Information is still being added and may be subject to change.

Plenty of Saturday tickets will be available for those of you who are 21+ – they’ll be at the door for $35. See you there!
Plenty of Saturday tickets will be available for those of you who are 21+ – they’ll be at the door for $35. See you there!
Plenty of Saturday tickets will be available for those of you who are 21+ – they’ll be at the door for $35. See you there!

This event takes place Friday & Saturday, August 27 & 28, 2010
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City, MI

* Please dress appropriately for the weather!
* Please leave your 4-legged companions at home. Thanks!
* No coolers, outside drinks or food, please.

>>TICKETS<<TICKETS>>TICKETS<<

Plenty of Saturday tickets will be available for those of you who are 21+ – they’ll be at the door for $35. See you there!

TICKET OPTIONS
1.  2-Day Package = $50 in advance, $55 at the door / attendees must be 21+ / 5-10 PM on Friday, 4-10 PM on Saturday / ID must be present at time of entry
2.  Friday Ticket = $30 in advance, $35 at the door / all ages / 5-10 PM
3.  Saturday Ticket = $30 in advance, $35 at the door / attendees must be 21+ / 4-10 PM / ID must be present at time of entry

> All ticket purchases are final
> While Friday’s event is all-ages, it is designed for a mature audience – any age is welcome to attend, however tickets are the same price per attendee, regardless of age (exceptions may be made for infants). Saturday, no one under the age of 21 may enter – no exceptions. Thank you.
> In addition to microbrew samples, festival attendees will have access to a full lineup of national musical talent, food and beverage vendors, merchandise, festival activities and special events. For this reason, discounted tickets are not available for designated drivers or non-drinkers. Thank you for your understanding.

> Friday – Whatcha’ Get: All Ages, 5-10 PM, All Friday entertainment (see schedule below), Beer Tent for 21+ (Pint Night = 1st 16 oz. pint of your choice is free, $3 pints for all craft drafts, over 20 craft brews available for purchase), Hop N’ Brew Shack for 21+ (samplings of unique and award-winning craft beer), Northwoods Root Beer (for purchase), Ice Cream (for purchase), Toxic Cherries Roller Derby Dunk Tank, Right Brain “Barrel Buster” Cross Race (Kid’s race @ 5 PM, Group C-A riders 5:15-6:45 PM, REGISTER HERE!), Good Grub (from vendors listed below), Water Stations (courtesy of Pure Water Works), Porterhouse Hydration Station (together with Pure Water Works, Klean Kanteen, and Elmers – have you seen their pink cement truck? -, we’ll be fundraising for Munson Healthcare Foundation Cancer Support Units for breast cancer awareness through the sale of Klean Kanteen water bottles and through donations for water, pink lemonade and root beer).

> Saturday – Whatcha’ Get: 21+, 4-10 PM, All Saturday entertainment (see schedule below), (5) 7 oz. Pours, $1 Beer Tokens (for purchase), Hop N’ Brew Shack (samplings of unique and award-winning craft beer), Northwoods Root Beer (for purchase), Ice Cream (for purchase), Education (see schedule below), Good Grub (from vendors listed below), Water Stations (courtesy of Pure Water Works), Porterhouse Hydration Station (together with Pure Water Works, Klean Kanteen, and Elmers – have you seen their pink cement truck? -, we’ll be fundraising for Munson Healthcare Foundation Cancer Support Units for breast cancer awareness through the sale of Klean Kanteen water bottles and through donations for water, pink lemonade and root beer).

>>SCHEDULE<<SCHEDULE>>SCHEDULE<<

Friday, August 27
Main Stage
5 PM : Bump
5:45 PM : Mike Moran
6:15 PM : Lubriphonic
7:00 PM : Down The Line
7:50 PM : Heatbox
8:45 PM : Brett Dennen

Second Stage
5:00 – 8:00 PM : Great Divide

Hop N’ Brew Shack flavors & times to be announced
One of the most popular additions to the festival is our “Hop N’ Brew” Beer Shack, which provides attendees with an opportunity to meet brewers face-to-face and sample limited-edition and select lines of brews and ales. Big enough to hold groups of 10-12 at a time, the Beer Shack features a different brewery every half hour and accommodates approximately 3 groups per brewery. Tastings are open to all festival-goers on a first-come, first-served basis. Check back soon for a complete schedule of participating brewers and tasting times!

Saturday, August 28
Main Stage
4:00 PM : DJ Dominate
4:30 PM : Grand Traverse Pipes & Drums
5:00 PM : Mike Moran
5:30 PM : Lubriphonic
6:30 PM : Chicago Afrobeat Project
7:20 PM : Grand Traverse Pipes & Drums
7:35 PM : Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars
9:00 PM : Ozomatli

Second Stage
4:00 PM : Blue Dirt Band
5:00 PM : Rex Halfpenny – educational
6:00 PM : Fred Bueltmann – educational
7:00 PM : Rex Halfpenny – educational
8:00 PM : Blue Dirt Band
9:00 PM : Local Hops – educational

Hop N’ Brew Shack flavors & times to be announced
One of the most popular additions to the festival is our “Hop N’ Brew” Beer Shack, which provides attendees with an opportunity to meet brewers face-to-face and sample limited-edition and select lines of brews and ales. Big enough to hold groups of 10-12 at a time, the Beer Shack features a different brewery every half hour and accommodates approximately 3 groups per brewery. Tastings are open to all festival-goers on a first-come, first-served basis. Check back soon for a complete schedule of participating brewers and tasting times!

>>AFTER PARTIES<<AFTER PARTIES>>AFTER PARTIES<<

Bands & times to be announced
Friday, August 27
Loading Dock
Union Street
Kilkenny’s

Saturday, August 28
Loading Dock
Union Street
Kilkenny’s

>>BREWERIES<<BREWERIES>>BREWERIES<<

Abita Brewing Company, Abita Springs, LA
Arbor Brewing Company, Ann Arbor, MI
Arcadia Brewing Company, Battle Creek, MI
Atwater Block Brewery, Detroit, MI
Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI
Big Sky Brewing Company, Missoula, MT
Breckenridge Brewery, Breckenridge, CO
Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY
Capital Brewing, Middleton, WI
Dark Horse Brewing Company, Marshall, MI
Detroit Beer Company, Detroit, MI
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE
Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, MI
Frankenmuth Brewery, Frankenmuth, MI
Goose Island Beer Company, Chicago, IL
Gray’s Brewing Company, Janesville, WI
Great Lakes Brewing Company, Cleveland, OH
Grizzly Peak Brewing Company, Ann Arbor, MI
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Chippewa Falls, WI
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Traverse City, MI
Keweenaw Brewing Company, Houghton, MI
Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, CA
Liberty Street Brewing Company, Plymouth, MI
Magic Hat Brewing Company, South Burlington, VT
Michigan Brewing Company, Webberville, MI
Mt. Pleasant Brewing Company, Mt. Pleasant, MI
New Holland Brewing, Holland, MI
North Peak Brewing Company, Traverse City, MI
Redhook Ale Brewery, Woodinville, WA & Portsmouth, NH
Right Brain Brewery, Traverse City, MI
Sam Adams, Boston, MA
Saugatuck Brewing, Saugatuck, MI
Schmohz Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, MI
Short’s Brewing Company, Bellaire, MI
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA
Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, NY
Stevens Point Brewery, Stevens Point, WI
Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, CA
Summit Brewing Company, Saint Paul, MN
Thirsty Dog Brewing Company, Akron, OH
Three Sergeants Brewing Company
Tri-City Brewing Company, Bay City, MI
Unibroue, Quebec, Canada
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, Portland, OR
Wolverine State Brewing Company, Ann Arbor, MI

Cider/Mead Court
Acoustic Draft Mead
Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay, MI
B. Nektar Meadery, Ferndale, MI
Crows Organic Hard Cider
Left Foot Charley, Traverse City, MI
Redstone Meadery, Boulder, CO
Tandem Ciders, Suttons Bay, MI
Vander Mill Cider Mill & Winery, Spring Lake, MI

>>MUSICIANS<<MUSICIANS>>MUSICIANS<<

OZOMATLI

In their fourteen years together as a band, celebrated Los Angeles culture-mashers Ozomatli have gone from being hometown heroes to being named U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassadors. Their music – a notorious urban-Latino-and-beyond collision of hip hop and salsa, dancehall and cumbia, samba and funk, merengue and comparsa, East LA R&B and New Orleans second line, Jamaican reggae and Indian raga – has long followed a key mantra: it will take you around the world by taking you around L.A. In 2002, the group received the Grammy award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album for their critically acclaimed album “Street Signs.” Ozomatli will perform Saturday, August 28.

BRETT DENNEN

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Brett Dennen burst onto the music scene in 2004 with his self-titled debut album and hasn’t looked back. Hit singles including “Ain’t No Reason,” “Darlin’ Do Not Fear” and “She’s Mine” have earned the crooner a nationwide fan base and devoted festival following at such events as the Newport Folk Festival and Telluride Bluegrass Festival. His songs have been featured on such popular TV shows as Grey’s Anatomy and Scrubs, and he has toured with artists including John Mayer, Guster and Joshua James. When not touring, Dennen often dedicates his time to The Mosiac Project, a non-profit organization that teaches ethnic awareness and diversity appreciation to young children in San Francisco. Brett Dennen will perform Friday, August 27.

SIERRA LEONE’S REFUGEE ALL STARS

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars was founded by musician Reuben Koroma, a refugee from Sierra Leone’s capital city, Freetown. Koroma and his wife, Sister Grace, joined up with other musicians from back home to provide entertainment and levity to their devastated fellow refugees in the camps. After eventually returning home to Freetown, the band continued to play together and began recording music. An eponymous documentary about the group launched them into the international spotlight, and they have since traveled the world playing their hopeful mix of West African music and Jamaican reggae, appearing at festivals like Bonnaroo and South by Southwest and performing on The Oprah Winfrey Show and CNN. A portion of the band’s albums and ticket sales go to humanitarian relief efforts in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars will perform Saturday, August 28.

CHICAGO AFROBEAT PROJECT

Afrobeat cannot stand still. As the genre’s tempting sounds continue a resurgence across the globe, Chicago Afrobeat Project (CAbP) remains true to its original vision of breathing the intensity of Chicago’s rich music scene into the infectious sounds of afrobeat. Rather than become caricatures of the genre, CAbP slips a reverent nod to the tradition while delivering an energized originality different from any other band on the afrobeat scene today. At each of its 100+ live performances a year, the group’s frenzied songs hit audiences with a big enough one-two punch to tirelessly knock them onto the dance floor time and time again. Chicago Afrobeat Project will perform Saturday, August 28.

LUBRIPHONIC

Digging deep and giving it all in everything they do, Chicago’s Lubriphonic specialize in a unique offering of funky rock n’ roll. The septet’s tight and raw sound is immediately familiar, fusing the roots of soul with explosive in-your-face delivery and sensuous R&B dance music. Since first forming in 2002, Lubriphonic has opened for such acts as Buddy Guy, George Clinton & P-Funk, The Derek Trucks Band, The New Mastersounds, Jon Popper Project, Karl Denson, and Buckwheat Zydeco. Relix Magazine says of the band: “Steeped in soul, rock, pop and blues, Lubriphonic’s members play with a tenacity and precision that sets them apart from equally proficient bands.” Lubriphonic will perform Friday, August 27 and Saturday, August 28.

HEATBOX

The One Man Entertainment System, otherwise known as Heatbox, has been emerging in the Minneapolis music scene (“the 612”) for the better part of a decade. From rocking crowds in his humble beginnings with the Root City Band to selling out shows across the country, Heatbox’s unparalleled crossover between Motown, a cappalla, R&B, hip hop, soul and funk has gained national attention from fans and media alike. Creating beats and building songs from the ground up, Heatbox’s music is live and in the moment. Using no tracks, samples, or pre-recorded music, each song and performance is distinctly unique. Heatbox will perform Friday, August 27.

DOWN THE LINE

Chicago’s Down the Line delivers mighty hooks and harmonies within smart writing and shining vocals. It’s an acoustic mix – guitar, mandolin, violin, harmonica and djembe, driven by a lone-electric bass – that the Chicago Sun-Times praised as an “organic blend of rollicking pop.” The band has earned a reputation for intense, energetic live performances which have secured them a regular place on tour with legendary acts including Peter Frampton, America, Ben Folds, Gin Blossoms and Colin Hay. In 2010, Down the Line released “Open the Door,” a stirring EP of new original songs. Down the Line will perform Friday, August 27.

BUMP

Within the grey solitude of the urban epicenter that is the Motor City, there is beauty, hope and a budding bouquet of creativity and invigorating new music. Boasting a style all their own, Bump brings together progressive tones, three-part harmonies and complicated layering to create an accessible and mature brand of art rock. Bump leads the charge of exhilarating new music out of Detroit, proving there is more than just garage rock and hip hop exploding out of that scene. With an unrelenting touring schedule and over 700 shows played in 35+ states, Bump continues to turn heads throughout the country spreading “the new Detroit sound.” Bump will perform Friday, August 27.

MIKE MORAN

A staple on the touring circuit, up-and-coming singer-songwriter Mike Moran has earned comparisons to John Mayer, Dave Matthews and Paul Simon with his catchy acoustic melodies and high-energy live shows. Moran’s charismatic stage presence and relentless touring schedule have won the singer fans across the country, propelling songs “Best Be Falling” and “Chicago” to the top of fan charts on Ourstage.com and garnering invitations to open for Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Martin Sexton, Colin Hay, Buckwheat Zydeco, Eddie Money and Derrick Brown. With over 40 original compositions and two full-length albums under his belt, Moran continues to perform over 200 shows a year, earning critical and fan praise and building his reputation as one of the most in-demand artists on the independent music scene. Mike Moran will perform Friday, August 27 and Saturday, August 28.

GRAND TRAVERSE PIPES & DRUMS

Grand Traverse Pipes & Drums were founded in 1974 to preserve and promote Scottish Gaelic arts and traditions. Continuing a musical tradition from time out of memory, the band performs the great marches of the British army, haunting Gaelic airs and beloved Scottish dances including strathspeys, reels, hornpipes and jigs. Having performed in thousands of parades, concerts, civic and private events, the group also competes against other pipe bands at highland games in Canada and the Midwest, where they have won critical acclaim from both judges and audiences. The band’s first self-produced CD was released in March 2008. Grand Traverse Pipes and Drums will perform Friday, August 27 and Saturday, August 28.

GREAT DIVIDE

When Great Divide takes the stage, the crowd is treated to music steeped in the traditional roots of blues, country, soul, funk, and good ol’ fashioned rock ‘n roll. They work to both honor and preserve the elements of rock’s rich history, while exposing a new generation to the experience of their brand of honest, down-home music. Great Divide will perform Friday, August 27.

BLUE DIRT BAND

Blue Dirt is a musical experience from a traditional realm, fused with a progressive rock described as urban folk and recognized in the styles of blues, jam, grass, dub reggae, and rock.

>>FOOD VENDORS<<FOOD VENDORS>>FOOD VENDORS<<

all food, soda and coffee is available for purchase
Scalawags
Siren Hall
Sweet Asylum
Pleasanton Bakery
House of Doggs
EMS Catering
Higher Grounds
Silvertree Deli
Northwoods Soda
Lil Bo Pub & Grille

>>DIRECTIONS & PARKING<<DIRECTIONS & PARKING>>DIRECTIONS & PARKING<<

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons is located on west 11th Street, just west of Division Street (Hwy 31/37).

Directions: The Village at Grand Traverse Commons is located on West 11th Street, just west of Division Street (Hwy 31/37). Take Division Street / US 31 / M37 to 11th Street. Go west at the stone pyramid sign onto West 11th Street. Proceed two blocks and veer toward the right. The festival takes place on the historic lawn to the right.

Parking/Shuttles/Cabs: There will be limited available parking on-site at the festival; please look for signs directing you to the appropriate lots. Because of the size and nature of the event, however, we strongly encourage attendees to walk, bike and carpool whenever possible.

For your convenience, we are also offering a FREE shuttle service courtesy of Celtic Transport from the new Old Town Parking Deck in downtown Traverse City behind Blue Tractor on Eighth Street between Cass and Union Streets. The shuttle runs every 15 minutes as follows:
Friday – 4:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Saturday – 3:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

There will also be a number of cab services on hand at the event, including:
Celtic Cabs – 231-313-1760
Cherry Capital Cabs – 231-941-8294
Chippewa Cab – 231-946-4688

Please enjoy the festival responsibly! Never drink and drive.

>>FESTIVAL SITE MAP<<FESTIVAL SITE MAP>>FESTIVAL SITE MAP<<

>>FAQs & GUIDELINES<<FAQs & GUIDELINES>>FAQs & GUIDELINES<<

Where can I get tickets?
Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets or by phone at 1-800-838-3006.
Tickets are also available in Traverse City, MI, at North Peak, Kilkenny’s, Oryana, and Zamar Guitar.
Available tickets will also be available at the door ($35 for 1-day tickets, $55 for 2-day tickets)

What is your re-entry policy?
There is no reentry during each day of the festival. Please come prepared with everything you need to enjoy the event for the day.

What does admission get me?
> Friday – Whatcha’ Get: All Ages, 5-10 PM, All Friday entertainment (see schedule below), Beer Tent for 21+ (Pint Night = First 16 oz. pint of your choice is free, $3 pints for all craft drafts, over 20 craft brews available for purchase), Hop N’ Brew Shack for 21+ (samplings of unique and award-winning craft beer), Northwoods Root Beer (for purchase), Ice Cream (for purchase), Toxic Cherries Roller Derby Dunk Tank, Right Brain “Barrel Buster” Cross Race (Kid’s race @ 5 PM, Group C-A riders 5:15-6:45 PM, REGISTER HERE!), Good Grub (from vendors listed above), Water Stations (courtesy of Pure Water Works)
> Saturday – Whatcha’ Get: 21+, 4-10 PM, All Saturday entertainment (see schedule below), (5) 7 oz. Pours, $1 Beer Tokens (for purchase), Hop N’ Brew Shack (samplings of unique and award-winning craft beer), Northwoods Root Beer (for purchase), Education (see schedule below), Good Grub (from vendors listed above), Water Stations (courtesy of Pure Water Works)

Can I purchase additional tasting tickets?
Yes. Friday’s admission includes one free 16-ounce pint; all additional pints are $3 each after that. Saturday’s admission includes five free 7-ounce pours; all additional pours are $1 each after that.

Is there a designated driver ticket?
We certainly encourage each attendee to have a designated driver! However, in addition to microbrew samples, festival attendees will have access to a full lineup of national musical talent, food and beverage vendors, merchandise, festival activities and special events. For this reason, discounted tickets are not available for designated drivers or non-drinkers. Thank you for your understanding.

I’m under 21. Can I attend the festival?
Yes! We are so looking forward to providing a fun evening for those under the age of 21. You may attend Friday’s event. Saturday is for 21+ only. Please keep in mind that while Friday’s event is all-ages, it is designed for a mature audience – any age is welcome to attend, however tickets are the same price per attendee, regardless of age.

Can I bring my children to the festival?
You may on Friday evening, but please keep in mind that while Friday’s event is all-ages, it is designed for a mature audience – any age is welcome to attend, however tickets are the same price per attendee, regardless of age. Saturday is 21+.

What is your refund policy?
All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.

What are the festival hours?
Friday’s hours are 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Saturday’s hours are 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM.

Can I bring chairs/blankets to the festival?
You may on Friday evening. We will have a designated chair and blanket zone near the stage. Due to the number of breweries participating on Saturday, the festival will have a different event design that day, so chairs/blankets will not be allowed on Saturday.

Are pets allowed at the festival?
No pets are allowed on the festival grounds. Please leave your 4-legged companions at home.

Is the festival green/sustainable/eco-friendly?
Porterhouse Productions and Bay Area Recycling for Charities is proud to present this event as a “Zero Waste Event.”  The flatware, service ware, and cups provided at this event are made from plant starches as opposed to oil based plastics. These plant starches break down quickly at the BARC composting yard and will be turned back into rich soils to be used locally at the Barns Project.  The two stream recycle stations at this event will allow you to recycle your plastic/glass/and metal (Blue Lids) and your compostable material (green lids).  Please be aware of this and properly sort your waste.

Are there volunteer opportunities at the festival?
We have had a great number of folks sign up for volunteer positions for both Friday and Saturday. Friday is essentially full, but we’re still in need of volunteers for Saturday! For more information, email porterhouse.team@gmail.com or visit our volunteer information page.

>>RECYCLING<<RECYCLING>>RECYCLING<<
Porterhouse Productions and Bay Area Recycling for Charities is proud to offer this event as a “Zero Waste Event.”  The flatware, service ware, and cups provided at this event are made from plant starches as opposed to oil based plastics.  These plant starches break down quickly at the BARC composting yard and will be turned back into rich soils to be used locally at the Barns Project.  The two stream recycle stations at this event will allow you to recycle your plastic/glass/and metal (Blue Lids) and your compostable material (green lids).  Please be aware of this and properly sort your waste.

>>SUPPORT & GRATITUDE<<SUPPORT & GRATITUDE>>SUPPORT & GRATITUDE<<

TO ALL MY FRIENDS TOUR
with special guests Blueprint, Grieves & Budo, DJ Rare Groove

Twelve years after becoming the first hip-hop act to put the Twin Cities on the map, Atmosphere has grown into one of the most accomplished MC/producer duos around. Between Slug and Ant, they’ve released seven albums, 13 Sad Clown tour albums and various side-projects like Felt – amounting in well over a million units sold. And along the way have performed to sold-out crowds everywhere from modest sized venues in their hometown to colossal festivals in Japan.

Since releasing their 1997 debut, Overcast!, Ant’s ASR-born melodic beats and Slug’s open book and observational style of rapping continues to evolve into hip-hop that’s more honest – more textured. And the praise for these Rhymesayers pioneers hasn’t stopped flowing in. 

As Rolling Stone once gushed about Slug, “This Minneapolis indie rap hero has potential to spare, delivering taut, complex rhyme narratives with everyman earnestness.” Or as the Village Voice once wrote of Ant, “His dusty grooves are hooky and R&B-informed, and even when they back up Slug’s most maniacally depressed rhymes, they never feel heavy-handed.”

While Slug’s name has become synonymous with introspective rap, the new revelatory recording process with Ant inspired the MC to open up his subject matter well beyond his own life. In fact, their latest release When Life Gives You Lemons… is entirely based around fictional narratives that deal with societal issues – many, which revolve around the theme of parenthood. To accompany the release, the album was issued with a limited 40 page hard cover book that includes a children’s story by Slug in addition to all of the lyrics. And this was done in part to celebrate Slug’s growth as a writer. 

”This time around I really did force myself to try and write these stories as if I was writing a book or short stories and just trying to figure out how to put them into music,” says Slug. 

The song that got this whole album started is “In Her Music Box” – the tale of a young girl who sits in the back seat of her wannabe pimp of a father’s car, absorbing the explicit raps she hears coming out of the speakers. The song is not so much about neglect as it is examining the dichotomy between a young, inexperienced father and his impressionable child. As Slug says of the track, “The main point of it was to look at and speculate on how children at that age learn the art of escapism that as adults sets up for self-medicating and self-abuse.” 
Another vital track on the album is “Shoulda Known,” which also touches on parenthood in the context of examining poor decision making and how crucial it is to think beyond the present.

With songs like these, Slug proves that his best work isn’t necessarily the most revealing. And if you ask him, making an album with Ant completely comprised of fictional content sure helped get all of the real life characters from his former verbal journals off his back. 

”Every record I put out you can guarantee there’s going to be about five people that are going to call me and e-mail me and go, ‘I can’t believe you said that on your record! I can’t believe you told people about that!’ This time around, nobody can call me out on that.”

Atmosphere, Sunshine

“…he sets out to carry a world of ideas on a few basic chords….there is no limit to the depth and ambition of his songs.” – The New York Times

“How refreshing and inspiring it is to encounter a young artist whose achievements match his ambitions.” — Washington Post

“If you love music and have a device on which to play it, you should listen to Josh Ritter…” —Mary-Louise Parker in Esquire

“…this is the most exuberant outburst of imagery since Bob Dylan’s A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.”—Stephen King naming The Animal Years his #1 album of 2006 in Entertainment Weekly

“The 10 Most Exciting Artists Now”—Entertainment Weekly

“100 Best Living Songwriters”—Paste Magazine

Josh Ritter is from Moscow, Idaho.  The son of two neuroscientists, he was on his way to follow in their footsteps when he discovered Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan’s “Girl from the North Country” in high school.  He has since released five studio albums and has been recently named one of the 100 greatest living songwriters by Paste Magazine, alongside Dylan, Springsteen, and Neil Young.  Joan Baez has covered one of his songs; Stephen King named one of Ritter’s albums the best of recent years and David Letterman has requested him twice, so far.

Ritter’s constant touring has established a robust, fanatical base both in the US and overseas (particularly Ireland and the UK). He and his band can fill theaters throughout the USA, in many major markets: DC and San Francisco but also in smaller cities as diverse as Spokane, WA and Northampton, MA.  Ritter and band have performed with the New York Pops and the Boston Symphony Orchestra and many critically acclaimed artists have requested Ritter to share stages. This list includes Swell Season, Ray Lamontagne, and John Prine. His fans have a special, unique bond with Ritter that goes beyond that of other singer-songwriters; he is always there at the merch desk after shows, hugging fans and signing records.

Over the course of his young career Ritter has established longtime relationships with media outlets such as NPR, Paste, the Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, and Amazon.com, as well as regional radio stalwarts such as WFUV and WXPN and a wide-swath of progressive blogs and websites.  Ritter has blogged for the Huffington Post while on tour.

His new album, So Runs the World Away, is ambitious and literary.  It was released on May 4^th, 2010 by Pytheas Recordings, a label recently started by Ritter and his longtime publicity partner, Sacks & Co., with Redeye Distribution.

Josh Ritter, The Curse

SOME TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE GATE!

5PM = Gate opens, dinner, drinks (cash bar – cash & checks only), magic and comedy with Billy Harris, introduction of 231 Harvest signature drink with Bridget Albert

8PM = Welcome by Doug Stanton, Interview with Mario Batali by special guest host Paul Saginaw, audience Q&A

**FYI: Because of rain in the forecast, a tent will be set up for this event. Because of the tent, the seating arrangement has changed slightly. However, ticket level tiers still reflect the proximity to the event stage.

Ticket level tiers reflect proximity to event stage:
Tier 1 = $99.00, Tier 2 = $75.00, Tier 3 = $50.00, Tier 4 = THESE TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT.

**Please note that although these tickets are labeled as “General Admission,” your ticket price will ensure a GA seat within the Tier for which you purchased your ticket. ALL TICKET PURCHASES ARE FINAL – NO REFUNDS.

National Writers Series presents
AN EVENING WITH MARIO BATALI

This is a National Writers Series Youth Scholarship Fundraising Event

Traverse City’s largest-ever seated dinner featuring recipes from Mario Batali’s cookbooks, world-famous mixologist Bridget Albert, renowned magician and MC Billy Harris, an interactive audience Q&A with Mario Batali, music and dancing, and more!

TICKETS INCLUDE a choice of 10 different dishes, an interview with Mario Batali (interviewed by Paul Saginaw – founder and co-owner of Zingerman’s Delicatessen in Ann Arbor), an interactive audience Q&A with Mario Batali, and entertainment. Beer, wine, and Bridget Albert’s specialty cocktail are available at a separate cost. Your first glass of wine also includes a commemorative wine glass sponsored by WOMP (Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula) and LPVA (Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association).

**Ticket level tiers reflect proximity to event stage – PLEASE FIND SEATING CHART AT BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE:
1) Tier 1 = $99.00, 11 8-top tables (88 seats) available.
2) Tier 2 = $75.00, 49 10-top tables (490 seats) available.
3) Tier 3 = $50.00, 63 10-top tables (630 seats) available.
4) Tier 4 = $35.00, THESE TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT.
ALL TICKET PURCHASES ARE FINAL – NO REFUNDS.

**Please note that although these tickets are labeled as “General Admission,” your ticket price will ensure a GA seat within the Tier for which you purchased your ticket.
** This is an all-ages event, however, tickets are the same price regardless of age.

NATIONAL WRITERS SERIES TO HOST FOOD NETWORK STAR MARIO BATALI AT OUTDOOR DINNER CELEBRATION AUGUST 14

The Traverse City National Writers Series will host Food Network star and award-winning chef Mario Batali on the Historic Front Lawn of the Village at Grand Traverse Commons on August 14 for a spectacular outdoor celebration of food, chefs and restaurants, beer and wine, music and the local culinary culture.

Batali, the zealous and stylish star of Food Network programs including Molto Mario and Ciao America, has become one of the most recognizable chefs in America. With a restaurant empire, several cookbooks, a line of food products, and ubiquitous appearances on television and in print, it is hard to discuss current culinary trends in the U.S. without citing the name of Mario Batali.

The author has published acclaimed cookbooks including “Simple Italian Food,” “Mario Batali Holiday Food,” “The Babbo Cookbook” and “Molto Italiano – 327 Simple Italian Recipes.” Batali was named Man of the Year in the chef category by GQ magazine in 1999, won the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: New York City award in 2002 and was award Outstanding Chef of the Year by the James Beard Foundation in 2005. The famous orange-clogged chef splits his time with his family between New York City (where he owns and operates several Italian hotspots) and Michigan.

On August 14, Batali returns to his beloved summer community in Northern Michigan to participate in “An Evening with Mario Batali,” scheduled for 5-10 p.m. The event will feature dishes inspired by recipes in Batali’s cookbooks and prepared by chefs representing The Cook’s House and Epicure Catering, as well as world-famous mixologist Bridget Albert (who will create a signature Traverse City cocktail exclusively for the event), renowned magician and MC Billy Harris (of “Magic, Martinis and Mario” fame), and a live interview and interactive audience Q&A with Batali. The evening will close with music and dancing.

Guest host Paul Saginaw, co-owner and founding partner of Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor, will interview Batali on stage at the event and facilitate the audience Q&A. Called “the coolest small company in America” by Inc. magazine, Zingerman’s expanded from a single deli started by Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig in 1982 to a multi-business conglomerate centered on a unique operational model of strong commitment to community, great food and service, and a passion for entrepreneurship and people.

Tickets for “An Evening with Mario Batali” go on sale Friday, July 9 online at www.nationalwritersseries.org and www.porterhouseproductions.com. Tickets range from $35-$100 and include two full plates of Batali food entrees (10 recipes total), cash bar, gelato station, live entertainment, an interactive audience Q&A with Batali and access to all event activities. Signed copies of Batali’s cookbooks will be available for purchase at the event.

Net proceeds from TCNWS events, including “An Evening with Mario Batali,” support the National Writers Series and its scholarship fund, which benefits college-bound writing and arts students attending Grand Traverse regional schools. Scholarship winners will have their works published in the Midwest’s best literary review, The Dunes Review, and receive their awards at a special multi-day gala reading event, also featuring nationally prominent writers. The program is currently accepting scholarship applications from junior and senior high school students through July 28.

The National Writers Series, founded by New York Times best-selling author Doug Stanton, Traverse City attorney Grant Parsons and Northern Express writer Anne Stanton, is a year-round book festival in downtown Traverse City, Michigan. The Series is dedicated to bringing to life great conversations with America’s most celebrated writers. Past guests include legendary news anchor Tom Brokaw (“The Greatest Generation”), NYT best-selling author Mary Karr (“Lit”) and acclaimed memoirist Rhoda Janzen (“Mennonite in a Little Black Dress”).

For more information, visit www.nationalwritersseries.org.

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT – however, due to an overwhelming demand for Paella in the Park tickets, we are offering a limited quantity of MUSIC/WINE ONLY tickets.

MUSIC/WINE ONLY TICKET INFO:
1. This limited ticket is $36 online only – this ticket is not available anywhere else. You will check in at the will call window.
2. If any of these tickets remain on event day, they will cost $40 at the door.
3. This ticket includes music by Blues Traveler and (5) 2 oz. pours of Old Mission Peninsula wines.
4. Additional wine tasting tickets are $2 each.
5. THIS TICKET DOES NOT INCLUDE FOOD.
6. Tickets are $36/$40 per person regardless of age.
7. Info is also available at http://www.facebook.com/porterhouse.mi.
8. Doors open at 7PM for the MUSIC/WINE ONLY tickets holders.
9. MUSIC/WINE ONLY TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE.

BLUES TRAVELER TO HEADLINE FIRST ANNUAL PAELLA IN THE PARK FESTIVAL, FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, IN TRAVERSE CITY

> $36 = Seven Wineries, Seven Chefs, Seven Spanish Paellas / Three Helpings of Spanish Paella Prepared by Local Chefs / Five Pours of Old Mission Award-Winning Wines / Live Music of Blues Traveler & Rootstand / Additional wine tasting tickets are $2 each

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
* ALL TICKET PURCHASES ARE FINAL – NO REFUNDS.
* The base price is $35 and $1 is added to support the Bay Front Parks
* Advance ticket price does not reflect outlet or online handling fees (online ticket fee is $1.99)
* While Paella in the Park is an all-ages event, it is designed for mature audiences. The focus of the evening is on wine, complex foods and live music from an adult rock band. Accordingly, tickets are $36 per attendee, regardless of age.
* Each of the seven chefs will create 3 different paellas (two for meat lovers, one for veggie lovers). The ticket price includes 3 large helpings of any of the 21 different paellas.
* Please leave your 4-legged companions at home. Thanks!
* Additional wine tasting tickets are $2 each.
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Grammy-winning band Blues Traveler, who spawned such smash hits as “Run-Around” and “Hook,” will headline the first annual Paella in the Park Festival in downtown Traverse City August 6 at the former Clinch Park Zoo grounds.

The Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula and Porterhouse Productions are teaming up to produce the first-time summer culinary and music event. Paella in the Park, which will go from 5-10 p.m., will feature the seven wineries of Old Mission Peninsula paired with seven regional chefs who will prepare Spanish paellas on-site. Each winery will host a station featuring three 36” pans in which chefs will cook paella using featured wines from that vintner and fresh local ingredients.
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What is Paella?
Paella (Spanish pronunciation: [paˈeʎa]) is a Valencian rice dish that originated in its modern form in the mid-19th century near lake Albufera, a lagoon in Valencia, on the east coast of Spain.

Many non-Spaniards view paella as Spain’s national dish, but most Spaniards consider it to be a regional Valencian dish. Valencians, in turn, regard paella as one of their identifying symbols.

There are three widely known types of paella: Valencian paella (Spanish: paella valenciana), seafood paella (Spanish: paella de marisco) and mixed paella (Spanish: paella mixta), but there are many others as well. Valencian paella consists of white rice, green vegetables, meat (rabbit, chicken, duck), land snails, beans and seasoning. Seafood paella replaces meat and snails with seafood and omits beans and green vegetables. Mixed paella is a free-style combination of meat, seafood, vegetables and sometimes beans.

Most paella chefs use calasparra or bomba rices for this dish. Other key ingredients include saffron and olive oil.

For more information, visit Paella’s wikipedia site.
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The evening will be capped by a live performance by Blues Traveler (around 8PM) at sunset near the shores of West Bay. Blues Traveler, renowned for their rousing live shows, have performed everywhere from Saturday Night Live to Lollapalooza and won a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group for chart-topping song “Run-Around” in 1996. The song later became Billboard’s longest-charting single with 49 weeks on the Top 100 chart, propelling album “Four” to triple-platinum status. Their latest album, “North Hollywood Shootout,” was released in 2008 to broad critical acclaim and spawned hit single “You, Me and Everything.”

Tickets to Paella in the Park, which will be held in conjunction with Friday Night Live and Traverse City’s Annual Downtown Street Sale, are on sale now for $36 at www.porterhouseproductions.com. Tickets include (5) 2 oz. wine pours, 3 paella servings, a live performance from Blues Traveler and access to all festival activities. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, as space is limited. This event is open to all ages.

Chefs representing local restaurants including Siren Hall, Mission Table, Jolly Pumpkin, Patisserie Amie, Chez Pères, The Cook’s House, TraVino and Hanna Bistro will prepare their own unique takes on paella at the event. Paella, a rice-based dish that boasts hundreds of variations using different ingredients, is one of Spain’s most popular food entrees. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to converse with local chefs about the art of making paella, as well as enjoy food and wine samples at each station.

Paella in the Park will feature a live opening performance by Rootstand, a Michigan-based acoustic country blues, bluegrass, celtic roots, rock and reggae band. Attendees will also enjoy culinary educational opportunities, culinary authors and cookbooks, local food and ingredients sourced within a 25-mile radius from Cherry Capital Foods and Oryana Natural Food Markets, and zero-waste management courtesy of Bay Area Recycling and Porterhouse. Festival proceeds will benefit local non-profits Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula and Bay Front Parks.

The Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula feature seven distinct wineries located on the globe’s 45th parallel – the ideal climate for growing varietal wine grapes. They include 2Lads Winery, Black Star Farms, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery, Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse and Peninsula Cellars.

For more information, visit www.wineriesofoldmission.com.

More event information is posted on the Paella in the Park Facebook Event page!

Hello all!

After the success of last summer’s first ever Traverse City Microbrew & Music Festival, not to mention an amazing winter festival, we are excited to host an expanded two-day 2010 TC Summer Microbrew & Music Festival on August 27 and 28 at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. If you attended either last summer’s festival or our winter festival, you know what a great time everyone had – especially the volunteers!

Volunteers are a key component of any Porterhouse event, and with us expanding the summer festival to two days this year, we need our army of friendly faces more than ever. You’re invited to get in on the action again with us this August as we launch our biggest and baddest beer festival yet. For complete festival details, check out www.tcbeerfest.com.

Besides a free ticket to the festival, volunteers will receive several additional great perks, work with an amazing crew and generally have a blast. Here’s the scoop:

Volunteer Requirements
1. Volunteers must be 21+
2. Volunteers are required to attend a MANDATORY volunteer meeting on Wednesday, August 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the festival grounds at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons.  At this meeting, we will offer alcohol pouring training, review festival details/shifts, and go over assigned positions. This will be a fun meeting – you’ll have a chance to ask questions, enjoy a pint and hang out with fellow volunteers.
3. Volunteers must sign up prior to the festival in order to have a guaranteed shift/position. If there are openings available, we will accept help the day of the event, but only volunteers who sign up in advance will be guaranteed a spot and will be able to choose their position.
4. If anyone is interested in volunteering to be a TEAM LEADER, please specify this in your response. We will need dedicated team leaders to participate in a full 8.5 hour shift on either Friday or Saturday of the festival. Team leaders are responsible for managing volunteers and making sure all areas are covered in designated positions.

Volunteer Perks
1. Free entrance to the festival ($50 value)
2. Custom TC Summer Microbrew & Music Festival designer hat
3. Access to special volunteer-only green room festival weekend with complimentary food, beer and comfortable seating
4. Take part in one of Traverse City’s most exciting summer events!

Volunteer Shifts & Positions
Due to popular demand, we are offering two shifts to choose from each day of the festival. If you are able to work a full shift (approx. 8-8.5 hours long), please let us know. Regular shifts are about 4.5 hours long. Know that we count on each of you to show up and be committed to the entirety of your shift. Only volunteers who complete their shifts will receive the perks mentioned above, and we ask that if you can’t make it, to please let us know as far in advance as possible.

Shifts
Friday, August 27 Volunteer Shift # 1 – 4:00 to 8:30 p.m
Friday, August 27 Volunteer Shift # 2 – 8:00 to 11:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 28 Volunteer Shift #1 – 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 28 Volunteer Shift #2 – 7:00-11:30 p.m.

Day-of-festival volunteer positions:
Pourer – A serious but fun job. Folks with experience or who are TAM/TIPS-certified are preferred.
Security/Event Staffing – These people hold down the “fort.”
Box Office – Assists in the organization and sale of tickets/tokens.
Stage Hand – Assists stage crew with set-up and strike of the stages.
Hospitality – Sets up and maintains the artist green room and volunteer area.
Shuttle Pick-Up/Drop-Off – Helps manage the buses and incoming/outgoing attendees. Great personalities wanted here!
Parking – Directing traffic to designated areas
Clean Team – Helps keep grounds clean, especially post-festival.
Green Team – Assists at Bay Area Recycling stations.
After-Party Team – Helps with clean up, assisting brewers, tear down of stage/equipment
Photographer/Videographer - Experienced photographers/videographers are wanted to help capture all the festival fun and excitement. Contact Beth Milligan at beth@porterhouseproductions.com or 231-342-0611 if you can volunteer in this regard.

Volunteer Sign-Up
To sign up as a festival volunteer, please email porterhouse.team@gmail.com with the subject line “Volunteer” and include the following:
1. Full name
2. Phone #
3. Email Address
4. Desired Shift Day/Time (Day and #1 or #2)
5. Desired Positions – Top 3 (List 1, 2, 3 in order of preference)
6. Any relevant experience or additional skills

The TC Summer Microbrew & Music Festival is an event not to be missed! With your help, we can continue this amazing festival for Traverse City. Thank you for volunteering – and welcome aboard!

From the crew at Porterhouse Productions

Blue October will play at the Leelanau Sands Showroom on Friday, October 8, 2010, as part of their national Pick Up the Phone Tour.

The alternative rock band behind such smash hits as “Hate Me,” “Calling You” and “Into the Ocean” will begin a 30+-stop tour in July, wrapping up in Michigan in October. The Pick Up the Phone Tour, a partnership of The National Hopeline Network, To Write Love on Her Arms, Postsecret.com and Synclive.com, is committed to raising awareness on suicide prevention.

Blue October – currently consisting of band members Justin Furstenfeld, Jeremy Furstenfeld, Ryan Delahoussaye, C.B. Hudson and Matt Novesky – first burst onto the music scene in the late 1990s with their debut album “The Answers.” Following that record’s breakout success, the band was signed to Universal Records, which released their following three albums: “Consent to Treatment,” “History for Sale” and “Foiled.” The latter dominated the Billboard charts, going platinum and selling over 1 million copies while earning the band spots opening for the Rolling Stones and playing on Late Night With Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Blue October’s fifth studio album, “Approaching Normal,” debuted at #13 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2009 and spawned hit singles “Dirt Room” and “Say It.” On June 1, the band announced they are beginning preproduction on their sixth studio album, which will be produced by Tim Palmer (U2, The Cure, Pearl Jam).

The band’s Traverse City performance will mark a homecoming for one of its members – bassist Matt Novesky. Novesky grew up learning to play music in Northern Michigan, graduating from Saint Francis High School in 1994. When not touring with Blue October, Novesky works with up-and-coming artists in Detroit and Austin through his production company 116, formed with producer/engineer Chuck Alkazian.

Tickets for the Blue October concert October 8 at the Leelanau Sands Showroom are $30 ($29 + $1 facility fee) in advance or $32 at the door and are on sale now at www.porterhouseproductions.com. The show is open to ages 18 and up. Doors for the show are at 7:00 p.m., with music beginning at 8:00 p.m. This concert is presented in sponsorship with Real Rock 105.1/95.5 FM.

Friday & Saturday, August 27 & 28, 2010 – RAIN or SHINE!

For complete details on
Tickets,
Schedule of Events,
Breweries,
Musicians,
Directions,
Answers to Your Questions, and more,
CLICK HERE: SUMMER 2010 TCMMF INFO!

Traverse City Festival of Birds
City Opera House | Traverse City, MI
Doors @ 6:30 PM | Show @ 7:30 PM

$5 Youth / $15 GA • Tickets available at Oryana and City Opera House

FEATURING LIVE PERFORMANCES FROM BREATHE OWL BREATHE AND MIKE MORAN!

Local nature lovers, artists and musicians are the collaborative force behind an inaugural festival designed to expose audiences of all ages to the beauty and mystery of Michigan birds.

The first annual Festival of Birds will take place Friday, May 21 at the City Opera House in downtown Traverse City. The interactive event will feature live musical performances by popular acts including Breathe Owl Breathe and Mike Moran, educational wildlife and nature booths, and an opportunity to see some of the area’s most spectacular species of bird up close in person.

Non-profit raptor sanctuary Wings of Wonder will be on hand to present a variety of live birds on stage during the event, including hawks, falcons, owls and vultures. The Empire organization is one of only a handful of sanctuaries in the state dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of injured and/or orphaned raptors. During Breathe Owl Breathe’s first set, a different bird will be brought out at the beginning of each song and have its story told to the audience. Derek Bailey, Chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, will make a special introduction of the Redtail Hawk during the event, accompanied by the Medicine Lodge singers and drummers.

The festival will continue the following day – Saturday, May 22 – with area wildlife and nature events, including regional morning bird walks, native and bird landscape workshops, tours of Wings of Wonder, a Boardman River Nature Center plant sale, bird banding workshops, and tours of Saving Birds Thru Habitat. The State Theatre will also host a free public screening of the hit documentary film “Winged Migration” on Monday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m. in honor of the festival. A complete schedule of events will be available at www.porterhouseproductions.com.

Doors to the City Opera House event open at 6:30 p.m., with performances starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission or $5 for youth and are available for purchase at the City Opera House or online at www.cityoperahouse.org. The festival is family-friendly and open to all ages.

The Festival of Birds is made possible by the generous participation and support of the following partners: Wings Of Wonder, Saving Birds Thru Habitat, Benzie Audubon, Boardman River Nature Center, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Grand Traverse Audubon Club, Little Artshram, SEEDS, Wild Birds Unlimited, Tom Ford, Nate Crane, Glenn Wolf, Susan Fawcett, Artisan Gallery, and The Dove Song.

Traverse City Festival of Birds – May 22 Events
8:00 a.m.
Benzie Audubon: Doug Cook (352-8159) will lead a trip along the Betsie Valley Trail to help birders develop their identification skills. There should be enough warblers around to challenge everyone! Location: Adams Road parking lot on River Road (Benzie County #608) Frankfort and Beulah. www.benzieaudubon.org

Saturday, May 22, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 23, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Grand Traverse Conservation District Annual Native Plant Sale: Restore nature and the beauty of your backyard! Choose from over 30 species of native flowers, ferns and grasses. Plant native! It’s good for you and great for the environment! This sale is sponsored by Traverse City Light and Power and all of the proceeds support the work of the Grand Traverse Conservation District. Location: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Road in Traverse City. www.natureiscalling.org

9:00 a.m.
Grand Traverse Audubon Club: Nate Crane will lead a morning bird walk at Pyatt Lake. Location: Neahtawanta Road, Traverse City, MI (take Peninsula Drive north approx. 10 miles, just past Bowers Harbor Marina turn left on Neahtawanta Road, travel 1/2 mile to Pyatt Road, turn right. Parking area is 1/4 mile down Pyatt Road) www.gtrlc.org/preserves/preservemap.php#pyatt

10:00 a.m.
Boardman River Nature Center: Tom Ford will lead a morning “Birds and Wildflowers” workshop. Location: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Road in Traverse City. www.natureiscalling.org

10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Enerdyne in Suttons Bay will be offering special sales on scopes, binoculars, and birding optics throughout the business day. www.enerdynet.com

12 noon – 4:00 p.m.
Saving Birds Thru Habitat: Learn how you can help bird species whose numbers are in decline. At 1:00 p.m., Kay Charter, SBTH founder and Charter Sanctuary co-owner, will lead a hike through the remarkable place which she and her husband have owned and managed since early 1993. This hike will focus on the many species nesting on the sanctuary, including rarities like Mourning Warbler, as well as more common Neotropical species such as Baltimore Oriole, Common Yellowthroat, Warbling Vireo, and many others. Please call 231-271-3738 to pre-register. Location: 5020 North Putnam Road, Northport, MI. www.savingbirds.org

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Four Season Nursery & Wild Birds Unlimited will be hosting “Native Plantings for Backyard Birders” workshop. Location: 7557 Harry’s Road, Traverse City, MI. www.fourseasonnursery.biz, www.wbu.com

1:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.
Wings of Wonder is offering two exclusive, behind the scenes tours and opportunities to get nose to beak with the raptors. Each session will include a full tour or the hospital and bird enclosures; an opportunity to interact with the raptors and watch them soar; photos with Doolin, the Wings of Wonder Turkey Vulture mascot; a live demonstration with master bird bander, Leonard Graff; a reception with Rebecca Lessard including drinks and hors d’oeuvres; and additional unique experiences and surprises! Both sessions are limited to 20 people and will be held rain or shine. Advance registration and $50.00 donation are required to secure your space. No children under 10 years old. RSVP to 231-326-4663. Location: 13035 S Greenway, Empire, MI. www.wingsofwonder.org

A native of Syracuse, New York, Martin Sexton grew up in the 80’s, uninterested in the sounds of the day, and fueled his dreams on the timeless sounds of classic rock and roll. Sexton eventually migrated to Boston, where he began to build his following singing on the streets of Harvard Square and gradually working his way through the scene. His 1992 collection of self-produced demo recordings, In The Journey, was recorded on an old 8-track in a friend’s attic. He managed to sell 20,000 copies out of his guitar case busking.

1996-2002 Sexton released Black Sheep, The American, Wonder Bar and Live Wide Open (mixed by Jon Alagia – Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer). The activity and worldwide touring behind these records laid the foundation for the career he enjoys today with an uncommonly loyal fan base, selling out venues from Nokia Theatre (NY) to LA’s House of Blues.

Happily and fiercely independent, Martin Sexton launched his own label KTR (2002). Since then, his continual success through his diversity infiltrates many musical worlds – ranging everywhere from Jam Cruise to Denver’s Mile High Fest to Mayercraft Carrier to Carnegie Hall. His songs are featured in film and television including recent placements on NBC’s Scrubs and Showtime’s hit series Brotherhood.

“Martin Sexton is ripe with raw, expansive talent. His voice comes in a hundred impossible shades. His songs are sweet and spirited and soulful. His repertoire is like a cross-country tour of the American musical vernacular.” —Boston Globe

The New York Times wrote that this artist “jumps beyond standard fare on the strength of his voice, a blue-eyed soul man’s supple instrument,” adding that “his unpretentious heartiness helps him focus on every soul singer’s goal: to amplify the sound of the ordinary heart.”

In 2007/08 Sexton logged his most successful years to date with the release of his latest studio offering, Seeds. The album debuted at #6 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, and the Los Angeles Times writes, “Call him a soul shouter, a road poet, a folkie or a rocker and you wouldn’t be wrong.”

On the heels of Seeds, the cd/dvd set Solo released October 08. Documenting a series of recent unaccompanied live appearances, the album captures Martin’s critically acclaimed incendiary live set in theatres coast-to-coast.

“The best live performer I’ve ever seen.” —John Mayer

“In the Studio”

Ryan Montbleau (read more about Ryan here)
“75 & Sunny”