Local legendary musician, Al Hawkes, to perform his last concert for Music with a Mission

On Saturday, September 16 at 7:00 p.m., Music with a Mission is proud to present Al Hawkes and the Nitehawks for an evening of bluegrass and country music. Al Hawkes is a local legend and widely recognized as a pioneer of bluegrass and old time country music, which he has been performing for decades.  

Hawkes has lived in Westbrook since he was 10 years old and has been playing guitar since he was 12. Over the years, he has been recognized with over 30 national and regional awards, and has performed and recorded music with many different groups. Hawkes recorded with the Nitehawks back in 1991 and his most recent CD is from 2014 titled “I Love the State of Maine”.  

When Hawkes met recently with the Music with a Mission production staff, he handed them the following quote to share:

 “All of a sudden I’m old. Eighty-six to be exact. How did I get here so fast? I was just twenty-five a few days ago, or at least I thought I was, and I’ve acted that age most of the time through all of my years of playing music, being an electronic technician and running three businesses. But the recent occurrence that landed me in the emergency division of the Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine made it clear: I’m eighty-six years old. I was told to slow down, and that I must do [it] if I want to live long enough to finish some very important projects. So, this two hour concert with my Bluegrass Nitehawks on September 16 will be my last concert. I don’t plan on disappearing completely but I’ll be out playing less frequently. It has been a wonderful life and I appreciate the support from my family, wife, friends, fans, business associates and God.”  

“We are honored to have Al Hawkes return to Music with a Mission,” said Dr. Richard Nickerson, Minister of Music for NWUC. “Al is a legendary performer who has influenced and inspired countless musicians. This will be a historical event and a night to remember.”

This concert is the 48th in the Music with a Mission series sponsored by the North Windham Union Church. The church donates a portion of the proceeds to area non-profits and to date we have raised almost $50,000 for mission support to the church and other community organizations. Al Hawkes and the Nitehawks have chosen to support the Highland Lake Congregational Church, UCC. 

Tickets are available online at www.mwamconcerts.com or at the door. Prices are $12 for adults and $10 for students, children, and seniors. The box office opens at 6 p.m. and the doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The North Windham Union Church is located at 723 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. For more information please call 892-7149 or email MWAMconcerts@gmail.com.