As Phish prepares for the first show of their summer 2013 tour, at Darlings Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor on July 3, a look back at some of the legendary band's Maine visits is in order.   

Although details surrounding many of Phish's early shows remain sketchy, most authoritative accounts agree that the band's first three Maine appearances took place in January 1989 with an initial stop in Bar Harbor at College of the Atlantic's Gates Center Auditorium on January 20^th.  

On the following evening, Phish headed up route 1A for a show in Orono at the now defunct Oronoka restaurant and motel, famous for their "Food You'll Remember" and meals that were seemingly never-ending.  It is believed that the group spent the night upstairs at this venue where they returned for another show almost exactly one year later.

Phish fan camps at Loring for nine years

EDITOR'S NOTE: (This story is from The Maine Edge's annual April Fools Day edition. As such, you can safely assume that most of it - if not all of it - is totally made-up.)

'Phish is coming back and I can prove it,' says Brian Costigan, 37, of Concord, NH. For the past nine years, Costigan has been living in an RV parked outside the old Loring Air Force base in Limestone, ME site of the Phish festivals in 97, '98 and '03. Certain of the legendary jam band's return in 2012, Costigan claims the band has planted clues only those paying close attention could notice.

According to Harold Hood, media relations director for Loring Commerce Center (formally Loring Air Force Base), 'At first, we didn't know what to think this guy living in his RV, just waiting for Phish.' He said that Loring Development was initially against the idea of having Costigan live outside their gates, but the folks of Limestone convinced them to let him stay. 'They've taken a shine to him,' Hood said. 'He'll help anyone in need, and they help him if he needs something. He helps us plow in the winter and mow in the summer. He's polite and keeps his RV in immaculate condition.' When asked about Costigan's prediction of Phish's return, Hood replied, 'Who knows? We've never seen anything like those concerts. Business like you wouldn't believe. Good kids. Brian is our last connection to those times.'