Wednesday evening August 1st sees the return of Danny Beal and the Holy Mackerels to the Opera House in Boothbay Harbor. If past years’ performances are any indication, audience members can expect an evening filled with toe-tapping music and salt cod humor.        

Danny Beal reports that “local phenom Gabe Tonon will be sitting in as a guest Mackerel this year, and Alva Achorn, typically seen serving drinks at Lobsterman’s Wharf in East Boothbay, will introduce the audience to his mastery of some sort of reed instrument to which the untrained Downeast ear is unaccustomed  - it could even be a flute-o-phone.” Beal will tell stories, some of which may be true, and read articles from such newspapers as the Downeast Shiretown Observer and a more sophisticated midcoast publication “eerily similar” to the beloved  Boothbay Register. As in past years, Danny will read his annual letter from his cousin Elihu detailing the noteworthy happenings of the past year in Downeast, Maine.   

This evening of music and story-telling is a one of a kind and tickets are coveted by residents and uninitiated visitors alike. Doors open at 7 pm, the show commences at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance and $1000 on the day of the show. The Opera House box office is open Tuesday-Friday from 10-4 at 86 Townsend Avenue, or by phone at 633-5159. Tickets are also available online at boothbayoperahouse.com.