Hoxeyville Music Festval

July 27, 2005

Despite its location at an obscure crossroads 12 miles west of Cadillac, the Hoxeyville Music Festival has some high-flying ambitions for its third annual outing July 29-31.
For starters, the festival has supersized its talent this year, bringing esteemed Wisconsin singer-songwriter Willy Porter to the stage along with folk blues tyro Kelly Joe Phelps and southern rockers Old Union.
The weekend-long event takes place at Coyote Crossing Resort in Hoxeyville off M-55, presented by the Northwoods Music Council and  Robinson Guitars.  In addition to the above-mentioned performers, the festival will have plenty of local and Michigan talent on tap, including Steppin In It, Seth Bernard and Daisy May, Freshwater Dolphins, Greensky Bluegrass, Lansing’s Honest D and the Steel Reserve, Marquette’s The Ignorant Mob, Big Rapids’ Ultraviolet Hippopotamus and a variety of other bands on the main stage, or at the late night tent.
 
• Willy Porter headlines Friday night’s main stage, promoting his new CD, “Dog Earred Dream” and his ‘04 disc, “High Wire Live.”  A native of the Milwaukee area, Porter has built a cult following on the strength of his dynamic, percussive playing. He has a genre-defying style which borrows from many musical traditions, a talent which has led to opening for such luminaries as Tori Amos, The Cranberries and Paul Simons. 
 
• Kelly Joe Phelps is a master of both folk and the blues, bringing a raw sincerity to his songwriting and a rough-hewn voice to his music.  He’s best at capturing the feel of the upper rim of North America, recording from Seattle to Toronto.  As a poet he’s been compared to Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan.  He’s also been lauded by the likes of Steve Earle and writer Cameron Crowe, who had this to say:  “More than just an awesomely talented musician, Kelly Joe Phelps speaks to the soul of each and every listener.” 
 
• Saturday night Old Union will deliver a blend of rock and blues, in what the band calls “coal-fired rock and roll.”  Hailing from Nashville Tennessee, and fresh off a tour spanning the west to east coasts, Old Union plays Southern rock and Americana. 

The cost for the festival is $25 in advance, and $30 the day of the show.  A Saturday ticket is also available for $20.  Gates open at 12 noon Friday, and the festival ends at 12 noon Sunday.  There will be food, and alcohol vendors on sight.  Primitive camping is free.  For more information check out www.hoxeyvillemusic.com .   

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