At a meeting in December the Portland City Council approved a request from Waterfront Concerts to expand the programming offered at the Maine State Pier. The Old Town-based concert promotion group led by Alex Gray plans to increase the number of concerts it will hold from five in 2014 to more than eight in 2015.

Last year was the first year Waterfront Concerts began booking shows at the pier, with 3,000 people per concert. To start the second annual Reggae Fest will be held on the pier on Aug. 8, featuring an array of reggae bands from all over New England and the world playing all afternoon and evening.