This morning an Instagram post announced the release of the first EP from Folk Orange, a Brunswick Quartet made up of local musical luminaries Brody Belanger, Finntan Mangalam, Logan Whelan, and Jaden Nicita. A quick check of Spotify brought up its four songs which run nearly fifteen minutes.
After giving it a listen, a scan of “Folk Orange Radio,” a Spotify tool that offers up songs and artists of similar genres, will show Folk Orange in the company of such well known Indie Folk/Alt Folk acts as The Lumineers, and The Tallest Man on Earth.
That’s Logan Whelan in the tuxedo, and Jaden Nicita in the tan suit. From show tunes to Indie Folk, the Brunswick Music Department has a broad range and a powerful influence.
But locals will recognize their charismatic stage presences from their central roles in Anything Goes, a March 2023 production of BHS Players, and Brunswick City Limits, an annual variety show at Brunswick High School in support of the Brunswick Area Student Aid Fund. Belanger, the drummer, isn’t featured in the Anything Goes photo gallery as he was in the pit with his drums.
Bringing the garage to Garage Band: Whelan, Mangalam, Nicita, and Belanger (Photo by Jacob Scrapchansky)
Cover Art by Coco Mangalam