Traditions Showcases

The Great Lakes Folk Festival strives to not only present great music but to inform audiences about the history and social context of the music. Each year a few on-stage sessions are devoted to musicians who share stories about their art as well as compare different styles and traditions of playing one type of instrument (i.e. fiddle, lute, accordion). Sessions are also devoted to tradition bearers from Michigan who share with audience members how they learned their skills and how they pass them on in their communities today.

The 2005 Great Lakes Folk Festival's “Traditions Showcases”  will feature comparative sessions on the fiddle, accordion, percussion and singing; these showcases illustrate not only cultural similarities and differences, but also the process of change in musical traditions. While you might not be participating in one of these Showcases, you might be interested in taking the time to enjoy one of the Festival's more popular features.

2005 Traditions Showcases Schedule

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13

NOON (City Hall Stage)
Fiddle Traditions Showcase is scheduled to feature:
• Oisín Mac Diarmada (Irish Celtic - Téada)
• David Greely (Cajun - Mamou Playboys)
• Bill Stevens (Athabascan)
• Quebe Sisters (Texas Fiddle)
• Jim Van Cleve (Bluegrass - Mountain Heart)

3:30PM (M.A.C. Stage)
Accordion Traditions Showcase is scheduled to feature:
• Steve Riley (Cajun - Mamou Playboys)
• Jim Finn (Irish Celtic - Téada)
• Bob Kravos (Polka – Bob Kravos & The Boys In The Band)

6:00PM (City Hall Stage)
Percussion Traditions Showcase is scheduled to feature:
• Gumbi Ortiz (Cuban – The Latino Projekt)
• Thomas Merrell(Georgia Sea Island Singers)
• Kiyoshi Nagata (Japanese Taiko – Kiyoshi Nagata Ensemble)
• Elage Diouf ("Quebec-agalese" - Diouf)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15

NOON (City Hall Stage)
Singing Traditions Showcases are scheduled to feature:
• Douglas Quimby (Georgia Sea Island Singers)
• Oisín Mac Diarmada (Irish Celtic - Téada)
• Steve Riley (Cajun - Mamou Playboys)
• Ana Vinagre (Portugese Fado)

  Carey & Lurrie Bell ( Blues)