2010 Performer Biographies

 Acoustic Dynamite
Music with a bang is the goal of Acoustic Dynamite, offering original songs of love, social justice, empowerment, the environment, mermaids, night on the sea, faces in the rain, the Streets of Traverse City and upbeat acoustic music. Bob Downes and Jim Moore also perform an ever-changing mix of covers ranging from Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan to the Rolling Stones and the MC5. Look for their popular “open drum night” at Left Foot Charley.

Andrew Sturtz
With his mix of jazz, acoustic, and pop, Andrew Sturtz can be heard expressing his one-of- a-kind style all over Michigan. Andrew has played venues such as Short’s Brewery, Horizon Books, The Opera House, Traverse City State Theater, and The Strutt, also opening for many artists and even movies at the nationally known Traverse City Film Festival. Andrew has received immense praise for his soothing vocals and powerful stage presence, both of which he brings to every performance. Joining him as of recent is the very talented Alex Gusler.

Angela Josephine
Angela Josephine is a local singer-songwriter and Nashville recording artist who has graced the stage of countless festivals, venues and coffee houses across the Midwest.  In 2007 she was an Artist Ovation Contest Winner for Unity Festival in Muskegon, MI and in 2006 her album, “Grace Exhaled” was a finalist in the Detroit Music Awards.  You can visit ANGELA’S website www.AngelaJosephine.com or find her on Facebook. 

Barbara Faith Jordan
Singer-songwriter Barbara Faith Jordan will be performing songs from her recently released CD “Passages” along with a couple songs she hopes the audience will all recognize enough to sing along with.  Barbara has been writing and performing in solo acts and bands for over 20 years. She enjoys writing songs that reflect facets of every day life like love, loss, faith, hope, and humor in various styles like folk, country, pop and even a little jazz.  Various artists that will be joining Barbara throughout the festival are accomplished area musicians Derrick Hall, Cris Pico, Lawrence “Doc” Probes, Jim Hawley, and Chris Burgess.  Barbara is also the owner of Center for Coaching & Leadership Development; a leadership coaching, consulting and training organization based in Traverse City. Samples and copies of Barbara’s music are available on her music web site at www.barbarafaithjordan.com

BoBossa
Always fun and always danceable, BoBossa plays swing, latin, jazz, ballads, blues, bebop and fusion with a bit of R&B and rock and roll thrown into the mix. At a BoBossa gig you may hear the traditional sounds of Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean A Thing, If It Ain’t Got That Swing”, or the sultry sounds of Peggy Lee’s “Fever”; you might hear the latin goove of “Girl From Ipanema”, Dave Brubek’s “Take Five”, or Charlie Parker’s “Yardbird Suite”.

Christian Larsen
Christian Larsen attended DePaul University’s School of Music, graduating in 1997 with a triple major in Piano Performance, Percussion Performance, and Sound Recording Technology. He played in multiple jazz combos, orchestra, rock bands and percussion ensembles, in addition to writing solo compositions. Returning to DePaul in 2000, Christian earned his Masters Degree in Applied Mathematics. He continued to perform, recording several albums and playing shows locally. Christian worked as an Actuarial Consultant for ten years, but eventually returned to music full time in 2008. Since then, Christian has written three orchestral/electronic albums, the third of which will be released in the Fall of 2010. He describes his pieces as “full movie scores in under five minutes each.” Christian can be contacted via christian.a.larsen@gmail.com and visited at www.christianlarsenmusic.com.

David Chown
David has been playing piano professionally for over 25 years. He has released 6 CD’s on his own label. David’s latest CD, “S’Bout Time”, is a collaboration with singer Miriam Pico. It was produced at David’s Lookout Music Productions Studio in Traverse City. In addition to solo piano concerts and club appearances, David leads a popular variety band, the “Lookout Cats”, which features some of Traverse City’s top musicians. http://www.davidchown.com
 

Freya
Freya welcomes you to the music from the World Bazaar. Flutes, piano, Swedish nyckelharpa, accordion, octave mandolin, guitar weave tunes of euro-folk-jazz by the hands of Lisa and Ingemar Johansson, Sue Wood, and Gary Cook. You will find yourself somewhere between a French Café, the Nordic tundra, a Michigan parlor and a Swedish sauna. 

Grand Traverse Pipe and Drums
Powerful and invigorating…. majestic, yet haunting. From time out of memory, the music of the great highland bagpipe is both mysterious and inspiring. Grand Traverse Pipes & Drums, founded 36 years ago, perform ancient Gaelic airs, electrifying Highland dances, and the rousing marches of the British Army. The band has performed in many hundreds of parades, festivals, concerts, and special events. They have been chosen as the Governor’s escort for several special occasions. The band’s self-titled CD was released in 2008. The Grand Traverse Pipes & Drums wear kilts in the Ancient Sutherland tartan. They are led by Pipe Major Peter Deneen, Drum Sergeant Clark Harner, and Drum Major Les Thornburg. For more information, visit the web site: www.grandtraversepipesanddrums.org See us on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=50372371378

Henry Sparks 
Henry Sparks lives in England, plays guitar, writes and sings songs. His music is informed by experience as a pizza slinger, carpenter, architect and lecturer. Folk – English and American – and a fascination with song-writing have driven his playing and creativity. Henry was a founder of DIY punk innovators Longport Buzz and roots pioneers Bootfare. He now makes music with Canterbury legends The Country Counts, and stateside with The New City Wates and will play anywhere at any opportunity. Please contact Henry for further information.  Email: henrycdsparks@aol.com. Myspace: www.myspace.com/henrycdsparks

Jazz North
Jazz North is a 7 piece little Big Band comprised of local professional musicians that play classic swing, Latin, blues and ballads at various venues. Most of  the group met playing in the NMC jazz band and began performing as a septet under the name of JazzNorth in the winter of 2004-05.

Mateo 
Mateo Toler is the founder and vocal lead of ROJO LOCO_TM, a Northern Michigan Latin Dance band, which plays all the hip-swaying grooves of Island music, Afro-Cuban music and Latin Dance music. ROJO LOCO is a visually-unique LIVE band, which not only includes vocals sung in Spanish & Portuguese, but which may also include musicians performing on the congas, timbales, claves, guiros and other Latin percussion instruments. They can be booked with or without Latin Dance instruction or demonstrations. ROJO LOCO offers a full range of prices and sizes, depending upon the details and location of your event. Look for us online atwww.SOLdeLUNAmusic.com.

Motel Darlene
“A Cult Roots act in the making.”  - Dublin Event Guide
“Darlene has a huge range of vocal & musical styles, reflecting wide travel & deep interest in the music of many cultures.”   – Hot Press Magazine, Dublin
“Darlene has expanded her vocal range and skills to encompass just about any kind of keening or chanting or ululation one may be aware of, from operatic soprano to mariachi to throat singing or even barking like a dog.”  - Phil Wintermute, Elderly Instruments MI

Photographers
New Folk duet Photographers began in Traverse City in 2007. Songwriter Maren Hoopfer and Guitarist John Hanson joined forces to create a new and exciting blend of vocal harmony, unique songwriting and fun melodies. After traveling abroad in the United Kingdom and Germany, the two settled in Chicago where they are currently both working as freelance artists. With Two albums and a Multi-Media artist collective under their belts, Photographers are ambitious and energetic. Their recordings include guitar, vibraphone, clarinet and banjo as well as their unique vocal harmony.

Red Sea Pedestrians
The Red Sea Pedestrians are a one-of-a-kind, full-blown,
instrument-swapping fusion between tradition and the here-and-now. We’re talkin’ high-energy world-beat grooves, hypnotic laments from the earth, songs of celebration and wonder, all filtered through the band’s original vision. The band is a melting pot of six distinct
singer/songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, exploring a warped and beautiful blend of Klezmer, Greek, Gypsy, Classical, Jazz and American Roots.www.theredseapedestrians.com

Ruby John, Traditional Fiddler
Ruby John is a 19 year old Native American and Irish fiddler from Northport, Michigan.  She plays Metis, Irish, Old Time, French Canadian, Country, and Bluegrass traditional fiddle music.  Ruby plays in the Heart To Heart Bluegrass Band and guests with many other bands.   Learning traditional fiddle music has allowed Ruby to meet many great people and learn from the masters of the genres she performs.   She attends the Algoma Trad Traditional Music Camp run by Julie Schryer yearly where she has been able to learn from some of Canada’s greatest fiddlers including Pierre Schryer and Dan Mac Donald.  Her mentor in Old Time music and greatest influence is Lee Sloan.  Currently she is teaching fiddle with her mentor and teacher Anne Lederman at the Garden River First Nations Reservation in Canada.  Ruby is pursuing a career as a professional traditional fiddle music musician.   You can hear her and bluegrass band this summer at the Leelanau Sands Casino in Peshawbestown.

Song of the Lakes
A quartet of the self-described genre of Great Lakes World Music, they “sing the praises of life on and around the Great Lakes.” Original compositions played on guitar, mandolin, flute, concertina, bodhran, Swedish nyckelharpa, harmonica and sometimes cello, are accompanied by vocals often telling of stories, lore and legends of the Great Lakes. The Grand Traverse area residents have been performing over 28 years. They have released five CDs and DVD. Check out their webpage at www.songofthelakes.com.

Sundelius
Sundelius is made up of local muscians who have been playing in the area for years. Tammy Sundelius-Canfield, from Charlevoix, wrote her first song at the age of nine. Her parents enrolled her in piano lessons when she was eleven and she took off from there with her singing and writing career. Her first original album came out in 2007, entitled “The Simple Things.” Tammy has sung in various competitions, talent shows, special events, rotary club performances, and other nonprofit organizations. To hear more of Sundelius’ Music, check them out on myspace! www.myspace.com/sundeliusmusic and/or facebook! 

Swallowtail
“Swallowtail”, a celtic band from County Leelanau and County Grand Traverse includes Don Lessard on guitar, Rebecca Lessard on hammered dulcimer and plectrum banjo and Brendan Keenan on bodhran and vocals.  The 3 play music for the pure enjoyment and because “it is our legal right”.   Swallowtail is available to play for weddings, parties and special events.   Contact Rebecca Lessard at 231-326-4663

The Corvairs
The Corvairs are a veteran Rhythm and Blues band that also dabbles in classic rock and original material.  Based in Traverse City, MI, the band consists of Dave Viswat on Keys and vocals, Frank Dituri on guitars and vocals, John Kumjian on drums, vocals, and harmonica, Angelo Meli on guitars and vocals, and Bob DeKorne on bass guitar and vocals. 

THUNDERCLAP  
Once upon a time in a quaint little town called Chippawa there was a stork on rout to deliver a small bundle of joy to expecting parents.  
Upon delivery of this tiny tot, the stork found himself amongst a frightful storm. The river waters stirred and heaved below. The setting sun cast a brown and orange glow that kissed the clouds and sparkled madly off the quarreling waves. 
Tranny unicorns and red and blue figure-less forms materialized from the air-born electricity.  They chanted a chorus. They possessed the youngster with know how and such. They all moved together in unison. The stork, the baby, and their new friends all new quite quickly that it was “all” so very easy, and they laughed. 
Thunderclap is now in his prime. He strives to humanize, open eyes, and remember that he himself is NOTHING!  “It is not for me and it is not from me”, Thunderclap confesses, and he will profess this wherever his stormy cloud roams.

Turtlenecks
The Turtlenecks features guitarist Mike Sullivan of Song of the Lakes and Norm Wheeler of the Beach Bards on flugelhorn.  A perfect pairing of food and music, the Turtlenecks create a warm, elegant atmosphere; performing a variety of jazz standards and bossa novas combined with poetry of love and life. The duo has performed at the finest restaurants throughout northern Michigan.

Veena Chandra
Veena Chandra is an internationally renowned sitarist, composer, and choreographer. She is the founder and director of the Dance and Music School of India in Latham, where she teaches Indian classical music on various instruments, as well as voice, and she also teaches Indian dance.  She has been a faculty member at Skidmore College since 1990 -teaching sitar in the Music Department, and Hindi in the Foreign Language Department.

Wild Sullys
A foot-stomping, tort-feasing, hand-clapping, heart-pounding, sing-a-longing, spur-whirling, horn-tooting, sheep-shagging, fist pumping good time. Kinetic Celtic rocked-up Irish morph-funk. Visit them at www.myspace.com/wildsullys.