It’s all put together with a very small group of family members and friends who consider it a labor of love for the music they enjoy the most. Cormier and her husband and other family members perform onstage in the Blistered Fingers Family Bluegrass Band. She’s the lead vocalist and guitarist, and her husband, Greg, picks and strums banjo. Back in 1998, 1999, and 2000, they were named “Maine’s #1 Bluegrass Band” by the Maine Country Music Association, and in 2004, 2005, and 2006, they were voted “Bluegrass Band of the Year” by the Maine Academy of Country Music. They have performed extensively across the northeastern U.S. and in eastern Canada. They, of course, take to the stage themselves during each festival.

“We like to keep it all traditional acoustic bluegrass,” Cornier explained about how they choose acts for each fest and use a survey to get ideas for future lineups. She and her husband find some acts while traveling and happen upon great new music. 

In addition to Rhonda Vincent and The Gibson Brothers, the rest of the August lineup includes Nothin’ Fancy, The Kody Norris Show, Dave Adkins Band, Katahdin Valley Boys, Back Woods Road, The Seth Sawyer Band, Beartracks, Robinson’s Gospel, and, of course, Blistered Fingers.

The event features a three-day “Kids Academy” on Thursday through Saturday, where kids get onstage for a group performance after two days of learning to make music. The fest offers affordable camping, with access to free hot showers. There’s also a free Sunday morning “Gospel Sing and Jam.” In the spirit of a true family environment, kids under age 16 are admitted free with an adult. Tickets are available for the entire fest (purchased for a discount ahead of time, or at the gate), or for individual days. More information on pricing, performance dates and times, and camping and parking info may be found by visiting Blisteredfingers.com.

For Cormier, it sounds like these festivals aren’t just events; they’re a way of life. A culture.

“Music is such a big part of everybody’s life,” she said, of why she loves bluegrass so much. “It brings that safe family atmosphere…it’s like a family reunion.”

“The whole atmosphere brings warmth. It’s just peaceful,” she added, about the community she holds dear.

For Cormier, the main ingredients in the overall recipe for bluegrass are “the stories, and the harmonies. It’s just the beauty of it all.”