STRATTON —

A pre-show jam session at Skye will start at 6:15 p.m.

The Lonely Heartstring Band was born as a wedding band, hired for one wedding to play only Beatles music on traditional bluegrass instruments. It didn’t take long for the band to start exploring other sounds and original songs, but that initial flame of the Beatles was indicative of the band’s love of songs, arrangements and music that feels good.

Combining instrumental virtuosity, three-part harmonies, and a deep understanding of traditional bluegrass and Appalachian music, this band is all about a great show. In 2013 the band won the annual showcase band competition at Thomas Point Beach and is returning to promote the upcoming Bluegrass festival to be held in Brunswick from Aug. 28-31.

George Clements is originally from central Massachusetts, and has been making his home in Boston since 2011 when he began studies at The Berklee College of Music. Clements has studied classical guitar as well as jazz and pop, but his true love is folk music.

Patrick M’Gonigle began studying Suzuki violin in Victoria, British Columbia at the age of 9 years old. After high school, and 10 years of classical violin, M’Gonigle began playing traditional music and touring in various projects across North America and Europe. In 2013 he graduated from the Berklee College of Music and he is now working toward a master’s degree in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory in Boston.

Gabe Hirshfeld grew up in Newton, Massachusetts. At the age of 15, he heard the great banjo player Earl Scruggs in the theme song of NPR’s Car Talk. The sound of the banjo spoke to him in a way that no other sound ever had and it changed his life. After playing and obsessing over the banjo for several years, Hirshfeld attended Berklee College of Music.

Matt Witler grew up in Los Angeles, California. Starting on the fiddle at the age of nine, Witler fell in love with old-time and bluegrass music. At the age of 14 he picked up the mandolin and began to study music in earnest. While Witler is rooted in the bluegrass tradition, he has explored and been influenced by jazz, classical, and pop music. In 2012 Witler won first place in both the mandolin, and flatpick guitar contests at Rockygrass bluegrass festival.

Charles Clements grew up around Boston, Massachusetts and spent most of his summers in Maine. He studied music at the New England Conservatory of Music and Manhattan School of Music studying privately with symphony bassists Todd Seeber and David Grossman. He went on to join the New World Symphony in Florida in 2011 with whom he played for nearly three years. A lover of folk and bluegrass music, he has since moved back to Boston to join the Lonely Heartstring Band, and plays part time with the Boston Symphony.

Skye Theater is at 2 Highland Drive in South Carthage. Route 27 Arts is at the Stratton Community Building, 88 Main St. For reservationsc at Skye Theatre, call 207-562-4445; for Rt. 27 Arts call 207-264-2300. Tickets are $15 at both venues.