Last weekend’s festival on Earthwork Farm outside Lake City boasted more than 90 performances by Michigan artists. Local Spins has the recap, photos and a video.
Passionate, Collaborative Moments: They were abundant at Harvest Gathering last weekend like this one led by Sam Cooper. (Photo/Anna Sink)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERY, VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
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When Seth Bernard introduced his mother, Chris, to the crowd at last weekend’s Earthwork Harvest Gathering and talked about her impact on his life and his beliefs, he could well have been describing the mission of this uplifting, season-ending celebration of Michigan music outside Lake City.
“I learned a lot about love and learned a lot about caring for people and welcoming people,” he said of his mother’s guidance, “and being the right kind of rebel and the kind of defiance that the world needs and the kind of healing.
Seth Bernardin: Finding and promoting healing. (Photo/Anna Sink)
“My mom used to say it’s all about healing and that got me through some of my hardest times.”
Healing, respect for the land and water, camaraderie and inspiring performances propelled the mid-September cavalcade of Michigan music, with more than 90 bands and solo artists taking part in the festival organized by Earthwork Music collective founder Bernard and an army of volunteers.
Earth Radio keyboardist Dutcher Snedeker — who like many of the festival musicians performed with several other bands and artists — called the festival “an amazing time” in a post on Facebook.
“It truly is a testament to the collective power that comes from centering around supporting one another, caring for the land we occupy and sourcing our nourishment from nature and in the spirit of creativity,” he wrote.
Dutcher Snedeker (Photo/Anna Sink)
“Stellar music all around. I had a blast playing all of my sets and it was a joy to see so many friends and peers in the industry firing on all cylinders to delighted crowds. Thank you to everyone who I got to share a stage with and all of you wonderful folks going out of your way to show your love and support.”
Local Spins photographer Anna Sink noted that the weekend was chock full of people “meeting neighbors, reuniting with friends and singing songs just for the sake of it.”
Highlights were many, from Great Lakes Brass roaming the grounds with their New Orleans-style procession to the moving, annual water-blessing ceremony to hip hop cellist Jordan Hamilton regaling fans in the woods of Maddie’s Circle to the many intimate and inspiring performances on the Barn Stage.
And overheard at Harvest was another theme of the weekend: “I feel safe here and I like it.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Earthwork Harvest Gathering 2023
Photos by Anna Sink
Copyright 2023, Spins on Music LLC
