The Sounds of Fall

Sept. 20, 2006

This fall’s big music news is that Bob Seger has a new album out -- his first since 1996 -- and he’s contemplating a tour with the Silver Bullet Band. Seger’s camp is reportedly considering a kick-off concert at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, but only if Big Bob, 61, passes his physical. So stayed tuned... and hope you caught Seger on Jay Leno last Thursday; it was his very first appearance ever on network TV -- hard to believe.
Closer to home, the fall music scene includes new series just about anywhere you travel in Northern Michigan, from Interlochen to the BlissFest in Petoskey to Gopherwood in Cadillac and downtown TC. Following are some snapshots of what to expect from the season:

TC Opera House

The team behind the Dunegrass & Blues Festival in Empire has put together a new series of acoustic folk, jam and bluegrass concerts at the Traverse City Opera House.
The series kicks off with Greensky Bluegrass along with Seth Bernard and Daisy May Eriewine this Thursday, Sept. 21. Kalamazoo’s Greensky Bluegrass are fresh from a national tour this summer, winning kudos at venues such as the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Seth and Daisy May have released a new album, recorded at the historic Calumet Theater in the U.P.
Other upcoming shows include Rootstand with K. Jones and the Benzie Playboyz on Sept. 28; Breathe Owl Breathe with Cornmeal on Oct. 5; Australian harmonica star Harper with Something Different in the Homemade Jam on Oct. 12; Steppin’ In It and Terrapin Flyer on Oct. 19; Detour Bluegrass and Neptune Quartet on Oct. 26; and bluegrass stars Peter Rowan and Tony Rice on Nov. 17. Call 231- 882-9502 for tickets

BlissFest

Alan Gerber kicks off BlissFest’s fall series with dynamic songs and piano mastery on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey. Gerber has been called an enigma: part songwriter, vocalist, musician, comic, actor -- all enteraining and eccentric on the boogie-woogie piano. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $10 in advance.
Other upcoming shows include Jonathan Edwards on Oct. 14; Harmonious Wail with Greg Klyma on Oct. 28; and the Lamb’s Retreat Songwriters Concert on Nov. 4. See www.blissfest.org for info.

Interlochen Arts Festival

Traditional Scottish music kicks off Interlochen’s season when The Tannahill Weavers come to Corson Auditorium on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. The Celtic band blends the tradition of songs that are hundreds of years old with the intensity of rock and roll. Tickets are $24 with discounts for seniors and students.
Interlochen’s season includes the Collage Arts round-up on Oct. 13; “An Evening with Jeff Daniels” on Nov. 4; The King’s Singers on Nov. 7; The Boston Brass with “A Stan Kenton Christmas” on Nov. 28; the “Sleeping Beauty” ballet Dec. 15-17; NPR’s “From the Top” on Jan. 23; The Nylons on Feb. 2; Song of the Lakes’ 25th Anniversary Celebration on Feb. 13; “Pirates of Penzance” on Feb. 21; Sari Gruber, soprano, on March 1; Momix’s “Lunar Sea” on March 6 and the Turtle Island String Quartet on April 28.

Gopherwood

The Gopherwood Music Festival in Cadillac has built a name for itself, bringing some of the best of the nation’s acoustic music to the gateway of the North. They continue that tradition this year, kicking off their series at the Cadillac Elks Club with Detour and Northern Michigan bluegrass on Oct. 14. Succeeding shows include Robbie Shaefer of Eddie from Ohio on Nov. 18; K. Jones & the Benzie Playboyz on Jan. 13; Shout Sister Shout on Feb. 3; and Millish on March 10. For ticket info, call 231-775-2813.

Traverse Symphony
Orchestra

Look for a 75-piece orchestra to kick off the season with Mahler’s “Titan” Symphony and Strauss’s Blue Danube Waltz on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23-24 at Corson Auditorium, Interlochen. The popular “Home for the Holidays” show is Dec. 8-10 with a Winter Classics show on Jan. 28.

Connemara
Music Series

The popular “early show” format pioneered by promoter Seamus Shimmers in TC has been expanded to other venues with Jack Williams performing Friday, Sept. 22 at the Inside Out Gallery.
Other upcoming shows include the Hackensaw Boys (promising to blend The Ramones with bluegrass) on Sept. 24 at Union Street with New Third Coast; Alan Gerber on Sept. 25; and punk-rockin’ Red Elvises on Oct. 8, both also at USS.

Streeters

If you’ve overdosed on too much bluegrass, Celtic and folk and music by now, take heart: Streeters Ground Zero has the antidote with the most high-powered rock and hip-hop you’ll find north of Grand Rapids.
Upcoming shows include multi-million bestsellers P.M. Dawn layin’ it down free style and blending rock, hip-hop, pop and R&B on Sept. 22; Heartland country on Sept. 29; Self Inflicted 2 hip-hop on Oct. 6; Bubba Sparxxx on Oct. 13; and Flavor Flav’s Pimp N Ho’ Halloween Ball on Oct. 27.

Dennos Museum

Some tried and true acts join new faces at Milliken Auditorium this season, starting with Old Blind Dog Saturday, Sept. 23, “a Scots neo-traditional super group with a bracingly modern musical attack,” according to the Montreal Gazette.
The remainder of the season includes Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers on Oct. 7; Legacy Art Park Benefit on Nov. 3; Saffire on Nov. 18; Mr. B and Bob Seeley on Jan. 13; Joe Bonamassa on Feb. 2; Langston Hughes Project on Feb. 16; Banu Gibson on March 3; African Guitar Summit on March 24; Kiyoshi Nagata on April 20 and Bob James and the Angels of Shanghai on April 28.