Old-time brass band performs with antique instruments in Bethel, Maine

If you love the sounds of a brass band, get yourself to Bethel on Saturday, July 30, for the Second Ripley Brass Band Festival. Not just any brass instruments, mind you, the Yankee Brass Band will be performing 19th-century music on antique instruments. They’ll be joined by three other bands: the Carter Mountain Brass Band, from New Hampshire; the Newmount Brass Band, from Vermont; and the Centennial Brass Band, from Maine. One of the festival’s highights is that the bands will be performing some musical selections by Winfield Scott Ripley, of Paris (Maine, that is).

Concerts take place from 1-5:50 p.m.on the grounds of the Bethel Historical Society downtown (or at the Intervale Meetinghouse, in case of inclement weather). Admission is free (donations appreciated).