2024 Performers
"An americana band, a folk band, a rock band, a country band."
"Mid-Michigan natives and lifelong traveling musicians, musical group Hatchwing Rider play heavy-hearted folk-rock paired with a restless psychedelic Americana. They cut their teeth in bars, cafes, and stages across middle America, developing a musical chemistry informed by the likes of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Leonard Cohen, and The Byrds. The lead singer and chief songwriter Christopher Zehnder, spent four years in Nashville honing his craft and released two full-length records during this time. These albums attracted glowing reviews from No Depression, Bluegrass Situation, B3 Science, and The Nashville Scene. Hatchwing Rider’s versatility is their hallmark, bobbing and weaving seamlessly through many different genres."
Hatchwing Rider
Hayward Williams
Hayward Williams is a veteran singer/songwriter from Milwaukee, WI. With eight full length records under his belt. He released his latest "Might As Well Turn It Up'' in July of 2023. Growing up in Wisconsin in the 80's and 90's convinced Hayward Williams to search for something more out there in the world. Foregoing higher education, he joined a band and learned much about what to do and what not to do in the Midwest music scene. Playing in pubs for many years , getting thick skin and finding a notably sharp tongue, avenues opened up to Williams. Headlining European tours, major US festivals and a few trips to Australia later, Hayward has carved out an impressive niche in the folk music business. Williams' “The Reef”, was produced by venerated songwriter, friend and collaborator Jeffrey Foucault. Utilizing an impressive rhythm section of Billy Conway (Morphine) on drums and Jeremy Moses Curtis (Booker T, Levon Helm, Session Americana) on bass, The Reef is an unequaled Americana record with soaring vocals and hooks that dig in deep.
Jeffrey Foucault
BLOOD BROTHERS, the much-anticipated follow-up to Jeffrey Foucault’s critically acclaimed 2015 album Salt As Wolves (“Immaculately tailored… Sometimes his songs run right up to the edge of the grandiose and hold still, and that's when he's best… Close to perfection” - New York Times; “Pure Songwriter, simple and powerful” - Morning Edition, NPR) is a collection of reveries, interlacing memory with the present tense to examine the indelible connections of love across time and distance. In two decades on the road Jeffrey Foucault has become one of the most distinctive voices in American music, refining a sound instantly recognizable for its simplicity and emotional power, a decidedly Midwestern amalgam of blues, country, rock’n’roll, and folk. Foucault considers the nature of love and time in ten songs free of ornament, staking out and enlarging the ground he’s been working diligently all the new century: quietly building a deep, resonant catalogue of songs about about love, memory, God, desire, wilderness, and loss.
Jen Sygit
Sometimes traditional, sometimes contemporary, always imbued with a raw honesty, Lansing based Independent Music Award winning songwriter Jen Sygit wields a rare and powerful talent that seems equally comfortable performing ethereal folk tunes, crooning sultry swing numbers or soulfully belting gritty alt country ballads. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist who isn’t afraid to test boundaries and cross genres, Jen’s eclectic musical style draws the listener in and holds them captivated. Her poignant lyrics tinged with a delicate melancholy, reveal an oft-overlooked beauty to life’s mundane struggles while offering the occasional glimpse into the plight of a modern-day troubadour.
Jill Jack
Since 1997 she has won 46 awards from the Detroit Music Awards Foundation, a nonprofit that seeks to recognize Detroit-area artists at the local, regional and national levels. Her career spans more than 25 years and 12 award-winning CDs, as well as three new singles during the pandemic. She has also starred in consistently sold-out shows at the historic Ark in Ann Arbor, and opened for such prominent touring acts as Bob Seger, John Waite, Emmy Lou Harris, Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin, Dan Fogelberg, Marshall Crenshaw, Chris Isaak and Loretta Lynn. Jack also believes in giving back, with missionary work in Haiti and community service through the Detroit Children’s Choir, the Michigan Arthritis Foundation, Rock for Jobs, Gilda’s Club Bras for a Cause, the Girl Scouts of America, Enchanted Makeovers and Lost Voices — a group that supports young victims of abuse, neglect, violence, addiction and human trafficking, through the gentle encouragement of song.
Jon's musical career began in the in the late 1960’s. The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Jimi Hendrix and many other players of that time, together with the Sears Silvertone guitar dumped in his lap from Santa Claus, set him on his musical journey.
After playing coffee houses and some rock n roll gigs in the Detroit area, he ended up in the southwest United States for almost thirty years. There he discovered Western swing and hard core, drinkin’ and cheating’ country music. That atmosphere inspired him to develop an arsenal of musical instruments including pedal steel, dobro, lap steel, fiddle and mandolin.
Eventually he was called back home to Michigan where he discovered Celtic music and found it to be as highly enjoyable as all the other styles of music he had experienced.
Then, five short years ago, Jon met the love of his life, Paula. Paula’s musical background has always involved church and a much more formal learning experience through school and training.
Jon & Paula
Potrykus
Josh Rose’s songs float into the room like a Lake Michigan evening onshore breeze. They refresh you, they energize you, and they linger long into the darkness of your favorite nights. The current of his shows will carry you into a realm of beauty, curiosity, hope, and wonder. Josh invites you to float along with his songs, breathe in the poetry, and get lost for a little while. Welcome to the Head-in-the-Clouds Folk music of Josh Rose.
Josh Rose
"Let's drum and move! I love performing at festivals for my community partners. Whether it's a fundraiser or a community enrichment event, I'll use music and movement to help you bring the smiles! Enjoy some Samba with Gilda’s Laughfest participants - no previous dance experience required."
Josh Dunigan
Judy Banker
Described as “…one of the brightest stars on the acoustic music scene” by PULP online and “a monster singer-songwriter” by SEMIBluegrass, Judy Banker is known for her hook-driven songwriting combining evocative lyrics and melodies with her singular, expressive voice. She brings her sound to solo and Judy Banker Band performances at clubs, festivals, and concert halls like The Ark, Johnny’s Speakeasy, Farmington Civic Theater, Mama's Coffeehouse, Michigan Theatre of Jackson, Trinity House Theatre, Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Aretha's Jazz Cafe-Detroit, Nor East’r Music Festival, Harvest Gathering, Detroit Arts, Beats, & Eats, Holler Fest, and the Rosalie Sorrels Music Festival in Boise, Idaho.
Keynote Sisters
The Keynote Sisters present a fresh-faced look at Americana/folk, tied together by pure harmonies only sisters can create. Their storytelling lyrics of personal experience give you a glimpse into their lives and leave you feeling as if you walked through these times by their side. The Keynote Sisters released their debut EP, Rose Colored Glasses (2019), at their sold out 20 Front Street show, followed by their latest single, Done and Damned (2021), with a full-length album set for release in 2024. They have performed at The Ark, 20 Front Street, Trinity House Theatre and America's Thanksgiving Parade, and have been featured on Fox 2 Detroit, WDIV Local 4, TV20 Detroit, and the Oakland Press. In 2018, the Keynote Sisters were named the Michigan State Fair Superstar Grand Prize Winners.
Kyle Rasche
Kyle Rasche (Alto, MI) is a father, songwriter, playwrite, & assistant soccer coach for the U8 Girls Purple Hyenas. To make things confusing, he has released seven albums under the moniker Chain of Lakes. He writes what he knows: family, friendship, and the beauty and strife that comes with an unflinching compulsion to sing about his feelings. His gift is translating those feelings in full, delivering delicate, thoughtful songs that span the spectrum from heart-wrenching to hilarious - often in the same song.
In addition to his work with CoL, Kyle curates a songwriters guild called The Song Haul, is the primary songwriter for The Real Humdingers (“kid songs for everyone”), has contributed songs for several musical theatre works, including his own Michigan folk musical called The Keeper, which is currently in workshop stages.
Lee Kitzman
Lee began performing at age 16 on the Detroit folk scene in the mid 60's in the Coffee House's around the WSU campus area. A brief stay in St.Louis saw him on the Gaslight Square At the Frank Moskus Gaslight Bar frequently. Upon returning to Detroit, Lee got a real job with a career. Retiring 15 years ago brought Lee back to his love of Music. since then Lee has played a key role with the Thunder Bay Folk Society which is celebrating 10 years of successful Festivals in Alpena every September. Lee also is Co-founder of the Alpena Street Performers. Celebrating 9 years of Music on the Street Friday nights in Downtown Alpena. Known as Easy Lee for radio station WXTF-LP in Harrisville for the last 7 years. Most recently Lee has recorded a new CD at Roof Top Recordings. Releasing at this year's Nor-East'r Arts and Music Festival.
Mark Jewett
Mark Jewett is an insightful Michigan storyteller with listeners in over 60 countries. He writes songs that push the boundaries of Americana into an uncommon blend of folk, rock, blues, and prog rock. Throughout them, listeners can hear and feel his honesty, gratitude, and introspective thoughts, with healthy doses of humor and drama to vary the pace. His songs betray the effort he makes to find just the right words, taking cues from the likes of Jackson Browne, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, and JD Souther. As a writer, he finds the lighter side of life easy to put to music, but writing about love, loss, and the road between them is harder to get right. Sonically, his tunes span the space between classic folk and epic soundscapes you might expect to hear from Pink Floyd. Somehow, it all fits together to provide an intriguing, self-contained variety show.