August 27, 28, 29 2010

BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO - Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, Junior, along with his band "Buckwheat Zydeco," preeminent ambassadors of Louisiana zydeco music, have gigged with everyone from Eric Clapton and U2 to The Boston Pops. The band performed at the closing ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics to a worldwide audience of three billion people. Buckwheat even performed for President Clinton twice, celebrating both of his inaugurations. The band has also appeared on several TV network shows and played just about every major music festival in the world, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Summerfest, San Diego Street Scene, Bumbershoot, Montreaux Jazz Festival and countless others. Buckwheat Zydeco won the Grammy in 2010 for their latest album, Lay Your Burden Down.

That 1 Guy - That 1 Guy—real name Mike Silverman—amazes audiences with performances that are equal parts innovative sonic spectacle and entertaining visual showcase. The classically-trained-jazz-bassist-turned-musical-mad-scientist performs with his Magic Pipe, a homemade instrument concocted out of steel plumbing tube that allows Silverman to deliver a mind-bending amalgamation of percussive rhythm and sound. With an audience that ranges from psychedelic warriors to families and folks of all ages, he has played the Magic Pipe in locales as exotic as Noumea, Istanbul, Scotland and Australia, where That 1 Guy is celebrated as a modern folk hero. At the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival, he was presented with the Tapwater Award for Best Musical Act.

Po’ Girl - The interplay between Allison Russell, Awna Teixeira, Benny Sidelinger, and Mikey "Lightning" August is truly something to behold. They are distinct voices with incredible harmonies; multiple instrumentalists who bring the perfect sound to each song and songwriters who pen poetic tunes you’ll find yourself humming. Po’ Girl showcases a wide array of instruments-from gutbucket bass, accordion, clarinet, banjo, dobro, guitar, to electric bass, glockenspiel, piano, harmonica, bicycle bells, drums -- and they all frequently trade off instruments with each song. Their fluid and joyous musicality is one of the group’s most endearing and irresistible features. Impossible to put this band in a tidy little box—they’re equally at home in Douala, Cameroon playing the Massao World Music Festival, as they are at the International Jazz Festival in Montreal, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Woodford Music Festival in Australia or just playing for fun for the people in Vondel Park, Amsterdam.

The Ragbirds - Ask the Ragbirds how to describe their hard-to-define Folk Rock and World fusion and theyll tell you its infectious global groove. Led by fiery front-woman Erin Zindle (called “Highly Impressive” by USA TODAY), they put on a show that is designed to engage the audience on many levels - to get people thinking, listening and dancing. The musical roots of The Ragbirds sound are complex - with Gypsy, Middle-Eastern, Americana, Rock, and Latin influences, all stirred with a Celtic fiddlers bow. In live performances the band incorporates variations on traditional African drum pieces, each member trading their instrument for a hand drum. The songs carry a positive message that appeals to listeners of all ages. For all the intensity of their live show, this is a band that is not afraid to show their softer side with acoustic tunes that are anything but typical folk. Described as Astounding International Eclecticism! by Reveal Arts Magazine, The Ragbirds have become one of the most popular touring bands in their home state of Michigan, and can also be seen performing all over the Mid-West and beyond, growing a loyal fan base in regions throughout the country. The Ragbirds have played between 120-150 shows per year for the past few years, and have no intention of slowing down. In 2009 they went abroad to tour Japan and perform on the main stage at the Green Room Festival in Yokohama. The Ragbirds have been featured at some of the Mid-Wests largest music festivals, including Rothbury, 10,000 Lakes, Summercamp, Hookahville, and more.

Frontier Ruckus - At a young age, the courses of Matthew Milia and David Jones somehow converged within the large and vaguely defined world of Metropolitan Detroit. And from that point on, with merely a banjo and a guitar, they moved forward towards one common creation -something that reflected the very world from which they came with a zeal and vividness afforded only to the young. The singular vision of Frontier Ruckus that modernly exists, growing fuller each day, is eternally rattling with a youthfulness impossible to shed. Unblinking and ferocious in its expression, it spits out with every gasp dusky images of a landscape to which it is inextricably bound. And now, infinitely bolstered by the horns and singing-saw of Zachary Nichols, the harmony vocals and bass of Anna Burch, and the percussion of Ryan Etzcorn, Frontier Ruckus is perched in waiting, prepared to bring to the greater world a new, hollering, unyielding poetry - the voice of memory, desperate and beautiful; the very face of a confused and dissolving locality that one can remember as home.

Krista Detor - With her highly acclaimed album, Mudshow ("A Small Miracle..." — Rolling Stone) Krista Detor was established as a gifted player on the world stage. Together with partner and producer, David Weber, she’s since released the follow-up album, Cover Their Eyes ("One of the best albums of the year..." — Revolver) continuing to push the edges of genre while remaining close throughout to the lyrical thread that defines her work.

Hymn For Her - The Ramones of bluegrass meet John Wayne and travel across the U.S in a 16 foot 1961 Bambi airstream playing shows, recording an album in their trailer and filming a movie about the adventure. Throw in a 2-year-old rugrat and a 10-year-old hound dog, a cigar box guitar, a banjo and kick drum and you got yerself some stompgrass.

Sam Corbin - With heart, soul, and determination, Sam Corbin has traveled and performed for the last decade, with no signs of slowing down. Touring across the northeast and within his home state of Michigan, he plays music with hints of Americana, Blues, and Folk. His songwriting is strong and honest drawing inspiration from personal experiences of love, loss, traveling, and Michigan, from its beautiful countryside to it's struggling economy. In the summer of 2009 Sam released his second album "Michigan's Waltz". Although Sam has played in several configurations over the years, he is usually found sharing the stage with Jen Sygit, an incredibly gifted singer/songwriter from Lansing, MI. With rich harmonies and tasteful arrangements, they're a strong combo that is quickly becoming a favorite in the Michigan music scene.

Jen Sygit - As a child, Jen Sygit gravitated toward musical instruments and within minutes was able to play melodies on them. As early as Elementary school Jen could be found writing love songs on her parents beat-up organ in their basement and by middle school she was composing songs on her acoustic guitar (a gift bought on a whim by her parents - upon which she has never had a lesson). This affinity for music led her parents to encourage Jen to audition for the Interlochen Fine Arts Camp which she attended for several years studying voice, trombone, piano and visual art. Born in Port Huron, MI, Jen spent her childhood years in the nearby town of Marysville, where she lived until 1999 when she moved to Lansing to attend Michigan State University. Jen quickly infiltrated the capital city’s music scene via the area open mics and blues jams. It was at one of these jams that she picked up her first gig as front woman for a blues-rock band called Murdawg and the Lowdown, Dirty Strays. Jen now has three albums under her belt with her latest So Long Pollyanna released on Earthwork Music in May ‘09. Her last release, Leaving Marshall St., was nominated for a Detroit Music Award for Best Acoustic/Folk Album in 2007 and made it to no. 9 on the independent roots music charts that year. The album also landed on a number of ‘Best of’ lists as well. Now, besides regionally touring and playing shows, Jen can also be found hosting the popular weekly open mic at Dagwood Tavern in Lansing. She has been host of the thriving scene for almost five years. Jen is also one fourth of a band called Stella! with Jo Serrapere (former member of Uncle Earl and award-winning songwriter), Tahmineh Gueramy and Katie Grace.

Charlie Parr - Charlie Parr of Duluth, Minnesota plays original and traditional folk and Piedmont-style blues, accompanying himself on National resonator guitars, 12-string guitar and banjo. Parr was raised in Austin, Minn, in a household that prized traditional American folk music and his style bears the influence of hours spent listening to country blues records and Smithsonian/Folkways field recordings. Charlie has performed publicly since 1988 and he has shared stages and opened concerts for Haley Bonar, The Black-Eyed Snakes, Baby Grant Johnson, Dan Rumsey, Paul Metsa, Dakota Dave Hull, Cam Waters, Bob Brozman, Catfish Keith and Greg Brown.

Dave Boutette - That special intimacy that only comes from sharing firelight is where Dave Boutette shines. Songs of highway hijinks and wildcat oil drillers in the Michigan woods are as likely to be heard as old favorites that have been in your head and heart for years. For Boutette, it’s the sharing of songs that holds all the magic. Whether banging out a set of saloon songs at a Michigan watering hole, or settling back for an evening of singing at a fire ring afterward, Dave Boutette will hold his listeners as long as they keep the lights on or until the rain starts. Stories, advice, observations, or raffles are as apt to appear during a performance as are his songs. Blending many schools of American roots and popular music including folk, blues, swing, and old time country, his songs testify to the power of true love, rebirth, snow plows, and migrating fish. If you get the chance, stand next to Dave. Beside feeling taller than you actually are, you may start to see some things in an entirely new light.