Congratulations to Maureen who won Free Music for a Year. Sam won:

A pair of tickets to every CLZ show at the State Theatre, Port City Music Hall, and Thompson’s Point in 2017, a pair of passes to every Studio Z session with an audience, and a copy of every album we get in.

Thanks to everyone who entered and shared their incredible concert stories.

Proudly supported by Rhum Tiki Bar in Portland.

Read Sam’s entry:

I’m Sam Paquette and back in 2015, I had a service dog, Bentley, to help me with my PTSD for my time and services over in Afghanistan. I had just moved back to Portland, from Cincinnati and planned on attending Fire Fly music festival to see Sr. Paul McCartney. I was extremely anxious because of the amount of people that were going to be there, and if I would be able to take Bentley inside the festival grounds. Everything went smooth when we got there and everyone was friendly and respectful about our situation. Over 90,000 people and one dog. Bentley turned so many heads and really helped me educate others about the service dog program. He gave me the confidence and security I needed to be in that environment.

Bentley did an amazing job until everyone gathered for Sr. Paul. He started shaking and I knew we had to leave. I left the grounds in a vortex of manic thoughts, reflecting over the pain and anger I’ve bottled up. I sit down holding Bentley close when I hear “Let it Be”.

I breakdown into tears to the beautiful tune reminding me of the reasons I left Cincinnati. I met someone while I was deployed and moved to Ohio to be with her. The first song she heard after the doctors diagnosed her with stage 4 melanoma, was “Let it Be”. She passed away that January and Bentley came into my life before I moved back to Maine.

Bentley stopped shaking in my arms and began to comfort me. For the first time in a long time, I was able to cry out all the emotion I’ve bottled up. Because of that moment, I realized that I was ready to start healing and face my trauma. The best part about it, was that Bentley and I could share it just the two of us, and I will cherish those memories, forever because he didn’t leave this world without making sure I was OK first. Later that year, in October, I had to put him down due to cancer. Today, the song “Let I Be” reminds me to do just that, and to keep moving forward.