The Fiddle will wrap up its 50th year with a party at Old Town Lansing’s UrbanBeat with classic blues, swing and world jazz…from Detroit. The Paxton/Spangler Band will make its way through the Great American Songbook, highlighting songs and tunes from Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Burt Bacharach, Carole King and many more… UrbanBeat offers food and beverage service.
Elden Kelly and Andy Wilson CD Release
When guitar phenom Elden Kelly lived in Lansing (has since moved to Memphis), he could be found jamming at local gigs with musician extraordinaire Andy Wilson. In the meantime, via electronic magic, the two have recorded a brand new CD and will celebrate its release with a Ten Pound Fiddle concert hosted by The Robin Theatre.
Sparky and Rhonda Rucker
For the Ten Pound Fiddle’s 50th Anniversary season, Sparky and Rhonda are the perfect act to highlight the roots of folk music. It has been too long since this duo has graced the Fiddle stage; the Fiddle is delighted that they can be part of this year’s schedule.
Sparky and Rhonda Rucker deliver uplifting presentations of toe-tapping songs spiced with humor, history, and tall tales. Their music includes a variety of old-time blues, Appalachian music, slave songs, and spirituals as well as originals, and they accompany themselves with fingerstyle picking and bottleneck blues guitar, old-time banjo, blues harmonica, piano, spoons, and bones.
Guy Davis
Guy Davis is a two-time, back-to-back Grammy nominee for Best Traditional Blues, a musician, actor, author, and songwriter. Guy uses a blend of Roots, Blues, Folk, Rock, Rap, Spoken Word, and World Music to comment on, and address the frustrations of social injustice, touching on historical events, and common life struggles. His storytelling is sometimes painful, deep, and real, an earthy contrast to modern-day commercial music, meant to create thought, underlined by gentle tones from his guitar or banjo fingerpicking.
Dom Flemons
The Fiddle is very excited to host ‘The American Songster,’ Dom Flemons, multi-instrumentalist, singer, historian and storyteller of all things acoustic folk music. Flemons won a Grammy as a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and has received a Grammy nomination for one of his solo recordings. Now based in Chicago, Flemons has performed in countless venues all over the world. We are delighted he will make the trip around the lake to share his music and adventures with the Fiddle.
Kitty Donohoe – Sunday Afternoon Show
2024 Michigan Heritage Award winner Kitty Donohoe returns to the Fiddle for a special 3 pm Sunday afternoon show. Children’s book author, songwriter, singer, guitarist, pianist, storyteller and Ireland tour leader (Inishfree Tours), Kitty is a modern-day renaissance woman. Did you know that when she raised her two kids in East Lansing, Kitty was the booking manager for the Ten Pound Fiddle? Kitty has deep roots in Greater Lansing and the Ten Pound Fiddle community. In a sense, this show is a ‘Welcome Home.’
The Schrock Brothers Band feat. Peter Madcat Ruth and Andy & Joe Wilson
What happens when some of the finest singers and musicians in West Michigan gather with two of Michigan’s beloved harmonica virtuosos? Come see for yourself! Winners of the 2024 WYCE Jammie Award for ‘Best Blues & Soul Album’ for Faith in Love, The Schrock Brothers – Jasen, Andrew, and Papa Mark bring together Peter Madcat Ruth and Andy Wilson on harmonicas, well-known percussionist Mike Shimmin and dobro master Joe Wilson for a night of high-energy original and traditional blues, soul, and Americana tunes.
Claudia Schmidt and Rachael Davis
Two performers with deep Michigan roots combine to share songs and stories, and to celebrate the Ten Pound Fiddle’s 50th season! Claudia has given over twenty Fiddle shows, as a soloist, with Sally Rogers for over ten Mother’s Day weekend concerts, and as a song leader at the Mid-Winter Singing Festival. Rachael is right behind, either performing solo, as one third of the Sweet Water Warblers, or as part of the Mid-Winter Singing Festival. The Fiddle is billing this show: Two Voices: One Terrific Night of Music
Roy Book Binder at The Robin
The Fiddle starts off its 50th concert season with a mid-week, Robin Theatre co-production of legendary acoustic blues artist Roy Book Binder.
“Book Binder is a very good singer and player, but his greatest strength is as a performer and raconteur, using his music to frame his stories and the stories to give background to the music.” – SingOut! Magazine
The Very Last Not-So-Annual Fiddle Scouts Used CD and LP Fundraiser
Your last opportunity to sift through thousands of classic folk, blues and Americana CDs and LPs, most for $1 each. All proceeds go to fund Fiddle Scouts, a program where musicians play music with children.
Miko Marks
This Flint native leans into life through her exquisite songs and stories. A veteran of the country / Americana music scene, The Fiddle is excited to finally host Miko Marks!
A Duo of Duos: The Dangling Participles and Dave Boutette and Kristi Lynn Davis
Two of Michigan’s finest acoustic duos team up for a night of original songs, old favorites, and a lot of laughs.
The Don Julin Trio
In his return to the Fiddle, Michigan’s mandolin guru Don Julin and friends Joe Wilson and Kevin Gills team up to present a night of musical magic.
True Blues: Cedric Watson and Corey Harris
Two masters of the blues together for one very special evening!
Feufollet
The young and vibrant Southwest Louisiana band takes Cajun, honky-tonk, and string-band music as their starting point, and keeps an open mind about where their song craft will lead them. Food and Drinks available on site at Urban Beat.
Rev. Robert B. Jones and Sister Bernice Jones
October 1, 2010 Performance
Kyshona
Kyshona was named one of NPR’s Indie Discoveries of 2017. With a combination of poignant songwriting and one of the most powerful Roots/soul voices in the industry, Kyshona’s star is on the rise!
Amythyst Kiah (Wednesday)
“Amythyst Kiah is one of roots music’s most exciting emerging talents, blending a deep knowledge of old time music with sensibilities spanning classic country to contemporary R&B.”— ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE
Strangers in the Night: The Bands of Elderly Instruments
Come enjoy a night of music from folks who sell instruments by day, and then play them after hours. “Strangers in the Night,” is just one of the evening’s five bands which features employees and friends of Lansing’s world-renowned music store, Elderly Instruments.
Don Julin Quartet – Thursday Concert
Hear one of the world’s best on mandolin, backed by familiar, stellar Michigan musicians, in the intimate Robin Theater for this very special Thursday night show with Don Julin on mandolin, Joe Wilson on dobro, Kevin Gills on bass and David Collini on cajon.
Laura Love, Women in the Arts Festival
“(LAURA LOVE) will shake the world. The clincher is her live show…She’s that rare artist who can slip from sensitive folk to hip-hop without skipping a beat. -Utne Reader
Laura Love is an award winning “folk-funk” singer/songwriter/bassist who has been touring the world since the early 1990s.
Mustard’s Retreat – CD Release
“However, the group actually started out as a trio … and for a new album and current concerts, original member Libby Glover has rejoined David Tamulevich and Michael Hough. Her presence brings a whole new dimension to the Mustard’s Retreat sound, yet the transition sounds just like it feels … perfectly natural.” – Bob Needham, Pulp, Ann Arbor
“…music to cure what ails you.” – Michigan Times
MWSFF Concert with Joshua Davis
Joshua Davis was raised in the folk tradition: the music, the social movements, the land. For the 17th Annual MWSFF, he will present an evening of songs, joined by special guests Jen Sygit and Laura Bates.
The Blues Just Makes me Feel Good with John Latini
Learn blues songs from award winning songwriter and 3-time Detroit Blues Champ, John Latini in this children’s blues workshop.
Rev. Robert B. Jones – in place of Luke Winslow-King – with opener The Dangling Participles
A last minute change brings the Reverend Robert B Jones to the fiddle stage. Reverend Robert Jones, Sr. is an inspirational singer, songwriter, storyteller and self-taught award-winning multi-instrumentalist. Lansing’s The Dangling Participles open.
The Ragbirds – In Concert
“It’s rare to hear something new and exciting in the realm of folk/roots music, but the careful alchemists of The Ragbirds have given us just that!” -Bryan Rodgers, Homegrown Music Network
Joel Mabus
“Joel Mabus is one of contemporary folk music’s most eclectic performers. A skilled guitar, fiddle, banjo, and mandolin player and melodic songwriter, Mabus has played everything from traditional folk tunes to bluegrass, blues, and original songs.” -Craig Harris at AllMusic.com
Pat Donohue – In Concert
You have enjoyed hearing him play with The Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band on Prairie Home Companion. Now, hear the exquisite musicianship of Pat Donohue.