Kristi Kates | Author

June 9, 2018

Imagine an upstart folk singer departing the big city of Seattle for the quaint hamlet of Petoskey and ending up fronting a rock band. Such is the story of Erin Campbell of the quirky northern Michigan grunge-rock outfit Squidmouth.

Partnered with Lee Dyer on bass and backup vocal... Read More >>

Lucero – Lucero – Madjack

June 2, 2018

Grunge mixed with Tennessee country? Sure, if you’re Lucero. While this pairing might seem unlikely for other outfits, these country-punkers have the formula down, and they’ve rebooted this classic set in a reprinted, limited edition version that’s sure to notch them a w... Read More >>

Gaylord’s Big Air Show, Coming in Hot!

June 2, 2018

Engines will roar, propellers will spin, and parachutes will careen down from the skies at the nonth annual Wings Over Northern Michigan Airshow. We talked with Gaylord Regional Airport Director Matt Barresi to see what kind of ambitious air attractions you’ll be able to enjoy this ... Read More >>

Thornetta, Nora, Cafeteras to Headline Wheatland

June 2, 2018

The Wheatland Music Festival is returning to southwest Michigan in September, with much of their 2018 roster already in place, including one queen of Detroit blues, Thornetta Davis, secured as one of the fest’s headliners. The 45th annual Wheatland,... Read More >>

An Open-Air Art Olympics

June 2, 2018

A canvas, a paintbrush, a set of paints, and the open air. Easel and cool beverage optional.

That’s pretty much all you need to be a plein air, or outdoor painting, artist — well, that and a touch of talent, of course.

Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC... Read More >>

Fresh Baby

May 26, 2018

Fresh Baby, the thriving Petoskey-based nutrition-education company whose products have made their way into top-tier chains around the nation, started with, well …  a baby.

In 2002, Cheryl Tallman, then living in New York City, had recently given birth to a son. Like a... Read More >>

Gwen to Light up Vegas

May 26, 2018

Gwen Stefani will step on out to Las Vegas for her special Just a Girl Las Vegas residency, in which she’ll play an ongoing run of live performances in June, July, and December 2018, plus February and March 2019 at the Zappos Theater in Planet Hollywood Res... Read More >>

Lord Huron – Vide Noir – Republic

May 19, 2018

Taking its usual indie-folk sound and chucking in two healthy doses of grungy garage rock and ’70s cosmic-rock, Lord Huron’s latest is quite a departure for the group, although it’s tough to best the reputation for audio experimentation that it already has. The isolated ... Read More >>

Oakenfold, Ahmed, Voorn, Remix Paul Simon Tunes

May 19, 2018

Eleven EDM/DJ and dance music artists are teaming up to revamp songs from Paul Simon’s classic Graceland album for a new remix album simply called Graceland: The Remixes. The album, which will be out June 1 on Legacy Recordings/Sony Music, will include new versions ... Read More >>

Island Bound

May 19, 2018

Haven’t been to Mackinac Island in a while? While many things (thankfully) stay reliably the same on this little gem in the middle of the Straits of Mackinac, the island also works to stay current and to offer new fun to their many guests. We chatted with Mackinac Island Tourism&rsq... Read More >>

A Wicked Cool Ride Around the Straits

May 19, 2018

You expect to see boats around Mackinac Island in summer. Sailboats, power boats, cruisers, and the ubiquitous ferries that run residents and guests back and forth across the Straits of Mackinac, sure. But there’s a more unusual vessel visible these days — an all-wooden Down E... Read More >>

Emmet County’s Quest to Cut Food Waste

May 12, 2018

According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), food waste in the United States is estimated a 30–40 percent of the total food supply. This isn’t only wasteful on a surface level; it also impacts everything from food security and conservation to climate change... Read More >>

A Showcase of Restaurants

May 12, 2018

Trattoria Funistrada – Glen Lake
Out in western Leelanau County, on the eastern edge of Big Glen Lake, lies Funistrada, a charming restaurant housed in a historic cottage-like clapboard building surrounded by greenery and flowers. Holly and Tom Reay, owners of... Read More >>

Mipso – Edges Run – Antifragile

May 12, 2018

Tightrope-walking the edges of college rock (from its home base of Chapel Hill) and country-influenced Americana, Mipso, now on its fifth album, carefully balance the line between well-communicated emotions and overwrought metaphors. “Didn’t Know Love” veers toward the l... Read More >>

Right on Thyme

May 12, 2018

Delighted about dill? Thrilled with thyme? Crazy for coriander? So is Julie Krist, the cofounder of Herbal Renewal, a Leelanau County organization of women who are interested in growing and using herbs.

NORTHERN HERBS
Krist moved up north in ’98, ... Read More >>

Børns Returns to Michigan for Lansing Fest

May 12, 2018

The lineup for this year’s Common Ground Music Festival in Lansing (July 5–8) just keeps expanding with a diverse lineup of pop, rock, country, and hip-hop artists, including Judah and the Lion, T-Pain, Gucci Mane, Kip... Read More >>