Wheatland puts Michigan stars in January spotlight

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Saturday’s 10-band winter festival at The Intersection in Grand Rapids unfurled everything from bluegrass to soulful pop to country to Cajun and Celtic charm on Saturday. The recap, photos and video.

Captivating Cajun Capers: K. Jones & The Benzie Playboys on stage at The Intersection on Saturday. (Photo/Eric Stoike)

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Many would say there must be something in the water when it comes to spawning the diverse talent springing up across Michigan.

There certainly seemed to be something magical in the air — and not just in the water — on Saturday at The Intersection in Grand Rapids, with 10 Michigan bands gracing two stages for the Wheatland Music Organization’s 16th Winter Wheat festival.

Folk, rock, Cajun and Celtic music, soulful pop, country, blues and bluegrass filled that aforementioned air for nearly nine hours in the January fundraiser billed as the state’s largest indoor music festival, with hundreds on hand to ward off the winter chill.

“What a way to start off the beginning of the year. Awesome,” gushed fiddler Steve Lesko, of Celtic music favorite CrossBow, whose animated late afternoon performance drew fans close to the stage and sparked plenty of toe-tapping in the Intersection’s main showroom.

Exuberant Celtic Set: CrossBow (Photo/John Sinkevics)

“We’re so thankful to be able to listen and learn from all of these amazing musicians (at Winter Wheat).”

Indeed, the day-long affair boasted veteran Winter Wheat performers such as CrossBow, The Blue Water Ramblers, The Gasoline Gypsies and northern Michigan’s Benzie Playboys (who as always filled the dance floor with twirling Cajun/Zydeco dancers) as well as first-timers August, featuring keyboardist Olivia Vargas, cajon player Marissa Peak and guitarist Austin Benzing.

The Grand Rapids trio’s stunning harmonies and genre-melding tunes transfixed fans gathered in The Stache, just ahead of the all-star, nine-piece ensemble assembled by Americana-hued singer Hannah Rose Graves for her band’s rootsy set.

“Everyone was so nice and they were all really listening,” Vargas said after August’s performance.

Browse photos and watch video highlights below.

PHOTO GALLERY: Winter Wheat at The Intersection
Photos by Eric Stoike and John Sinkevics