Soul Patch

Chris Winkelman, known to friends simply as “Wink,” has been busy the past two years. He opened the popular Homegrown Organic Eatery in Traverse City (across from the beach volleyball courts in the Warehouse District) in August 2006, and a couple months later he finalized the line-up for his band Soul Patch.
Soul Patch goes into the studio this Saturday, June 7 at Radius Recording in Logan’s Landing with Rootstand for a “Summer Kick-Off Party.” Soul Patch will record the show for their forth-coming CD. On Sunday they will be at the
InsideOut Gallery for a fundraiser.
While band life is often challenging, Wink has found managing a band has fewer challenges than managing his business.
“We are weekend warriors. Soul Patch is simply about the music. We have no ambitions of making the big time. So from that perspective we are free from a lot of the stuff other bands who are pursuing the big time are faced with,” said Wink. “Now, trying to conduct business in this state is another matter.”



OVER-REGULATED
Wink has been trying to expand his eatery by offering a health-oriented product line, but has found governmental roadblocks every step of the way.
“I have products here that retailers have said ‘as soon as you have it packaged, we will carry it,’ but it is unbelievable the hoops you have to jump through,” said Wink. “They make it virtually impossible for a small entrepreneur to succeed. Every time you think you have taken a step forward and think you have it, they come up with something that takes you back two steps.”
But Wink is able to escape it all with his band Soul Patch. Now, the group may not have “big time” ambitions, but they have found themselves being booked all over the state. Soul Patch is made up of Christopher Winkelmann (Wink) on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Michael Peck (Mando) on mandolin, guitar, slide guitar, and backing vocals, Christopher Belanger (CB) on bass, Adam Sleder (Adam T) on guitar, banjo, harmonica, looping, moog, and backing vocals, and Marc Alderman (Animal)
on percussion.
“We have been fortunate to have clubs and festivals picking us up,” said Wink. “Though with gas prices we are trying to stick close to Northern Michigan this summer. We have a full schedule that includes a lot of cool venues, events and festivals. We are looking forward to our cruise night in Leland out on the boat, playing the Dunegrass Fest and certainly going back to the Earthwork Harvest Fest this September.”
FESTIVAL EXPLOSION
Wink is excited about the fact that all of these music festivals and celebrations are popping up all over Northern Michigan.
“Blissfest got it all started and now there are so many festivals, and this is a good thing,” said Wink. “Northern Michigan is a great music community. We have so many talented musicians and so many people willing to support local music. Another festival we will be playing again this year that is gaining momentum is the 4th Annual Rootenanny at the TeePee Site near Kingsley. Rootstand organizes this and it is small in numbers but is growing.”
For Wink and his bandmates, they are enjoying themselves on stage and attribute that to their philosophy.
“You have to be careful how you say this but I think sometimes bands get too caught up in trying to make the big time and it clouds them. We stay level-headed, and for us, it is about just having fun and playing good music that gets people up dancing,” said Wink. “This is our formula and it works for us.”
Soul Patch has been resonating with local music audiences with their blend of grooving and infusing world beat, jazz, reggae, bluegrass, funk, surf, rockabilly, ska, blues, and straight up rock n’ roll.

BORDERLESS SPACE
“We never write a set list but are always prepared to feel our audience and bring them something they can move to,” said Wink. “Our shows are constantly taking on a new form that is inspired on the spot by the borderless space between the band and the listeners. We play songs with purpose but are not afraid to improvise. We play covers from all over the musical world–Motown to modern and everything in between–always making them our own for a fresh unique delivery. Our original music spans three decades and can only be described as eclectic, taking ideas from any one of the three songwriters in the band and plugging them into the musical vessel that is Soul Patch.”
Last month the group surprised their fans with an all-acoustic show.
“I think that is what music is all about. Our stuff is very organic and rootsy in nature, so we decided to play an acoustic show last month at Union Street,” Wink said. “It was our first time doing it and people loved it.”
So what is in store for the future of Soul Patch?
“Well, when you are on the road to nowhere and everywhere at the same time, who knows?” said Wink. “We all have day and night jobs so we don’t have much time to rehearse. We are just going to keep playing the music and put forward a message of love, peace and happiness and see where it all leads.”
This weekend it leads them to an in studio concert with Rootstand. The concert this Saturday starts at 8 p.m. at Radius Recording (Logan’s Landing), and rumor has it some pretty good microbrewed beer will be available. On Sunday they will perform a benefit at the InsideOut Gallery for Art Tilley (Tilley’s Party Store) who is battling cancer. For additional details on these and other shows call Wink at the Homegrown Eatery 231-932-4690. View On Our Website