16 Huge Alternative Rock Bands That Have Never Played in Maine

Maine’s had its fair share of iconic alternative rock shows over the years. Pearl Jam rocked the Augusta Civic Center in ’96 (but that was it). Foo Fighters and the Red Hot Chili Peppers played one of the most memorable rock shows of the last quarter century at the Cumberland County Civic Center in May of 2000.  Dave Matthews Band, basically an honorary Mainer at this point, playing 10 shows here over the years, ranging from small college venues all the way up to the Maine Savings Amphitheatre in Bangor.

WCYY is proud to have been big part in helping to bring many heritage alt rock bands to Maine over the years, however a surprising number of well-known legends… just haven’t.

Here are 16 alt rock bands (listed alphabetically) who, for whatever reason—scheduling issues, venue limitations, or just plain snubbing us—have, as far as I can tell, never played a single show in Maine.

1. Blur
Britpop legends who apparently think Maine is a bit too far from the Parklife.

2. Coldplay
They’ve played Antarctica, but somehow not Portland or Bangor.

3. The Cranberries
Sadly never made it to Maine before Dolores’ passing. We’d have shown up for that one.

4. The Cure
Is Maine’s coastal humidity too much for Robert Smith's wild hair?

5. Depeche Mode
Another band around almost as long as The Cure and not one show here in our little corner of the country over the last 45 years.

6. Gorillaz
A virtual band that tours the real world—but apparently not as far as Maine.

7. Muse
We’ve got the space for your insane light show, we swear. Let’s make this happen.

8. New Order
They’ve hit just about everywhere over the years, just not Maine.

9. Nirvana
A few shows in Massachusetts but no love in Northern New England.

10. Oasis
We know they don't really like each other and we're okay with that. Getting the Gallagher brothers on a stage in Maine would be epic.

11. Presidents of the United States of America
Is it because we're all about the blueberries and not so much the Peaches?

12. Radiohead
They’ve done massive world tours, but Maine’s never made the cut.

13. Rage Against the Machine
Tom Morello’s guitar might actually shatter some windows—so maybe for the best?

14. The Smiths
Let’s be honest—Morrissey probably took one at the amount of meat we consume up here and said, “Absolutely not.”

15. Twenty One Pilots
Hard to believe they’ve never hit the Maine Savings Amphitheater with all those summer tours.

16. U2
Still haven’t found what they’re looking for here in Maine... it's quite possibly a venue that holds more than 20,000 people.

Some of these we can’t do much about now—The Smiths broke up before we all had AOL. And of course, you’ve got bands like Nirvana and The Cranberries that lost their singers. But Muse? Twenty One Pilots? Radiohead? We’ve got the venues, the crowds, plenty of craft beer… And U2 and The Cure? They’ve had nearly 50 years to pop by for a show. 

Maybe someday... In the meantime, we’ll keep ourselves occupied with all of these awesome outdoor shows that we have lined up for the summer.