SMAC Turns 20!

This humble yet nationally known Stone Mountain Arts center in rural Brownfield, Maine is turning twenty years old. Two decades ago, singer songwriter Carol Noonan and her husband Jeff Flagg opened an unlikely and unique music venue up a mountain road in what to most, seems to be in the middle of nowhere. Artists big and small have professed their love onstage and to their fans about playing at what is now a nationally coveted tour stop.

From Mary Chapin Carpenter

“For so many years Stone Mountain Arts Center has been one of the absolute highlights of our tour itinerary. From the comfort of the band and crew spaces (vintage vinyl! comfy fall-asleep sofas! screened porch with crickets soundtrack! pool table!) to the INCREDIBLE food, snacks and beverages, we look forward to pulling in and camping out for a couple of days…. no matter how wrecked from travel and shows we are when we arrive, we always leave restored, having been fed, cared for, feted, and spoiled rotten. Carol and Jeff and their beautiful staff have created an oasis for touring musicians–may it continue to heal and bless all of us fortunate road warriors!”

And So It Begins …

In 2005 Carol called Jeff from the road and said, “I wanna open a music hall ..a really unique space for performers and audience alike….and I wanna build it in our backyard!” Only months later Jeff was taking apart the barn that he built commercial fishing nets in, readying it for a big move on a rainy day in October., His barn was moved with a crane in two pieces with the help of many folks in the town. it rained like a “B” that day and there were dicey moments with mud sinking cranes, and flying barns, but by the end of the day we would have to beginning of what is SMAC today.  Thank you David Griffin for capturing these scenes from the day.

Click this poster below to enlarge to view moving day photos.