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Inspiration Alcona's newest music venture brings professional musicians to Harrisville for 14 consecutive Fridays starting June 18, 2021. These free concerts run 7 to 9 p.m. on the lawn above Harrisville harbor. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and listen to some of Michigan's best singer-songwriters.
The rain date for each concert is the following evening. |
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June 18: Detroit's Mike Ward produces lyric-driven, simple folk songs. Mike grew up listening to the Irish music of the Clancy Brothers and singing in church choirs. His influences include Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Jason Isbell and John Prine.
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June 25: Jan Krist and Jim Bizer met and made music together while still in their teens. On their own they have each garnered acclaim as songwriters and performers. Now, Jim and Jan are a fun and formidable duo. They pay homage to their roots, reflecting the music of their Detroit hometown and the Midwest. Their songs range from heartfelt to hilarious ─ sometimes both at once. Lush harmonies, intelligent and insightful lyrics, plenty of groove. They have been recognized by the Great American Song Contest, Detroit Music Awards, New Folk (Kerrville Folk Festival, Texas) and NewSong Festival (West Virginia).
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July 2: Beverly Meyer draws from a 30-year career in music. Her songs are insightful reflections of everyday experiences. Inspiration can arise from a glorious piece of pie or a worrisome night waiting for her love to return. She is a gifted story teller as well, but her songs speak for themselves, crafted from real life and transforming ordinary moments into memorable melodies. She well known in children’s music circles and has traversed the state performing in schools and in libraries as the Music Lady, bringing music into the lives of Michigan’s children. Bring the youngsters to this concert.
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July 9: 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. Kitty, right in the photo, brought along Rod and Annie Capps as her backup group.
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July 16: Growing up on a sheep farm in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Josh Rose found musical inspiration in some unusual places. Much of it came from his grandfather, “the consummate lounge player,” churning out old standards on a Hammond organ in a back room in Sault Ste. Marie. Rose, 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.” For Rose, writing songs and pursuing music as a vocation has meant juggling job and family responsibilities, but he concedes it’s a passion that continues to drive him forward.
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July 23: Grand Rapids-based singer-songwriter Kyle Rasche (rhymes with “Kashi”) celebrates the 10th anniversary of his band, Chain of Lakes. His most recent album is "Next Few Winters." 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 is currently one of twenty-four finalists in the Kerrville Folk Festival 2021 Grassy Hill New Folk competition. (Winners will be announced May 29). He is also working on a musical titled "Chevy Town."
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July 30: 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 on the road to her loyal legions of fans across the country.
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August 6: Rod & Annie 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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August 13: Dan Hazlett (pronounced HAZE-let) is an accomplished, polished performer who entertains and uplifts his audiences with his smooth, soulful voice, finely honed acoustic guitar work and arsenal of well-crafted and thoughtfully presented songs. Weaving in and out of folk, jazz and a Will Rogers style of down-home humor, Dan captivates his listeners with subject matter ranging from the ordinary silliness of everyday life to the unexpected intensity of dramatic interludes ─ and always while wearing his signature red high-top sneakers!
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August 20: Michael “Colonel” Crittenden first toured with the Boston rock band The Westmorelands and later as frontman for the popular Grand Rapids-based folk-rock band Troll for Trout, which perfected its distinctive brand of Michigan’s great Up North music. As owner of Mackinaw Harvest Studios in Grand Rapids, he’s overseen projects by some of the region’s most notable names ─ from Drew Nelson to Pop Evil to The Accidentals to Mid-Life Crisis to Josh Rose and many more ─ and developed young recording talent via the Youth Recording Arts Academy. Now the multi-instrumentalist with a degree from Berklee College of Music is splitting his time between Grand Rapids and Traverse City. As a solo performer The Colonel presents finely crafted original songs, both poignant and humorous, that touch the heart and tell of his love for fishing, the great outdoors and Northern Michigan.
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August 27: Andy Baker has spent a lifetime peering through microscopes. As a veterinarian, it’s a necessary skill ─ searching for small clues to grasp the bigger picture. Pretty handy tool for a songwriter, too. In fact, Andy has spent a great deal of his life with his own lens turned inward … and outward … resulting in a writing style that moves with a purposeful stride, a playful heart, and a hopeful eye to the horizon. Three decades of crafting songs have resulted in four studio albums, with nods to influences including Counting Crows, James Taylor, Ryan Adams and the Indigo Girls. His 2010 release, “Down,” garnered multiple awards from the Great Lakes Songwriting Competition, and songs from his 2017 album, “One Fine Day,” landed him a coveted finalist spot at the Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competition. On the heels of his 2020 release “North Country Sky,” Andy came back to win the Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competition, and was also featured at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in New York. The album spent a number of weeks on the national Folk DJ Chart, and the opening song “Second Wind” hit Number 18. Andy’s love for his day job and family keep him deeply rooted in his tiny rural town of Gobles, but when he gets to hit the road he does so with a glint in his eye, a tap in his step, and a trunk full of instruments. Andy’s live shows feature a mesmerizing rotation of songs played on guitar, bouzouki, dobro, and even bass.
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September 3: Northeast Michigan Round Robin featured Charlie Flowers, Ian McConnell, Laura Frawley, and Joe Thomas entertaining with their own unique writing and singing skills.
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September 10: Michael McNevin's songs read like short stories — full of heart, humor, and a keen eye for detail. Winner of the Kerrville New-Folk award in Texas, Performing Songwriter Magazine “DIY Artist Of The Year”, 7-time grand finals "Song Of The Year" winner for West Coast Songwriters. Accomplished guitar work and seasoned vocals underscore the characters and places he comes across in his travels. He's shared hall stages with Johnny Cash & The Carter Family, Donovan, Shawn Colvin, Richie Havens, Iris Dement, Greg Brown, Christine Lavin, Robert Earl Keen, and many of others. Michael has been a guest on CBS "Evening Magazine", plus segments on NBC, ABC, and dozens of cable music shows.
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September 17: 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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