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Bamboo
Steve
Steve Pollitt
offers instrument
building workshops
and concerts of
World-Wind music
played on primitive
instruments, some
ancient and some of
modern design. For
K–8 school
assemblies, Pollitt
aims to empower
young listeners by
confirming their
belief that simple
tools can achieve
great artistry. In
Pollitt’s
workshops, students
build their own
panpipes and learn
to play. For
adults, Pollitt
offers the concert Music
for the Double
Ocarina. |
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Barbara
Bailey Hutchison
Grammy
Award–winning
singer/songwriter
Barbara Bailey
Hutchison thrills
audiences
worldwide with
her enchanting
voice and lively
stage presence.
This Michigan
native’s music
carries a message
of tolerance and
human rights
while encouraging
us to see humor
in everyday life.
She’s been
voted “Best
Performance–Acoustic”
and “Best Solo
Performer” by
colleges and
universities
nationwide. She
also offers a
highly
interactive
children’s
show, a
light-hearted and
informative
Women’s History
Month program and
a Christmas show.
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Beats
Settin’ Home
Beats Settin’
Home—extraordinary
folk music! Tap
your toes, clap
your hands, sing
along and laugh
with us—even
try a couple of
squares and
reels. Bear
Berends, Al Exoo
and Jim Foerch
bring the finest
of Michigan and
American folk
traditions to
engage and
delight young and
old alike.
Sparkling
harmonies, rich
instrumental
arrangements,
songs with humor
and
feeling—pleased
audiences know
why we say “It
sure Beats Settin’
Home!”
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Carl
Behrend: Legends
of the Great
Lakes
Performances
include songs and
stories of Great
Lakes legends,
shipwrecks, sea
captains, Native
American legends
and personal
accounts of Great
Lakes adventures.
Carl’s
daughter, Naomi,
often is able to
perform with him.
Carl also has a
slide program of
their
father-daughter
circumnavigation
of Lake Superior.
His performances
are loved by
young and old.
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Dan
Hall
As a composer,
singer,
guitarist,
maritime history
presenter and
humorist, Hall
has delighted
multi-age
audiences from
the Keweenaw to
Kalamazoo. His
historically
accurate songs
about the
triumphs and
tragedies of life
aboard Great
Lakes freighters
are Michigan
treasures. “I
had Dan’s
maritime music on
my radio show
within 24 hours
of my first
listening. It’s
that rare
combination of
great music and
history.” (Matt
Watroba,
producer/host of Folks
Like Us, WDET
Public Radio,
Detroit) Hall has
written over 175
songs in
collaboration
with more than
15,000 elementary
students
throughout
Michigan. “Dan
Hall’s work
with Adams
Elementary was
the most
exciting,
educational,
positive,
fun-filled event
that I’ve been
a part of in the
nine years I have
been principal
here.” (Ray
Fryar, Principal,
Adams Elementary
School, Midland)
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Dan
Hazlett
Performing
songwriter Dan
Hazlett’s
original
contemporary folk
songs deal with
social issues and
explore the inner
landscape. With a
rich, warm voice
and skillful
acoustic guitar
work, his
performances are
memorable and
uplifting. During
a career spanning
more than 20
years, he has
actively toured
the Midwest,
Maine and Canada.
He also presents
an interactive
songwriting
workshop for
middle and high
school students
and a percussion
and folk singing
workshop for
elementary
students. Now in
the studio
working on his
fifth full-length
recording, his
performances are
appropriate for
all ages.
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David
Stoeri: Tunes and
Tales from the
Stoeri Bag
David Stoeri has
been a full-time
professional
musician and
storyteller since
1983, weaving the
rapture of a
well-told story
with the joyous
energy of
traditional music
to create a folk
arts celebration.
Instruments like
the banjo, hammer
dulcimer,
concertina and
the musical saw
complement the
songs and stories
to create an
enchanting,
age-appropriate,
laughter-filled
show. Schools
also appreciate
his teaching
background (6th
grade teacher,
1972–83;
“Teacher of the
Year” at his
school in 1981).
A principal from
St. Clair Shores
comments, “In
40 years, I have
seen many
assemblies in
this genre. I can
truthfully say
that David
Stoeri’s is the
best I have
experienced.”
From Mackinac
Island to Grosse
Ile, David Stoeri
comes “highly
recommended!”
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Dwight
Brady
Dwight Brady is a
veteran
singer/songwriter
and recording
artist who
describes his
music as
“contemporary
folk.”
Heartfelt lyrics
about his
Michigan homeland
blended with a
pop/country
style, make his
music highly
entertaining yet
culturally
meaningful. He is
an energetic
performer who
plays a wide
range of music
including his
up-tempo Internet
hit “My Neck of
the Woods” to
soft ballads like
“Magnetic
North” and the
downright silly
“Song About
Labor Day.” His
strong stage
presence and
musical variety
make his
performances
appropriate for
nearly any age
group. |
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Jim
Novak,
Singer-Songwriter
Spoken word
(taken from
Sandburg, Brecht,
Yeats, and
others) and Jim
Novak’s
original songs
and cover songs
on guitar delight
and entertain
those who love
words. At
colleges and
coffeehouses, he
features
poetry-and-song
“combinations”
on themes such as
romance, the
road, the
environment and
social change in
the 1960s. Since
1996, Novak has
been a performer
and host of a
weekly TV show
featuring
Michigan
songwriters. At a
library, college
or other
community
setting, he will
stage and record
a show (for your
public access TV
station)
featuring your
local songwriters
and conduct a
discussion on
songwriting.
“Novak is
clearly
passionate about
music, especially
the craft of
singer-songwriters,”
wrote the Ann
Arbor News.
He is also a
college teacher
who directs a
multidisciplinary,
bachelor’s
degree program
for adults. |
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Josh
& Ron’s
Family Adventure
Now, for the
first time in
their careers,
Josh White Jr.
and Ron Coden are
combining their
talents, creating
a new, exciting
and totally
entertaining
musical show for
the entire
family.
Nationally and
internationally
known for their
abilities as
performers and
entertainers,
these two veteran
artists blend
their voices,
humor and
dramatic talents
for pure
entertainment
magic. Josh and
Ron understand
family and
children; more
important,
families and
children
understand Josh
and Ron. Hand
clapping, foot
tapping and
singing along are
major parts of
their show,
making the
audience part of
the show. There
is no better time
a family can
spend together.
Let the music and
laughter of Josh
White Jr. and Ron
Coden become a
part of your
family and its
memories.
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Josh
White, Jr.
There have only
been four years
when he was not a
performer and
those were the
first four. All
his life, Josh
has been
performing his
brand of music on
stages around the
globe. Whether
doing family
concerts with
music from Cole
Porter to Bob
Dylan or going
into schools and
giving fun but
informative
performances for
all grade levels
which includes
songs of peace,
hope and freedom,
or a blend of
music and lecture
to explore the
life of his
legendary father,
Josh White, his
warmth and humor
only add to his
eclectic approach
to touch the
hearts of those
who are fortunate
to share the
musical
experience. Josh
conducts
Storyliving
workshops that
use kinesthetic,
multiple
intelligence
activities to
learn about
significant
historical
events. The main
message in all
that he does is
summed up in a
line from one of
his songs:
“Think about
me, think about
you, think about
all the joyful
things we can
do.”
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Kitty
Donohoe:
“Bunyan &
Banjoes” and
“Lighthouses
& Legends”
Kitty Donohoe’s
reputation as a
songwriter,
musician and
storyteller is
nationwide. A
resident of
Michigan, she has
written numerous
popular songs
that celebrate
the state and the
region. She
offers two folk
song and story
programs, both
all-ages
appropriate and
featuring guitar,
banjo, mountain
and hammered
dulcimers and,
depending on the
presentation,
mouth bow and
concertina.
Bunyan and
Banjoes focuses
on Michigan and
covers the
voyaguers,
waterways, the
logging era and
more. Lighthouses
and Legends
centers on the
lore, romance and
history of the
Great Lakes. Both
programs have
been widely
performed in the
state. “A great
presentation. We
loved it.”
(Comment from an
Upper Peninsula
audience member,
1999)
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Lee
Murdock
Lee Murdock has
discovered a
boundless body of
music and stories
in the Great
Lakes. There is
an amazing
timelessness in
his music. Great
Lakes songs are
made of hard
work, hard
living, ships
that go down and
ships that come
in. Drawing on
Midwestern
traditional music
and building upon
that tradition
with his own
songwriting about
contemporary
issues and
events,
Murdock’s music
speaks to the
people who live,
work, learn and
play along the
shores of the
Great Lakes
today. Concerts,
educational
presentations and
workshops are
available.
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Madcat
&
Kane
Harmonica
virtuoso
Peter
Madcat
Ruth
and
guitar
wizard
Shari
Kane
joined
forces
in
1990.
Since
then,
they
have
been
touring
nationally
and
internationally,
delighting
audiences
wherever
they
go.
Their
repertoire
includes
blues,
folk
music
and a
touch
of
jazz.
“Madcat
&
Kane is
simply
the
best
blues
duo on
the
scene
today.
The
dynamic
interplay
that
occurs
between
Shari
Kane’s
guitar
and
Pete
Madcat
Ruth’s
harmonica
is
astounding.”
(Eureka
Springs
Blues
Festival)
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Matt
Watroba
Many
know
him as
the
voice
of folk
music
in
Michigan
for his
work
with
Detroit
Public
Radio,
WDET.
As
producer
and
host of
the Folks
Like Us
program,
Watroba
has
come in
contact
with
every
aspect
of folk
music
and
culture.
This
has
helped
shape a
repertoire
of
music
and
knowledge
that is
unique
on
local
stages.
He
holds a
Michigan
teaching
certificate
and is
at home
in both
classroom
and
concert
settings.
His
concerts
build
community.
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Michael
and
Theresa
Irish
“Talent
and
variety”
is the
best
way to
describe
the
performance
of
Michael
and
Theresa
Irish.
A
vocalist
and
talented
musician,
Michael
moves
through
an
arsenal
of
stringed
instruments,
harmonizing
with
Theresa’s
beautiful
voice
to
offer a
blend
of
contemporary
and
country
music,
with
some
bluegrass
and
Gershwin
on the
side.
Living
in
northern
Michigan,
they
entertain
statewide
at
concerts,
fairs
and
festivals,
customizing
their
performance
for
large
auditoriums
or
small
gazebos.
Corporate
performances
have
included
the
Discovery
Channel,
General
Motors,
Ford
Motor
Company
and
more.
The
combination
of a
lifetime
of
musical
experience
and two
decades
of
performing
together
assures
quality
entertainment
for
all.
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Michael
Angelo
“It’s amazing
what he has going
on, just one guy
and a guitar.”
(Rolling
Stone.com)
That’s what
people say when
they see and hear
singer/songwriter/guitarist
Michael Angelo
perform. Having
toured
extensively the
past four years
throughout the
northeast, east
coast and
southern states
promoting his
music, he has
proven music is
the universal
language. There
are no barriers,
he and his music
connect to people
of all ages and
all status. Songs
are written and
performed from
his heart and
soul. Angelo’s
quick-witted
humor, cynicism
and pensive side
come through loud
and clear in his
music. Using
words in a way
only he does, his
distinctive voice
makes him stand
out from others.
Whether it be
rock, folk, pop,
country or blues,
it is definite
that Michael
Angelo does it
all and in a
style undeniably
his.
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Neil
Woodward
Neil Woodward is
a modern
practitioner of
the ancient
disciplines of
the troubadour.
His widely
acclaimed
original
compositions,
traditional
ballads and dance
tunes present
compelling
testimony of our
shared human
heritage. In
concerts and
workshops enjoyed
by all ages,
Great Lakes
history and
culture come
alive with the
voices of our
ancestors and
neighbors. “How
could one guy
have played all
those instruments
so
beautifully?” (Monthly
Detroit).
“The protean
backwoods
maestro.” (Detroit
Free Press)
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Ourselves
The down-home
music sung and
played by this
family group
evokes memories
of a time when
music was created
and performed in
kitchens and
parlors,
community halls
or fresh-swept
barns. They
perform
renditions of
songs from
Ireland,
Michigan, Britain
and Appalachia,
accompanied by
varying
combinations of
mandolin, flute,
tin whistle,
dulcimer,
concertina,
fiddle,
harmonica,
guitar, bodhran
and bones.
Ourselves gladly
plays
“unplugged”
for quiet
locations but
will bring a
sound system as
needed.
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Patricia
Pettinga
Patricia Pettinga
blends folk,
blues and
original music in
a performance
that entertains,
moves and
involves
audiences,
reflecting her
penchant for
humor and her
experience in
education and
theater arts. Her
performances—just
right for
coffeehouses,
festivals and
concert
halls—appeal to
all ages.
Pettinga will
also create theme
shows for
schools,
businesses and
nonprofits and
present workshops
on songwriting
and creative
expression.
Partner Bill
Willging adds a
second guitar and
vocal harmonies
to performances.
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Robert
Jones & Matt
Watroba
These two artists
combine their
talent and
experience into a
musical
presentation that
has been
delighting
concertgoers,
educators and
students for
years. It’s
rare that two
performers have
both the
knowledge of
American roots
music and the
ability to
communicate it to
an audience.
Preaching racial
harmony is one
thing—Jones and
Watroba bring it
alive through
blues and folk
music with every
performance.
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Song
of the Lakes
Recently voted
“Best Folk
Group in Northern
Michigan,” Song
of the Lakes
continues their
role as
ambassadors of
the Great Lakes.
Their high-energy
performance
combines Celtic
and Scandinavian
traditions with
Michigan’s
maritime history
in a show that
weaves humor and
lore and inspires
hand-clapping
audience
participation.
Offering a
variety of
programs, Song of
the Lakes’
collaborations
have included
work with the
Traverse Symphony
Orchestra,
Ballet, etc. and
numerous high
school choral
groups.
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SongSister
Julie Austin
& David
Mosher
SongSister Julie
Austin, “Best
Children’s
Per-former”
(Metro Parent
Magazine), and
her SongBrother,
David Mosher,
feature a unique
blend of
humorous,
energetic and
irresistible
children’s
music in a
sing-along,
move-along
concert,
guaranteed to
have your hands
clapping, toes
tapping and
fingers snapping!
Julie sings,
tells stories and
accompanies
herself on
guitar, jawharp
and autoharp
while David joins
her on fiddle,
banjo, mandolin,
bass, guitar and
vocals. All songs
are interactive,
with audiences
dancing, moving,
singing and using
gestures or sign
language. Since
1986, Austin has
traveled
throughout the
country as a
Wolftrap Master
Artist, a
High/Scope
consultant and an
early childhood
specialist. She
has made several
nationally
acclaimed
recordings,
including 1999
Parent’s Choice
Silver Honor’s
Winner,
Fandagumbo, which
was produced by
David Mosher.
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The
Collecting
Consort
The Collecting
Consort’s fresh
and expressive
performances
captivate
audiences of all
ages. This
talented duo’s
personal and
gentle warmth
creates an
instant rapport
for you as they
entertain and
educate through a
sensitive blend
of music, drama,
stories and
narration. Celtic
harp, keyboard,
hammered
dulcimer,
whistles and
flutes touch your
heart with
appealing
arrangements of
familiar folk,
classical and
contemporary
music. Their
concerts and
school programs
may explore your
special themes,
recreate your
local history or
enhance the
“Character
Counts”
pillars.
Workshops/residencies
for groups
(including
special and
alternative
education)
creatively
explore all
artistic media.
They have
released 16
commercial
recordings and
produced numerous
radio specials.
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The
Raisin Pickers
If you’ve never
heard the Raisin
Pickers, then
you’ve missed a
rare musical
treat. From swing
to ballads, from
contemporary
bluegrass to
under-appreciated
classics, from
waltzes to
tangos, they
bring a wonderful
enthusiasm and
enjoyment to all
the music they
play. On guitar,
bass, mandolin,
fiddle and even
an assortment of
banjos, they
combine fast and
furious soloing
with three-part
harmonies, jazz
influences with
modern folk,
Celtic and
acoustic swing;
as a band, they
combine the very
best qualities of
the different
types of music
resulting in a
uniquely
fascinating and
entertaining
musical
potpourri.
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Will
Danforth
For 30 years,
Will Danforth has
played
“roots-based”
acoustic music
for pre-school
through senior
center audiences,
accompanying
himself on
guitar, banjo,
slide guitar,
autoharp,
Appalachian
dulcimer and
more.
Performances
range from
traditional to
contemporary and
are tailored to
the needs of the
presenter. School
programs
highlight
American folk
music and focus
on particular
regions or styles
such as cowboy
songs, “Woody
Guthrie’s Dust
Bowl Legacy,”
the blues or
songs celebrating
nature. Workshops
are offered in
ensemble singing
and songwriting.
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