“Groupies” dance to music by the Mudskippers at the 2019 Spirit of the Woods Folk Festival. Photo by Stewart McFerran.
By Ramona DeGeorgio-Venegas
What comes around every third Saturday in June? Father’s Day? Almost, but not quite. The Spirit of the Woods Folk Festival? Ding, ding, ding! We have a musical winner.
A diverse gathering of performers ⸺ some from other states and countries ⸺ crafts and food trucks are highlights of the 44th annual folk festival to be held June 18 at Dickson Township Park in Brethren. This year’s motto is: “Keep it simple, keep it safe.” To that end, organizers have reduced festival hours and added a second stage.
The festival begins at noon and gallops along until 7 p.m. The cast of participants changes yearly, but organizers annually strive to invite a variety of musicians. It shows in this year’s line-up.
HuDost is self-described as “an electric-folk, world-rock musical duo who adore collaborating with other musicians, touring the world, and working for social and environmental justice through music, advocacy, and art.”
Hailing from Chicago, Donna Herula and Tony Nardiello perform “traditional acoustic blues (and have) a passion for performing Delta and Country Blues, early Chicago Blues, folk, roots, and Americana in addition to original songs.”
Gavin Mendonca, a musician and composer from Guyana, weaves his cultural background with rock-and-roll to create what he calls “Creole Rock.” He began his career as a punk rocker in the mid-2000s and cites Kurt Cobain, The Ramones, Foo Fighters and Eminem among his influences.
Stringtown Trio, from mid-Michigan, brings “guitars, mandolin, fiddle, dobro and harmony vocals” to their performances which include “swinging roots music ranging in styles from country/bluegrass, swing/blues, Celtic/world music with “exuberant virtuosity.”
Seth Bernard and Jordan Hamilton are slated to team up for an eclectic set. Barnard, of Earthwork Music renown, describes himself as a “black-bearded, surprise-eyed psych-rocker singing the woods and water, souls and soils of the Great Lakes. Cellist Jordan Hamilton, of Last Gasp Collective and the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, “merges songwriting, loop pedals, sample machines, and vocals to create a sonic landscape of experimental hip-hop, folk, soul, and classical music.”
Local group The Handstanders will entertain with a special brand of gallery fusion they’ve perfected in band member Jamey Barnard’s Handstand studio in Onekama. Their music ranges from “the improvised to the mostly forgotten” and includes Jamey Barnard on drums, keyboard and piano; John Storms Rhom on piano, keyboard and percussion; Trevor Hobbs on keyboard, drum and piano; and Yali Rivlin on saxophone. They may also be accompanied by “a special guest.”
These artists bring a wide array of sounds, songs and creativity. Folks will be sitting under the trees and tapping their feet alongside those of their friends and families. I know I look forward to seeing all the regular and new “spirits” coming out of the woods to attend.
Everyone loves to see the kids and youthful dancers on the grass in front of the stage. Some of us festival goers will be checking out the art and craft booths, looking for a special gift ⸺ perhaps for ourselves. This year, food trucks will offer yummy things to eat. Other tables will offer information as well. Those attending can share the joy of “almost summer” and the return of the festival after a two-year hiatus.
Learn more on their Facebook page or at: spiritofthewoods.org. Donations are needed to help sponsor musicians, cover operating costs and keep this festival free.
To learn more about the festival’s history, read Stewart McFerran’s story, “Traditional music takes center stage at Spirit of the Woods”, found on page 5 of our January 2020 issue.
Ramona DeGeorgio-Venegas is a retiree of the Manistee Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest, where she worked in recreation and as an outdoor recreation planner. She is a Spirit of the Woods Music Association volunteer.
