In keeping with my informal review of Maine-based acts, here is a gentleman from Bath who'll be making his first-time hometown appearance since the release of his introspective "Silo" CD in 2008.

Christian Cuff will be performing at The Chocolate Church tomorrow evening, Saturday, June 27, at 8 p.m. For more information on the availability of tickets, folks should call the box office at 442-8455 or go online to www.brownpapertickets.com.

Christian Cuff will perform with his new backing band, and opening the show will be none other than Dave Gutter of Rustic Overtones fame and his new acoustic band.

To prepare for this review, Cuff was kind enough to send up a copy of "Silo," which was a wonderful discovery for me. His distinctive vocals, which are wistful and breathy, but surprisingly commanding at the same time, are perfectly suited for the 10 tales he tells over the course of this 35-minute-long release. He also covers acoustic guitars, Wurlitzer, synthesizer and "auxiliary percussion," while a sizable group of friends supply the rest which includes violin, cello, mandolin, Hammond organ, drums, piano, fretless bass, udu, mellotron and even a didgeridoo.

But for all the guest musicians on this CD, it is a very sparse sounding album with the emphasis centered (as it should be) on Cuff's wispy, evocative voice.

All told, folks, this CD only further convinces me that we are growing some incredible talents here in our fair state. It should be a great show at that chocolate-brown venue down in Bath tomorrow evening.

But if that's too far to travel, let me alert you to another gig that's happening tomorrow evening at the Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts, where there will be a performance of the music of Morphine by Colley, Dupree & Lyons. Folks can either call 948-SHOW or go on-line to www.unitymaine.org/theater for more information.

I remember being totally enthralled by the unique sound of Morphine when they first burst on the rock scene -- with Dana Colley's sax work on tenor and baritone saxophone, coupled with Jerome Dupree's drumming and the lead vocals and two-string guitar playing of Mark Sandman, they simply didn't sound like any other group out there at the time.

Like the rest of the music world, I was stunned when I heard that the 47-year-old front man had dropped dead on-stage at a concert in Palestrina, Italy, in July 1999. Fast-forward 10 years and I discovered that the remaining two members of the group found another guitarist/vocalist -- Jeremy Lyons, a solo performer who relocated to Cambridge, Mass., after Hurricane Katrina -- to help recreate the music of Morphine so they can return to Italy on the 10th anniversary of Sandman's death to finish the show they started.

But before they get over there, they are making a special stop at UCCPA for a performance in central Maine. This might very well be the final chance Morphine fans have here in our fair state to hear this haunting, jazz-rock music created by a one-of-a-kind trio of musicians.

Lucky Clark is a music journalist living in Sweden, Maine. He may be reached at lucky@megalink.net.