Two singer-songwriters bring uniquely overlapping styles for a magical night of authentic, soulful folk.
Zoe Mulford
Transatlantic Singer-Songwriter from Manchester, UK and the writer of “The President Sang Amazing Grace.”
The Springtails CD Release Concert
The Springtails – led by Julianna and Andy Wilson – are a Michigan-based band known for their swing-era style vocals and eclectic instrumentation. Joining forces with the incomparable Joe Wilson, this special show will celebrate the release of their new recording AND their new line-up.
SOLD OUT Jake Shulman-Ment and Laurel Premo at The Robin Theatre
What happens when the finest Klezmer fiddler of his generation teams up with a friend, a marvelous multi-instrumentalist? Come find out!
Sam Robbins
Co-produced with the Robin Theatre. Often described as an old soul singer songwriter, “what Sam Robbins does looks effortless. He’s self-motivated, genuine and has a quiet confidence that simply grabs your attention any time he is on stage.” — Patty Duffey, Music On and Up
Seth Bernard and Jordan Hamilton
UPDATE: The Ten Pound Fiddle has just learned that Seth Bernard has COVID and cannot be part of tonight’s show. That means that tonight’s audience will be treated to a full night of music from the multi-talented, delightful, Earthwork Music Collective member, Jordan Hamilton. See you there!
RUNA
RUNA breathes fresh life into traditional Celtic music by digging into the songs and tunes to find the universal thread that binds past to present.
SOLD OUT: Wilson Thicket
Co-produced with the Robin Theatre. A Michigan-based supergroup of bluegrass virtuosos featuring Jason Dennie, Scott Kendall, Keith Billik, and Aaron Markovitz.
MWSF Children’s Concert – Lake Effect Family Band
Northern Michigan family roots band with tight harmonies, hilarious original songs and traditional music, featuring
Tiyi Schippers, David Bunce, Rachael Davis, and more.
True Blues: Cedric Watson and Corey Harris
Two masters of the blues together for one very special evening!
Violet Bell at the Robin Theatre
“In a crowded field of Americana artists who claim influence from disparate genres…. Violet Bell truly pushes against the limitations and expectations of genres and genders.. Ross’s soulful vocal gymnastics sound downright wild… defying stylistic bounds.” -Indyweek
May Erlewine
May Erlewine returns to her roots to present a rare, solo acoustic performance. Now an annual Fiddle event, May presents masterful songs describing real people living real lives in today’s world.
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.
Annie Capps and a Band of Badass Women
Featuring Annie Bacon, Fay Burns, Emily Slomovits, Sara Gibson, and Julianna Wilson… what does Annie Capps have in store?
Joel Mabus
“It’s hard to imagine another artist on the folk scene who combines the same concise, deceptively understated, lyrical insight and sometimes devastating wit with such world-class instrumental prowess.” -MUSICHOUND FOLK
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!
Anne Hills wsg Matt Watroba
Old friends Anne Hills and Matt Watroba will join together to share a night of new songs and old favorites.
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.
SOLD OUT – James Keelaghan – In Concert at The Robin Theater
James Keelaghan returns to the Fiddle in support of his CD release for ‘Second Hand.’
Jake Blount, Nic Gareiss & Laurel Premo + Fiddle’s Annual Membership Meeting
Jake Blount, Nic Gareiss and Laurel Premo, award-winning folk performers, have joined forces in a bewitchment of rich tones, deft movements and stories long untold. Through traditional songs familiar and arcane, this new trio celebrates the deep rhythms and subtle harmonies of America’s eldest musics.
Annual Ten Pound Fiddle Membership Meeting, 6 pm – 7 pm. All are welcome. (Only) Fiddle members vote on any issues. Meet the Fiddle Board of Directors. Held at the UUMC before the concert.
Deidre McCalla
Singer-songwriter Deidre McCalla, the “dreadlocked troubadour” celebrates the power and diversity of the human spirit.
MOVED TO SUNDAY, 3PM: Matt Watroba and Claudia Schmidt
Fiddle favorites Matt Watroba and Claudia Schmidt return for a heartwarming evening of song and story.
From Nova Scotia, Cassie & Maggie
“With songs ranging from heartbreakingly beautiful and soft to loud and boisterous, Cassie and Maggie’s sisterly voices blend in such a way that you automatically know it is genetic… theirs are voices that wrap themselves around each other more than others.” -No Depression
From Scotland, Tannahill Weavers
“An especially eloquent mixture of the old and the new.” – New York Times
Damn Tall Buildings
“Damn tall buildings is a damn fine trio, mixing bluegrass, swing, and foot-stomping old-time music you wouldn’t think possible from a band from Brooklyn.” — No Depression
Full Cord
Their infectious stage show and breadth of material pushed Full Cord through to a win of the 2022 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition in June and a nomination as the Momentum Band of the year at the upcoming International Bluegrass Music Awards. With two shows never the same, their followers in Michigan and beyond try to catch every show, never knowing what teaser or new song will be in the set list.
Nervous but Excited – Women in the Arts Festival
It’s a 10-year Reunion show! Co-produced with the East Lansing Women in the Arts Festival, the Fiddle is excited to welcome back Kate Peterson and Sarah Cleaver of Nervous but Excited for a very special evening at Edgewood United Church.
May Erlewine
Michigan’s May Erlewine returns to the Fiddle to give a rare solo performance. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience wonderful songs penned by this marvelous singer. May Erlewine has the sort of soul-baring voice that moves the Alan Lomaxes of the world to abandon the ivory tower for the back roads of rural America.” – The Harvard Independent
Stella! and The Lesser Halves
Stella! is the Michigan-based, singer-songwriting trio of Jo Serrapere, Jen Sygit, and Julianna Wilson. From comic relief to heartbreaking ballads, they accompany their three-part harmonies with guitar, banjo, upright bass, and percussion. For this special event, each member of Stella! will also perform with their respective lesser half: John Divine, Geoff Lewis, and Andy Wilson.
Kitty Donohoe
‘Kitty Donohoe is a true treasure – a rare songwriter with tremendous range, a beautiful voice and an ability to write haunting, melodic and literate songs.’ – All Music Guide
Joel Mabus
“It’s hard to imagine another artist on the folk scene who combines the same concise, deceptively understated, lyrical insight and sometimes devastating wit with such world-class instrumental prowess.” -MUSICHOUND FOLK
Vance Gilbert
“If Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens had a love child, with Rodney Dangerfield as the midwife, the results might have been something close to the great Vance Gilbert.” It has been too long since Gilbert has given a Fiddle show. We welcome him back!
Evie Ladin & Keith Terry
Innovative musicians/dancers with a quirky neo-trad soul, Oakland, California-based Evie Ladin & Keith Terry throw down original folk songs and deep interpretations of old songs, with the kinetic thrill of percussive dance.
Susan Werner – Cancelled
The Ten Pound Fiddle has just been informed that Susan Werner has Covid-19 and is not able to perform in East Lansing tomorrow evening. So, sadly, the Fiddle concert for tomorrow (Friday, April 8) is cancelled. We wish Susan well and look forward to rescheduling with her for our 2022-23 season.
Advance ticket sales for the Susan Werner concert will be automatically refunded; no action is required on the part of purchasers.
As audiences will testify, Werner’s been knocking it out of the park – or concert hall – all around the U.S. for twenty years. Renowned as a charismatic performer, she’s known above all for challenging herself to conquer new styles, almost like mountaintops, every few years. Every 3-4 seasons, Werner returns to the Fiddle to share where her musical travels have taken her.
Sally Rogers and Claudia Schmidt
A favorite of Ten Pound Fiddle audiences, Sally and Claudia have shared their talent both as solo artists and as a duo. Claudia Schmidt and Sally Rogers have been weaving their voices, dulcimers, and guitars together for decades, creating an atmosphere of joy and musical lushness that audiences find so irresistible, they frequently join right in.
CANCELLED – Crys Matthews and Heather Mae
Award-winning songwriter, Crys Matthews teams up with energetic Heather Mae to present a night of rich material, smooth harmonies, a few sing-alongs and a lot of fun.
Postponed: Stella! and The Lesser Halves
New Date: Friday, Oct. 21.
Streaming from the Archives: James Keelaghan
James Keelaghan in concert at the Ten Pound Fiddle
January 17, 2020
Postponed: Katie Dahl and Kitty Donohoe: Twin Bill
New Date: October 14, 2022. “Katie Dahl’s songs aren’t just melodies and words, they’re journeys that are firmly grounded in a sense of place—beautiful, real landscapes that help you feel places that you may have never been before. That’s the very best kind of songwriting. – Dar Williams ‘Kitty is making a name for herself in Irish America and you can see why from the high quality of the work here.‘ Irish Music Magazine.
Postponed: Vance Gilbert
New Date TBA. “If Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens had a love child, with Rodney Dangerfield as the midwife, the results might have been something close to the great Vance Gilbert.” It has been too long since Gilbert has given a Fiddle show. We welcome him back!
Streaming from the Archives: April Verch
April Verch in concert at the Ten Pound Fiddle, April 15, 2016.
Reggie Harris, Alternative Holiday Sale Concert
A favorite of Singing Festival fans, peace and justice activist Reggie Harris will present the Friday night Ten Pound Fiddle concert within the annual two-day Alternative Holiday Gift Sale sponsored by the Peace Education Center at Edgewood Church, East Lansing.
Richie and Rosie
“The air left the room when Richie and Rosie sang their first notes together…everyone had their breath taken away at once. ” — Jen Hughes, Bluegrass Today
Richie Sternes (banjo; The Horse Flies, Natalie Merchant) and Rosie Newton (fiddle and accordion; The Duhks) are a dynamic duo in the world of Old Time music, and beyond.
John Gorka
“…the leading singer/songwriter of the New Folk movement” – Rolling Stone
John Gorka has been a mainstay in the folk music community for over 30 years. Every 3-4 years, he stops by the Fiddle to share some new pieces and help us remember his classics.
Joel Mabus
“It’s hard to imagine another artist on the folk scene who combines the same concise, deceptively understated, lyrical insight and sometimes devastating wit with such world-class instrumental prowess.” -MUSICHOUND FOLK
Low Lily, featuring Lissa Schneckenburger
“[Low Lily has] an incredible knack for putting a little pop twist on a traditional folk/Americana sound… it’s a blend that works beautifully.”-PopMatters
The Fiddle catches this Boston-based band on a rare Midwest tour. This trio does a marvelous job interpreting songs and tunes from all genres, with the help of fiddler extraordinaire, Lissa Schneckenburger.
Streaming Audio: 9/14/ 2001 Benefit Concert for 9/11 Victims
Four michigan acts come together three days after the 9/11 attacks for a very moving night of contemplation and community to benefit relief organizations.
Streaming from the Archives: Ann Reed – In Concert including Sistrum and Singing Night with Ann Reed
Ann Reed in Concert, including Sistrum (Jan. 22, 2012) and Singing Night with Ann Reed (May 2, 2014) performances. Long-time Fiddle-favorite, Minneapolis-based singer / songwriter Ann Reed will share her beautiful songs, and hysterical stories with us.
Streaming from the Archives: Joshua Davis
February 1, 2019 performance. Joshua Davis was raised in the folk tradition: the music, the social movements, the land.
Madcat’s Midnight Blues Journey and Dennis Stroughmatt et L’Esprit Creole
Madcat’s Midnight Blues Journey (Nov. 6, 2015) and Dennis Stroughmatt et L’Esprit Creole (March 6, 2009; March 22, 2013) performances.
Diana Jones
Diana Jones (April 27, 2018) performance.
Bill Staines
Oct. 2, 2015 and April 5, 2013 performances. “Bill Staines has been my hero since 1977. He carries on where Woody left off-carrying on the tradition of stories and characters you wish you knew.” – Nanci Griffith
Mother’s Day Concert with Sally Rogers and Claudia Schmidt; Claudia Schmidt; Claudia Schmidt with Dean Magraw
Sally Rogers and Claudia Schmidt (May 8, 2015; May 11, 2012); Claudia Schmidt (April 23, 2010; Sept. 28, 2008); Claudia Schmidt with Dean Magraw (Sept. 13, 1013) performances
Second Opinion Reunion Concert, featuring Betsy Clinton, Pat Madden, and Sally Potter
April 24, 2015 Performance
Archie Fisher, Garnet Rogers, James Keelaghan, Jez Lowe
Archie Fisher (April 16, 2010); Jez Lowe and James Keelaghan (Oct. 4, 2013); Garnet Rogers and Archie Fisher (April 1, 2011)
Mid-Winter Singing and Folk Festival Highlights
Various performances including Mark Dvorak, Pat Madden, Frank Youngman, and Joel Mabus. Also featured is Rachel Alexander and the All-Comers Festival Choir.
Anne Hills and Michael Smith
September 27, 2013 performance.
Holiday Sing Highlights, hosted by Sally Potter
Highlights from the 2009 and 2011 Holiday Sings feature Sally Potter, Doug Berch, Kitty Donohoe, Wanda Degen, Linda Abar and poet Robert Rentchler.
Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas
Feb. 10, 2012 performance
Connie Kaldor
February 28, 2014 performance. “…quirky, often wickedly funny.” -Regina Leader-Post
Susan Werner
Feb. 15, 2013 performance. Susan Werner composes skillful songs that effortlessly slide between folk, jazz, and pop, all delivered with sassy wit and classic Midwestern charm.
The Steel Wheels
Performances from January 25, 2013 and October 8, 2010. “Few groups have come as far in such a short period of time as The Steel Wheels…” – NPR’s Mountain Stage
Cancelled – Emma’s Revolution, with Pat Humphries and Sandy O.
Emma’s Revolution is the dynamic, award-winning activist duo of Pat Humphries & Sandy O, whose songs have been sung for the Dalai Lama, praised by Pete Seeger, and covered by Holly Near. With beautiful harmonies and genre-defying eclecticism, Emma’s Revolution delivers an uprising of truth and hope for these tumultuous times.
Cancelled – Low Lily, including fiddler Lissa Schneckenburger
“[Low Lily has] an incredible knack for putting a little pop twist on a traditional folk/Americana sound… it’s a blend that works beautifully.”PopMatters
Cancelled – Joshua Davis
JOSHUA DAVIS WAS RAISED IN THE FOLK TRADITION: THE MUSIC, THE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, THE LAND.
Cancelled – The Steel Wheels
“Few groups have come as far in such a short period of time as The Steel Wheels…” – NPR’s Mountain Stage
Cheryl Wheeler
Brilliant, hysterical performances and beautifully crafted songs. Cheryl Wheeler is a “Rare artist…strong poetry, complex melodies, clever wit.” -SingOut!
SOLD OUT! Sweet Water Warblers: Rachael Davis, May Erlewine, Lindsay Lou
Michigan songbirds, Rachael Davis, Lindsay Lou and May Erlewine have each carved out successful careers on the American Roots Music circuit and have grown to respect each other’s work. When they finally gelled into a potent musical force, it was natural – three singing sirens and multi-instrumentalists whose repertoire swings from gospel and bluegrass to soul and even joyful interpretations of pop. Their three-part vocal harmonies are sublime, and they trade instruments including mountain fiddle and banjo, uke, guitar and double bass.
MWSFF Community Sing with Songleader Dan Chouinard
With lyrics supplied, Chouinard lets fly with inventive, often playful, accompaniments, rarely glancing at the keyboard — a feat that one regular considers magic. “It’s kind of his calling,” said the man who’s attended these singalongs for ten years. “I mean, you know he could be playing with anyone, but here he is with us.”
MWSFF Afternoon Workshops
A highlight of the festival, 8 afternoon workshops provide another opportunity for our community to sing and play music – together. One $10 wristband is good for the all of the sessions. Students are free!
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