March 18, 2024

A New Season at BC's Own Venue

They bill themselves as “six boys lost in time, as if they never left 8th grade male choir class.” That’s a pretty accurate description of Traverse City’s The Overtones, a men’s a cappella group existing in perfect harmony since 1990.
Oct. 9, 2014

The Gallery’s Winter Concert Series just kicked off its 2014-2015 season, and the team running it - folk singer Robin Lee Berry and her artistic husband, Tony Williams - have put together another lineup aimed at fighting the fall and winter blues.

ELEVATED SOUNDS

Berry and Williams are successful in their own respective crafts, and have also watched their gallery grow as Boyne City itself has.

"As the gallery started to get a foothold, it was impossible to ignore our deep desire to also create a venue for touring musicians," Berry explained.

The gallery actually seemed to be "calling" to musicians, as Berry and Williams soon discovered that it was acoustically perfect for live performances - even more so after they had what Berry termed "a lucky accident."

"When we acquired the building, we blew eight inches of foam insulation into the ceiling," she said. "While painting the ceiling girders, we accidentally hit the foam with the paint, and Tony realized that we would not need to install the drop ceiling. Now, the foam ceilings really help the sound."

One state-of-the-art sound system and a top-notch sound engineer (Dan Calloway) later, and they were almost ready to go.

"We carefully lit the stage and elevated it so that the view is wonderful from every part of the room," Berry said. "But in the early years, we had risers for our performers, and in an exuberant performance, Claudia Schmidt was playing the heck out of her dulcimer and she slid backwards and fell off the back of the riser!" Today, that hazard has long been repaired, but the lesson - and the story - live on.

"We now respectfully call our stage "˜The Claudia Schmidt Memorial Stage,’" Berry laughed. (Schmidt is just fine, for anyone concerned.)

BOYNE CITY BOUND

Gallery shows are now known as a place for impressive songcraft.

"Tony has a knack for finding great performers who engage with the audiences," Berry said. "There have been so many musicians who we wanted to introduce to the audiences of Northern Michigan, and having been on the performance side of the microphone, we felt that we understood some of the details required to present a great show."

And their fellow musicians agree.

"We are becoming known among touring musicians as one of the finest sounding rooms in the Midwest with receptive and appreciative audiences," Berry said gratefully.

SINGING IN THE ROUND

This year’s winter season, which features one show each month, opened in early October with Steve Poltz, a storytelling songwriter who’s collaborated with folk-pop singer Jewel (he co-wrote her hit "You Were Meant For Me").

"Steve says that he falls in love with everyone he meets, and I think our audience felt the same way about him," Berry said. "He really knocked it out of the park at his show here!"

On November 1, the gallery will welcome Eliza Gilkyson, Berry’s personal favorite female songwriter.

"Tony calls her "˜the Texan songbird,’" Berry said. "She is a delight - wise, tender, and fierce."

December and January are still being scheduled, so keep an eye out for those surprises - and in February, a Freshwater favorite returns.

"Valentine’s Day is our showcase of Michigan women songwriters singing in the round, with backing musicians," Berry said. "It’s a spontaneous collaboration of song and spoken word, and I also get to play on that show. This event is a huge favorite."

WINDING DOWN

In March, the series will feature Massachusetts singer-songwriter Antje Duvekot with her latest album, The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer.

"She has beautiful vocals and a sharp poetic sense, and folk legend Richard Shindell produced this gem of an album," Berry said. "I am eager to hear her live, and I think our audience will really enjoy her."

Then, as the winter season winds down, the duo will bring one of the acts that Williams, in particular, is looking forward to.

"April 11th’s show is Fred Eaglesmith," Berry said. "He is a Canadian roots singer/songwriter who moved to Texas many years ago, and has become a Lone Star icon."

Berry and Williams curate the seasonal lineups with an eye toward balance -- a variety of genres with some well-known artists and some completely new to the region.

But don’t try to rope either Berry or Williams into choosing specific favorites from the concert series - each one "brings its own magic," Berry said.

"The next show is always our favorite," she added. "I really believe every show will be a wonderful surprise."

Freshwater Gallery is located at 217 South Lake Street in Boyne City, Michigan. Check out their online concert calendar at www.freshwaterartgallery.com, or call them at 231-582-2588.

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