The Fiddle welcomes a world-class duo of virtuosic fiddle, dance, banjo & song from the Ottawa Valley to the Hills of Appalachia.
Lady of the Lake – Karrie Potter Richards, Pooh Stevenson, and Wanda Degen and many special guests
A forty-year anniversary celebration with special guests Doug Berch, Kay Rinker-O’Neil, Dave Langdon, John Mikelsavage, and Mike Ross
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.
Sound an Echo: Sara Pajunen and Rachael Kilgour – Wednesday Show
In Sound an Echo, Rachael Kilgour and Sara Pajunen bridge their distinct yet complementary musical histories within traditional music from their European heritages. What happens when a Finnish fiddler extraordinaire teams up with a veteran singer songwriter? Magic. These Minnesota natives match energy, speed and intonation and deliver an evening of solid sound and song.
SOLD OUT! Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves – Wednesday Show
Co-produced with The Robin Theatre, in Lansing’s REO Town. Already leaders in the young generation of roots musicians, de Groot has become known for her intricate clawhammer banjo work with Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, while Hargreaves has brought her powerhouse fiddling to the stage with Gillian Welch and Laurie Lewis. Together they create a sound that is adventurous, masterful, and original, as they expand on the eccentricities of these old songs, while never losing sight of what makes them endure.
SOLD OUT! Sweet Water Warblers: Rachael Davis, May Erlewine, Lindsay Lou
Michigan’s favorite songbirds Rachael Davis, Lindsay Lou, and May Erlewine, return to the Fiddle for a SATURDAY evening with the organic vocal harmonies and seamlessly interwoven instrumentation that leaves listeners breathless.
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.
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: Sweet Water Warblers: Rachael Davis, May Erlewine, Lindsay Lou
New Date: SATURDAY, May 7 (one show only). Michigan’s favorite songbirds Rachael Davis, Lindsay Lou, and May Erlewine, return to the Fiddle for TWO NIGHTS (Thursday & Friday) of the organic vocal harmonies and seamlessly interwoven instrumentation that leaves listeners breathless.
POSTPONED: Sweet Water Warblers: Rachael Davis, May Erlewine, Lindsay Lou
New Date SATURDAY, May 7 (one show only). Michigan’s favorite songbirds Rachael Davis, Lindsay Lou, and May Erlewine, return to the Fiddle for TWO NIGHTS (Thursday & Friday) of the organic vocal harmonies and seamlessly interwoven instrumentation that leaves listeners breathless.
POSTPONED: Sound an Echo: Sara Pajunen and Rachael Kilgour
POSTPONED UNTIL WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022
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
The Outside Track – Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day
March 15, 2019 Performance. A Scots, Irish, and Cape Breton fusion of songs, tunes and step dance, The Outside Track is a young, tight, very talented, high-energy quintet which combines immense talent from three shores.
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!
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 Concert: House of Hamill, and Liz Carroll with Nic Gareiss and harpist Maeve Gilchrist
Chicago’s premier Irish fiddler Liz Carroll is joined by harpist Maeve Gilchrist, and Lansing’s own dance phenom Nic Gareiss. Opening the night will be intricate, unpredictable arrangements of traditional songs and fiddle tunes; compelling and catchy original songs and completely unexpected covers, by Philadelphia’s House of Hamill.
The Matchsellers & Red Tail Ring: Old Time Duos
Based in Old-Time music, two incredibly talented and charming duos will share the stage in this exciting twin bill.
The Matchsellers: “The first song I listened to was the one about the Pigeon and the Dove and I said “you’re hired.” -Larry Groce, NPR’s Mountain Stage
Red Tail Ring: “The very best of the 21st century’s minimalist and highly original folk music . . . a peerless duo.” – American Roots UK.
CANCELLED The Fretless – Sunday Concert
“People ask us how to make a living in an instrumental folk band,” says second fiddle and viola player, Karrnnel Sawitsky. “My answer is simply put: ‘creatively.’” Sawitsky continues, “When our four voices meet at the center of agreement is when our music echoes most effectively. It’s not the sum of our parts. It’s the individual sum of the band.”
2017 Juno Award Winners: Instrumental Album of the Year
The Outside Track – Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day
A Scots, Irish, and Cape Breton fusion of songs, tunes and step dance, The Outside Track is a young, tight, very talented, high-energy quintet which combines immense talent from three shores. On the weekend of St. Pat’s Day, don’t miss live Celtic music at its finest!
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. MSU Community Music School, East Lansing.
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.
SOLD OUT – Matthew Byrne – Sunday Concert
From Newfoundland, Matthew Byrne is a stellar interpreter of traditional songs. One of this younger generation’s superstars, Byrne fit this special Sunday night show into his very crowded tour schedule. The Fiddle is delighted to present this ‘old soul’ in a very intimate Robin Theater show.
May Erlewine
“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
Jen Sygit – CD release
Jen’s fourth studio album “It’s About Time,” is produced by long time friend and collaborator Dominic John Davis (bassist for Jack White, Buddy Miller, North Mississippi Allstars, Joshua Davis). This new collection of original songs is an eclectic sonic journey drawing influence from a cross section of middle America, from the Gulf Shore sands to the Great Lakes basin. “It’s About Time” was engineered at La Luna Recording & Sound in Kalamazoo by Ian Gorman and features a talented ensemble of players including Davis, Drew Howard, Mike Lynch, Geoff Lewis and Ross Huff.
Jarlath Henderson – Sunday Concert
Renowned primarily for his extraordinary prowess on Uilleann pipes and whistles, Henderson is fast emerging as an equally gifted vocalist. (Similar to last season’s Le Vent Du Nord show) this very special Sunday concert is one of those extraordinary events you will not want to miss!
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
Run Boy Run – In Concert
A dynamic Americana quintet from Arizona.