Despite overcast skies and stray sprinkles, Shagbark Farm’s celebration of regional music launched Friday with a joyful vibe and stellar music, with more to come Saturday. (Photo gallery)
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For proof of Cowpie Music Festival’s addictive, bewitching nature, look no further than fans Kathy and Scott Grinsteiner, who’ve attended every Cowpie since 2008.
The couple was so enamored of the rootsy, charming event that they bought a vintage 1965 camper a couple of years ago just to attend the annual festival on Shagbark Farm near Alaska in southern Kent County.
“We realized it’s what we love,” gushed Kathy Grinsteiner, perched on the hill overlooking Cowpie’s rustic stage on Friday.
“It’s freedom. It’s no rules. It’s ‘You are who you are.’ And everybody’s happy. You make all kinds of new friends.”
Happiness and camaraderie were in abundant supply on stage, off stage and back stage on the opening day of Cowpie 2015, which launched Friday with the vintage blues of Jimmie Stagger, the folk-pop of Jenny LaJoye and the upbeat folk, country and Americana of Nicholas James & The Bandwagon.
“Anytime I’ve been here, it’s been really, really fun,” gushed Bandwagon fiddler Clouds, immediately after the group’s performance.
That set was followed by the fetching Kalamazoo torch-swing duo Moxieville, the inventive “disco bebop” of Ann Arbor’s Macpodz, the always-lovable Kalamazoo funk band The Mainstays and the absolutely triumphant Friday night finale from Grand Rapids Afro-beat ensemble Afro Zuma, with its smile-inducing, 13-piece, horn-propelled, rhythmic, dance-sparking assault.
Although it wasn’t jam-packed, crowds grew during the evening, and the overcast skies and stray sprinkles of rain didn’t cause even a ripple for fans or musicians (or even bring back any nasty memories of the deluge that nearly washed out Cowpie 2012).
“I feel great,” said farm owner and Cowpie organizer “Farmer” John Crissman, noting that a steady stream of vehicles had been entering the festival and the band performances were impressive. “I think we’re going to be all right.”
In keeping with the spirit of Cowpie, volunteers formed the backbone of the festival, helping out wherever needed and even donating their time to build a second adjoining stage that helped speed up performance scheduling.
“I don’t know what I’d do without my friends,” Crissman conceded.
Friends and Cowpie: Old ones reacquainted, new ones made and way more fun to be had on Saturday, with a lineup that includes national headliners and rockabilly icon Bill Kirchen, The Legal Immigrants, Rootstand, Fly Paper, Big Dudee Roo and many others.
Read more about Cowpie and get the full schedule that you can save on your smartphone in this Local Spins story.
COWPIE 2015: Photo Gallery by Anna Sink
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