Teleganza

Nov. 14, 2010

UpNorth TV hosts a Teleganza! Goal is a new mobile van to cover local events
How do you make yourself stand out in the world of cable TV with its
100-plus channels and endless reality TV shows? For public access
Channels 97 and 992, the solution lies in becoming more relevant to
local viewers.
For UpNorth TV, which is hosting a 10-hour Teleganza fundraiser this
Saturday, Nov. 20, that quest involves a major upgrade in its
equipment to cover local events.
“Public access TV is kind of the underdog on television, but we want
to make sure that people continue to use this great community
resource,” says Amy Hubbell, who is coordinating the Teleganza. “We’d
like to raise enough money to buy a new mobile video production van --
it’s a $75,000 goal.”
What will the new vehicle be used for?
“Anything,” Hubbell says. “The plan is to use it for both the
government channel and the community access channel It will be a
wonderful way to cover things we haven’t in the past, from high school
football games to concerts.”

PUTTING ON A SHOW
To that end, UpNorth TV is putting on a show that will include 20
performances by some of the region’s top musical acts and storytellers
this Saturday from noon to 10 p.m.
“It’s going to be a huge show with a lot of amazing acts,” Hubbell
says, adding that the concert will be held at Milliken Auditorium on
the NMC campus and also televised on Cable 97 (analog signal) and 992
(digital).
Backers of community access television see a huge potential for the
medium. Currently, the UpNorth Media Center is teaching members of
the public how to create their own shows to celebrate local culture
and share information across the region. The Media Center is owned
and operated by the Land Information Access Association (LIAA), a
nonprofit service organization based out of Traverse City.
Region-wide the cable viewing area covered by Charter (which hosts the
public access channels) ranges from Manistee and Cadillac in the south
to Mackinaw City at the Straits. There are over 110,000 Charter Cable
subscribers who have access to public access TV and the power to
create their own programs.
Tickets for this Saturday’s Teleganza at Milliken Auditorium are $10.
The event can also be viewed live from noon - 10 p.m. on Channels 97
and 992, or streamed online at http://www.teleganza.org


Who’s Playing:

• Rootstand: offering a blend of bluegrass, Celtic, folk, blues and reggae.
• Jeff Haas Trio with Bill Sears: jazz with an assist from flutist
Nancy Stagnitta.
• Nancy Stagnitta & Friends: featuring the principal flutist with the
Traverse Symphony Orchestra.
• Song of the Lakes: offering sea shanties, Irish melodies and folk
celebrating the Great Lakes.
• Claudia Schmidt: a “creative noisemaker” who offers everything from
folk to jazz, torch songs and poetry.
• Miriam Pico & David Chown: dynamic vocals meet a master of the piano.
• Judy Harrison & Swing Shift: offering country music, dance and swing
standards.
• The Neptune Quartet + 1: Don Julin’s quirky jazz ensemble.
• Joanie Stanley & the Blue Shadow Band with the Patsy Cline Show.
• Caroline Kovas of Ragtop Rodeo: lead singer offers a rock twist on a
country show.
• Michigan Writers: Out Loud!: Dramatic readings of authors including
Doug Stanton, Anne-Marie Oomen, Michael Delp, Teresa Scollon, John
Mauk, and Fleda Brown.
•Jazz North: versatile players offer R&B, Latin, bebop, and jazz standards.
• Tribute to the Beatles: by local players.
• Grand Traverse Band Youth Hoop Dancers: featuring Ottawa and
Chippewa Indian dances.
• Chamber Music North: chamber music with Annie Chalex Boyle (violin)
and Debra Fayroian (cello).
• Petoskey Steel Drum Band: Caribbean and Latin favorites.
• Chava Bahle with Jeff Haas: Jewish inspirational preacher and
storyteller is backed up by jazz great Jeff.
• The Faith Project: worship leaders and musicians from local churches.
• ReBooted with Judy Harrison: high-energy country/classic rock band.
• OTP Young Company: performing selections from their upcoming
performance of “Seussical Jr.,” inspired by the works of Dr. Seuss.