By Johnny Brayson
edge staff writer
jbrayson@themaineedge.com

BANGOR – Hospitals are generally not considered the best venue for great live music performances. However, one such event occurred on March 11 on the fifth floor conference room at Eastern Maine Medical Center. Drummer Andrew Clifford, bassist Brad O’Brien and guitarist Bill Thibodeau, all of Main Street Music Studios in Bangor, performed an impromptu concert for patient Sarah Robinson, 24, of Old Town. Also on hand to help out were musician Chris Prickitt of local bluegrass band Evergreen and Aaron Woodman, the lead singer of Robinson’s own fledgling band, Under the Covers.

On March 8, Robinson was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The diagnosis came as a great shock to all who knew her. At the time, she was seemingly healthy and was raising her 3-year-old daughter, Morgan, while her husband, Ben Robinson, was serving his second tour in Iraq with the army. When she developed numbness in her left hand and foot a few weeks prior to the diagnosis, she assumed it was likely a pinched nerve suffered while practicing the drums. It wasn’t until her twin sister, Lindsay Rabideau, a registered nurse at EMMC, took her to get an MRI that the real problem was discovered. What happened next was a truly amazing outpouring of support.

“Sarah loves music,” said Rabideau, “and we were joking about how cool it would be to have a concert here and then it just kind of snowballed.” Rabideau then contacted Main Street Music Studios, where both she and Robinson take music lessons, and Prickitt, who in addition to being a renowned musician was also their 8th grade English teacher. Over 50 friends and family members filtered into the conference room, some traveling from as far away as Boston, MA and Hartford, CT to show their support. Robinson’s husband was even able to return home early from Iraq. The music was wonderful and ran the gamut from classic rock covers to jazzy instrumentals to bluegrass. Even though Clifford made a point of mentioning that this ensemble had never played together before as a band, there was no one in the audience who didn’t enjoy it and wasn’t moved. There was not a dry eye in the house; however, they were not tears of sadness but of optimism and amazement. It was truly a moving experience and without a doubt the best concert a hospital has ever seen. We love you, Sarah. Get well soon.

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Get Well Soon Sarah!

-From everyone here at Main Street Music Studios