As part of the celebrations planned for the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s (PSO) 90th anniversary season, the PSO have been presenting free community concerts since July. The free performance in Midcoast Maine will be Thursday, Aug. 14 at the Opera House of Boothbay Harbor at 7:30 p.m.

The chosen ensemble includes PSO members Yasmin Craig-Vitalius (violin), Kim Lehmann (viola), and Jim Kennedy (cello), and Rob Lehmann, Director of Strings and Orchestral Activities at the USM School of Music and conductor of the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra, on violin.

The “Tune-Up Maine Free Chamber Concert Series” program includes Beethoven’s String Quartet in c minor, Op. 18, No. 4, Mozart’s String Quartet in F Major, KV168, Three Peruvian Songs by Armando Guevara Ochoa, and concludes with the final movement of Dvorak’s String Quartet, Opus 96 “American.”

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. for seating. Refreshments available.

Donations to help the Opera House underwrite the cost of the evening are welcome at the door.

Bob Milne

Bob Milne is considered to be the best ragtime/boogie-woogie pianist in the world. He was filmed and documented for future generations in 2004 during three days of interviews at the Library of Congress, and was declared a “National Treasure” at the conclusion. On Thursday, Aug. 21 this internationally touring composer and musician comes to the Opera House in Boothbay Harbor for a performance at 7:30 p.m.

Barnaby Palmer, conductor of the San Francisco Lyric Opera heralds “composer and librettist, Robert Milne as one of the truly great American composers ... deserving to be considered in the company of Aaron Copeland and Leonard Bernstein.”

Tickets to hear Milne's piano playing magic are $20 in advance/$25 day of the show. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Tartan Terrors

Canada’s Tartan Terrors are considered their own Celtic Invasion, missing rock’s energy with traditional folklore, dance and humor. With an arsenal featuring classic pipes and fiddle, driving drum tones, and signature guitar styles, joined by award-winning step and highland dancers on stage, their performances have been called “an act to keep an eye on!”

On Friday, Aug. 22, the Tartan Terrors bring their music, dance and comedy, and kilts, to the historic Opera House in Boothbay Harbor.

Members of the Tartan Terrors have performed on four continents, in festivals, Highland games and theaters including the Newport, R.I. Irish Festival and the Dublin Irish Festival. They’ve appeared on Good Morning America and Celtic Beat Magazine hails them as “the heirs apparent to Celtic mayhem.”

Advance tickets $22/$27 day of the show. The mayhem begins at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Refreshments available. All ages welcome, but the kilt wearing Terrors do note that “audiences will be entering the flash zone.”

Bluegrass via the Blue Highway

At the 20-year mark, Blue Highway is indisputably one of the most esteemed and influential groups in contemporary bluegrass. The band's 11 exceptional albums and compelling live performances give proof to the stellar reviews, Grammy nominations, and numerous awards earned by the band since it first took the stage in 1994.

Individually, Jason Burleson (banjo, guitar, mandolin), Rob Ickes (Dobro), Shawn Lane (mandolin, fiddle, vocals), Tim Stafford (guitar, vocals), and Wayne Taylor (bass, vocals) are masters of their respective roles. Together, in Stafford's words, they are “a democracy in the best sense of the word”: five gifted artists selflessly merging their talents into a seamlessly brilliant group sound. As a result, the band moves from strength to strength, more mature and impressive with each new album.

Advance tickets are $20/$25 the day of the show. Doors for seating open at 7 p.m. The historic upstairs bar opens at 6:30 p.m. for ticket holders. Show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available for all upcoming performances through the Opera House box office at 86 Townsend Avenue, open Tuesday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by calling 207-633-5159. Tickets are also available online at www.boothbayoperahouse.com. The online ticket vendor does charge a higher handling fee than if purchased directly through the Opera House.