Local Spotlight: Bob Wiegers

Many of us who live in Maine think where we live is pretty special.

Bob Wiegers is one of those people. Wiegers was born in New Jersey, grew up in Florida, attended college in Tennessee, moved to Maine for a few years to work for UNUM, went to seminary school in Massachusetts, worked as a pastor, and then for non-profits in Vermont, and moved back to Maine in early 2024 to pursue a job as a training specialist.

“I’m not from Maine but it’s the only state I’ve moved back to,” he said.

He loves the natural environment of the state and the friendliness of the people. He said when he and his wife moved to Maine from Tennessee many years ago, they had been told that people in Maine were standoffish, but were pleasantly surprised to find that was not the case.

“We’d go to the grocery store, and people would be chatty and friendly, and we’d think, ‘people must be talking about Boston’ (when they think of people being standoffish),” he said.

Wiegers and his family landed in Saco. He and his wife wanted someplace quiet with good schools but also somewhere where their teenaged children wouldn’t feel isolated.

Wiegers captured his love for Saco in a song he wrote, with the straightforward title, “Saco Song.” A video of him singing the song has been shared on local Facebook pages.

We’ve got a river,

we’ve got a bay,

and oh, by the way

We’ve got the finest little city you’ll find in Maine.

I’ve been lots of places, here’s where I’ll stay.

Wiegers grew up in a musical family – his parents met at teenagers in their church choir. He plays a variety of instruments, including mandolin, banjo, and base and acoustic guitar. One of his biggest influences is Gillian Welch.

“I really like songs that are simple but beautiful,” he said.

Wiegers writes folk music – songs that are happy, protest songs, love songs, breakup songs.

“I don’t lean on music theory as much as what feels good,” he said.

In addition to playing as a solo artist, Wiegers is part of a chamber folk band called Sparrow focusing on songs of “love, loss and longing.” With decades of musical experience, Sparrow plays originals as well as covers of more obscure songs by well-known artist, with vocals and piano, cello, guitar, mandolin and banjo. The band has begun playing out and is looking for gigs in Southern Maine.

“We’ve been playing in my living room all summer. It’s been really fabulous and now we’re trying to get ourselves out there,” he said.

Wieger is a seemingly infinite well of creative energy. In addition to being a singer-songwriter, he is a real estate photographer, painter, and fiction and memoir writer.

For more information on Bob Wiegers and the band Sparrow, go to https://bobwiegers.com/ or https://sparrowmusic.me/

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.