Two of Michigan’s most intimate, beautiful and distinctive music festivals starring regional acts took place last weekend. Check out the photo galleries and weekend reviews.
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BEAVER ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL
For many, the 2017 edition of the Beaver Island Music Festival — which started as a “fluke” of sorts back in 2003 — was the biggest and best yet. With a big turnout and performances by G-Snacks, Kung Fu Rodeo, Beans, Sydney Burnham, The Outer Vibe, Melophobix, The Legal Immigrants, Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, The Matchsellers, Magnolia Wind, Libby Decamp & Olivia Mainville, The Appleseed Collective, Ghost City Searchlight, Cerny Brothers, Dave Boutette, Kristi Lynn Davis and Brotha James, the festival on Lake Michigan’s largest island impressed musicians and fans. Local Spins once again asked some of those performers — members of The Outer Vibe and Melophobix — to share their impressions of the weekend.
THE OUTER VIBE – The thing that makes the whole experience for us is the interaction with people. Everyone is so friendly, and the bands and concertgoers get to hang out a lot with each other. We’ve made such good friends with people we met at Beaver Island, both visitors and locals. Everyone is on the island together for several days, so you run into the same people everywhere and get to spend a lot of time with them.
“It was my first time seeing Melophobix and The Legal Immigrants, and both bands put on excellent shows,” said trumpet and keyboard player Lisa Kacos. “We also reconnected with The Appleseed Collective and Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys, two bands we have played with in recent months.”
Added guitarist Nick Hosford: “Our Saturday night set was awesome. The audience was cheering louder than the sound system, and everyone was so appreciative.”
MELOPHOBIX (Stefan Paul, guitarist-singer) – What an amazing adventure! Halfway to our destination, with the docks of Charlevoix miles behind us, the excitement began to rise. Coupled with what was to be amazing weather and generous amounts of sunshine, a subtle buzz began to work its way through the ferry’s passengers, as if comprised only of children awaiting St. Nicholas and his gift-bearing sleigh. The anticipation was real.
Not only was I a first-time attendee of Beaver Island’s Music Festival, I would also be performing two sets alongside my Melophobix comrades. Additionally, I had an extra special guest for this particular weekend run imported directly from the small town of Obersulm, Germany. A friend of mine (Patrick) had decided to make the trek over the Atlantic to experience America for the first time. It was only fair that hours after he crossed the Atlantic, we would depart from my Grand Rapids abode and head directly north with Lake Michigan’s brilliant and colossal waters held firmly in our sights. If he wanted to really experience American ways of life, I thought this would be one hell of an opportunity to show him something he wouldn’t be able to find on reality TV.
As the boat cruised through the two-hour trip, he was bewildered by the epic landscapes floating like heavens on the horizon. We Michiganders tend to take the lake’s awesome size for granted, but for a first-time foreigner, I can tell you the look on his face spoke novels. As a small reference, one of southern Germany’s largest lakes, Lake Constance, is roughly 1/100 the size of our fresh water giant.
After reaching our Island destination, having already made dozens of new friends during the boat ride, we [Melophobix] were greeted by our native island friends, whom I had first met in college, and who immediately undertook the responsibility for showing us Beaver Island from coast to coast. For those of you who have no experience with Beaver Island, it is a wonderful and magical place. The Island’s deep and vast woodlands are pure and mostly untouched by human hands. Regardless of which direction one walks, you will eventually stumble upon gorgeous coastlines with the awesome waters of Lake Michigan crashing on its shores. The summer sun beating on your backs, and miles away from cell phone service, one can truly leave the grid behind to bask in the Island’s glory.
The people not only have a keen mindset for being good hosts, but they legitimately find joy in sharing Michigan’s best-kept secret with fellow statesman and foreigners. They are proud of their heritage. Whether it’s one’s first, or 31st time on the island, I have great confidence that the same smiles and greetings would be received. There are no strangers on Beaver Island, only future friends.
The massive weekend-long population spike was clearly influenced by the music festival’s Michigan-made lineup of immensely talented musicians. Eclectic taste buds undoubtedly returned to camp each night completely and utterly satisfied. Each act helped bake a grandiose musical pie to be shared among the large crowds of eager dancers.
My German companion was completely astounded at the friendliness and kindness of everyone he encountered. He knew he was going to have a good time, but he had no idea he was going to have an experience that he will never forget; create friendship that will span oceans; and experience the jaw-dropping beauty of our Pure Michigan outdoors.
Words cannot describe the love and joy I felt playing on that stage surrounded by friends. It was truly amazing. Too many stories to even know where to begin sharing. There is no question in my mind, I will be attending this festival again. I will never forget the laughter, the smiles and the cheers of the crowd. What an amazing adventure!
PHOTO GALLERY: Beaver Island Music Festival 2017
Photos by Anna Sink
DUNESVILLE
Each year, a small, unassuming music festival takes place in the rolling pastures of northern Michigan just southwest of Traverse City.
This past weekend was no exception, and Dunesville Music Festival returned to Lake Ann for three days of music.
On Saturday evening, festival attendees saw performances by Desmond Jones, Gasoline Gypsies, Watching for Foxes, Escaping Pavement, The Native Howl and others.
In usual fashion, Desmond Jones conjured up a firestorm of funk at the festival’s second stage, a tented structure with psychedelic lights and a lineup of exceptionally groovy bands. Port Huron-based Gasoline Gypsies later performed on the same stage, unleashing their rollicking, genre-transcending rock ‘n’ roll to a crowd of dance-entranced festivalgoers.
Meanwhile, at main stage the crowd grew as the sun began to set. Grand Rapids’ Watching for Foxes gave a career-spanning set that included a handful of new songs as well as a couple slow-burning instrumentals. Americana duo, Escaping Pavement followed, toting its Detroit-bred folk songs, laced with delicate harmonies, traditional instrumentation and modern storytelling.
Undoubtedly wielding the most clout of any Dunesville performer, The Native Howl commanded its headlining slot with sheer perfection. After a recent video debuting the band’s signature thrash-grass sound went viral, garnering millions of views and thousands of fans, The Native Howl became a sensation, and more importantly, pioneers. Self-described as a combination of bluegrass and heavy metal, the Rochester-rooted band has taken their truly unique sound around the country, and in the fall will travel to Europe. For a spellbinding, mind-blowing hour and 20 minutes they head-banged, foot-stomped and thrash-grassed the night away at Dunesville.
Armed with an instrumentation predominantly folk (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, drums) the band displayed virtuosity in the ways of Americana, bluegrass, and yes, metal. The high-energy set and seamless genre-melding inspired the night’s largest, most exuberant crowd. Mesmerized revelers danced, others spun flaming batons, and fellow performers gazed in reverence, frozen in place by the spectacle. All were stunned. – Ricky Olmos
PHOTO GALLERY: Dunesville 2017
Photos by Ricky Olmos