Inspiration Alcona's most popular music venture brings professional musicians to Harrisville for 14 consecutive Fridays from June 17 through September 16, 2022. Scroll down to see who's singing.
These free concerts run 7 to 9 p.m. on the lawn at Harbor Park above Harrisville harbor. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and listen to some of Michigan's best singer-songwriters. If the weather is bad, Harbor Nights will move to the Harrisville Branch of the Alcona County Library, 312 W. Main Street. |
You can sponsor Harbor NightsTo keep these concerts free for the audiences, Inspiration Alcona invites sponsors to help with the costs and get some public recognition at the same time. All donations are welcome. Click here to learn more. |
June 17: Michigan legend Dick Siegel writes and plays irresistible and exuberant music, with echoes of folk, blues, jazz and R&B. Among his famous compositions are classics like “Angelo’s” and “What Would Brando Do?” Sometimes there’s a hint of Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Spike Jones, T.S. Elliot or the Beatles. Dick is a longtime Ann Arbor resident and favorite performer. Bassist Dave Roof, who plays many instruments, is a frequent sideman for Dick.
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June 24: Charlie Walmsley,
Ed Dupas and Dan Hazlett Three prominent Michigan songwriters team up for this special performance. Charley has performed since the 1960s in many of Michigan's hottest clubs, including on Mackinac Island, as well as in the Florida Keys. Charley’s songs "Arkansas" and "Mr. Easy" were included on blues legend Larry McCray’s new album, "Blues Without You," which reached #1 on Billboard, iTunes and Amazon charts. Ed writes reflective lyrics about the human condition. Dan is a polished performer who entertains with his smooth, soulful voice and acoustic guitar work. |
July 1: Jan Krist,
Jim Bizer and John D. Lamb Jan, a New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Music Festival in 1993, performs regularly in the Midwest and teaches songwriting workshops. Jan's longtime friend Jim also performs and teaches, and he and Jan have two joint albums. John is not only a prominent performer and songwriter, he's also the founder of Lamb's Retreat for Songwriters and Springfed Arts, which teaches writing online and in metro Detroit. |
July 8: J. Oscar Bittinger and
Daniel Bracken J Oscar's stories get woven into songs that take the shape of folk, rock, Irish and pop music. Sometimes they sound like poems, sometimes like fables, some may require a tissue and others might make you want to dance. Finger-style guitarist Daniel plays music informed by his rich history as a recordist and producer for Public Media, and as a performer in the US and Ireland. His songs embrace many of the storytelling qualities of traditional Irish and American roots music. |
July 15: Annie and Rod Capps have established themselves as well-respected songwriters, musicians and performers, with three albums topping the Folk-DJ charts and two times as Kerrville New Folk finalists. The Capps’ sound meets at the intersection of Americana & folk, citing rock, jazz and bluegrass influences. With their 8th studio recording, “When They Fall,” Annie & Rod continue to blend diverse styles to create a fresh and unique amalgamation.
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July 22: Mike Ward,
Beverly Meyer and Sigrid Christiansen Detroit's Mike produces lyric-driven, simple folk songs. Beverly draws from a 30-year career in music. Her songs are insightful reflections of everyday experiences. She well known in children’s music circles as the Music Lady to Michigan’s children. Sigrid sings about tornadoes and tigers, family and foxes, heart and home with a smile that lights a room. |
July 29: Eric Engblade is a joyful Grand Rapids artist pondering the tug of war between wants and needs. His songs are a soothing serenade. A natural storyteller, Eric offers his hand and insists you hold on while he takes you for a ride through fact, fiction and someone else’s lies. Subdued rage, reasonable doubt and existential meanderings command attention, intention and the choice between falling in line or falling in love.
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August 5: Claudia Schmidt is one of the Midwest's most popular folk and jazz musicians. With her smoky alto vocals and multi-instrumental skills, Claudia has crafted a unique style from the musical traditions of the past. Claudia's concerts reflect her eclectic approach as well; one critic has observed that her shows are "a lot like falling in love ─ you never know what's going to happen next." A Michigan native, Claudia was a frequent guest on the early days of "A Prairie Home Companion." More than thirty years and 16 albums later, Claudia continues to perform to her loyal legions of fans across the country.
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August 12: Kyle Rasche,
Josh Rose and Andy Baker Kyle’s smooth vocals and finger style guitar are the framework for masterfully painted tales punctuated with melodies that make the stories they tell stick with you. Kyle was a finalist in the Kerrville Folk Festival 2021 Grassy Hill New Folk competition and took one step up as a winner in the same competition in May 2022. Josh, who by day works as a chemistry teacher in Lake Odessa, about 30 miles from his home in Ada, recently released his third studio album, “Old Laminate.” Andy, a veterinarian, writes in a style that moves with a purposeful stride, a playful heart, and a hopeful eye to the horizon. On the heels of his 2020 release “North Country Sky,” Andy won the Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competition. |
August 19: Michigan Emmy award-winning songwriter Kitty Donohoe has made up songs for as long as she can remember. Describing her music as "folky, bluesy, Irishy, American, Canadianish," she draws from her roots to create unique music. With a love of language, an innate sense of melody, and the soul of a storyteller, she backs herself on piano, guitar and cittern with equal finesse. Kitty’s latest CD, "The Irishman’s Daughter," combines original pieces with some traditional music. In 2002 Kitty won an Emmy for her 9/11 song "There Are No Words," which led to its use in a film and an appearance at the Pentagon for the dedication of the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial.
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August 26: Suzanne and Jim explore new directions by looking back into the roots of Americana music. The husband-and-wife team blend their voices and instruments in songs of an earlier time. The stories told by these old songs (and the stories behind the songs) not only relate tales of a bygone era but open a window into the origins of our modern culture. Since 1992 the pair have been full time travelers. Over the years they have taken their music into more than 40 states, Canada and Europe.
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September 2: David Rossiter and
Jo Serrapere David has been the guiding light behind the Ann Arbor band Hoodang since the start. He also founded the Songs In You Songwriting School in 2021. Jo began writing her own songs while completing her college studies in clinical psychology. She now plays across the United States while maintaining a psychotherapy practice. Jo’s music fuses elements of modern and traditional folk music, Delta and electric blues, roots rock, classic and alt-country, garage rock, surf and swing. |
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September 9: Laura Frawley,
Ian McConnell and Joe Thomas Laura, who is also Alcona County's probate judge, performs regularly and is working on a new album. She is also an Inspiration Alcona board member and the leader of the Harbor Nights project. Alpena native Ian has been collecting and performing on musical instruments from around the world for more than two decades. Mandolin, viola da gamba, shamisen, shakuhachi and maybe a vintage or even digital saxophone might be seen at one of his shows. Joe, also the guru of Tech Tuesday at the Alcona County Library, leads Inspiration Alcona's Dockside Jams project, an open mic weekly event at the same venue as Harbor Nights. Joe is also an Inspiration Alcona board member. |
September 16: Bob Hausler has entertained thousands of people in his career, sharing the stage with Richie Havens, Mark Stuart, Stacy Earle, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Eric Church and many more. His songs have played on radio stations around the world, winning numerous songwriting awards from Review Magazine, BMI and more.
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