Hosted by The Go Rounds’ Graham Parsons, the 10th “reunion” in late July in the Keweenaw Peninsula boasts performances by Kansas Bible Co., Seth Bernard, Turbo Pup, Mark Lavengood and more.
Farm Block Fest Bound: Turbo Pup will play the Upper Peninsula festival for the second year in a row.
Members of Traverse City’s genre-melding Turbo Pup consider summer “a state of mind” that they’re always embracing, with a jam-packed calendar of “brewpubs, cider houses, festivals and adventuring” ahead this season.
Graham Parsons
Part of that “adventuring” involves attending the Upper Peninsula’s Farm Block Fest and Reunion 2017, which recently announced its lineup for the event taking place in late July.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Organized by Graham Parsons of the Kalamazoo rock band The Go Rounds, this year’s 10th anniversary festival being held on a Keweenaw Peninsula farm will feature performances by more than 30 rootsy, regional acts, including Peter “Madcat” Ruth, Kansas Bible Company, Mark Lavengood Bluegrass Bonanza, The Go Rounds, Rachael Davis, May Erlewine, Seth Bernard, Turbo Pup and many more.
“We are absolutely besides ourselves to be back at Farm Block. Last year was our first year playing there and it was pure magic,” said Turbo Pub’s Aaron Dye.
The 2017 Lineup
“There’s a lot of things that make this festival stand out, particularly the potent concentration of incredible musicians wandering all over the place. It’s a musicians’ festival, where bands get a chance to see each other’s sets, find advice and build contacts. It’s also a great chance to connect with fans.”
Parsons, who grew up on the farm where the festival has been held for 10 years, called the event a “yearly pilgrimage” for many musicians and “something to look forward to and reflect upon. … We’re all out there rooting for each other, but it’s not often we all get to be in the same place. So, we call it a reunion ’cause that’s what it feels like: so much more than a getaway or escape or a big party.”
In addition to live music, camping, workshops, food and art vendors, the festival – which attracts about 600 people – raises money for The Dan Schmitt Gift of Music and Education Fund, a nonprofit organization Parsons and his family started several years ago to provide instruments and lessons to youth in Kalamazoo, the Keweenaw Peninsula and beyond. Tickets for the weekend festival are $75 and available online at farmblockfest.com.
“I love it all. I’m excited to see each and every person who drives down that gravel road and joins us on the farm,” Parsons said.
“Our main mission, beyond raising money for free youth music programming … is to create an atmosphere of gratitude and reverence for all that we have today and for all those we’ve lost along the way. Space to breathe, to feel uplifted and a valuable part of a bigger whole, a place of respite and shared emotional depth.”
Dye called the concept of the festival “brilliant,” reflecting an attitude that also matches the philosophy of Turbo Pup, which began as the duo of Dye and violinist Brett McDowell. The pair eventually linked up with drummer Sean Reisig and bassist Jordan Moeggenberg to create the sort of rock, funk, jazz, folk and gypsy swing-fueled stew for which Turbo Pup is known.
“Our direction has been authenticity in expression and homegrown material written by the band. So much of the industry is about misdirection and false standards of success. We want to bring the world something outside of those standards,” Dye said.
‘A Place of Respite’: Camping at Farm Block.
“It’s not about fame or fortune, we’re doing this because it’s in our blood, a function of our nature. The closer we keep to that, the better the music will be in my opinion – the result being the unique sound and style of Turbo Pup.
In addition to playing a host of shows this summer – including the Red Drive Concert Series on June 16 at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons – the band is working on a full-length recording. “It’s going to be raw and unfiltered,” Dye said, “like a good craft brew.”
Get tickets and more information about Farm Block Fest in Allouez online here. Find additional details about Turbo Pup, along with their music, online here.
Farm Block Stage: More than 30 bands are performing this year.
Copyright 2017, Spins on Music LLC
