Our 2024 Performers!
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2024 Performers
Amy Petty is a classically trained singer whose heart beats Rock and Roll. Amy studied classical voice at Oakland University in Rochester MI before beginning her career in opera, performing at the Detroit Opera Theater, Meadowbrook Theater and with symphony orchestras across the state. But it didn’t take long for Amy to realize she wanted to do more than perform…she wanted to create music.
Amy began writing and arranging her own brand of folk-rock music, meeting new audiences and discovering a new voice. She was quickly signed to Red Pill Entertainment, a record label based in St. Louis, MO with whom she released three critically acclaimed albums featuring her original songs that can be heard on TV and film, including the award-winning documentary “Ride the Divide”.
Today, Amy is an independent artist who calls Saginaw home. Her latest album “The Darkness of Birds”, recorded at Reed Recording Company in Bay City, won REVIEW Magazine’s Album of the Year in 2020. She performs her original music all over Michigan as a solo artist and with The Amy Petty Band. Amy can also be seen with her Woodstock-era tribute band "Itchycoo Park” and is one-third of the “Classic Women of Country”, a musical tribute to the iconic women who put country music on the map. Amy is also a sought-after studio musician, choral arranger, composer, producer and vocal coach.
A veteran performer, Amy has appeared on stages across the country from Carnegie Hall to The Kennedy Center, Club Passim in Cambridge MA to The Ark in Ann Arbor and countless churches, festivals, schools and living rooms in between. She has shared the main stage with artists like Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, Suzanne Vega and Steve Van Zandt.
Amy Petty
Michigan singer/songwriter Andy Baker has spent 3 decades captivating audiences with his unique style of handcrafted midwestern folk. He writes songs with substance, filled with themes of hills and valleys, flying machines and messy cars, chances almost taken, wonder, addiction, rebirth…and most of all…hope. He presents his songs live on a number of instruments, including guitar, dobro, octave mandolin, and even bass. Engaging and witty, humorous and thought provoking…with a keen sense for writing irresistible sing-along refrains…an evening with Andy’s music will leave you with a fuller heart and a hopeful gaze to the horizon.
Andy Baker
The Annie & Rod Capps sound meets at the intersection of Americana & Folk citing rock, jazz and bluegrass influences. While the songwriting takes center stage, the band features world class musicians, Jason Dennie on Mandolin and vocals, Ozzie Andrews on Bass and Michael Shimmin on drums, delivering dynamic instrumental arrangements and inventive harmony. As with many singer/songwriters whose instrumentation is primarily acoustic the word “folk” covers a broad sonic range of genres and influences. The Capps have done it all from hard rock to musical theatre and what comes out is a hybrid sound all their own. Genuine and playful; effortless and endearing; they've been delighting audiences in quality music venues, house concerts, coffeehouses, and festivals throughout their home state of Michigan and beyond.
Annie & Rod Capps
Ben Traverse is a young balladeer with a very wide hat who commands a wide array of instruments in their mission to bring the finest traditional folk music into the 21st century. Proud Michigander and Earthwork Music Collective member, Traverse brings a forward-thinking, communal enthusiasm to old and rich musical tradition. On their journey, they've released three albums: a totally solo collection of old time American ballads and songs in the spirit of Pete Seeger and the early Folkways Recordings catalog and two collaborative releases; one with Michael Dause (Moss Manor, Treeskin) of rollicking shanties and seafaring ballads, and the other with Nick Veine celebrating music of the Irish diaspora.
Ben Traverse
- In the early 1990s, Billy led his two-member band, the preteen King Brothers, to local fame in the Ann Arbor area, performing regularly and releasing five albums of mostly original material. Still living and working on the family farm, Billy has continued writing and recording, and, with his brother, started Holler Fest, a three-day music festival featuring Michigan artists.
Billy King &
Emily Slomovits
Emily Slomovits is an Ann Arbor-based freelance musician, theatre artist, teacher, and writer. She has studied violin and voice in classical, jazz and folk styles for over fifteen years, and folk guitar for almost ten years. Emily plays music with her dad and uncle, the duo Gemini, with her dad as San and Emily, with singer-songwriter Billy King as well as with many other musicians, including Judy Banker, Billy Brandt, Annie and Rod Capps, and Jill Jack.
The Blue Water Ramblers, est. 2002, write their own songs and take turns harmonizing with each other to create a colorful tapestry of sounds. “Banjo-Jim” Foerch on his acoustic and electric banjos and R.H. “Bear” Berends on his big Martin guitar are the core of the Rambler vocal and writing team. Then add “California Dan” Lynn laying down the steady rhythm on his doghouse,
But wait, there's more! Nate Myers adding mandolin leads and fills. Julia Kent of blazing fiddle licks on soaring melodies. The unique Blue Water Rambler sound. In our performances you will hear songs expressing our unique take on life both present and past in styles folky to bluegrass, Americana and roots.
Blue Water Ramblers
Carolyn Striho &
Scott Dailey
Carolyn Striho is a renowned Detroit songwriter, singer, and musician whose songs are “from the silver edge of midnight (All Music Guide).” From her early days in Detroit in art rock/punk rock to her current evocative music, Carolyn’s alluring vocal delivery with an award-winning powerful rock and roll folk/eclectic sound is hypnotizing. Carolyn’s unique style has reached audience everywhere, and she has received music awards and more. She’s performed on tour in the U.S., Italy, England, and Japan and toured with Patti Smith, played with Was (Not Was) in Detroit Energy Asylum, with Iggy Pop, Yoko Ono, Steve Earle, Tori Amos and many more. www.carolynstriho.com/blog
Scott Dailey’s magical guitar playing, vocals and songwriting has led Scott to receiving music awards and acclaim. Scott has played throughout the world from Detroit to northern Michigan to Nashville and shows in in the U.K. and Italy. His career spans from The Stingrays to shows with Nick Lowe, The Ventures, Junior Walker and the All-Stars and many more. As Inner Door Music said, “when Scott starts singing, people stop talking and listen.” He is a talented, respected artist with a delightful energy onstage and in his songwriting. https://www.reverbnation.com/scottdailey4
From Michigan’s northern lower peninsula, the Charlie Millard Band has developed a unique sound, voice and thought-provoking lyrics/poetry of their own. Always playing lots of festivals and venues across the States and Canada, with percussionist Will Harris, Jercat Millard on guitars, and Charlie on the keys/organ/Rhodes bass, they strive to give you a musical experience, like small movies for the ears.
Charlie Millard Band
Chasin' Steel
Dave Boutette &
Kristi Lynn Davis
Chasin' Steel has been performing their style of original bluegrass from above the bridge for over 20 years. Hard-drivin', high energy bluegrass with a rock and roll attitude... and some fishing flavor.
One time garage rock troubadour Dave Boutette, and former Radio City Rockette Kristi Lynn Davis make what could be considered an odd musical pairing, but they have most certainly found a way to make it work. Since pairing Dave’s celebrated songwriting with Kristi’s natural gift for harmony, the duo has delighted audiences at music festivals, house concerts, and listening rooms from the Porcupine Mountains down to Oberlin, Ohio.
Dave & Kristi’s music is a blend of many schools of American roots and popular music including folk, blues, swing, and old time country. The lyrics testify to the power of true love, rebirth, coffee, and even migrating fish.
Michigan-born Navy veteran Drew Nelson is a storytelling songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. A fly fisherman and world traveler, he writes as a witness to the lives and journeys of those he has met along the way, mixing Americana and roots-rock with traditional folk styles.
Drew has toured across North America and Europe, performing solo and opening for popular rock artists like Melissa Etheridge and Edwin McCain as well as esteemed folk singers like Josh White Jr. and John Gorka.
Drew Nelson
Erik Koskinen is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, whose music is not categorized by sub-genres. Stylistically he is on his own while heavily influenced by American roots music. The rhythmic integrity and musical tone is as important as the lyrical content and the artistic intent. Koskinen has reverently entered the anthology of uniquely crafted wry songs with the likes of Woody Guthrie and Ry Cooder while speaking as plainly as your neighbor.
Erik Koskinen