Bangor holds steady while the rest of Maine shifts. Downtown rooms fill with families who've been here since the lumber days—they laugh at material rooted in place. West Side draws the Stephen King tourists and the artists who followed the affordability. The comedy here bridges generations of staying. Broadway crowds want Maine authenticity; Hammond Street audiences appreciate outside perspective. Open mics demand reading which Bangor showed up. The comics who understand that staying is its own kind of story find audiences who've made the same choice.