Cushing — Friday through Sunday, July 6 through 8, the Cushing Historical Society will host three musical events in a Music in the Barn series. The programs are free; contributions are suggested and welcome. Friday and Saturday evening events will be held at the society's barn on Hathorn Point Road, while the Sunday afternoon concert will take place at the historical society's South Cushing Baptist Church on Salt Pond Road.

Playin' Possum will open the series Friday at 7 p.m. A self-dubbed unpretentious little band of family members, Playin' Possum has been performing folk, rock and bluegrass music since 2001 at Knox County events.

David Hynd is the lead singer, and his wife Gigi plays the upright bass and sings accompanying harmonies and an occasional lead. Their 15-year-old son Peter plays tasteful leads on acoustic or electric guitar and sometimes joins his parents with a vocal as well. They enjoy singing an eclectic mix of songs from Gordon Lightfoot to the Beatles and The Band.

Another trio of musicians will continue the series Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Barn. Young Anna French and Sophie Davis are violinists with a wide range of genres, from classical to fiddle music to jazz improvisation. French hails from Belfast and has been playing violin for 15 years. She grew up performing in the family band, McFravis, as did Davis, and has been immersed in the Maine/New England folk music scene for many years.

Davis, 17, has played the violin for 13 years and has participated in many programs for young people in the area. She recently graduated from the Watershed School in Rockland and has spent the past two months studying tango violin in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This fall she will begin studying in the dual degree program at Oberlin College and Conservatory.

The young women will be joined by pianist Doug Hartley, president of the Cushing Historical Society, who will focus on Bach and Brahms. He has previously performed in the society's barn and calls himself a dedicated amateur.

The society's music weekend will conclude Sunday with a 4 p.m. performance in the South Cushing Baptist Church by VoXX: Voice of Twenty, the a cappella ensemble based in Camden that spans the musical ages from early and medieval to modern. They will present works by composers from Obrecht to Britten in a program that speaks to "the many things that music can be, and is for us: prayer, redemption, food, joy, anguish, and, of course, love." A $10 donation is suggested at the door.

For more information, call 354-6351 or visit cushingmainehistoricalsociety.org.

Courier Publications' A&E Editor Dagney C. Ernest can be reached at 207-594-4401 or dernest@courierpublicationsllc.com.