Pat Humphries lived in Lansing in the late 80s, a period when she penned many folk music community favorites. Since then, Pat and Sandy O. have been musical leaders in the peace and justice movement. "If I can't dance to it, it's not my revolution." - Emma Goldman
Fourty years ago, John won the prestigious New Folk Award at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and the rest is history. A part of the NYC New Folk Movement, John has been a fan favorite for years. The Fiddle welcomes John back to town.
Le Vent du Nord was last here seven years ago, a last minute, mid-week booking held at the Robin Theatre. The night proved to be incredibly memorable for those in the quickly sold out house.
Joy Clark dazzled folk music promoters at last October's FARM (Folk Alliance Region Midwest) conference. Then, she stole hearts at last November's Women in the Arts Festival. Now, she will team up with our own Kate Peterson to present a night full of skillful songs filled with deep sentiment.
Grosse Isle is one of a few Celtic bands that features the uilleann pipes - often called the Union pipes or Irish pipes - a complex set of bellows, reeds, a chanter, drones and regulators. Uilleann pipes are quieter than other pipes, and usually played sitting down. The drones found in haunting Irish melodies often originate from uilleann pipes. Grosse Isle sings and play a wide variety of instruments. We welcome them to the Ten Pound Fiddle.
Yes, BeauSoleil at the Fiddle! That's it. Come and enjoy!
Each year, Greater Lansing's international dance phenom Nic Gareiss invites a musical friend or two to develop and then present an original program of music and dance. This year, the musician is the versatile fiddler, Brittney Haas.
Annual Ten Pound Fiddle Membership Meeting, 7-7:15pm. All are welcome.
Annual Ten Pound Fiddle Membership Meeting, 7-7:15pm. All are welcome.
Local fans may remember Jerron from his visits to East Lansing's Great Lakes Folk Festival. He returns with fellow NYC all-around musician Dennis Lichtman to brilliantly present tunes and songs from the 1920s and beyond.
One of the most popular acts on the traditional folk music circuit, Alisdair and Natalie return to the Fiddle to present an extended conversation between a fiddle and cello.
Last year, Celtic Supergroup Solas completed a huge North American reunion tour marking the band's 30th anniversary. They had so much fun they are doing it again this year, and the Fiddle is on their schedule.
While Katie visited the Fiddle two years seasons ago, RJ and Hope are making their Fiddle debut. This show is a great opportunity to catch these three talented songwriters on their weekend tour of the Great Lakes states.
The Jones Family combines the talents of Rev Robert Jones, his wife Sister Bernice Jones, and their children Robert II, Rosa Warner Jones and Arnesia Jones. Whether in a church, at a festival or as featured performers, the Jones Family always bring energy and joy to music.
From Noon - 4:45 pm, Saturday, the Singing Festival will host eight workshops!
From 11 am - 9 pm, it will be 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.
Is there a better song leader than Dan Chouinard? After a beautiful evening of community singing at the 2025 Singing Festival, the Fiddle invited Dan back to share his magic once again.
Garnet has been a fixture on the Fiddle schedule for long time. Billed as his 'Last US Tour,' be sure not to miss this chance to hear from one of Canada's finest performers.
Seasonal Songs led by Sally Potter with Special guests: Doug Austin, Doug Berch, Ruelaine Stokes. Every year, Potter sculpts two sets of seasonal and holiday selections, inviting everyone to sing along. Lyric booklet are provided.
Windborne has taken traditional singing to a whole new level, combining four part a cappella with unique arrangements to present a dynamic range of material - from classic labor songs to haunting 17th century ballads. This is their fourth visit to the Fiddle.
It has been too long since the Fiddle has hosted The Mammals, one of the most popular groups on the folk music circuit. Led by Ruth Ungar, daughter of Jay Ungar ("Ashokan Farewell") and singer Lyn Hardy, and her husband, Mike Merenda, The Mammals are indie-roots trailblazers, offering high-octane Americana - from rafter-raising anthems to hear-a-pin-drop balladry. They'll be on tour across the US supporting their long-awaited new double album Touch Grass Vol 1 & 2.
Every fall, May travels downstate to share her warmth and songs with Fiddle audiences. This annual homecoming fills the packed house with community, connection and love.
In January, 1975, Joel gave the Fiddle's second show, held in Old College Hall at the MSU Union. This will be Joel's 45th solo concert in the Fiddle's 51 seasons of producing shows. Each year, Joel shares his newly penned pieces along with old favorites.
Fiddle fans may remember that tall, dynamic fiddler in Connie Kaldor's family band. Now out on his own, Alekis is taking the folk music world by storm, winning several newcomer awards from Canadian and US music organizations.
Continuing the Fiddle tradition of presenting premier musicians, Cecilia features three of Canada's finest interpreters of both Celtic and Quebecois traditions
"75 Septembers," "Aces," "Driving Home," "Estate Sale," " If It Were Up To Me," "Gandhi / Buddha," "When Fall Comes To New England," are just a few of the Cheryl Wheeler songs now played and shared throughout the folk music world. Concert partner Kenny White adds some accompaniment and several beautiful selections of his own. Both artists are very funny.
Celebrate the Fiddle's 50th Season! Join your community for a full day of concerts, jams, workshops, dancing and community singing! Sixteen afternoon events; one big evening concert. The $20 ticket is good for all day, including the concert; students FREE!
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.
Who better to start off the Ten Pound Fiddle's 50th Anniversary weekend than the multi-talented writer, composer, singer and performer extraordinaire, Susan Werner! It has been too long since Susan has graced the Fiddle stage, sharing stirring and funny songs and stories playing the piano, guitar or just plain singing a cappella.
Caller: Rick Szumski; Band: Tana and the Tall Boys. PLEASE NOTE the location is ULC!
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.
Bluegrass meets Celtic when JigJam starts to play.
"JigJam demonstrates a verve and versatility that allows them to transcend any singular style and simply create a sound that doesn't defer to any preconceived parameters. In that regard they are fully capable of conveying any number of truly tuneful treats" -BLUEGRASS TODAY
"This bluegrass band has the right formula: heavenly harmonies on top of furious fingerpicking, trucking down the highway at 200 mph" - Time Out, Chicago
Over the last three years, Annie Capps has collected some of the Michigan's finest acoustic musicians and created a Super Group: The Badass Women Band. Fresh from a summer of festivals and a fall full of concerts, their top notch show includes 3-4 selections originating from each band member: Annie Capps, Annie Bacon, Sara Gibson, Anne Heaton, Carolyn Koebel, Cori Somers and Julianna Wilson.
Annual Ten Pound Fiddle Membership Meeting, 7-7:15pm. All are welcome.
One of the premier acoustic bands of Ireland, The Jeremiahs are just as adapt singing a classic Irish ballad as reving up with room with jigs and reels.
"Great songs, poignant, emotional vocals, masterful guitar and fiddle/flute conversations that work like fine embroidery, no wonder critics love them. You will too!" - Larry Groce, host of NPR Music's "Mountain Stage."
The queen of on-stage, impromptu comedy returns to the Fiddle, sharing clever, funny tunes with her long-time fans. This special Sunday (3 pm) show allows for more people to spend the day with Christine. Come early (1 pm) and enjoy a few stitches and plenty of conversation in Christine's all-comers knitting circle.
Lansing's Nic Gareiss travels the world both performing and teaching dance. Each season, Nic gathers very talented friends and plans a Michigan tour, making a Friday night stop at The Ten Pound Fiddle. This year, Nic and Old Time musician Jake Blount and hammered dulcimer player Simon Chrisman will combine their sound and talent to present a night of exceptional performance pieces.
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.
From noon - 3:30 pm, Saturday, Feb. 1, the Singing Festival will host a two singing workshops and a Community Sing.
From the Twin Cities, 'The Piano Man,' Dan Chouinard will help celebrate the Ten Pound Fiddle's 50th season, and the 21st Mid-Winter Singing Festival. An incredible musician and favorite Singing Festival song leader, Chouinard chooses songs from all genres of the Great American Songbook, adding accompaniment on the grand piano or accordion. Lyric booklets provided. So, sit back, relax, sing any part you dream up, and make a gorgeous sound with hundreds of other voices, all led by one of the best, Dan Chouinard.
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.
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.'
Do you love to sing holiday music? Would it be too much fun to sing along with terrific pianist Doug Austin as he rolls the keys on a huge grand piano? Have you ever experienced an expert play gorgeous holiday music on the hammered dulcimer (Doug Berch)? During a few singing breaks, Greater Lansing Poet Laureate Ruelaine Stokes will recite a few spoken word pieces. You are invited to join song leader Sally Potter and sing wonderful songs with your community, all evening long. Lyric sheets provided.
Robin and Linda Williams return to the Fiddle after a (too) long absence. A powerhouse acoustic duo for decades, they became household names as frequent guests on A Prairie Home Companion. Now, they spend time at home in Virginia, writing music, and touring 1-2 long weekends a month.
Fresh from touring with Our Native Daughters (Rhiannon Giddens, Allison Russell, and Leyla McCalla), opening for Brandi Carlile, playing The Grand Ole Opery, and receiving a Grammy nomination ("Black Myself"), Amythyst Kiah returns to Lansing for one very intimate solo show. Over the last six years, Fiddle audiences have twice experienced her immense musical talent. Don't miss this opportunity to hear this rising star in an intimate setting. (Tickets will go quickly.)
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.
"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
Each year, as May Erlewine travels farther and wider, sharing her poetic music with the world, she has not forgotten her Michigan roots. Now an annual event, May's solo show at the Ten Pound Fiddle is more of a Fall Homecoming when May shares new songs and stories with her many friends and fans.
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
"Last Thing On My MInd," "Marvelous Toy," "Rambling Boy," "Whose Garden Is This?," "Home To Me (Is Anywhere You Are), "Peace Will Come," "Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound," "Bottle of Wine," are only a fraction of Tom Paxton's countless additions to the Great American Songbook. Traveling with Tom are the DonJuans, providing musical back-up and a few great songs of their own.
Author of familiar songs "Christmas in the Trenches," "Calling All the Children Home," "Cut the Cake," and "The Night That John Prine Died," and interpreter of many more songs by Si Kahn, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and many others, folk music's renaissance man John McCutcheon will visit the Fiddle for a very special SUNDAY NIGHT concert at our new location.
