Over the course of the afternoon, obscure faces smile or sing themselves familiar as folks from as far away as Kalamazoo unpack guitars, fiddles, banjos, autoharps, mandolins, and harmonicas. It was very similar to the coffeehouses I'd fallen in love with on the East Coast several years earlier. Having been raised on country, gospel and bluegrass, folk music's melodies rang close to what I knew, while its lyrics spoke to my rebel heart about truth, justice, and the struggles of common people like myself, circles of people inspired, comforted, connected, and validated by song. In this same spirit Pat approached me that first night, his burly frame reaching out a welcoming hand as he introduced himself. Since that evening, the circle of music has grown larger with each passing day.
Musical opportunities abound year-round in Northern Michigan.
Spring, summer, and fall bring folk festivals from Marquette to Ann Arbor. In winter, small groups of dedicated folks refuse to give up their music fix just because of a little snow. The Bay Area Dulcimer Society meets twice a month, offering workshops and jam sessions. The Bayside Travellers Society meets the second Saturday of each month, dancing to old-time music performed by local bands. Cedar Tavern, Full Circle Recording Studio, and the Dennos Museum, to name a few, host Michigan performers like Joel Mabus, Claudia Schmidt, Jay Weber, Jim Crockett, Robin Lee Berry, Marianne Rivers, Third Coast, Cabin Fever, and Song of the Lakes.