More shipwreck features on Absolute Michigan. Also see more about the Edmund Fitzgerald and even more shipwrecks on Michigan in Pictures.

my island by tbug2

October 16, 17 and 18th will find people from all walks of life gathering on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, MI for the 8th annual Great Lakes Bioneers Traverse City Conference. Organizers expect over 800 participants over the three day conference weekend and there's also the Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit conference.

Bioneers is a national conference that attract people from all walks of life who care about sustainable social change, green building, environmental justice, how we educate our children, and how we grow our food and care for our planet. It takes place at a number of satellite sites, and speakers are beamed in from the "headwaters" conference in San Rafael, CA. This year the Bioneers are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the organization and founder Kenny Ausubel will be one of the speakers.

Friday night at 8:00 PM in The Milliken Auditorium will be a Water Festival Concert featuring members of the Earthwork Music Collective. Seth Bernard and May Erlewine will be joined on stage by Breath Owl Breath, Susan Fawcett, Darlene, DeDe Alderman and others. On Saturday night at 7:30 PM at the State Theatre, the documentary film "Fierce Light" will be shown. This documentary explores what ignites the fire inside and take an active part in a cause. There will also be a dance and mixer featuring Jamie Register and the Glendales. Get all the details at Great Lakes Bioneers or call them at 231-947-0312.

Let's close with May Erlewine singing Waterfall...

ArtPrize 09-Open Water no.24 by deviant_anomaly

ART PRIZE 2009-0032 by RichardD72

AND THE WINNER IS... by rkramer62

DETAIL FROM WINNERS CANVAS by bitsorf

The first-ever ArtPrize in Grand Rapids has ended with Open Water no. 24, a 6' x 19' oil painting by Ran Ortner being chosen as the winner by public vote from 1,262 artists who exhibited at 157 venues across the city. A former pro motorcycle racer, Ortner will receive a quarter of a million dollars for his finish. The Freep reports:

Ortner said he was stunned by his win. “Wow. Exhilarating, captivating, ridiculous. Can’t get my head around it.”

It means a lot to him that those choosing his work were not professional art critics but people who were moved by his work. “There’s been a heart connection here,” he said.

And it has been good for those who voted, Ortner said. “All of a sudden, those who know nothing about art have an opinion that matters,” he said. “It really has a life larger than anything anybody anticipated.”

ArtPrize 2009 Winners

1. Ran Ortner – Open Water no. 24
2. Tracy Van Duinen – Imagine That!
3. Eric Daigh – Portraits
4. David Lubbers – The Grand Dance
5. Bill Secunda – Moose
6. Nessie Project – Nessie on the Grand
7. John Douglas Powers – Field of Reeds
8. Sarah Grant – The Furniture City Sets the Table for the World of Art
9. Jason Hackenwerth – Ecstasy of The Scarlet Empress
10. Michael Westra – winddancer 2

You can get some more links to coverage at Who won ArtPrize? on the ArtPrize blog and stay tuned to absolutemichigan.com/ArtPrize for news about ArtPrize 2010!

Check out this video below for some scenes from the Winners Celebration - the close of this dance number is really impressive!

More videos can be found at ArtPrize 2009 Absolute Michigan.

Old Town Blues Fest 2008 by ChristineElise

The Old Town BluesFest is a two-day FREE music festival that brings national, regional, and local acts to an audience of roughly 15,000 people from across Michigan and nearby states.

BluesFest's music truly is living music, history in the making. Each artist at the festival is asked to play an original composition, something that hasn't been played at any other festival.

This year's festival will take place Friday, September 18 (4pm-12:30am), and Saturday, September 19, 2009 (2pm-12:30am), in the streets of Old Town, surrounded by the best of the Capital City's art galleries as well as unique retail stores and grand architecture. Vendors lined the streets offering ethnic food, beverages, art, clothing, and crafts, and nearby galleries and boutiques opened their doors during festival hours.

BluesFest will become better stewards of our environment this year, implementing on-site recycling under the direction of a volunteer "Green Team." A green pledge booth will feature hundreds of giveaways, free watering stations are available and volunteers will wear donated organic T-shirts.

Video Flashback

From the 2008 Old Town BluesFest, 'New Hawaiian Boogie by George Bedard' shot by Scott Allman.

Dedication to Lansing

Old Town BluesFest started in 1994 under the name OctoberFest. Lansing's alternative radio station, 92.1 WWDX, signed on as media sponsor, and MessageMakers became its founding business sponsor.

The festival featured such renowned artists as Kid Rock, Marcy Playground, Duncan Sheik, Nineteen Wheels and local showstoppers such as Powerface, Knee Deep Shag, The Lash, and The Weepers.

In 2003, the festival committee decided to transform the fall music festival into Old Town BluesFest and was pleased to announce 94.9 WMMQ as the new radio sponsor.

In its early years, the festival brought out 2,000-3,000 people; now that has increased to over 15,000.

BluesFest's updated format has featured nationally recognized blues artists such as Junior Watson, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, W.C. Clark, Carl Weathersby, Sharrie Williams, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Bnois King, Reverend Raven, Toni Lynn Washington, Byther Smith, Grana' Louise, bugs Beddow band, Alberta Adams, A.C. Reid, Son Seals, plus popular performers from around the state such as Lady Sunshine and the X Band, Calvin Cooke and Sacred Steel Ensemble, Mojo Phoenix, Those Delta Rhythm Kings, Root Doctor, Doug Deming and the All Stars, JR Clark, and The Automatic Blues Band.

Traverse City Wine & Art Festival by M'Lynn Heartwell Mike Brenton from the Lansing City Pulse attended the wine fest. In Sampling the Champs he writes about the festival and the Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition: This year’s Best of Class and Judge’s Merit winners included six wines from Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula and an Ice Wine from Fenn Valley Vineyards, south of Holland. It is a testament to the quality grape growing and winemaking in the Traverse City Region... Complete competition results are posted at www.michiganwines.com, but it is helpful to taste wines before purchasing. Fortuitously, the Traverse City Wine and Art Festival held its inaugural celebration on Aug. 22 at the Grand Traverse Commons. Twenty-two area wineries and several diverse restaurants rimmed the edges of a circus-sized tent, while wine devotees sampled many of the Gold Medal and Best of Class wines. Forming a perimeter around the tent was a juried fine arts show, featuring many artists recognizable from the East Lansing Art Fair. On a stage off to the side, Okemos’ own Thom Jayne & the Nomads entertained the crowd, along with other bands.

Buckwheat Zydeco at the Beer Fest II by Andy McFarlane Absolute Michigan's Cherie Spaulding braved the downpour at the beer festival. In If you brew it she reports: What occurred at The Village Saturday afternoon was no small feat. Had the sun simply offered her face in typical August fashion, hosting a Microbrew & Music festival would have been worry enough. Add to the challenge: rain, rain, rain. Still, not a grim face in the crowd. Smiles protruded from hooded hatters toting biodegradable koozies thermally insulating samples of amber ale and chocolate stout. Huddled and gathered beneath large and small tents, attendees dodged rain drops pelleting the lawn. Despite Mother Nature's drab set decoration, Traverse City's Microbrew & Music Festival proved to be a brilliant affair, as folks flooded the lawn of the old State Hospital grounds, sipping suds in the (sometimes) pouring rain... After Saturday's event, the only hard evidence we have is that nothing--not even cool wet weather--will stop Michiganders from their microbrews, music and good eats. And yes, they seemed happy. Northern Michigan's thirst to celebrate with friends and family can neither be quenched or denied. Rain or shine--if you brew it, they will come!

Click for more wine fest photos by M'Lynn, and Absolute Michigan also brought in photographer Jesamin Califf who has a great gallery from the inaugural TC Wine & Art Festival.

I had the good fortune to be involved with both events - the TC Wine & Art fest as an organizer and the TC Beer fest as a participant. While I have to admit that it was a lot more fun to be on the participant end, the most exciting thing about the week for me has been looking forward to what the week holds in 2010 and beyond.

Plans are already afoot to turn the week into a celebration of community, culture and the culinary offerings of the new foodie mecca that is the Traverse City area. Stay tuned!

Dave Brubeck Quartet by Maia C

For more than a quarter century, the Detroit International Jazz Festival has entertained millions of fans with jazz legends ranging from Herbie Hancock to Yusef Lateef and Ron Carter. Today, it ROARS on six stages over four days, with blues, gospel, R&B, and one of the finest jazz lineups on the planet. The 2009 festival takes place this weekend and is the 30th annual. Mark Stryker writes:

Detroit's remarkable jazz history has a lot of heroes, but none loom larger than the three incomparable Jones brothers from Pontiac, who came roaring out of the local scene at midcentury to become major influences -- Hank as a pianist, Thad as a composer, arranger and bandleader and Elvin as a drummer.

So it's only fitting that the 30th anniversary edition of the Detroit International Jazz Festival, which runs Friday through Monday, would pay homage to the first family of Detroit jazz with the subtitle of "Keepin' Up with the Joneses."

Hank, the eldest and only surviving brother, who still plays beautifully at age 91, headlines an opening night double-bill with Chick Corea, and artist-in-residence John Clayton has written a 30-minute commissioned suite for big band and jazz quintet that honors the Jones brothers. On a deeper level, the entire weekend lineup is deep with other famous jazz families, from the Brubecks to the Heaths.

Other featured performers are Wayne Shorter, Corea, Clarke & White, Dave Brubeck, the Clayton Brothers Quintet and Christian McBride (complete schedule via the Freep.)

Be sure to enjoy this report from the 2008 Detroit International Jazz Festival hosted by Jim McClain and shot and produced by Scott Allman for Absolute Michigan.

Plan on it for 2009!

trio by worth a few words

The 36th Annual Wheatland Music Festival will be held September 11-13, 2010 at the 160 acre Wheatland Music Organization (WMO) property near Remus (Mecosta County midway between Big Rapids and Mt. Pleasant). The goal of the WMO is to serve as a resource center for the preservation and presentation of traditional music and arts, an idea that began with the First Wheatland Bluegrass Festival as a benefit for the Mt. Pleasant Food Co-Op, August 24, 1974.

The 2009 festival lineup features nationally known performers like The Steel Drivers, Red Stick Ramblers, Ruthie Foster, Aubrey Ghent and the The Wilders along with Michigan favorites including Detour Bluegrass and Robin & Linda Williams.

Wheatland limits ticket sales to maintain a environment conducive to enjoying the great music, so you need to get weekend tickets in advance. You may purchase online or call 989-967-8561 for availability. You can buy Sunday-only tickets at gate beginning at 8 AM on Sunday, September 7 for $25.

Photo credit: 2005 Wheatland Music Festival by Peggy Brisbane. Peggy has been photographing the musicians at the Wheatland Festival in 1983 and has photographed most of the festivals since then. View more photos in the Wheatland Music Organization photo gallery and also in the Wheatland Photos group on Flickr.

Here's a cool video from 2007 capturing the feel of this classic Michigan festival.

The contest is now complete and our winner has been notified. Thank you for entering and keep your eye out for more ticket giveaways!

Tickets for the shows are on Sale Now!

From KISSONLINE.com:

The KISS Army has spoken! By overwhelming fan demand, KISS has just added a second special KISS ALIVE 35 concert at Detroit Rock City's legendary concert venue, Cobo Arena. Following the incredible response to the previously announced show on Friday, September 25th, in which tickets sold out at a feverish rate, a second KISS date has been added on Saturday, September 26th

The legendary venue, a Motor City institution that is slated for closure, has hosted KISS concerts on numerous occasions, not the least of which was the series of shows that were recorded to become the KISS ALIVE! album. The band will come full circle to reprise that classic recording at these September shows, this time returning with brand new staging, costumes, pyro and more.

Gene Simmons discusses the upcoming COBO Arena show and Sonic Boom in a radio interview on Detroit's 94.7 FM on August 21, 2009.

Paul Stanley discusses the upcoming COBO Arena show and Sonic Boom in a radio interview on Detroit's 101 FM on August 21, 2009.

Gene by Jean-Luc
KISS Toronto 1976 Slideshow

KISS Visits Cadillac, Michigan

The website created by Jim Neff When Cadillac Was KISSed is the ultimate resource and there is also an excellent article The Day Kiss Rocked Cadillac on the Northern Express's website. For even more information be sure to check out Paul Roy's article at Blogcritics Music DVD Review: KISS - Kissology Vol. 1 - 1974-1977.

The documentary highlight of this package, however, has to go to the fascinating footage of KISS' trip to Cadillac, Michigan on October 9th, 1975, to take part in the town high school's homecoming celebration. They mingled with the townspeople all day before eventually performing a climactic concert in the high school gymnasium. The one or two thousand who where actually there, has supposedly grown into about one or two hundred thousand who claim they were.

The next morning, a breakfast was held in the band's honor, where the town officials presented KISS with a key to the city - this was after they graciously allowed the band to apply KISS makeup to each and every one of them. Hearing the football coach talk about how they played KISS in the locker room to get the team pumped up before each game, brought back fond memories of myself cranking Alive! on my stereo before each and every one of my high school hockey games to get myself fired up. Believe me, it worked. In true KISS fashion, a giant helicopter unsuspectingly swooped down onto the football field to pick up the band as they were saying their goodbyes to the town. The KISS phenomenon had officially begun.

For you video lovers, here's the KISSOLOGY DVD video, a live rendition of Detroit Rock City and (probably best of the three) a rehearsal of Detroit Rock City.

The festival will feature beer from great Michigan breweries including Arbor, Arcadia, Bell's, Dark Horse, Founders, Jolly Pumpkin, Keweenaw, Michigan Brewing, New Holland, North Peak, Right Brain, Sergeants, Shorts and Tri-City. Also in attendance will be national breweries like Magic Hat, Red Hook and Sierra Nevada.

In addition to the great beer, there will be music from Buckwheat Zydeco, Clumsy Lovers, Caravan Of Thieves, Mike Moran + Levi Britton and others along with great grub, workshops and other associated fun including the Cherry Roubaix, a criterium bike race through the streets of Traverse City that starts at 12:30.

Absolute Michigan will definitely be going and we encourage you to join us! Tickets are $25 in advance ($30 at the door) and available online at porterhouseproductions.com.

The event is a celebration of craft brewing, a movement that is taking hold all over Michigan and the country. Here's a great video featuring a number of craft brewers talking about why they do what they do and what it means.

Detroit-based indie rockers The High Strung, whose penchant for playing live music in libraries was the subject of a This American Life feature, were invited to play a show at the Guantanamo Bay library this summer. They said yes. What followed is documented in a Vanity Fair article, written by the older brother of one of the bandmembers.

Visit their website thehighstrung.com and friend them on MySpace....

Check out the YouTube video: WATCH ME SUSTAIN: THE HIGH STRUNG LIBRARY TOUR DOCUMENTARY Promo Trailer (short version)

As always, the festival site will have a Disc Golf Course Designed by Stephanai Myers of Disc Golf Michigan. The festival site is also strategically located near various mountain biking trails and the Pine River, a National Wild and Scenic River, a world class blue-ribbon trout stream, and a renowned paddle sports playground. Kestelwoods restaurant, party store and campground is a convenient 6 minute walk from the festival grounds.

New to the Festival
New this year will be the addition of a beer tent, featuring some of the finest handcrafted brews from the great beer state, served up in a micro beer festival format. We're proud to announce our all new Farmers Market full of local produce and specialty baked goods.

Vendor Village
In Hoxeyville we understand the vendor village is the nucleus of any good festival. We always strive to feature the finest artisan, craft and food vendors from our region, with a focus on specialty foods with locally grown and organic ingredients.

Just some of the artists include:
Buddy Guy, Galactic, Bill Frisell Trio, The New Orleans All-Stars, Melvin Seals & JGB, Greensky Bluegrass, Great American Taxi, Ekoostic Hookah, Seth Bernard & May Erlewine, Steppin' In It, The Macpodz and many, many more....

Location
Located in Beautiful Northwest Lower Michigan in the Heart of the Manistee National Forest, The Festival Grounds are located just west of The Kestelwoods Store and Campground off M-37 in Wexford County (1 1/2 hrs N of Grand Rapids, 40 Min. S of Traverse City) This year the site has been expanded to 75 acres and features ample areas for shaded walk-in and car camping, and open and level fields for RVs and Campers. This year we have a new Venue area that will be home to the The Main stage, Vendor Village and a Beer Tent featuring some of the finest brews from the region.

"Les Paul brought six strings to electricity and electricity to six strings. Les Paul was an innovator, a groundbreaker, a risk taker, a mentor and a friend. Try to imagine what we'd be doing if he hadn't come along and changed the world. There will always be more Les to come. That's certified."
~ Billy Gibbons, one of many to praise Paul

Electric Blues by Rudy Malmquist

Les Paul, designer of the Gibson Les Paul and an incredibly influential musician, passed away Friday at the age of 94.

Wikipedia says that in addition to collaborting on the the guitar that bore his name, Paul is credited with recording innovations including overdubbing, tape delay, phasing effects, and multitrack recording. The "Wizard of Waukesha" was also one of the most influential guitarists ever, developing licks, trills, chording sequences, fretting techniques and timing that set him apart from his contemporaries and have carried through to the modern day.

There's so much more to be said. Start with:

• Les Paul Online is the artists official web site. Definitely go here to get a feel for the man. Paul's good humor and amazing skills shine through.
• The World Has Lost a Remarkable Innovator and Musician: Les Paul Passes Away at 94 from Gibson Guitar
• What makes the Gibson Les Paul unique and The Man Behind the Guitar from the Les Paul Guide
• See Les Paul Chasing Sound (IN MEMORIAM 1915-2009) at PBS to learn more about the video above,  read some great history and a timeline of Paul's career.
• Legendary guitar-maker Les Paul left mark in Kalamazoo from mLive is just one of the articles they have about Paul.
• Gibson Guitar in Kalamazoo, Michigan from Michigan in Pictures seems to be where people go to ask questions about Gibson guitars the have ... and has some good information about the company.

Photo: Les Paul by Thomas Faivre-Duboz Paris, France

Arts, Beats & Eats will still feature The HealthPlus Art Fair, one of the top art shows in the US, incredible food, more than 125 bands on six stages, and dynamic and interactive fun for the kids

Arts, Beats & Eats was founded to celebrate the quality of life in Oakland County by offering a culturally unique presentation of artists, musicians and food exhibits, from the Metro Detroit area, and throughout the United States.

The festival was designed to provide outstanding family entertainment at a very low cost, and will add a $2 admission fee to the festival and all concerts, but will balance the extra fee by offering lower costs for parking, food and beverages items, and other value incentives throughout the weekend including free admission on Friday. See their great values page.

Proceeds from the admission fee at Arts, Beats & Eats will be distributed among several key Metro-Detroit charities by the Arts, Beats & Eats Foundation. For a list of non-profit partners that will share their admission fee, click here. To date, over $2 million raised by Arts, Beats & Eats has been donated to charity.

This years festival will feature new cultural programs including the Oakland County Summer Arts Project, performances by Detroit Chamber Winds and Eisenhower Dance, and interactive Arts & Crafts from Metro Parent Magazine.

Arts, Beats & Eats is also excited about a new partnership with DPTV and PBS as sponsor of their kids zone, and the return of their partnership with ITC and their greenways initiative.

Now entering its twelfth year, Arts, Beats and Eats has celebrated many successes, including attracting large crowds each year, earning top rankings for its juried fine arts show, securing top national entertainment, and providing unique interactive programs for the family. Past music performers at Arts, Beats & Eats have included Brian McKnight, Montgomery Gentry, Live, The B52's, Collective Soul, Paul Rodgers of Bad Company, Martina McBride, Rick Braun, David Benoit, Jodee Messina, Blues Traveler, 38 Special, Rick Springfield, and many more. The festival has something to offer to everyone, in a child-friendly, safe and secure environment.

Location and Directions

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About the Festival

The Traverse City Wine & Art Festival is being organized in order to create a landmark celebration of the wine, food and culture for the region. It will feature 22 wineries from the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas along with a selection of Traverse City and Leelanau restaurants providing food & desserts. Art Center Traverse City will be coordinating a sampling of artists and arts organizations who will display and sell their work in booths ringing the tent. Music will be offered for the duration, headlined by Michigan's own Thom Jayne and the Nomads who play a truly unique blend of world and Celtic infused jazz. The music will be punctuated by original dance from the Michigan Dance Collective.

Saharan Caravan by Thom Jayne and the Nomads

"The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association is excited to be building a major wine festival that will showcase the amazing wines of our region against the beautiful backdrop of the Grand Traverse Commons. We feel that the blend of art, food and wine is a natural combination that highlights three things we do very well in Northwest Michigan," said festival chairperson Jaclyn Eikey. "With the addition of some really eclectic music and entertainment, I think it will be an experience like none other offered in our area. The proceeds from this year's party will help us build a festival that we feel will become one of the highlights of summer in the Traverse City area."

Tickets

Tickets are limited and can be purchased online for $20 per person and will be available for pickup on the day of the event. You can also pick them up at the following locations:

Bel Lago, Black Star Farms (All 3 locations), Bowers Harbor, Brys Estate, Chateau Chantal, Chateau de Leelanau, Chateau Fontaine, Chateau Grand Traverse, Cherry Republic Winery, Ciccone, Forty-Five North, Gill's Pier, Good Neighbor Organic, L. Mawby, Leelanau Wine Cellars, Left Foot Charley, Peninsula Cellars, Shady Lane Cellars, Silver Leaf, Tandem Ciders, Traverse City Convention , & Visitors Bureau, Turtle Creek, Two Lads, Willow Vineyard

Tickets purchased online will be available for pickup on the day of the event. They are nonrefundable but can be transferred to another name if you are unable to attend. YOU MUST BE 21+ to attend.

Fourth of July Fireworks Display... by Doug Langham

Throughout each month we post items of Michicentric interest to our Michitwitter page. In case you missed them here is a look back at just a few of the items for the month of July. If you find these interesting there are plenty more for you to check out. We encourage you to add any news items, events, links to vids, podcasts or whatever you find interesting about the Great Lakes State!

The photo featured in this post is from the Absolute Michigan Flickr pool and was shot by Doug Langham. He adds:

...at South Haven. The North Pier, where the fireworks were detonated is approximately one mile South of the beach where I captured these images on July 6, 2008.

This image was posted on the Center for Michigan's Photo of the Week, July 10, 2008. www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/south-haven-fireworks/

It should be noted that Michigan played proud host to slew of great events most notably the Rothbury festival and the Traverse City Film Festival. Absolute Michigan was on location at both and you can check out the coverage on our Absolute Michigan On Location blog.

A few of the posted news items from July 2009

Although Michigan's population has thinned those who remain seem to be growing. Read all about it in Michigan climbs scales as 9th fattest state, study says from Michitwitter June 2009 from the Freep.

Nearly two-thirds of the state is battling either obesity or being overweight, considered a BMI of 25 to 29.9. The obesity percentage has steadily increased since 2005, when 25.3% of the state was obese. The state is now spending upward of $3 billion a year dealing with obesity-related medical issues.

July was Michigan Craft Beer Month and was highlight by the 12th Annual Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival. Fittingly July also saw resurrection of America's second oldest brewery. See Frankenmuth Brewery makes a comeback in the Detroit News.

"We're back and ready for action," said Dave Scholten, general manager of the restaurant on Frankenmuth's main street, just alongside the Cass River. "It's a good day for Michigan beer."

The Frankenmuth Brewery claims status as America's second-oldest beer-making operation, but it hasn't been an easy trip to the present from its beginnings in 1862, just 17 years after German settlers founded the town that morphed during the 20th century into one of the state's most notable tourist destinations.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has proposed putting wetlands protection back in the hands of the federal government. The National Wildlife Federation thinks this is a bad idea. Read Group says wetlands should stay in state hands in the Detroit News.

"While we believe there are some shortcomings in the current Michigan wetlands program ... returning the program to federal administration under Section 404 would neither result in a stronger, more comprehensive program, nor likely result in any cost savings overall," according to the report. "Instead, the state should identify resources as needed and make a commitment to maintain administration of this important program."

A lot of money has been poured into the Pure Michigan advertising campaign. Many are speculating that without out it the influx of tourism dollars would be much less in these tough economic times. Find out more in Pure Michigan paying off for tourism industry on WZZM13.com.

Michigan's tourism industry is taking a hit because of the economy. But, some say it would be worse if not for the Pure Michigan advertising campaign, which is running nationally for the first time this year.

As the long Fourth of July holiday weekend drew to a close, tourists still roamed the streets and waterfronts of Grand Haven on Monday.

Motown is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year and the Freep ran a real cool piece 50 years, 50 videos.

With Motown Records celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Free Press went for the gold. Our staff traveled literally coast to coast uncovering stories that demonstrate the label's continued relevance.

The other shoe dropped for the Department of History, Arts and Libraries in July. Read Governor eliminates Michigan Dept. of History, Arts and Libraries on crainsdetroit.com.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has signed an executive order eliminating the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries and eliminating about $2 million in associated, annual costs from the 2010 budget.

The U.S. government is looking for input on issues surround the Great Lakes. How would you spend $475 million to restore the Great Lakes? is from mlive.com.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants public comment on plans to spend $475 million for a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

But the only public meeting on the plan in Michigan will be Aug. 3 in Lansing.

These are just some of the stories you can find on the Absolute Michigan's Michitwitter page.

This year's festival will take place Friday, August 7 (4pm-12:30am), and Saturday, August 8, 2009 (2pm-12:30am), in the streets of Old Town, surrounded by the best of the Capital City's art galleries as well as unique retail stores and grand architecture. Vendors line the streets offering ethnic food, beverages, art, clothing, and crafts, and nearby galleries and boutiques open their doors during festival hours.

Check out the 2009 Lansing JazzFest Line-Up!!!

Lansing JazzFest continues to grow thanks to the contributions of its sponsors and volunteers.

Ann Arbor Street Fair by Photo Credit Peter Leix

Established in 1960, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is the Original of the now four award-winning Ann Arbor Art Fairs:

• The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original
• The State Street Area Art Fair
• The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair
• Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair

Together, the fairs attract over 500,000 attendees from across the nation. The Original Fair was named the Number One Art Fair in the country by AmericanStyle magazine readers survey (October 2004) and has made the Top Ten Fairs and Festivals list every year since.

Our mission is to increase public knowledge and appreciation for contemporary fine arts and fine crafts by creating opportunities that connect artists, the Ann Arbor community and the general public to their mutual benefit, culminating in a top quality juried street art fair.

The Street Art Fair is set on North University Avenue and on the University of Michigan’s Central Campus, amidst most elegant architecture and beautifully landscaped pedestrian walkways, including the landmark Burton Carillon Tower.

Interested in learning more about our history? Check out these sections from Street Beat, a unique, quirky guide to Ann Arbor and the Art Fair. You may download Street Beat in its entirety.

To celebrate 50 years of originality, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is exhibiting original posters, art, and photographs spanning its first half-century. Visitors to the exhibit can explore the history of the Fair through narrative panels chronicling each decade from its humble beginnings to its place today as one of the most highly regarded art fairs in North America. Included in the exhibit is an original retablo by artist Nicario Jiminez depicting the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair. Also check out the online collection of images from the history of the Fair that is a part of AADL’s picture Ann Arbor collection.

Feel the Rush by Diann

In its heyday, the Idlewild Resort area was the place to perform for musicians and other entertainers who had already "arrived" and for those that were hoping to get noticed. The Idlewild Music Fest recognizes these musical roots with a two-day celebration. Coordinated and supported by business leaders, the nonprofit community and faith community of Lake County, the Idlewild Music Fest brings an unmistakable beat back to echo across Idlewild Lake and Williams Island, if just for awhile.

Wikipedia tells us:

Idlewild is a vacation and retirement community in Yates Township located in a small rural northwestern part of the U.S. state of Michigan near the southeastern border of Lake County. It was one of only a few resorts in the country where African-Americans were allowed to vacation and purchase property before this discrimination became illegal in 1964.

Idlewild surrounds the lake it was named for. The headwaters of the Pere Marquette River run through here, with a couple of public access points adjacent to Broadway Road, where it crosses. About half of the township is contained in the Manistee National Forest.

Called the "Black Eden", from 1912 through the mid-1960s, Idlewild was an active year-round community and was visited by well-known entertainers and professionals from throughout the country. At its peak it was the most popular resort in the Midwest and as many as 25,000 would come to Idlewild in the height of the summer season to enjoy camping, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, roller skating and night-time entertainment.

When the 1964 Civil Rights Act opened up other resorts to African-Americans, Idlewild's boomtown period subsided but the community continues to be an important place for vacationers and retirees and as a heritage landmark.

The Idlewild African American Chamber of Commerce was founded in the summer of 2000 by businessman John O. Meeks for the purpose of promoting existing local businesses and for attracting newer ones to the Lake County area.

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Salad by by jpwbee

Taste the Local Difference says that leafy greens are ready to pick! Greens are an excellent source of iron, calcium, Vitamins A and C, and folic acid and also very high in dietary fiber and low in calories and sodium. What's not to love?? Here's a few fun facts about greens:

• Swiss chard is also known as white beet, strawberry spinach, seakale beet, leaf beet, Sicilian beet, spinach beet, Chilean beet, Roman kale, perpetual spinach, silverbeet and mangold!
• Arugula is known as “rocket” in some parts of Europe.
• Lettuce is a member of the sunflower family.

Untitled by Ken Scott

Herbed Baked Greens

2 egg whites
1 Tbsp. canola oil
1//2 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
1/3 cup lemon juice
¼ tsp. crushed rosemary
salt to taste
3 cups cooked, chopped greens
2 Tbsp. minced onions
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 ½ cups grated low-fat cheese

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Oil an 8-inch square glass baking pan. In large mixing bowl, beat egg whites with oil, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, rosemary, and salt. Gently stir greens, onions, rice, and cheese into egg white mixture, then turn into prepared pan. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake until lightly browned, 10-15 minutes. 4-6 servings.

While we're on the topic, here's Seth Bernard & May Erlewine singing about greens!

After tallying the votes from an enormous number of submissions we have identified our winner. Drum roll please......

"I moved from Michigan to Florida this January for work. People said "Florida in the winter....wow, you're lucky" and "you got a job in this economy, man, you're lucky". Well let me tell you something my Michigan friends....you can take a man out of Flint, but you'll never take the Flintstone out of the Man. Give me one excuse to leave this this oceanside resort for a reunion with the best people in the world, my Michigander soul people, and I won't be taking Interstate 75 south again. This Michigan Man is ready to find a way to join all the spirited people celebrating our nations birth with some Great Times in the Great Lakes.....and I thank you absolutemichigan.com for bringing me home!!! Say Yeah to Rothbury, the best music line up of the year....Say Yes to Me in M!ch!gan!!!"

Stace S

Rothbury Snoop Dogg Crowd by Dave Vann

We are pleased to announce that just as we did last year we are having another Rothbury Ticket Giveaway thanks to the very generous festival organizers. This year we will be giving away a pair of 4 day GA Tickets camping included!

Tickets can still be purchased and just like last year's Rothbury Festival they are offering a variety of packages to suit all lifestyles. Unique to this year's festival are the 2 day Saturday & Sunday tickets.

About the Rothbury Music Festival

This year the Rothbury Music Festival takes place July 2-5, 2009 in Rothbury, Michigan (near Muskegon). Four days of music on six stages feature some of the biggest musical acts around including THE DEAD • BOB DYLAN AND HIS BAND • THE STRING CHEESE INCIDENT • WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY • THE BLACK CROWES • DAMIAN 'JR. GONG' MARLEY & NAS • STS9 • G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE • GOV'T MULE • UMPHREY'S MCGEE • BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE • YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND • and about a jillion others!

The festival also will be showcasing "Circus & Theater", a feature that demonstrates the festival's commitment to the performing arts and theatrical culture.

All kinds of interesting Environments & Experiences where you can wander through the Sherwood Forest and stumble upon its many mysteries. Put your hands on some great new gadgets and games at the Festival’s Epicenter or wake up and get loose in a unique yoga journey.

The Rothbury Think Tank will be focused on finding energy independence and feature the innovators, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, celebs, and rabble rousers who – in this time of economic, energy and climate crisis – are offering a green path to a brighter future.

Rothbury in Video and Pictures

Checkout more Rothbury videos on their YouTube channel!

There is also this awesome slideshow from Rothbury 2008 via Flickr...

The June 10th, 2009 kickoff of the four-day festival will feature the documentary "Surfing 50 States". Actress Yeardley Smith, better known as the voice of Lisa Simpson, will be there, as will Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund and world renowned street artist Ron English. The opening-night party will also include a musical performance by South Florida rock band, Fallbrooke.

The festival itself will run June 11th-14th. Michigan's own Jeff Daniels will be there for the Midwest Premiere of his film, "Answer Man", and Daryl Hannah is scheduled to attend to promote her film, "Fierce Light".

Check out Absolute Michigan keyword Saugatuck for more about the festival and Saugatuck links and visit our Michigan Film Festivals page for many more film experiences!

morel spring 2008 by baldo1man

When an avid morel mushroom hunter stands before 250 people recounting a time when he walked out of the woods wearing only his underwear, socks and shoes, giggles burst but people listen. Finding the elusive morel is no laughing matter, but to the attendees of the morel hunting lecture at the 49th National Annual Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City, the entertainment was as delicious as the soup - seasoned with laughter and emboldened with rich enthusiasm.

After watching culinary guru John Sheets prepare a mouth-watering array of wild edibles, the crowd listened as native Anthony Williams recounted tales of his morel hunting lineage, sharing tricks and tips passed down through generations. Afterward, he shared a morel song accompanied by his wife, Robin Lee Berry. No one would walk away from Friday's festivities empty-handed.

Boyne City Sunset by rickrjw

What Boyne City offers this weekend is more than just words. Yesterday organizers and volunteers from the community accompanied four bus loads of hungry hunters, through private land, to search and pick as they will again today. Experts offered suggestions and visitors shared in the excitement of discovering their first morel. Not everyone walked away with something in their sack, but each person had the opportunity to inspect this elusive mushroom--some place other than their dinner plate or produce aisle. Immediately following, attendees were invited to celebrate at the Morelfest Wine and Dine, which featured an elegant five course morel-themed dinner with wine pairings. The evening ended with live music from blues artist Larry McCray on Lake Charlevoix.

Weekend events remain and there is still time to join in the fun! Saturday (May 16) offers another full day of activities, beginning with a morel breakfast, followed by a hunting competition; there will be a cooking demonstration by an award-winning chef; a craft-fair, where you can purchase morel inspired walking sticks, wood carvings, mesh morel-picking bags, jams, jellies and many other treats; a carnival to entertain the children or satisfy the inner-child, and another chance to experience great music with Twisted Finster. If you are anywhere in the vicinity of Boyne City, grab your family and friends and join in the fun!

...and just why was a morel hunter walking out of the woods in his underwear?

Apparently Tony had discovered "the mother lode" and, rather than leave them, utilized the remainder of his clothing to carry home the all the morels. Although he made no promises, with generous spirit and good humor he offered some of his secrets and instilled hope in a new generation of mushroom hunters.

Click for the all the details of the Boyne City Morel Festival or grab your Michigan map and head to Boyne City.

Thursday April 30th at the Magic Bag in Ferndale features Rachael Davis, My Dear Disco, Nervous But Excited, and Chris Bathgate. ACLU of Michigan staff attorney Jay Kaplan will discuss what his organization’s LGBT project is working on to help the cause of LGBT victim rights. Tickets are $10 at the door and the show starts at 8pm.

Friday May 1st in Ann Arbor is Nervous But Excited and Breathe Owl Breathe will play at The Ark. Coalition for Adoption Rights Equality (CARE) President Beverly Davidson will discuss House Bill 4131 that could allow for second-parent adoptions in Michigan. Tickets are $15 at the door and the show starts at 8pm.

Saturday May 2nd at the Insideout Gallery in Traverse City is Kalamazoo-based old time string-bang Who Hit John? (pictured above) will be there along with songwriter Michael Beauchamp and Cmoon, featuring local freestyle artist Cnote, Moon Beam and Adam Reid. Triangle Foundation Victim Service Director Melissa Pope will discuss various legal and political issues. Tickets are $15 at the door, $12 in advance.

Here's their promo video...

Cancer Bats by Jesse Speelman

With the golden years of Motown now in it's rear view mirror, the city of Detroit currently maintains an impressive and eclectic mix of music venues, bands and fans. This is a city with music ingrained into the soul of it's people and culture. This is a city that has spawned some of the industry's biggest talent in past and present times. It is a hallmark of Detroit that seems to be ingrained into the people and culture of the city. In a place that has experienced such extreme highs and lows, the live music scene appears to offer solid ground to stand on, providing a much needed outlet to artists and audiences alike.

The New York Times recently ran a piece on the Detroit music scene that reveals a city with a number of impressive musical venues, a large pool of tenacious talent and an always appreciative fanbase. "In Detroit Clubs, the Music Scene Keeps on Rockin’" takes a look at the live music scene in Detroit and where to go to catch some shows.

...Motown left town a generation ago, leaving behind only the small white house that is home to the Motown Historical Museum (2648 West Grand Boulevard; 313-975-2264; www.motownmuseum.com). And while Eminem and Kid Rock still live and record there, they keep lower local profiles than their fame might suggest.

But the clubs where they and other Detroit acts got their starts are still very much a part of the city, developing performers who could join the ranks of other famous Detroit artists. Even though the city, and its auto industry, have been hit by hard times that threaten some venerable places, live music endures in the Motor City. - Continue reading

The Hard Lessons LIVE @ The Magic Stick in Detroit!

Baker's Keyboard Lounge w/Clarence Baker

Waves Of Fire by siskokid

Students For Sustainable Living, Students Against Sulfide Mining and other Northern Michigan University student organizations invite you to attend the Superior Water Festival in Marquette this weekend (April 3-5, 2009).

The latest in the ongoing Water Festival takes place on the campus of Northern Michigan University in beautiful Marquette on the shore of the world's largest freshwater body, Lake Superior. The weekend will feature regional water luminaries, local legends, world-class Michigan musicians, students from Northern and all over the state and people who care about water issues gathering for a weekend of music, food, community, panels, workshops, dances and celebration to honor & protect our water locally and address global challenges.

Friday's activities will include guided hikes throughout the day. Saturday will mark the start of on-campus festivities at 10:00 a.m. and will continue until 5:00 p.m., to be followed by an evening potluck, a film showing by Jeff Gibbs and a concert featuring Seth Bernard, Daisy May, Michael Beauchamp, Brandon Foote, Susan Fawcett, Frank Youngman, Hawks & Owls and Grassmonkey. Sunday's schedule will feature more activities and music.

Panels, workshops, films and presentations will cover topics including the spirituality & symbolism of water in different cultures & religions; food systems, ethics and their impact on our environment; Great Lakes/Lake Superior watershed discussions; case studies on the past, present and future of dams; Native American/First Nations unique perspective on and relationship with water; health and social justice issues pertaining to water; and the legacy of mining in the U.P. and its impact, among others.

There will be many family-oriented activities throughout the weekend including music by the Earthwork musicians, NMU students and Michigan performers, the Marshland kids' parade, story-telling, poetry readings, Native American dance and a community sing.

Please join our coalition to celebrate the water and culture of the Great Lakes Basin and the U.P. For more information, please email us at cyoungma@nmu.edu.

The event is free and open to the public and you can get more information by contacting Callie Youngman, from The Water Festival web site and also on Facebook.

Here's a little pickin' on Old Man at the Mill from Hawks & Owls:

Welcome back to the Ross Sandelius Michigan Music Show. Yesterday Ross provided a photo for our Rothbury post and this morning he tipped me off to the 240-hour "Assembly Line" concert that will take place March 20-30, 2009 at AJ's Music Cafe in Ferndale.

The Assembly Line concert will bring the two worlds together as the music marathon pays tribute to American workers, products and automobiles. The Danny Boy marathon attracted singers ranging from local business owners to the governor of Michigan. The Assembly Line will also call on musicians from all segments of society to come together in the heart of hard-hit Main Street America and help pay tribute to the down, but not out, American worker.

"We call on every manufacturing plant, every car dealership, garage mechanic to join us," O'Neil said. "We call on politicians, loan officers, credit agencies, builders to join us. We call for music to heal us in these trying times.

"We call on the corporate world to join us to help us in our Main Street solution to this American challenge."

The Assembly Line Concert will feature at least 240 acts, performing for 240 hours, nonstop, at AJ's Cafe, 240 Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, Mich.

Each of the 10 days will highlight different aspects of the American partnership between workers, employers, politicians and the media. One day, political leaders will play 24, one-hour sets; another day, auto workers; and another day, local Detroit bands. Even members of the media will have their own day to play.

Well cool. Hope you get a chance to check it out and if you get some YouTube or photos, post links in the comments!

My Detroit by Ross Sandelius

Here's a shot of Ross's 9' print on the wall at AJ's.

Tough Decisions by Ross Sandelius

Billboard Magazine reports that last year's four-day Rothbury Festival ranked No. 8 on their 2008 top-grossing festivals tally, pulling in $7.4 million and drawing 120,820 music fans. Unsurprisingly, they're doing it all over again this summer July 2-5, 2009:

The Dead, Bob Dylan, The String Cheese Incident, Willie Nelson & Family, and The Black Crowes are among the top acts set for the second annual Rothbury, a weekend-long festival produced by Madison House Presents and AEG Live. The event will be held July 2-5 at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan, about three hours northwest of Detroit.

...Other artists confirmed to appear include Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley & Nas, STS9 (2 shows: full band/Live PA Set), G. Love & Special Sauce, Gov't Mule, Broken Social Scene, Cold War Kids, Matisyahu, Guster, Les Claypool, Chromeo, Girl Talk, The Hold Steady. Ani DiFranco, MSTRKRFT, Femi Kuti and King Sunny Ade.

In addition to the music, Rothbury organizers are emphasizing the sustainability initiatives that aim to produce a near zero-waste event. They are also once again organizing the Rothbury Think Tank, with educational sessions and community discussion groups focused on the topic of the "New Green Economy."

Tickets go on sale at noon this Friday (March 20) and there's even some layaway options and lots of packages right here. Absolute Michigan will have lots more coverage of Michigan's largest music festival in the weeks and months to come!

For now, here's more Rothbury posts from Absolute Michigan and here's a great collection of 2008 Rothbury Festival pictures (including some great panoramas) over at Michigan in Pictures.

Ice Rink by Allan M

The event started in 2005 as a tuneup to Super Bowl XL and was called the Motown Winter Blast. It's now called Detroit's Winter Blast and it happens February 6-8, 2009.

In what has become typical Michigan media fashion, the Detroit News fills the glass half full, dwelling on what you won't get. They grudgingly allow that 40 musical acts, 60 restaurants and three downtown hotels (including the newly-renovated Book Cadillac) offering discounted rates to families just might make it worth the trip. Not to be out-glummed, the Freep leads with the 2 of clubs as well but does finish nicely:

"We could have taken the philosophy, if you can't do it the way you did it in the past, then you shouldn't do it," (Festival organizer John) Witz said. "We took the different philosophy. We tried to create as much magic as we can for as little cost as possible ... "We are featuring more made in Michigan products this year. The wine tasting is going to be with Michigan wines," Witz said. "The ice sculptures will have a Michigan theme."

The festival will include ice-skating exhibitions, marshmallow roasting, ice sculptures, and an arts and crafts area. Festival-goers can skate in Campus Martius Park for free, courtesy of michigan.org.

The MetroPCS Dine in the D program is back. The program offers diners a 15% discount at some of Detroit's finest restaurants. This year, the participating restaurants will each donate up to 10% of their sales (before tax) to Michigan's Children's Center.

MSNBC adds that a major attraction will be the ice slide at Campus Martius Park. It's called the Arctic Blast and it opened last Friday and you can get a live look-in at it on the Campus Martius Park webcam.

More information and full schedule of performances are on the official site for the Detroit Winter Blast. If you want to see more photos, check out Detroit Winter Blast by Rohn Photos and Motown Winter Blast by Pasque.