GRFAS Concert 05

Concerts are held at Grace Bible College
1011 Aldon SW, Wyoming, MI in Baker Auditorium, a stand-alone building
on the right as you enter the college campus. Concerts start at 8:00 pm unless otherwise marked. Ticket Prices: $10 General, $8 Seniors & Students, $7 Members, $3 2-12 year olds.
For directions, admission prices, and any other information, please call (616) 246-6468
or (616) 361-9219. Past concerts are listed at the end of the page.

Past Concerts
October 8	Four Shillings Short Traveling musicians with a carload of instruments is nothing new in the world of folk music, but what if one of those instruments is a Sitar from India or a Renaissance Crumhorn? Going out on a musical limb is common for the group Four Shillings Short. With an ever-increasing array of instruments (over 20 at last count), including hammered dulcimer, mandola & mandolin, tin whistle & woodwinds, sitar, banjo, percussion and vocals, their music is always varied and captivating. In a single night, Four Shillings Short perform Traditional Irish tunes and airs, Indian Ragas, Folk Ballads, Old-Time songs, Medieval & Renaissance instrumentals and acapella numbers as well as contemporary folk and original compositions. Four Shillings Short is a perfect way to start the GRFAS season showing off the world-wide diversity of music. Check their website at http://art.net/~4ss/
October 15 Southside Vineyard Fellowship 1040 26th St. SW Wyoming	Tamarack Drawing on traditional sounds and contemporary influences for their timeless melodies, Tamarack is folk music at its best. With vocal harmonies as true as the stories they have to tell, Tamarack's music explores the Canadian landscape and the people and events that shape our national character. Expertly weaving a rich wall of sound with an array of instruments (guitar, mandolin, bass, violin, bazouki, concertina, bodhran, pennywhistle), a Tamarack live performance is charged with the same passion and commitment as the characters in their songs. With finely-honed songwriting skills this group creates new songs out of old legends, literally making history sing. You can read and hear more about Tamarack at www.interlog.com/~pmsinc/ on the internet, but you'll want to catch these northern neighbors live!
October 22	Tim Eriksen The word ‘versatile' just isn't quite broad enough to describe Tim Eriksen. His remarkable voice and inventive accompaniment (guitar, banjo, fiddle) are well known to popular music listeners through his performance and recording of rock songs and old American hymns, ballads and love songs, as a solo artist and with the band Cordelia's Dad. Members of other musical worlds have known Tim primarily as a strong Sacred Harp tenor, a singer of Bosnian popular and traditional music (with his wife Mirjana Lausevic and the band Zabe I Babe), a saraswati vina player in the Karaikudi tradition, the American guitar player in the Rehobot Oromo Choir, a hardcore punk guitarist and singer (with the band SFN) and an occasional music professor. (Dartmouth College, University of Minnesota). Lately he is most often Luka's & Anja's dad, and appeared and performed in the movie Cold Mountain. And now we have him right here! Hurrah! www.timeriksen.net
October 29	Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart Take two fabulous talents, season with romance and you've got one breath-taking act: Mark Stuart recalls having first seen Stacey Earle opening a solo acoustic show for her brother, Steve. Several months passed before he saw her again. He explains that, "I saw she was hosting this open mic night at Jack's Guitar Bar, so I went there to hear her." Mark ended up playing a few of his own songs at Jack's that fateful night, and Stacey joined him for a couple more numbers. They characterize the night as love at first sight or, maybe, for guitar players, love at first tuning. "We went to a Waffle House afterwards and sat there till five in the morning," Stacey recalls. With two songwriters coming from their unique perspectives, their collaborative effort offers something for everyone. The title of their album is, in itself, a statement: Never Gonna Let You Go. They're together for love, music and, tonight, for us! Want a preview? Surf to www.staceyearle.com
November 12	Aoife Clancy Aoife Clancy (pronounced "Eefa") brings a refreshing new voice to folk music, one that ranges from traditional Irish songs to ballads and contemporary folk. Aoife comes from the small town of Carrick-on-Suir, in Co Tipperary, Ireland, where her musical career began at an early age. Her father Bobby Clancy of the legendary Clancy Brothers, placed a guitar in her hands at age ten, and by age fourteen was playing with her father in nearby pubs. In 1995 Aoife joined the acclaimed group "Cherish the Ladies", which is one of the most sought-after Irish American groups in history. For the past four years Aoife has toured extensively doing no less than two hundred dates a year throughout the United States and Europe. She has been a featured soloist with orchestras such as the Boston Pops and Cincinnati Pops and ,while performing with Cherish the Ladies, collaborated with the Boston Pops on their Grammy nominated Celtic album. Aoife brings us traditional songs, beautiful songs and good advice: Leon Russelson's "Don't Get Married Girls." You'll be transported! Her website is www.aoifeclancy.com
November 19	Ed Trickett Ed Trickett has been collecting and interpreting traditional and traditional-based folk songs for over 30 years, and has appeared on over 40 recordings and appeared on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion and other public radio broadcasts. His repertoire includes a wide range of ballads, sea songs, songs of love and protest, and an occasional song of no consequence whatsoever. Ed Trickett accompanies himself on 6 and 12 string guitar and hammered dulcimer, an instrument that he helped popularize. Ed has a beautiful unaffected tenor voice that lulls you into enjoying a marvelous evening of music, as if joining him in his living room. This is what folk music is all about. Find out more at www.marcogiunco.com/artisti/000676.htm
November 26	Potato Moon Potato Moon is a favorite home town contemporary alternative group. We've come to expect the unexpected and always get it from siblings Ben, Jane and Laura Stancil along with father Phil Stancil, and friends Jimmy Schultz and Mike Sullivan. We'll rock to their unique vocal harmonies and diverse songwriting. They started as a folk-bluegrass group but over time spread their musical wings and created the fresh, new sound that keeps us coming back for more. See how busy they are keeping themselves at www.potatomoon.org
December 10	Joel Mabus Joel Mabus. Joel Mabus. Joel Mabus! Do we need to say anything more! It's JOEL MABUS, entertainer, virtuoso, acute commentator, singer, editorialist, cultural conscience and one great guy! So here's our two word press release: Joel Mabus! Joel has a website if you can't wait until the concert: www.joelmabus.com
December 17	21st Annual GRFAS Christmas Concert with the Blue Water Ramblers Bear, Banjo-Jim and special, surprise guests invite you to help us sing in the season with all the best loved holiday songs and carols. There will be Christmas surprises, of course! Bring a holiday treat to share. The Blue Water Rambler home on the internet is www.bluewaterramblers.com.
January 14	Open Mic Night The mission of the Grand River Folk Arts Society is to enjoy, support and share folk music in all its varied forms. Open mic night encourages living room and basement pickers to come out to the public and show what they have learned. The evening will be emceed by Kinsfolk's own Alan Exoo. Performers will get an opportunity to perform 1-3 songs, depending on how many people are signed up. Turns will schedule as first come, first served, both in advance or on the night of the event. Come on out, both players and listeners, and share in the musical fellowship! Get signed up to perform by contacting Alan: kinsfolkers@hotmail.com or at 616-458-5446.
January 21	Lee Murdock Lee Murdock has uncovered a boundless body of timeless music and stories in the Great Lakes. Great Lakes songs are made of hard word, hard living, ships that go down and ships that come in and nobody delivers them with more conviction than Lee Murdock. His music is grounded in the work song tradition, from the rugged days of lumberjacks and wooden sailing schooners. Murdock comes alongside with ballads of contemporary commerce and revelry in the grand folk style. Lee's fans have discovered a sweet water treasure in his songs about the Great Lakes, finding drama and inspiration in the lives of sailors and fishermen, lighthouse keepers, ghosts, shipwrecks, outlaws and everyday heroes. See where else he's performing at www.leemurdock.com
January 28	Tim Harrison Tim Harrison is one of Canada's finest singers and songwriters on the folk music landscape today, whose poignant themes and vivid images reveal him as a storyteller of our time, an archetypal traveler singing with compassion and hope. His talent extends onto the stage as a consummate performer known for his compelling singing, intricate guitar-work and commanding stage presence. What's more is his delightful wit and uncanny knack for storytelling which make him an audience favorite. We're looking forward to glow, the excitement and the great, great music. Check his website at www.timharrison.ca
February 11	The Cantrells Al and Emily Cantrell cast a magical spell with their airy, joyful acoustic songs. Emily Cantrell sings in a fluid, jazzy style reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, while husband Al plays off his wife's Martin guitar with spirited fiddling and a dazzling mandolin technique -- his music weaves through her words as if the two were locked together in an intuitive dance. The duo's fine album, Dancing With the Miller's Daughter, puts a pop spin on acoustic folk music, with occasional detours into Celtic and traditional American tunes. The Cantrells have been bringing their unique style of acoustic music to a growing number of fans across the country since before their marriage in 1985. Their music has been featured on National Public Radio's "Mountain Stage" and "Riders Radio Theater" as well as numerous other local, regional and national radio programs. They were chosen by Robert Redford to appear playing old-time fiddle tunes in his hit movie A River Runs Through It. http://thecantrellsmusic.tripod.com
February 18	Matter and Ghost What and who is ‘Matter and Ghost'? Michigan's Troubadour, Neil Woodward, is coming to town with Mistress of the Dance Sheila Graziano. By proclamation of the legislature, Neil is Michigan's Troubadour, walking the time honored path of roving musician/reporter whose work is a commentary on our life and time. Featuring the voices of virtually every traditional North American folk instrument, Neil's performances reflect America's living history. He is a fluent performer on 6-string, 12-string, and steel guitars, harmonica, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, autoharp, dulcimer, pennywhistle, ukulele and other stringed instruments. Neil applies these talents to centuries-old ballads and dance music, 1800's lumberjack songs, blues songs and train songs, and his many compositions. Sheila Graziano floats across the stage dancing the myriad styles which our ancestors brought to American and then changed on the frontier. Attention dancers! Clogging, step dance, hard shoe, soft shoe, tap ...Sheila uses them all to counterpoint Neil's songs in an evening of Matter and Ghost. www.neilwoodward.com/index.html.
February 25	Lou and Peter Berryman Does anybody not know and love Lou and Peter Berryman? In case you don't, here are a few clues to prepare you for a real treat. They say: "We write all our own songs. Lou writes the music, Peter writes the words. Lou plays accordion. Peter plays 12-string guitar. Most of our stuff is funny in one way or another. We've been making a living at this for almost twenty-five years. We are best friends and were married to each other briefly many years ago, hence the same last name, but have been happily married to our current respective spouses for decades. We both turned fifty five in 2002 so the duo has over 110 years' experience on the planet." http://members.aol.com/berrymanp
March 11	Barbara Bailey Hutchinson This Grammy Award winning singer songwriter has a voice that is familiar to millions of television and radio listeners: Advertising producers discovered her smooth, powerful voice and chose here to sing hundreds of commercials for McDonald's, Hallmark Cards, Heinz and other national brands. She has appeared at the White House twice, performed in nearly all 50 states including Alaska and Hawaii, toured Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand where she participated in a benefit concert for children orphaned by AIDS. Barbara grew up in Detroit, Michigan. She launched her career in music while attending Michigan State University, where she gained a loyal following performing in the local listening rooms and coffeehouses. She has a way with words and the music that surrounds them and will share her magic with us. http://bbhsings.com
March 18	Dyed in the Wool Just like the Irish immigrants changed America while it changed them into something new, the Celto-American band "Dyed in the Wool" mixes the best of both traditions in their repertoire. John Devens adds intricate counterpoint to the bands Celtic repertoire with his mandolin and bodhran. Julia Dusek-Devens’ flute playing is a pleasure to behold; she makes the tunes dance around in your head. Jim White immersed himself in Irish fiddle tunes and brings them to life with his fast, smooth guitar picking. Eileen Ellis is an accomplished songwriter, keyboard player, clarinetist and bodhran player. Get ready for sounds, songs and energy like you've never heard before! www.dyedinthewool.net .
March 25	Bill Staines We couldn't start spring without Bill! Our favorite balladeer brings his warm, melodious take on life on Planet Earth back for the 32nd year and he's better than ever. This reviewer should know: Half my repertoire is pure Bill Staines! On the web: www.acousticmusic.com/staines
April 8	Steve Gilllette and Cindy Mangsen Steve Gillette writes songs: Since Ian and Sylvia first recorded Darcy Farrow in 1966, Steve's songs have been sung by dozens of major artists including Garth Brooks, John Denver, Nanci Griffith, Waylon Jennings, Anne Murray, Tony Rice, Kenny Rogers, Linda Ronstadt, Spanky and Our Gang, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jennifer Warnes, Don Williams, and Tammy Wynette. Wow! Now he and spouse Cindy Mangsen will sing them for us right here in the River City. Accompanying herself on guitar, banjo, English concertina, or mountain dulcimer, Cindy's repertoire ranges from haunting traditional ballads to songs by modern writers. She and Steve blend perfectly, whether on complicate counterpoint for a beautiful melody or instrumentally for their rich sound. Can't wait? See www.compassrosemusic.com
April 15	Mike Adams Bluegrass Band Growing up in the sixties, in Detroit, Michigan, meant fond bluegrass memories for Mike Adams. His father was a great fan of the music, and surrounded his boys with every recording that Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin and Hank Williams did. Mike taught himself the guitar at fourteen, soon developing a love for singing the tight harmonies that haunt the lonesome sound of bluegrass music. Mike, Bryan, Dave and J.R. on guitar, mandolin, banjo and bass will have us floating through the hills and valleys of Kentucky with their smooth picking and tight harmonies. This is what bluegrass is all about! www.mikeadamsband.com
April 22	Sparky and Rhonda Rucker Historians have written volumes trying to figure out what has made America so vital, so strong, such a happening place. All they needed to do was listen to Sparky and Rhonda Rucker singing songs and telling stories from the American tradition. Sparky has been performing over forty years and is internationally recognized as a leading folklorist, musician, historian, storyteller, and author. Rhonda is an accomplished harmonica and piano player, and also adds vocal harmonies to their songs. She has developed her own unique style of playing harmonica, which complements their music, whether they are playing railroad songs, Appalachian music, blues, slave songs, Civil War music, gospel, work songs, cowboy music, ballads, or Sparky Rucker's original compositions. Come in, set right down, join in and be trilled and proud to be who you are! Tantalizing tidbits are available on their web site. www.sparkyandrhonda.com
April 29	Ragtime Jack Radcliffe Many of us wish more piano players would come to town. Well, weep no more, my lady! Ragtime Jack is coming with his powerful stride piano style coupled with exquisitely sensitive and tasteful renderings. ‘Ragtime’ Jack Radcliffe has been playing country blues and ragtime piano for more than 35 years. He is the master of country blues piano. Rags, stomps and blues are the heart of Jack’s performances, so we’re going to rock the night away. And he’s an engaging and downright funny raconteur, as well! We're in for a treat folks! See you there. www.ragtimejack.com/PDF/PressReleases/A&J-04-29-06.pdf.
May 13	May 13 - 4th Annual GRFAS Benefit Concert The Blue Water Ramblers are proud and thrilled to be joined by Joel Mabus for a benefit concert for the Grand River Folk Arts Society. As we heard at his December 10th concert, Joel's songs about life in these times make you laugh and think. He'll deliver these thought-provoking pieces with complete mastery of guitar, banjo and mandolin. www.joelmabus.com Banjo-Jim and Bear will then take the stage to explicate Dr. Mabus' observations with the folk songs of Michigan, America and YOUR life. Help support our favorite folk music organization. For details pop over to the Blue Water Ramblers' web site at http://bluewaterramblers.com/performances2005/.

2005 - 2006 GRFAS Concerts