Saturday’s day-long Winter Wheat fest at The Intersection boasts dancing, 12 bands on two stages — including The Accidentals, Billy Strings & Don Julin and Roosevelt Diggs — and a “family reunion” vibe.
The Pulse of Michigan’s Music Scene: Winter Wheat’s impressive lineup includes the return of the Benzie Playboys. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Some performers welcome the event as a “musical family reunion.” Others call it as “a winter Wheatland home away from home,” with an impressive lineup of bands ruling stages for nearly 12 hours.
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When some of Michigan’s most highly prized folk, roots and bluegrass acts gather Saturday in Grand Rapids at the Winter Wheat fundraiser for the Wheatland Music Organization, fans can expect to witness plenty of musical camaraderie along with vibrant, audience-pleasing performances.
“This lineup is one of the best I’ve ever seen. It is really like a showcase of some of the best traditional and acoustic music going on in Michigan right now,” said Logan Duddles, guitarist and singer for Grand Rapids-area Americana band Roosevelt Diggs.
“Michigan has a special music community. Musicians look out for each other, respect each other’s craft and really support each other. It’s really collaborative and positive. We are excited about reconnecting with those who are friends and making some new ones on Saturday.”
Added Mark Stoltz, who plays rubboard (aka, washboard) for Benzie County’s K. Jones & The Benzie Playboys, which returns annually to play the event: “Being in a band is a time-consuming line of work. We don’t really have time outside of that structure to hang out a lot; everyone is playing here or there, scattered across the country. So yeah, it’s nice to see everyone and have a chance to catch up.”
Building on a Successful 2014: Delilah DeWylde returns for this weekend’s Winter Wheat. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Shaping up as a mid-winter festival, this year’s day-long affair at The Intersection in downtown Grand Rapids boasts two stages featuring a dozen bands, including The Accidentals, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Roosevelt Diggs, Megan Dooley, Jive at Five, Blue Water Ramblers, Gasoline Gypsies, Delilah DeWylde, The Palooka Brothers, Dan Seabolt’s Scholarship Students and Peat in the Creel.
Every September for more than four decades, the Wheatland Music Organization – which also hosts education programs in the traditional arts – has staged its much acclaimed Wheatland Music Festival outside Remus, Mich., starring local and world-renowned folk musicians. Winter Wheat helps raise funds and awareness for the organization and its events.
‘AMAZING CAMARADERIE’ AND RIVETING PERFORMANCES AT ‘A GREAT LITTLE FESTIVAL’
Singer-songwriter Josh Rose, a member of the event’s organizing board, described the upcoming seventh annual Winter Wheat as a “winter Wheatland home away from home,” with an indoor square dance, “amazing camaraderie and obviously, an antidote for the winter blues.”
Savannah Buist of Traverse City indie-folk trio The Accidentals called it “a great way to kick off” 2016. “It’s going to be amazing,” she said. “Like a big musical family reunion.”
Aiming to Make It ‘The Best Show Ever’: Don Julin (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
For celebrated Traverse City bluegrass duo Billy Strings and Don Julin, the Winter Wheat performance marks one of the band’s final Michigan shows together. Billy Strings, aka William Apostol, has moved to Nashville and has started pursuing some solo projects.
“The people of Grand Rapids have been super supportive of Billy Strings & Don Julin, and I would like to make our set at Winter Wheat 2016 our best Grand Rapids show ever,” Julin said. “It is an honor to be part of anything Wheatland. They are such a great organization.”
As part of that, Julin looks forward to seeing “lots of familiar faces young and old in the classic Wheatland style” while reuniting backstage with longtime musical pals.
Stoltz said the Zydeco-flavored Benzie Playboys, who inspire throngs of Cajun, contra and square dancers to kick up their heels on a special wooden floor brought in for the one-day festival, consider it a privilege to play Winter Wheat.
Dancing the Night Away: A big part of Winter Wheat. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
“The Wheatland Music Organization really has their finger on the pulse of the music scene,” he said. “Also, the venue is great, run by true professionals with professional equipment. We know our performance is reaching the audience in the manner it is intended.”
And for first-time Winter Wheat performers such as Kalamazoo singer Megan Dooley it’s “a huge deal” because of Wheatland’s heralded folk legacy.
“Being asked to play at Winter Wheat is a huge compliment after working so hard to find a place in the folk scene the last few years,” she said. “It’s really full circle for me.”
Marilyn Hummel, one of the early organizers of the Winter Wheat benefit, noted the event has “grown incredibly” over the years, with nearly 1,000 people turning out last year.
“We continue to hold true to our roots by supporting talent from the midwest Michigan area, keeping our prices affordable, and promoting traditional music and dance genres. It’s a great little festival in the middle of winter.”
Winter Wheat runs from 12:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday at The Intersection, 133 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids. Tickets are $15 in advance or $25 at the door. Student tickets are $10. Get more information online at wheatlandmusic.org or by calling 989-967-8879 during regular business hours.
Square and contra dancing in the main showroom of The Intersection will be called by Laurie Pietravalle, with waltzes, Cajun and Zydeco dancing also on tap.
Check out the Local Spins photo gallery, video and wrap-up of the 2015 Winter Wheat.
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