Yard Sauce raises $2,400 for herb house project

A local band, Yard Sauce, performed at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village on March 15 to raise money for the Herb House Cultural Center project. The concert raised $2,400 for this initiative. Yard Sauce, a folk-fusion band from Maine, consists of Chris Moore, Jeff Christmas, and Mitch Reed. They have been playing together for three years but have known each other for a decade. Moore, who plays the mandolin, has a long history with the Shaker Village, having visited as a child. The band's music includes various folk traditions and blends styles from different cultures. They performed traditional Shaker hymns, Cajun tunes, and original pieces. One song they played was written by Eldress Mary Ann Gillespie in the 19th century. Despite their success, the Shakers face challenges in funding the Herb House project. Recently, they lost $1.2 million in planned federal funding. However, village director Michael Graham remains hopeful, as they are applying for additional grants to support the project. During the concert, audience member Sarah Potter joined Yard Sauce on stage for an impromptu performance. She works at a local music school where all band members teach and is connected through a music group led by Christmas. Moore expressed gratitude for her unexpected participation.