Saturday’s day-long event at Kalamazoo Valley Community College will feature numerous workshops and an evening concert starring Robin & Linda Williams and Pat Donohue. Details at Local Spins.

Headliners: Virginia’s Robin & Linda Williams play Saturday’s GLAMAversary in Texas Township outside Kalamazoo.
It all started “out of a desire from local musicians to find a way and a place where they could get together, jam and learn from each other.”
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Two decades later, the Kalamazoo-based Great Lakes Acoustic Music Association (GLAMA) is ready to throw a birthday party, complete with concerts and workshops.
On Saturday, GLAMA will celebrate 20 years of the non-profit’s dedication to promoting, performing and preserving acoustic music in Southwest Michigan with a full day of instrument and songwriting workshops and performances by renowned American/folk duo Robin & Linda Williams, Grammy-nominated fingerstyle guitarist Pat Donohue and more.
As part of the “GLAMA-versary,” music listeners and players of any genre can soak in the event’s rich, educational workshops as well as an evening concert experience, all honoring an extensive legacy of much-welcomed support for acoustic music in the Great Lakes region.
“For over 20 years now our monthly gatherings have grown and diversified, and community support remains strong and vibrant,” said Kathy Nichols, a representative and volunteer for GLAMA.
“We encourage participation from every attendee and skill level and always provide instructional tips during our events.”
Over the years, GLAMA has remained a force in providing opportunities to enjoy, participate in, and learn more about various genres of traditional acoustic music, including folk, singer-songwriter, bluegrass, blues, old-time, Celtic and roots music.
The organization’s activities include regularly sponsoring scheduled jams, community sings, concerts and the Cooper’s Glen Music Festival (a winter event that took a hiatus this year due to concerns about attendance and rising costs). GLAMA also will be co-sponsoring a new open-mic session this fall.
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN’S JOEL MABUS TO EMCEE THE EVENING CONCERT
After a full day of workshops Saturday, attendees can attend an evening concert featuring Pat Donahue and headliners Robin & Linda Williams. The performance will recognize and honor the volunteers who founded and supported the non-profit, and will also present a wide array of 20 years’ worth of GLAMA memorabilia.
Portage folk icon Joel Mabus, a longtime GLAMA friend, presenter and award-winning musician, will emcee the concert and offer a ukulele workshop.
Saturday’s GLAMAversary starts at noon with a “GLAMA Slow Jam,” followed by various workshops through 2:30 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., Catherine Ellis, Carol Levack and Katherine Morris present “Songs of Peace, Protest and Social Justice.” The evening concert featuring Robin & Linda Williams and Pat Donohue begins at 7 p.m
Tickets — $15-$35 – can be purchased online her or at the door. The organization also is encouraging younger people who are interested in learning more about acoustic music to attend the special anniversary by offering complementary admission if they are students of a local acoustic music instructional source as well.
For more information and a complete schedule of workshops, performances and ticket options please go online here. The Texas Township campus of Kalamazoo Valley Community College is located at 6767 W O Ave., Kalamazoo.
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