2021 Thumbfest Performers - Blue Water Folk Society

2021 Thumbfest Performers
Albert Young and Straight 8
Albert Young, Jamie Shultz, Jeff Schott and Rick Shatter jam out on Americana Roots music with
harmonica master Larry Everhart sitting in. Windjammer 2:00

Alter of Stone
Clifford-based trio plays classic rock covers and Christian originals. A&W 1:30

The Barones & Friends
Jeff Barron's original family band collides with multiple bandmates to produce an explosion of “New-
folk jass-grass”. Catch them at the Courtyard 10:45 & 7:00

B-Side Growlers
Grand Rapids trio focusing on: Toe-tappin’ fired up, vintage acoustic blues, jazz and country”--a
musical experience with a rich history, festive atmosphere and a wide variety of song styles. Tradition
inspired music is alive and well! M-25 12:30; Windjammer 7:00 Blues and Country jams 3:00, 4:30

Bobby Budd
Songs and stories performed in the tradition of Utah Phillips, Bobby's mentor in the traveling nation.
Stage performance Simons St 11:00; Performing host of A&W open mics 2:30-4:00; Host of “Swap
Tall Tales” storytelling Jam Site 6:00

Butterhair
Lexington's favorite bar band-50's and 60's, country rock and standards. Start your Thumbfest right
with Butterhair! Catch them before they blow town for another gig at McNabb Stage 10:30

Camp Cavell Conservancy & Bea Castillo
Camp Cavell provides their popular Discovery Tent for kids of all ages, including a “build your own
instrument” workshop. Open Noon-5pm in Tierney Park north of the Harbor Stage. Relive your
campy summer fun with Bea Castillo and girl scouts at Camp songs singalong Sing Out! 6:00

Circle of Friends
Trio of Blue Water veterans deliver the best Peter, Paul & Mary and everything they play is rich in
harmony and complex guitar/bass arrangements. You'll be sorry they are only playing once. M-25 1:30

Rochelle Clark & Jason Dennie (Thunderwude)
Each a tour de force, definitive in style yet melded in perfect harmony. Acoustic and edgy Rochelle
Clark defines songwriting in her own crystalline image while Jason Dennie’s high lonesome voice and
melt your face off mandolin frame Clark with pin-point accuracy and startling beauty. M-25 3:30
Sing Out! 5:00 songwriter circle (Rochelle)

Cool Rain
Combines the vocals, mandolin, and guitar work of Larry Kulik with the vocals, guitar, and songwriting
skills of Rick Sears. Kenny Rayba adds his expertise at arranging music and playing lead guitar to
complete the mix. The group’s seasoned interpretations of 60’s, 70’s and 80’s music are sprinkled with
original songs spread over many genres. Courtyard 4:00ourtyard

DeSoto Drive
James Murphy on guitar, Ken Marten harmonica deliver a tasty blend of classic blues and outlaw
country covers and originals in the same flavors. Simon St 1:00; McNabb 6:30; Blues jam 3:00

Djangophonique
Inspired by the Parisian Jazz Manouche style guitarist Django Reinhardt and his Quintette du Hot Club
de France. Djangophonique pulls this rich tradition into the present with stunning improv, spontaneity
and musical interaction. Hot swing, lush ballads, musette waltzes, jazz standards, boleros, and moody
minor pieces are all fused together with theatrical flair and musical humor. Fans and guitarists, don't
miss the Django workshop! McNabb 11:30; Harbor 4:00; “Django” Workshop#1 1:30

Dog Latin
Chris McGorey's originals draw attention and collaboration from a wide circle of metro musicians.
Today the Dog Latin crew will include Terry Birkett on bass and guest voclaist Lauren Crane. You may
catch Chris at a songwriter circle too-keep your ears open! Simons St 12:00

Drum Circle with Travis Seigfried
Join host Travis Siegfried to wake up your sense of rhythm-bring a percussion instrument or borrow
one. Drum Circle Tent 1-5 pm

Eastward Bound
Three seasoned multi-instrumentalists bring you a mix of original songs and a taste of folk music from
the Balkans! Eastward Bound is a dynamic trio comprising Macedonian-born Luti Erbeznik (vocals,
guitars and percussion), John Finan, (vocals, guitars, keys, percussion) and Scott Williams (drums,
percussion, vocals). Traditional tunes in elusive time signatures, and original music featuring sounds
of the distant East in this transatlantic musical tour! The music features syncopated percussion, vocal
harmonies, double guitar leads, and -- always -- a few surprises. McNabb 5:30

Emilie & Andrew
A caffeine-fueled social worker mom, with a passion for songwriting and a slick guitar player with a
surprising past now moonlighting as a neuropsychologist. That's the folk-pop duo Emilie and Andrew,
sharing original music and favorite covers.Courtyard 5:00; Sing Out! 12:30 songwriter circle

Escaping Pavement
After a 28-state 2018 tour this Michigan-bred duo returned home for a triumphal 2019 summer tour
that covered Michigan from end to end. 2020 blew up their plans, but these Road Warriors are back
and better then ever! Fiercely melodic Americana and rollicking ballads driven by intricate guitar and
mandolin arrangements and magificent vocal harmonies.
Harbor 12:15 & 6:30; Workshop#2 3 pm Aaron's Mandolin Playing Technique

Floyd King & the Bushwackers
Long-time Thumbfest favorites, the “toughest band south of the picketwire” blows you away with crisp
harmonies and Jim Bizer's ferocious guitar licks on subjects from “Sheriff John Wayne” to a Caribbean
island sweetheart. Harbor Stage 11:15; Windjammer 4:00

The Hackwells
Original alt-country roots quartet plays everything from raucous relationship songs like “Your Next
Mistake” to the sweet ode to spring “April Can I Have This Dance”. “Songs about prison graveyards,
flea market beauty queens and other people's faults.” Windjammer 1:00; Harbor 5:15;

Dan Hazlett
In his hands anything from “carpet stains to schizophrenia” becomes an emotive song of giddy
silliness or deep reflection, or both, reinforced by intricately crafted guitar arrangements. With
Whistleblowers Harbor 2:45; Solo Windjammer 5:00; Sing Out 12:30 songwriter circle

Jean Marie & the Lads
Eclectic folk/Americana with a hefty helping of Celtic. Guitar, bodhran, flute, fiddle whistles and
concertina flavor their lively and engaging music. Sing Out! Singalong 11:30
Stages: McNabb 2:30, Windjammer 6:00
.
Joe Kidd & Shiela Burke
Americana, folk and world music touring artists, award-winning singer-songwriters. Last year Joe also
published The Invisible Water Hole, an illustrated book of verse while Shiela is launching a childrens
book series. Also recording for their next CD project. We are lucky they found time to be with us!
Courtyard 1:00

LL Blues
Larry Stevens and Larry Everhart bring traditional guitar/harmonica blues to life for the modern ear.
This is why people loved the blues. Windjammer 12:00; Blues Jam 3:00; Simons St 5:00 (Stevens)

Phil Larson
Popular Fort Gratiot performer delivers smooth classic country and pop covers. If we're lucky we may
also catch him at the Country Jam 4:30-6:00. A&W 11:30

Leonardo
Specializing in solo, acoustic Country Blues, including Delta style, Leonardo slaps a fresh coat of paint
on these rarely heard classics from the '20's and '30's using open tunings and resonator guitars.
Simons St. 2:00; Workshop#1 12:30 Open Tunings and the Dynamics of Using Resonator Guitars
Also catch him at Blues Jam 3:00

Mercury Salad
Ypsilanti “Acoustafunk” band plays rythmic originals with notes of country twang, bluegrass, soul and
blues. A&W 12:30, Courtyard 6:00 Brooke Ratliff Sing Out! 3:00 songwriter circle

Brandon Miotke
Young Sanilac county native offers original songs of more than local interest in a rock-tinged singing
style that speaks familiarly to multiple generations. Simons St 6:00; Sing Out! 3:00 songwriter circle

Ourselves
Thumbfest house band honors “the year of the shanty” with a fresh platter of sea shanties, garnished
with Michigan lake songs. Book them also for Irish songs, Hank Williams, Folk/Country classics and
Thumb originals. M-25 2:30

Pine River Legacy String Band
Long-time Blue Water pick-up band with hammered dulcimers, banjo, mando, bass, fiddle, autoharp
and whatever shows up. Host String Band Jam 1:30; A&W 4:00

Jerry Price
Learn the basics of playing the Native American Flute. Bring a 5 or 6-hole Native American flute with
you if possible. If you can't bring a flute, come anyway. There'll be handouts and step-by-step
instructions you can take to help you learn at home if you are interested enough to buy or borrow a
flute. Meanwhile we can all enjoy the beauty of this native instrument. Check out a selection of artisan
flutes at highspirits.com Workshop#1 4:30

Punch Drunk
Lansing-based ukulele band plays every song in the book, and shows you how to do it too!
Stage set M-25 10:30; Learn to play uke Workshop#1 12:30; -bring one or borrow one
Sing Out! 4:00 Ukulele strum all instruments and voices welcome.

AnnMarie RowlandGuitar, dulcimerrMayythrough their magnificent harmonies.
Guitar, dulcimer or banjo backing songs from her album “a day in the open” or whatever comes to her
mind. When this author/singer/ workshop/writer's camp leader dishes out the musical stories everyone
wants a second helping. And asks for the recipe! M-25 11:30; McNabb 3:30;
Sing Out! 5:00 songwriter circle

William Henry Russell
Classical guitar artist, composer and arranger captivates every audience with his skill and soft-spoken
charm. Windjammer 11:00; Simons St 4:00

School for Strings Fiddle Club
Touring group of the Port Huron stringed instrument academy. These kids can fiddle! Be ready to tap
your feet and clap your hands! Courtyard 2:00

Larry Stevens
The guitar/vocal half of LL Blues takes a solo turn with old time blues. Simons St 5:00;
Country Blues Guitar Workshop #2 2:00; Also catch him at Blues Jam 3:00
and with LL Blues Windjammer Noon

Still Running
Engaging originals and fresh arrangements of a wide range of artists from the Byrds and Beatles to
Tom Petty and U2. Bringing the full quartet this year! McNabb 12:30; M-25 4:30 Also catch Jenna
(and Mike?) at Sing Out! 3:00 songwriter circle

Jere Stormer
Soloist and multi-purpose group performer hosts musicain survival discussion (How did you cope with
the lockdown?) Workshop 2 1:00 See Jere onstage with Taller Than They Appear

Taller Than They Appear
"We are like a bunch of seven-year-olds playing in the musical sand." All original all the time, this
quartet of songwriters melds various styles into a unique and impactful new music experience.
Harbor 10:00; McNabb 4:30

Thunderwude
A trio of Chelsea-based professional musicians teamed up to form a bluegrass-centered super group
of their own. Scorching mandolin and guitar licks on an inventive bass foundation, overlaid with high
vocal energy. This band “samples” more old tunes then a rap artist, and they play all the samples by
hand inside their own song! Incredible musicianship headlining thumbfest 2021. Harbor 1:30 & 7:45
Show up early at Bluegrass Jam Noon and catch Jason Dennie warming up for their first set!

Mike Ward:Psychosongs
Detroit folk/Americana songwriter grew up in Port Huron soaking up the likes of Dylan and Springsteen
and those voices echo in his lyric-driven songs. Simons St 3:00; Sing Out! 12:30 songwriter circle

Mitch Washer
With Dennis Hanselman (percussion/vocals) & Barry Schigelone (bass/vocals).....
Country, Rock, Folk in 3 part harmony. Today playing CSN. James Taylor, Eagles, Simon and
Garfunkel. Courtyard 3:00

Matt Watroba
Host of Folks Like Us and nationally syndicated Sing Out Radio Magazine, and Folk Alley, Matt has a
has an enviable depth of knowledge in all the great American roots music. An unsurpassed solo
performer, his love of the material shines in his smooth voice and personable delivery. Matt has also
made it his mission to plant the seed of community singing all around the state. Join Matt in the
community sing experience at “Ricky's singalong” at Sing Out! 1:30
Stage Performances: Courtyard Noon; M-25 Stage 5:30;

Waynewood Boys
Guitar/banjo trio sing their recently released bluegrass opera “Sawmill Sally”, the tragi-comic tale of
Sally and One-Armed Jake's ill-fated love affair. Windjammer 3:00 Co-host Bluegrass jam noon

The Whiskey Charmers
DMA award “Best Country Recording” for their 2017 CD “Valley”. Alt-country band fronted by Carrie
Shepard and Lawrence Daversa keeps forging ahead. McNabb 1:30 M-25 6:30
Also dropping in on the Country Jam 4:30

Whistleblowers
Led by Luti Erbeznik, a native of the former Yugoslavia, bring you vocal harmonies, rich
instrumentation, beautiful melodies and pulsating percussion. The rest of the group’s personnel
include John Finan, Dan Hazlett, Bobby Pennock, Sharon Tse and Scott Williams, all experienced,
recognized singers and skillful multi-instrumentalists, most of whom also write their own music. All
band members contribute to the repertoire, creating an amalgam with the band’s unique sound
signature. Farewell Performance for Luti! Harbor 2:45

Please join the Blue Water Folk Society in thanking all the local and
regional musicians who support Thumbfest year after year! And a
hearty Thumb-size welcome to first-timers joining the Thumbfest
family!

cmind that’s always quietly waiting for us out there in the wilderness. lities of folk, roots and Americana music as
a way of accessing an elemental peace of mind that’s always quietly waiting for us out there in the wilderness.