Whorled, a Grand Rapids-based world folk band, will perform at Lamar Park on June 18 (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
The 2024 Wyoming Concerts in the Park series begins this Tuesday, June 18 at 6 p.m. with folk band Whorled performing at Lamar Park.
Whorled is a Grand Rapids-based world folk band that blends various genres, including Irish, Japanese, and bluegrass, to create a unique and captivating musical experience.
Captivating and eclectic
Whorled is made up of Thom Jayne, Keala Venema, and Mariko Venema. The trio brings diverse musical backgrounds and influences, resulting in a rich and eclectic sound.
(Courtesy photo)
According to the band’s website, Thom Jayne brings his unique guitar style, inspired by a wide range of genres from Tony Rice to Brazilian folk music. Jayne is an award-winning musician with two WYCE Jammie Awards for best local World Beat CD of the year with his Lansing-based band “Thom Jayne and the Nomads” in the early 2000s.
Additionally, Keala Venema showcases expertise in fiddle, guitar, tin whistle, and Bodhran, adding a lively and traditional touch to the band’s music. Venema also is the lead fiddle instructor at Michigan Academy of Folk Music and plays for many jazz fusion bands in the Grand Rapids area.
Mariko Venema, classically trained on the piano at age 5, brings her passion for alternative music to the band, specializing in the accordion and exploring various traditional styles from around the world. Venema has been under the tutelage of world class instructors Jacque Mornet and Nathalie Boucheix in both New Orleans and St-Sauves d’Auvergne, France.
Each concert will feature a food truck with food and beverages available for purchase. Concertgoers are welcome to bring their own food, however alcohol is not permitted in the park.
“We are excited to continue this tradition for our community,” said Krashawn Martin, Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director, in supplied material. “Concerts in the Park are a highlight of summertime in Wyoming. We hope you will grab your blankets, chairs and friends and join us for some fun in the parks!”
All concerts are free of charge and open to the public.
Monte Pride is set to perform July 19 at the Wyoming Concerts in the Park. (Supplied)
By John Gonzalez WKTV Contributing Writer
Singer/songwriter Monte Pride has been inspired by some of music’s greats, including Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Gillian Welch, Townes Van Zandt and John Prine.
But he loves our Michigan musical heroes, too, saying artists such as Chris Bathgate, May Erlewine, Timothy Monger and Joshua Davis have been equally as important.
The music of Chris Bathgate, for example, is “unmistakable.”
“The atmosphere and ambience he creates in his songs, it’s … inspiring to my songwriting and song production,” Pride said.
From Erlewine’s “stage presence” and “strong sense of purpose and intention in her songs” to Davis’s guitar playing style have been inspirational to him.
He added that Monger’s songwriting, as well “creative branding and visuals he creates for promotion” also have made an impact on him.
“His song ‘Sleepless’ has become one of my favorites to cover in the last few years… I’ll likely share my version of it on Tuesday!”
By “Tuesday,” Pride is referring to his show as part of Wyoming’s weekly concert series, which is at 7 p.m. July 19 at Lamar Park. Admission is free.
The Tuesday night series continues through Aug. 2. See the list of shows below. All will be recorded and aired on WKTV.
A mellow approach
A 2014 graduate of Okemo High School, just east of Lansing, Pride said he’s looking forward to showcasing his original music.
Monte Pride is a folk singer-songwriter and finger-style guitarist from Lansing. (Supplied)
“I really enjoy having the opportunity to present original music, alongside my take on covers that work with my sound,” he said in an email to WKTV Journal.
“Over the years, I’ve leaned into my mellow approach to performance and song interpretation, always hoping to give folks something soothing that might help heal. I’ve also been expanding my sound into more ambient territory, incorporating it here and there to complement and serve the songs.”
Pride first dabbled into music when he played “Criminals” by The Tallest Man on Earth at his high school talent show, then ”began performing locally after that, having gained confidence in my voice and a taste for sharing music with people.”
He kept playing while attending Michigan State University, releasing two EPs in 2014 and 2015, and finally his first full length album in 2016.
“After college I began traveling more and performing in cities throughout Michigan and the Midwest, releasing my latest album ‘Even in Absence’ in 2020,” he said.
“The pandemic forced me into a much needed hiatus, but I returned to performing with a new appreciation for all of it in Summer 2021.”
Happy to be performing
Those who attend his show on Tuesday can expect “a mellow, soothing evening of fingerstyle guitar and folk songs.”
“I’ll be sharing a handful of original songs along with ‘60s, ‘70s and contemporary folk covers,” he added.
Most of all, he’s just excited to perform outdoors.
“I love being able to feel the energy of the environment and crowd. It’s always special to hear birds, other wildlife, and even street noise when performing,” he said.
“It always feels like collaboration. Last Summer at an outdoor show I was playing one of my tunes called ‘Michigan’s Song.’ There’s a line that says, ‘I heard a robin’s call yesterday in the morning…’ As I was singing it, a robin flew over and sang with me.”
Pride’s “Even in Absence” was released mid-pandemic in August of 2020, which he said “presents healing songs to remind that experience, relationships, lives, their love and light persist, ‘Even In Absence.’
August 2 – Grupo Latin – Latin Soul (13 piece band)
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
St. Cecilia Music Center’s Acoustic Café Folk Series is usually one of the West Michigan winter season’s entertainment musts — if you don’t remember Rosanne Cash’s visit just before the March 2020 pandemic shutdown, you missed out. Whether it is straight folk, Americana or alt-something or another, the series offers something for every acoustic taste.
So, while St. Cecilia’s continues to be empty of live audience, for awhile longer anyway, it is continuing a series of virtual folk and blues concerts to begin 2021 including many West Michigan artists free for the viewing and listening.
Ralston Bowles in concert. (By Jamie Geysbeek/Supplied)
The first of the free concerts will be this week, when Ralston Bowles and Michael Crittenden hit the Royce Auditorium stage Thursday, Jan. 21, for a 7 p.m., performance streaming free of charge on St. Cecilia’s Facebook and YouTube channels, and accessed through scmc-online.org.
The Michigan Folk and Blues Virtual Series 2021, continuing the partnership between St. Cecilia and the Acoustic Café radio show and its host Rob Reinhart, will stretch into April.
The other free virtual concerts include the King Biscuit Trio on Feb. 18; Rachel Davis and Dominic John Davis on March 25 (from their current home in Nashville); and Jen Sygit and Josh Rose on April 8 and back from the Royce Auditorium stage.
When Ralston Bowles and Michael Crittenden take the stage this week, audiences will tune into two of Grand Rapids best known folk musicians as they share the stage (but not at the same time for safety reasons) for a night of great music making and storytelling.
Bowles, often called “the ambassador of West Michigan music,” is an award-winning folk and Americana singer-songwriter who has released several critically acclaimed albums — including “Carwreck Conversations” and “Rally at the Texas Hotel” – and, according to supplied material, has toured the United States and Europe, sharing stages with the likes of Bob Dylan, Shawn Colvin and Arlo Guthrie.
Michael Crittenden. (Supplied/SCMC)
Crittenden is an award-winning producer, songwriter and performer — not to mention founder and frontman for folk-rock’s Troll for Trout. He is not only a producer, player, studio owner and musical collaborator, but has been a key figure in the songwriting contest part of the ArtPrize competition as well as the Mackinac Island Songwriter’s Workshop.
In addition to the free local artist folk series concerts, St. Cecilia will also offer two “ticketed” and one free concerts by national and international artists including Mariza Sings Amália, to be live streamed on Jan. 29 (with tickets costing $40 with a 48-hour viewing window); Judy Collins on Feb. 12 (also $40 with 48-hour window); and Kat Edmonson on March 4 in a free concert also available on St. Cecilia’s Facebook and YouTube channel.
As an added attraction, Edmonson will be doing an interview with Rob Reinhart, host the Acoustic Café radio show.
For a complete list of all virtual concerts offered by St. Cecilia for home viewing, see scmc-online.org/virtual/.
No singer/songwriter likes to be labeled, but when people say Langhorne Slim sings from a “folk punk” background they probably better not say it to his face. He tends, as they say, speak his mind and sing his mind.
“Maybe everybody’s scared to be a freak. But when you live as a freak it’s so much more fulfilling,” he said, in supplied material. “I don’t want to tame myself. I want to be wild. If I can continue to refine the wildness but never suffocate or tame it, then I’m on the right path.”
Langhorne Slim — born Sean Scolnick in Langhorne, Pa. in 1980 — will be be crossing paths with a local audience this week when he comes to St. Cecilia Music Center’s Royce Auditorium for a solo acoustic concert Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Acoustic Café Folk Series. Tickets are still available.
Slim moved to Brooklyn at 18, and has literally traveled all across the nation but currently calls Nashville home. He has played major festivals like Newport Folk Festival, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and Bonnaroo, and has toured with The Lumineers, The Devil Makes Three, and the Avett Brothers. He will most recent recording is 2015’s “The Spirit Moves”. The New Yorker described him as having “Leadbelly’s gift for storytelling and Dylan’s ability to captivate crowds.”
“Great musicians are those who speak to us on a deep emotional level and Langhorne Slim has that unique quality,” said Cathy Holbrook, SCMC executive director.
To say the least, Slim is “unique.”
SCMC’s Acoustic Café Series is hosted by Rob Reinhart, of the Ann Arbor based Acoustic Café radio program which is syndicated to over 100 commercial and non-commercial stations throughout the country. A post-concert “Meet-the-artist” reception with a cash bar will be offered to all ticket-holders giving the audience the opportunity to meet Langhorne Slim and obtain signed CDs of his releases.
For more information call 616-459-2224 or visit scmc-online.org
What’s Next:
Additional concerts in the 2016-17 Acoustic Café Series include St. Louis based Pokey LaFarge on Feb. 9, Grammy nominated Texas-trio Los Lonely Boys on March 14, country soul sensation Margo Price on April 6, and Grammy Award winning Marc Cohn — of the 1991’s Grammy winning ballad “Walking in Memphis” — on April 13.
