Baked Beans Recording
Brewing Up A New Studio

For the last 15 years, a small recording studio in Harrison, Maine, with a tongue in cheek name has become the place to record for those in the know of local music. Baked Beans Recording studio, named after its owners Rob Baker and Alan Bean (get it?) has now relocated to a newly built building that offers more space and better services due to its popularity among artist in the area.

The two owners have been friends since high school, and always dreamed of creating a quality space for musicians to record. Now, 40 years later, Rob Baker has retired, and sold his share of the company to co-owner Alan Bean. The new facility will be on Bean’s property on a dead end road on a mountaintop with panoramic views of rolling peaks.

The studio records almost everything ranging from rock, folk, Broadway and Christian rock singers. The acoustic research and design of the building took precedent over all other aspects of the expansion process. The new facility includes four rooms of different sizes, all with non-parallel but symmetric walls, networked and hard wired with audio, CAT6, headphone sends and mic returns.There is also radiant heat in the floor, which is not only comfortable but silent as well. The new facility also features ICF, which stands for insulated concrete foams. This basically means that each concrete block that makes up the stricture is wrapped in three inches of Styrofoam, creating a three-inch sound barrier both inside and out of each room. Not only is this method of soundproofing a green tactic, but it also received an STC rating of 53 (standard methods of soundproofing rank 25). Among the many upgrades, the sound system will be upgraded to JBL 5.1 LSR4328 and acoustically matched to each room. Here’s hoping it’s finished sooner than later!

Address: Baked Beans Recording,
75 Weston Farm Rd., Harrison, ME 04040
Phone: 207-583-2923
Website: www.bakedbeansrecordingstudio.com

Studio Profile: The Big Easy
Hosting Local and Tribute Bands

Cindy Bullens at The Big Easy Located in southern Maine, The Big Easy provides a superior sound system to musicians searching for a Vacationland venue. With
regular visits from Red Hot Chili Peppers and Grateful Dead tribute bands, the venue also counts Paranoid Social Club, As Fast As, Rustic Overtones and Sidecar Radio among its local acts.

The Big Easy only features a bar, but is conveniently
located near restaurants. The artists hail from different
genres encompassing the broad spectrum from hip-hop
to folk to rock ‘n’ roll. With a two-tiered stage and tons of
equipment (check out their gear list on the website), The
Big Easy is sure to be a worryfree venue.

Booking: Derek Lombardi @ 207-752-0822
Address: 55 Market St., Portland, ME 04101
Phone: 207-775-2266
E-mail: bigeasybooking@gmail.com
Website: www.bigeasyportland.com

IN THE NEWS

Sparks the Rescue is working on their debut full-length album for Double Blind Music. The band has put YouTube links to studio updates so that fans can follow along
with their process.
www.myspace.com/

sparkstherescue

Alias has just released its new album, Resurgam. The album features collaboration on two tracks including vocals, bass guitar and rhodes from Yoni Wolf of the Californian bands WHY? and One AM Radio.
www.myspace.com/alias

The Leftovers, a pop-punk band from Portland, is recording a new album in L.A. that should be due by the beginning of the month on Oglio Records.
www.myspace.com/

theleftovers

Gristlestick, a “smut quartet” from Maine, now knows a new definition of cold. The band just finished up a tour in Alaska and is now back in their home state to continue touring venues all over Maine. Check out their MySpace for dates and locations.
www.myspace.com/

gristlestick

The pint size musicians that make up The Sophomore Beat are celebrating the success of their new album by
playing shows in Maine, Vermont, NewHampshire, Connecticut throughout the month of September. Check their MySpace for dates and venues.
www.myspace.com/

Thesophomorebeat

Although it was expected to be open in August, the new Baked Beans Recording studio in Harrison is still under construction.
www.bakedbeans

recording.com

Portland’s indie rock band Dominic and the Lucid came out with their newest album at the tail end of August. In 2006 they released Waging the Wage, and their newest release is called Season of the Sun.
www.myspace.com/

dominicandthelucid