Open Space Performers
Enjoy great family entertainment before the free movies by the Bay. All performances begin at 7pm.

Tuesday night (Young Adult) Men in Black
Mue Sephei – Diane and Noemi Derib of Montreux Switzerland collaborate with Traverse City musicians
Mike Moran – popular local singer songwriter gaining a national reputation after his recent Rothbury show
Phenomenal Head – a creative Benzie County rock and rap band

Wednesday ( techies) Close Encounters
Jimmy Olson – a master of the keyboards member of Egon will create extraterrestrial sonic atmosphere
Jeff Bilhman – Emmy award winning blues artist

Thursday (Hippies) Hair
Rootstand – a popular festival roots band
Luke Winslow King – a gifted singer songwriter performer and terrific old time guitarist

Friday (Teens) Goonies
Levi Britten – a popular local singer songwriter and song stylist
Injured List – a fast rising Lansing based young rock band

Saturday (Kids) Big
Acoustic Dynamite – Northern Express editors new roots project
Andrew Strutz -a gifted 19 year old singer songwriter
Ruby Johns – phenomenal young fiddle player

After Hour Jam Sessions

Wednesday July 29 Lil Bo Club and Cafe 540 West Front Street
9:30 PM to 2 am
hosted by Phenomenal Head and Mue Sephei – a jam sessions with many of the festival’s performers

Thursday July 30 Loading Dock 205 Lake Street
9:30 to 2 am
featuring Luke Winslow King and Egon

Saturday Aug 1 The Terminal 1669 South Garfield
10 PM to 2 am
hosted by the band Injured List and featuring a jam session in which all the musicians of the festival have been invited to play

Founders Party:
Sunday, July 26 1:00pm
On Quartet and Manitou Trumpeteers

Opening Night – Front Street
5:30pm to 8:30pm
Charlie’s Root Fusion
Rojo Loco

Opening Party – Wade Trim Parking Lot
Tuesday, July 28th 8:30pm to 11:30pm
Jazz North

Filmmakers Party – Wade Trim Parking Lot
Saturday, August 1st 8:30pm to 11:30pm
Jeff Gibbs and Wild Sullys

Closing Party – Grand Traverse Commons
Sunday, August 2nd 8:00pm to 11:00pm
Dawn Campbell Band
A special thank you to all our volunteer 2009 performers:

Acoustic Dynamite

Dynamite is the duo of Jim Moore and Bob Downes, whose song, “The Streets of Traverse City,” is a perennial favorite on local radio. Jim is director of Disability Network/ Northern Michigan while Bob is editor of Northern
Express Weekly.

Jeff “Jabo” Bihlman

Jeff “Jabo” Bihlman is the lead guitarist/vocalist for the popular blues rock band The Bihlman Bros. Recently signing with prestigous Warner/Chappell Music, the new Bihlman Bros. CD was recorded at the world famous Cherokee Studios in Hollywood. Previous records by the Bros. have been produced by Grammy Award winning Memphis producer Jim Gaines (SRV, Journey, Santana). Jeff is an EMMY Award winning songwriter and composer for his scores of the CBS Documentaries Surviving the Bradley, Edmund Fitzgerald: 30 Years a Legend and the Road to 751 Fairfax. The Bihlman Bros. have appeared with BB King, Ray Charles, ZZ Top, Buddy Guy and many others at venues ranging from clubs to stadiums worldwide. Their music has appeared on Radio, Films and TV including NPR’s All Things Considered, All My Children on ABC and most recently the Amy Smart movie “Love n Dancing”, which prominently featured seven Bihlman Bros. songs. Jeff is also the author of several books and DVDs published by Alfred including Play Blues Guitar and his latest Easy Soloing for Blues Guitar. He is on the faculty of The National Guitar Workshop, WorkshopLive and the Interlochen Guitar Institute. As a hired gun, Jeff has been the Guitarist and band leader for the Legendary Chicago Bluesman, Son Seals, touring the US and Europe and appearing on the W.C Handy award winning record “Lettin’ Go”. He’s also worked with Trey Anastasio of Phish, Grand Funk Railroad, Radford, Matter and Davey Boy Green. http://www.myspace.com/jabobihlman

Rachel Borovik

Singer/songwriter/pianist, Rachel Borovik, is a young musician dedicated to connecting with others through music. Whether she is interpreting jazz standards, playing originals, or singing classical music her originality and musicality shines through. Her genuine and open-minded approach to music is refreshing and allows for an engaging listening experience. Rachel is a an 19 year old graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy who is currently studying voice and piano at Berklee School of Music in Boston, Ma. She has performed regularly as a soloist and with various groups throughout the Midwest and is currently performing in the Boston area. She was selected to play in the Interlochen Ensemble this summer of 2009, where they have been touring the Mid West. She has also had the opportunity of guest singing and studying under many talented musicians such as Jeff Haas, Sheila Jordan, Sunny Wilkinson, Jayne Sleder, and Daniela Schachter. While greatly influenced by a variety of musicians from legendary jazz vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, to Joni Mitchell, Alicia Keys and Norah Jones, Rachel is commonly commended for having her own unique sound and style. With plans that include recording and touring overseas, Rachel is dedicated to enriching lives through music.

Charlie’s Root Fusion

Charlevoix Based, Charlie’s Root fusion is a Rockin’ 4-piece Blues- Funk-Rockabilly band. The band is, Charlie Witthoeft: Harmonica/Vocals, Eric Jaqua: Bass/Vocals, Tracy Kent: Guitar/Vocals, Greg Vadnais: percussion. Semi-Finalist at the 2007 International Blues Competition (IBC) held annually in Memphis TN. CRF play Old School Blues, Swamp Boogie Funk, Rockabilly mixed in with Originals. 3 of 4 share the mic equally, which always keeps it fresh for the audience! Come put your dancin’ shoes on and get your spine wiggled to Charlie’s Root fusion! CD’s available and a listing of upcoming gigs, visit us at: www.myspace.com/charliesrootfusion

David Chown

David has been playing piano professionally for over 25 years. He has 5 CD’s out on his own label, and has played on or produced 12 other CD’s. In addition to solo piano concerts and club appearances, David leads a popular variety band, the “Lookout Cats”, which features Ron Hernandez on drums and vocals, Laurie Sears on sax and flute, Elizabeth Rivers on vocals and Charlie Tomlin on guitar and vocals. David’s performance credits include 3 years with the Grand Hotel Orchestra, 3 years at the Radisson hotel in Ypsilanti Michigan, 2 years at Mico¹s in Traverse City and 12 years at the Grand Traverse Resort. Currently David appears regularly at the Traverse City Golf and Country Club. David was the accompanist for four of Theatre North¹s productions including “1940′s Radio Hour”, “Holiday Resort”, “A My Name Is Alice”, and “I Love You, Your Perfect, Now Change!” Since moving to Traverse City in 1993, David started his company “Lookout Music Productions”. He owns and operates “Lookout Music Productions Studio”, which is located at Logan’s Landing, where he teaches over 40 students and records and publishes music.

Dragonfly

The Tongue Family String Band started in 2006. At the time, Steve Tongue ­ a pianist with background in jazz and classical ­ was looking for a way to involve the whole Tongue family as a musical group. He and his wife, Amy ­ a flute player ­ had recently attended a concert by the Irish band “Lunasa”. They were inspired by what they heard and started to learn Irish and Scottish tunes as a family ­ with Steve on guitar, Amy on flute, daughters Abby (age 14) and Lara (age 12) on fiddles, and youngest daughter Emma (age 9) on the Bodhran (Irish Drum).

Since then, Emma has taken up cello and provides the bass line for the band. In addition, the girls have studied and become proficient in Irish Step Dancing which adds some visual dazzle to their performances. Starting in 2008, the family began making appearances around the Traverse City area with regular performances at Horizon Books and Kilkennys Irish Pub, as well as special events at Old Mission Peninsula Lighthouse, Grand Traverse
Lighthouse, Boardman River Nature Center and the Old Mission Peninsula Library. They were also selected to perform at the Maritime Heritage Festival on July 4 in Alpena.

Jordan Huggett

Jordan Huggett is a drummer from Traverse City Michigan who started to pursue his musical career 9 years ago when he began to take lessons with David Warne of Sun Radius Music International and Brad Novak of Marshall Music. Jordan continued to participate in the school jazz and symphony bands and was on the Central High School marching band snare line. Jordan now attends NMC and is playing with several local musicians. He is a former member of the Latin and swing band BoBossa. He hopes to continue his career in a Chicago or Boston university within the next year. Colin Hoekje attends Traverse City West Senior High where he enjoys playing percussion and soccer. He has studied various styles of percussion with Dave Warne at Sun Radius for the past 5 years. Soccer is another one of his passions, which he has played since age 5. In his free time he plays ultimate Frisbee and spends time with his friends.

The Injured List

Band members include Nathan Marks (singer/songwriter & keyboard), Ashton Parsons (drummer), Steve Ayre (bass guitar), James Parsons (lead guitar) and Tom Trombino (guitar). Influences for the band include Jimmy Eat World, Fountains of Wayne, Less Than Jake, Fall Out Boy, The Police, Vigil, The Beatles, ColorBlind and James Brown. Nathan Marks¹ songs feature emotional story lines with lyrical twists and driving tempos. James Parson and Tom are excellent at technical guitar instrumentation and do a fabulous job of complimenting one another. Ashton Parson’s is a talented recording artist and is solid in providing defining percussion elements to each of the songs and Steve Ayre¹s strong and demanding bass lines bring it all together rhythmically.
www.myspace.com/theinjuredlist

Ingemar Johansson

Ingemar Johansson is a songwriter and recording artist with the musical group Song of the Lakes having performed in the US, Canada and Europe for the past 26 years. He plays a multitude of stringed instruments, writes and composes work inspired by the good life in and beautiful Northwest Michigan. Being born and raised in Sweden, he now lives in the hills of Benzie County with his wife and two dogs.

Ruby John

Ruby plays traditional Old Time, French Canadian, Metis, Celtic, and Bluegrass fiddle music. Ruby is eighteen, a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa Chippewa Indians, lives in Northport, MI, is Odawa Native American and Irish and plans on making traditional fiddle music her career. She has studied with and taken workshops from some of the greatest traditional fiddlers and music people from around the world including: Lee Sloan, Bob Sadler, Jack Chambers, Rene Cote, Pierre Schryer, Brenda Stubbert, John Arcand, Lawrence Teddy Boy Houle, James CheeChoo, Colin Adjun, Dan MacDonald, Bobby Hicks and many more in her studies of traditional fiddle. Ruby has guest played with the Sugar Island Boys,Tanglemare, The Vince Combs Band, and the Spanky Greg Moore Band Music has allowed Ruby to meet wonderful people and travel to great places. She currently plays Old Time music with Jack Chambers and George Tredeaux, Bluegrass music with the Heart To Heart Bluegrass Band, and Celtic music with Malarky.

Tom Kaufmann

Pianist, singer, and harmonica player, Tom Kaufmann has entertained audiences in Northwest Lower Michigan for more than twenty-five years, and has been performing regularly at the Top of the Park Place Hotel since 2001. Tom is the owner of Tinkertunes Music Studios, now in its fifteenth year, dedicated to the promotion of early childhood music education, and he recently constructed the Earth Tones Music Garden, a collection of unusual hands-on, outdoor musical instruments at the Raven Hill Discovery Gallery. This fall he will be building and performing on a Friction Harp he designed for the Waterford Arts Festival in Ireland. He has also become well known as a wire sculptor, and his personalized chimes called “Your Name Rings a Bell” have become a coveted memento for locals and visitors alike. http://www.tinkertunes.com/

Patrick, Joseph, and Erin Kiessling

The Kiessling Kids have been taking piano lessons from Susan Day since they were in 1st grade. Patrick & Joseph will be entering 9th grade in the Fall at Traverse City West Senior High, & Erin will be entering 6th grade at Traverse City West Middle School. Patrick & Joseph enjoy playing soccer, ski racing, & singing with their school choir. Erin is an avid dancer with Company Dance Traverse in their Junior Company. This will be the 4th year that the Kiessling Kids have performed at the Film Festival!

Luke Winslow-King

Luke Winslow-King Hailing from Cadillac Michigan, Luke Winslow-King is a singer/songsmith, multi-instrumentalist and composer on a journey to become a true musical expeditionary. Inspired by New Orleans rag time, impressionism, delta and country blues, poetry, folk, and classical composition, his sound is both rustic and elegant.

Mateo

Inspired by local area dancers, Mateo Toler put together a Traverse City-based Latin Dance Band called “ROJO LOCO,” which performs mambos, cha chas, rumbas, sambas, merengues, and tangos. Mateo sings in Spanish and Portuguese while playing guitar and has enlisted the additional local talents of a vibraphone player, conga and timbale players, and bass player. ROJO LOCO can be found playing downtown this summer on Wednesdays at Cafe Crema and select Fridays on Cafe Habana’s rooftop patio. Please visit www.SOLdeLUNAmusic.com for a current calendar, pictures and video of ROJO LOCO performances.

Soul Patch

With it’s current line-up formed in early 2006, Soul Patch is a Traverse City, MI based band with music as versatile as its members. Together we hold a masters in groove. Individually we infuse styles from several backgrounds including, world beat, jazz, reggae, bluegrass, funk, surf, rockabilly, ska, blues, and straight up rock n¹ roll. We never write a set list but are always prepared to feel our audience and bring them something they can move to. Our shows are constantly taking on a new form that is inspired on the spot by the borderless space between the band and the listeners. We play songs with purpose but are not afraid to improvise. We play covers from all over the musical world, Motown to modern and everything in between, always making them our own for a fresh unique delivery. Our original music spans three decades and can only be described at eclectic, taking ideas from any one of the three songwriters in the band and plugging them into the musical vessel that is Soul Patch. The output is a sweet ride of Organic grooves for your mind and feet.

Ann Peterson

Ann never imagined that at her age she would be playing music. This Royal Oak native has never lost her love of music. Despite never having formal training and being a self professed “ear musician” she takes command of the State Theatre’s organ, which she admits is some what of a challenge due to the sheer size of the instrument. In addition to her hard work as a volunteer at the State, Ann is also the organist at the Elks Lodge and takes pride in breaking the gender barrier by being the first female to be initiated by the lodge. After moving to Traverse City in 1979, Ann has made a living as an event musician, performing at various functions which include weddings, parades, and even a yacht, in addition to being a member of various trios from time to time. Life is good in Traverse City for Ann Peterson. Whether in her professional work to her volunteer work, she considers herself a lucky gal.

Phenomenal Head

Phenomenal Head evokes the passion of the MC5 and Iggy and the Stoggieswith their unique form of poetic hip hop. A wise man observed that people in small towns are bitter and turn to guns and religion for comfort. Well, in Benzie county they turn to Phenomenal Head to express what people are thinking about. Featuring Keyboardist Jimmy Olson (Kenny’s cousin) who will be opening several movies during the festival,Phenomenal Head consists of Harger Boal, Dan Johansson ; Kyle Sullivan and Aaron Reitz

Big Rand

I started singing and playing guitar at age 8, and have been performing locally as both a solo acoustic artist, and the singer and guitar player in the Classic Rock Band “Big Rand & Co.” for the last 8 years. http://www.bigrand.com/

Mue Sephei

Mue Sephei is a red supergiant star in the constellation of Cepheus. It is the largest and most luminous star known in the Milky Way. No, wait, Mue Sephei is a band composed by 2 sisters from Switzerland and 2 Michigan gentlemen. Three of them first met back in the days in a music fest and decided to follow the same road. On their trip, they found the missing piece to finally be able to build their time machine. After few months of hard labor they got to a point where they could show their new born. They named it music. It is also known as a cure to ease your hearts and please your ears. Together we could travel, dream, share tears, smile and hopefully
we’ll be friends!

Wild Sullys

In the spirit of The Pogues, the Wild Sullys perform Celtic morph music, combining seafaring and drinking songs with Motown, Johnny Cash and Van Morrison. Wild Sullys include some of the best players from area bands: Mike Sullivan (Song of the Lakes, Turtlenecks) lead vocals and guitars; bass player Dan Johansson and percussionist Aaron Reitz (Phenomenal Head); Steve Carey (Jazz North) trumpet; vocalists Diane and Noemie Derib (Mue Sephei); with national recording artist Tim Smith (Surreal McCoys) guitars and vocals.

Swallowtail

Celtic duo Don and Rebecca Lessard have been playing and performing in the northern Michigan area for the past decade. With Don on guitar and plectrum banjo, and Rebecca on hammered dulcimer, mandolin and octave mandolin, their acoustic music can be heard at weddings, private parties, special events, town gatherings, and contra dances.

The Threads

This newly formed quartet from the Northwest area of Michigan consists of Lisa and Ingemar Johanson, Sue Wood, and Gary Cook playing instrumental and vocal parlor music with Scandinavian and American folk roots. Their blend of flutes, keyboards, accordion, Swedish nyckelharpa, guitar, bouzouki, and vocals make up their version of traditional and original World Music intended for audiences of all walks of life. The members of the band have extensive recording and performance history in a variety of bands from the area. Call 231.325.2680 for booking information.

White Wolf Black Bear

White Wolf Black Bear is musical duo comprised of two local teenagers, Marty Yaple and Chas Helge. Marty Yaple has grown up in Bear Lake and is well known for his work in the band Ideal Balance and collaborating with other local musicians. He is well versed in singing, guitar, and songwriting as well as drums. Marty sites an eclectic list of musical influences from The Beatles and Radiohead, to other local artists such as Breathe Owl Breathe and Chris Bathgate. Marty Yaple is currently a student at NMC in Traverse City and plans to attend the University of Michigan in the fall of 2010. Hailing from Manistee, Chas has played cello for the majority of his life. While he is mostly a classical musician, he enjoys making music outside of the classical world. On any given day, he may be listening to Beethoven or Ben Folds, Philip Glass or Luke Winslow-King. This fall, Chas will start is undergraduate work at Indiana University¹s Jacobs School of Music. Together, Marty and Chas bring their musical skills to play folk music that reflects their experiences growing up and living in Northern Michigan. Their sound is as versatile as the music that they know and love; however, they try and keep it simple. Marty Yaple¹s songwriting blends well with Chas¹ cello playing to create music that is approachable, fun, and meaningful.

Glenn Wolff

Glenn Wolff grew up in Traverse City, Michigan. As a teenager, he played 12-string guitar in folk bands with his friend John Wunsch. In Minnesota he played in garage bands with fellow art student and singer/songwriter John Kruth while attending the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. After moving to New York, Wolff played for 9 years at venues such as Figaro’s, Folk City, the Speakeasy, CBGB’s and Max’s Kansas City, while also pursuing a career as a free lance illustrator. He returned to Northern Michigan in 1987 and continues to pursue a double career as a visual artist and the bassist in the Neptune Quartet.