Herb considers himself luckiest guy in the world to be able to captain one of the greatest rock stations in the USA! That's why the call him "The Captain," right? He's been on the Blimp for over 30 years, and no two days have ever been the same. He calls Blimp listeners “friends I’ve never met,” and it’s true as they share a common bond of living in Maine and a passion for Rock and Roll. He also enjoys working with so many local charities and businesses as well. He's wicked proud to represent Townsquare Media as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Maine Association of Broadcasters and as a board member of NESCom at Husson University.
The Captain
It Was Warmer on Christmas Than It Was on the 4th of July in Parts of Maine
Here's your Maine weather fun fact for the day. According to our friends at the National Weather Service in Gray, it was warmer on Christmas Day 2020 than it was this past 4th of July in Augusta. Yup. The high temperature in our state Capital was 57 degrees on Sunday... which ties the lowest max temperature on record for Augusta for the 4th of July. This past Christmas day, it was 60 degrees, also a record.
4 Mainers Are About To Walk from Maine to Fenway…Just Like Their Fathers Did 48 Years Ago
in 1973, four men, Norm Payette, Wilbur Wildes, Ge Erskine, and Dave McHugh, walked from South Portland to Fenway Park to raise money for the Jimmy Fund. Now, 48 years later, the children of these men will be replicating that walk to pay homage to their Dads.
Mainer’s Epic Challenge to Run Every Road, Trail and Alley in Portland East of 295 Is a Success
We found this amazing quarantine project on Reddit and had to share. The Quarantine Project? To run every street, trail, and alleyway on Portland's peninsula. If it was on Google Maps, and east of I-295, it had to be run. On March 16th, 2020, this person started. They finished it in May 2020. This is certainly one of the coolest pandemic projects we have seen. Well done u/guethlema!
People Are Coming From Miles Around To Visit This Incredible Vegan Ice Cream Shop in Portland, Maine
If you are Vegan or can't have dairy, it's really tough not being able to enjoy an ice cream cone on a hot summer day in Maine. Some people have NEVER had ice cream because of their diet needs. Sticky Sweet to the rescue!
Portland’s First Friday Art Walk Makes a Triumphant Return July 2
We missed 15 First Fridays because of the pandemic, so we all have some catching up to do! Over 3,000 people come downtown on the first Friday of each month to visit galleries and museums, see live performances, buy work from street artists, and greet friends as they stroll along city streets.
This Scary Experiment With A Stuffy Shows How Dangerous A Maine Heatwave Can Be
It's officially a heatwave in Portland. Three days with temperatures reaching at least 90 degrees. For many Maine towns, it is the fourth day of 90 plus temperatures. We hope all of you are staying healthy and hydrated. And keeping our kids and animals safe from the heat. Our friends at the National Weather Service in Gray did an interesting experiment this week.
We’re Now Up To 44 Epic Classic Rock Concerts Happening in Maine and New England
Well, that escalated quickly! The Classic Rock Concert Calendar is filling in quite nicely. We started with a few make-up dates from 2020 and now we have over 40 concerts that are happening in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. From major stadium shows to intimate club performances, there's something for everyone who loves Classic Rock.
Inspired! 2021 Is Not the First Big 4th of July Comeback for Portland, Maine
July 4th, 1886, was supposed to be a huge celebration in Portland. This would be the first Independence Day since the troops had returned home from fighting in the Civil War. A huge parade, fireworks, and a circus featuring a real hippopotamus were just some of the activities planned for the day. Instead, it ended up being a day of tragedy. Portland had the worst fire ever seen to that point by an American city.
Portland, Maine Classic Rock Radio Event Heard In Over 1000 Cities Around the World
We wrapped up our annual A to Z today with "Zoot Suit" by the High Numbers. Thanks to you, this year's journey through the legendary Blimp archives was our biggest and best ever. With more and more of you listening on the WBLM app, we set new records for our streaming audience. WBLM's A to Z became a WORLDWIDE event this year, with over 1000 different cities and towns around the planet rocking out to A to Z. You were listening in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bolivia, France, Finland, Hong Kong, India, Namibia. Russia, Sri Lanka, and many more places around the globe. We do A to Z for Mainers, but if the rest of the world wants to join in, then have at it! The power of Rock and Roll is certainly one of the most powerful forces on this or any other planet!
It’s Artists, Farmers, and Foodies at This Fantastic Open-Air Market In Portland, Maine
Portland has totally come alive this summer. We found a very cool open-air market this past weekend, and it's a must-do destination. The East End Vend is on the corner of Congress Street and Washington Avenue in downtown Portland.
Free Live Music Is Happening All Over Portland, Maine on Monday
Get ready to hear live music wherever you go in Portland on Monday, June 21st. It is Make Music Portland Day. This is part of an international free music day with events happening from New York to Paris. Live performances will happen across the peninsula everywhere in Portland on Monday, and it's all FREE.
This Outdoor Pool in Portland Just Opened and Is Perfect for a Family Swim
Great news today from our friends at the Portland Parks and Rec Department. The outdoor Kiwanis Community Pool is now open for the summer! It's going to be so great to be able to take our kids back to the pool this summer, and the Kiwanis Pool, which is located next to the Water District and the skate park, is an enjoyable (and cheap) place to go. The staff and lifeguards seem like they are really fun too. Check out this hilarious announcement they made about the pool opening on the Parks and Rec Facebook page:
Watch the Hilarious Blimp A to Z Movie Trailer – “Archives of Darkeness”
Where are the Blimp Archives? Legend has it that the treasure trove of Classic Rock is housed in the basement of our beautiful and wonderful home at One City Center. Now, if you've ever BEEN to the basement of One City Center, you know it can be a dark and scary place. You never know who you might meet down there. It's something right out of a movie. So we thought, why not actually MAKE a movie about the Blimp Archives? We got some of the legendary Blimp DJ's and put together this fun trailer with an epic cameo from our great friend, comedian Bob Marley.
All Aboard Portland, Maine’s Beer Train!
Reason number 3672 that we love Portland, Maine? The Beer Train! The great folks at the Narrow Gauge Railroad in Portland are putting on another of their monthly "Rails and Ales" event this Friday. Start your weekend by coming downtown, riding on the Narrow Gauge, and tossing back a few brewskis! Your ticket includes a ride on the train, two beers, and a lobster roll from the Navis Cafe You'll get to keep your Narrow Gauge pint glass too! This Friday's train will also be celebrating PRIDE week in Portland!
Look What We Found In Maine’s Largest Collection Of Rock Memorabilia
There's much more than just music in the WBLM A to Z archives. There are a whole plethora of amazing Maine rock and roll memorabilia. As we were digging through one of the largest Classic Rock collections in the world doing A to Z, we came across these gems.
South Portland Clarifies Hinckley Park Dog Leash Rules
There was some confusion today for dog owners at South Portland's Hinckley Park. A new, much-argued, leash law was thought to have gone into effect today. That, it seems, is not the case.