Saturday’s day-long festival at Kalamazoo Valley Museum drew more than 1,000 people for performances by regional acts on three stages, vendors, luthiers and workshops. (Recap, photo gallery, video)
Guitar Paradise: The Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival boasted jam sessions, workshops and stellar performances on Saturday. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
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From the singularly sublime and slightly psychedelic sets by The Go Rounds and Cosmic Knot in the unlikely setting of a sun-splashed meeting room to the distinctive, vibrant theatre performances by Delilah DeWylde and Channing & Quinn to the transcendent, exhilarant closing spectacle unfurled by May Erlewine and band for a standing-room only crowd on the Kalamazoo Valley Museum stage, Saturday’s Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival had no shortage of musical highlights.
Twang ‘n’ Roll: The Go Rounds played the Anna Whitten Hall Stage. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
In what was arguably the strongest lineup yet in the event’s 13-year history, the festival – over the course of the day — drew more than 1,000 people who ambled through displays by two dozen vendors and instrument-makers in two buildings, attended workshops and sponged up performances by 14 acts on three stages.
The overall number of vendors and attendees was down from 2017, but those who turned out got to savor regional acts representing cities from St. Joseph to Traverse City to the lakeshore and everything in between.
From the opening salvo of the Kalamazoo-based Sarah Lynn Band’s impressive Americana, country and roots rock, Saturday’s performances were top-drawer showcases of West Michigan’s music scene without exception, from sets by veterans such as Joel Mabus, Mark Sahlgren & the Fragile Egos, The Green Valley Boys and Boulevard Billies to acoustic favorites Mark Lavengood Band, The Moxie Strings and Thunderbolt & Lightfoot. (And Small Sounds offered something for little ones to cheer about, too, kicking off Saturday’s sets at Anna Whitten Hall.)
Inspiring Closer: May Erlewine and her band transfixed a jam-packed crowd. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Of course, considering the festival’s spotlight on guitars and luthiers, it’s not surprising that there was also a buzz and plenty of speculation among attendees Saturday about the recent layoffs of craftsman employees at Kalamazoo’s Heritage Guitar Inc., with some musicians even bemoaning the company’s move from the stage.
And there were other reflections of political and societal turbulence amid the performances, perhaps highlighted by Erlewine’s moving and poignant musical “letter to the president” that she delivered as part of her inspiring set.
She repeated the oft-heard phrase that a folk singer’s job is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. “And I take my job seriously,” she quipped.
The festival kicked off Friday with an opening-night concert that saw a capacity crowd cheering Kalamazoo’s own Corn Fed Girls at Kalamazoo Valley Museum.
Browse photos from the weekend festival and a video of Saturday highlights here.
VIDEO: Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival 2018
PHOTO GALLERY: Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival
Photos by Derek Ketchum
Copyright 2018, Spins on Music LLC
