Black Cat Concert Series

June 20, 2007

For Carl Dhaseleer, keeping his Charlevoix area family farm of three generations operational is important to him. His grandparents bought the place in 1925 and operated it as a dairy farm before his parents converted it to a produce farm. Carl and his wife Cornelia converted it into a pottery and taxidermy shop. Last year, they added music to the mix with the creation of the Black Cat Concert Series.
“It is still an operational farm,” said Dhaseleer. “A neighbor leases if from me for growing crops. My focus has been on my taxidermy and my wife has her pottery, and now we have the concerts and soon a barn that will hold special events and wedding receptions.”
The 2007 Black Cat Concert Series launched last weekend, in the barn, with Rachael Davis and her family. Lansing-based folk singer Jen Sygit performs this Saturday.
Dhaseleer’s major focus has been on the complete renovation of the barn that was built in 1890. The barn has a capacity of 196 and Dhaseleer has an occupancy permit of 500 for his grounds (combined indoors and outdoors) for events.
“Last year the concerts were outside and we were challenged by the weather. My wife and I thought that instead of just using the barn as a studio and retail that we could have events,” said Dhaseleer. “We are just about done and we will be able to have wedding receptions and other types of events out here.”
FAMILY FRIENDLY
So, why take on the challenge of a concert venue?
“Farms are about families and we wanted to make this a family oriented place,” said Dhaseleer. “The music line-up we have is very family friendly and reaches out to all generations. We plan to have wedding receptions and family reunions, so the focus here is family.”
As for concert promoting, it is all new to Dhaseleer.
“I have absolutely no experience at this whatsoever. I must say the musicians have been great and very helpful. It took me a year to learn how to use the Internet to create my website.”
Both Dhaseleers have made names for themselves in their respective professions. Cornelia is well known for her pottery. She produces both electric and wood fired functional stoneware as well as tiles. Carl’s taxidermy shop is also well known for all types of wildlife work, including fish, birds, African, European and exotic species. Emphasis is placed on quality craftsmanship and unique compositions for display in both private and public settings.
Addition details on the concert series or renting out the farm for a wedding reception or other function may be found at blackcatconcerts.com. Tickets for any of the concerts may be purchased in advance by calling 231-547-6945 or by stopping in at Wooly Bugger coffee shops in Charlevoix or Harbor Springs.
About Jen Sygit:
This Friday June 22, check out Jen Sygit. Her website offers the following:
A gifted vocalist and songwriter, Sygit has a golden ear and a deft touch on guitar. Her smooth, sultry voice brings just the right timbre to traditional ballads, acoustic blues, torch songs, country music or lighthearted folk tunes. To supplement her acoustic guitar playing, Sygit often turns to her open-back banjo or soprano ukulele, performing mountain melodies and jazz tunes. A countrified girl, Jen’s songwriting is personal, heartfelt, and expressed with a universal appeal. Whether writing about the country roads of her childhood or about watching families send their sons and daughters off to war, Sygit represents “the music of front porch America.” Armed with her sophomore release, “Leaving Marshall St.,” (released on Earthwork Music in Sept. 2006) and four years of experience on the road, Sygit has worked rooms both large and small. Available as a solo act or with her backing band “Spare Change,” Jen performs at house concerts, coffeehouses, theaters, festivals and concert series around her home state of Michigan and across the Midwest/ East Coast. She is also the host of the Tuesday open mic at Dagwood Tavern in Lansing.