Whippoorwill Wood is the longtime musical duo of Gabe and Suz Wood, who have been performing together for more than 20 years. Blending rock, folk, indie, and familiar classics, their music reflects influences ranging from Tom Petty and Neil Young to Pearl Jam and Gillian Welch. The Maine-based pair began playing together in their early twenties through open mics and local performances, continuing even while raising a family. Their performances at the Ivy Manor have become a favorite outlet because of the engaged outdoor crowds and community atmosphere.
Gabe and Suz Wood of Whippoorwill Wood
For more than 20 years, Gabe and Suz Wood have been making music together as partners in life and as the duo behind Whippoorwill Wood. Their sound is rooted in the music they grew up loving, shaped by years of performing together, raising a family, and building a life in Maine.
Gabe began playing guitar in his late teens. Music was always something that pulled at him. He describes it as something that “needed to come out.” Suz had always been a singer, even back in high school, though performing never started as a formal career path. When the two met in their early twenties, playing music together happened naturally. Open mics became part of their routine, and before long, music had become a constant thread in their relationship.
Over the years, they played professionally for a time, took breaks when life required it, and then found their way back again. Even while raising children, music stayed in the picture. Performing remained something they returned to consistently, whether at local venues, community gatherings, or outdoor stages around Downeast Maine. Their oldest child has even started picking up instruments himself, teaching himself guitar and gravitating toward piano, continuing the family’s connection to music.
The duo’s roots in Maine run deep. Gabe has lived in Ellsworth his entire life. Suz moved to Maine when she was nine years old and has stayed ever since, building a home and community in the area. That connection to place comes through in the relaxed, approachable nature of their performances. They are musicians who clearly enjoy playing together and who value the shared experience between performer and audience.
Their musical influences stretch across generations and genres. Gabe grew up listening to artists like The Beatles, Tom Petty, and Neil Young, while also connecting with folk and indie artists such as Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. As a self-described “child of the 90s,” he also points to bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana as formative influences. Together, Gabe and Suz bring those inspirations into a style that blends rock, folk, indie, and familiar crowd favorites into one approachable live set.
Original songwriting is also part of Whippoorwill Wood’s identity. Gabe describes songwriting as unpredictable. Sometimes songs arrive easily and feel almost discovered rather than written. Other times, finding the next chord or lyric can feel like a struggle. That balance between inspiration and persistence has shaped the original music they perform alongside covers.
Their first season performing at the Ivy Manor became a meaningful experience for the duo. They connected deeply with the atmosphere of outdoor music in downtown Bar Harbor, where audiences gather intentionally and passersby stop on the street to listen. For Gabe and Suz, that energy matters. After years of playing bars where musicians sometimes fade into the background, they appreciate spaces where audiences truly engage with the music.
The name Whippoorwill Wood reflects both their family name and their connection to music at night. Inspired by the whippoorwill bird and their evening performances, the name stuck. Like their music itself, it feels rooted in nature, home, and shared experience.
More From Whippoorwill Wood
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whippoorwillwoodmaine/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whippoorwillwoodmaine/
- Facebook contact: corduroygibb@yahoo.com
- Ivy Manor Music Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oBHdeMGmxA
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