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The 4th Annual Great Indoor Folk Festival takes place this Sunday, February 12 in Building 50 at the Grand Traverse Commons. The festival runs from noon to 5:30, and it is family-friendly and free, though you're encouraged to donate through "busker buckets."

There will be 6 different stages with over 50 musicians on seven different stages. An article in this weeks Northern Express is well worth your time. They explain that the regional organization Songwriters in the Round is the driving force behind the event:

“It’s a community of really talented people. It’s an interactive family of musicians,” said Robin Lee Berry of Boyne City.

Berry will once again be part of the roster of performers. She will be singing and playing some of her original compositions along with some judiciously chosen covers.

“It’s a really wonderful experience,” said Berry. “I’ve been part of the Songwriters in the Round since its second year. It’s really brought a lot of musicians out of the woodwork.”

The list of performers is great, and many of them are from Leelanau - some highlights:  Louan Lechler, Robin Lee Berry, Kirby, Dane Hyde & Greg Stanton, Dennis Palmer & Allison Brown, Sister Wilene, Cabin Fever, Jim Crockett & Friends, Blind Dog Hank and Dede and the Dreamers.

Hey everyone, we're super sorry that we've been away so much. To try and make it up to you, we're going to give someone on our email list* a pair of tickets to the Traverse City Winter Microbrew and Music Festival tomorrow morning!! This year is the 3rd annual, and it takes place this Saturday February 11th at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons.

The annual festival is produced by Porterhouse Productions and features over 40 breweries, wineries, cideries, and meaderies - most from Michigan - along with local food vendors and beer & food pairings. A highlight of the festival is a wide range of entertainment featuring Funktion, Heatbox, The Crane Wives, Whitney Morgan and the 78s, Dragon Wagon and Rootstand. There's also fire dancers, live polka music and a silent disco. Click the poster to the right for all the details, and as it's an outdoor festival (with tents) you know that fashion = warm! (ie: Carhart over Calvin Klein!)

*If you're not on our list sign up at the top right. If you don't want to get our weekly email, just post a comment on the Leelanau.com Facebook or send an email to andy@leelanau.com saying you want to win and we'll add you to the list we draw from!

Speaking of polka, here's one of the polka bands that will be at the Microbrew festival, Squeezebox. There's a little dancing, but nothing like what you'll probably see closer to the polka capital of the USA, Cedar Michigan.

Also check out Martin Luther King's last visit to Detroit on Absolute Michigan.

Building Bridges with Music presents a unique opportunity to hear one of Michigan’s great musicians perform in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, free for the community. Jeff Haas and his colleagues will be joined by international students from Northwestern Michigan College who will read brief excerpts from MLK speeches as part of the musical presentation.

The community remembrance starts at 5:30 pm with a proclamation from Traverse City mayor Michael Estes and an invocation from Rabbi Chava Bahle, followed by Haas’ presentation of original music including selections from his 2002 jazz suite, “The MLK Suite: Then & Now,” and excerpts from MLK speeches and writings. Haas will be joined by Laurie Sears on saxes & flute, Chris Lawrence on trumpet, bassist Jack Dryden and drummer Jordan Huggett.

“Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speeches and writings on civil rights were a regular topic at our dinner table growing up in Detroit in the late 50s and 60s with immigrant parents”, explains Haas. “Dr. King’s belief that all of our thoughts and actions are either based in love or fear really made a lot of sense to me as a youngster. And I have always tried to convey that in my music.” He goes on to say, “There’s still a lot of work to be done and I am grateful for this opportunity to come together with my community and recommit to doing the work to see Martin Luther King, Jr’s dream become a reality.”

The performance is free to all, and the State is also showing two movies for free: To Kill a Mockingbird and The Help. Visit the State Theatre website for complete details.

This Friday October 28 at 7 PM at Higher Grounds coffee bar in Traverse City Seth Bernard & May Erlewine present "New Flower" in a very special Album Release Concert with Michael Shimmin, Brennan Andes, Joshua Davis and very special guest, Temesgen - an Ehiopian born, East Lansing based musican and teacher who plays traditional Ethiopian instruments, kirar and begena. Doors open at 7PM and Music starts at 8PM. Tickets are $20 in advance at Oryana and Higher Grounds Trading Co. ($25 at the door) with 5 and under free and $5 for 5-12 year olds.

Last January Seth and May took an incredible journey to Ethiopia with On the Ground and the Run Across Ethiopia. As the runners ran, they played in the schools, learned songs and dance moves from the children, learned Ethiopian scales and melodies from incredible ethio-jazz musicians, shared their music along the journey, sang for the runners, played for the people, and wrote an entire album inspired by the experience. They have been working on this album since they returned home to Michigan and they are finally ready to release it!

Get more details on Facebook and learn more about On the Ground and the Run Across Ethiopia at onthegroundglobal.org. Here's a cool video of Seth & May from Ethiopia last winter!

The Leelanau Historical Museum, Leland Chamber of Commerce, and Old Art Building hold their annual celebration of Leland's history next Saturday (Sep 17). Via the Leland Michigan website:

The annual Leland Heritage Celebration takes place September 17. This annual event is free and open to the public. Highlights include the Leelanau Historical Museum's "Wooden Boats on the Wall", Van's Garage antique car show, and the Fishtown Preservation Society offering music and festivities in Fishtown.

There will also be an exhibit titled "Windows on Leelanau; Past, Present, and Future" will be the featured for the Leelanau Community Cultural Center at the Old Art Building. Exhibit hours are 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 12 to 4 pm on Sunday. The exhibit will feature original works of art using the window as a view on Leelanau. Artists will use the window as a metaphor beyond its mere architectural aspect. This will be a fun and creative exhibit by Leelanau artists.

The Leland Township Library gets into the act as well with their annual Fall Used Book Sale on the lawn at the Library. They will be featuring a display of the books of Leelanau County authors and books about Leelanau County. Library Director Sylvia Merz says, "We are always amazed at the number of authors who either currently or once upon a time called Leelanau County home. We’ve pulled as many volumes as we have and they will be featured on Saturday for visitors to browse and check out as they enjoy the events!"

Also check out the Leland Heritage Celebration photo gallery for photos from past celebrations.

Below are your 2011 Labor Day Weekend happenings - if you know of more, add them into the comments!

Summer is almost over - fortunately we get to say farewell over a three-day weekend. Here are some ideas for Leelanau Labor Day fun!

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Start the weekend off Friday night in Northport, at the last Music in the Park for the season with Music in the Park featuring the Leo Creek Band.

The annual Alice Busby Walk - Miles for Mammograms kicks off Saturday at 9 AM in downtown Northport. Monies raised in this walk, which honors Alice Busby who died in 1994 at age 43 of breast cancer, go to pay for mammograms for women who otherwise could not afford them. The walk is sponsored by the Zonta Club of Leelanau County.

As long as you've got your running shoes on, how about the Port Oneida 5k Barn to Barn Run & Walk? It takes place Saturday  in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. 9 age categories, awards, food and great give-aways!  1/4 Kids Schoolhouse dash also. A fundraiser for Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear - an official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service since 1998.

On Saturday night, Suttons Bay will hold their annual Labor Day Fireworks at dusk.

Sunday from 1-9 PM the village of Lake Leelanau hosts the Lake Leelanau Barbecue & Blues Festival! Artists include the Sub Prime Blues Band, Broken Arrow Blues Band, Laith Al-Saadi , Pete Fetters and others and there's great food & fun to be had.

On Monday, Leland hosts their annual Labor Day Bridge Walk beginning promptly at Noon on the M-22 Bridge. Certificates, lemonade and cookies will be available for all on the lawn of the Old Art Building following the walk.

You'll have to make a choice because the Labor Day BridgeWalk/Party happens at noon on the Narrows Bridge between Big & Little Glen Lake!

Labor Day Weekend is also a great time to explore all the great beaches in the area.  Many people have heard that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the most beautiful place in (Good Morning) America. For one look at why, check out North Bar Lake with everything from lounging in the sun to swimming in toasty warm North Bar, playing in the waves on a pristine stretch of Lake Michigan shore and even enjoying Leelanau's best skim boarding on the tiny channel that connects the two lakes!  For more, visit our Sleeping Bear Dunes page.

Looking for more things to do, check out the Leelanau Calendar. Please feel free to leave your Labor Day suggestions as comments! We look forward to hear what everyone has planned!

Of course just kicking back with a fishing pole or a barbecue with some friends may be all you need for the perfect holiday weekend, which we at Leelanau.com heartily wish for you!

Photo:  These are days to remember... by John Levanen

The Lake Leelanau Community Association will host the Lake Leelanau Barbecue & Blues Festival this Sunday (September 4th) from 1 PM - 9 PM. It takes place in the Township Parking Lot on 204 across from NJ's Grocery. 2011 Artists include the Sub Prime Blues Band, Broken Arrow Blues Band, Laith Al-Saadi , Pete Fetters and others.

Click the poster and visit lakeleelanaumi.com for all the details. Here's a video from Pete Fetters to take it home...

via absolutemichigan.com

click for a Dunegrass slideshow!

Dunegrass 2010 by Sarah Moore Kuschell

Held every year the the beginning of August in Northern Michigan, the Dunegrass Music Festival features the best local, regional and national touring acts.

2011 headliners include Donna The Buffalo, Ella Riot (formerly My Dear Disco), The Ragbirds, Seth Bernard & May Erlewine, Ralston Bowles, Grasshoppah, Rootstand, The Journeyman, Delilah Dewylde & the Lost Boys, Luke Winslow-King, Detour Bluegrass and many others. Click here for the complete schedule and definitely go to their website to listen to all the great bands. Most are from right here in Michigan and the musical range the festival offers means there's something for everyone!

Dunegrass has a new location this year on 100 acres near Lake Ann that offers wooded camping, something that's great after a late night jam session around the bonfire after the shows! One nice twist is free admission for 12 & under (accompanied by an adult) and the fact that tickets for kids 13-17 are just $30. There's also a beer garden, fine food, arts & crafts, kids area, free shuttle to beaches, music/arts workshops and much more.

It's hard to choose between all the great acts that are there, but here's Donna the Buffalo!

The annual Manitou Music Festival Dune Concert takes place this Sunday (July 10, 2011) at 7 PM at the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb (rain location is the Glen Arbor Town Hall).

This year features the 15 member Paul Keller Orchestra, one of Michigan's finest, oldest, most-respected & well-traveled jazz big bands. They will also have a vocalist to bring an exciting performance to this year’s Dune Climb Concert in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Since its inception in 1989 by string bassist, composer & arranger Paul Keller, the PKO has maintained the highest standards of musical excellence & has enjoyed providing top-quality jazz & entertainment to their loyal fan base. Bring picnics, chairs, blankets & everyone you know!

Pack a picnic and be sure to attend this concert in one of the world's most beautiful concert settings. Visit the Manitou Music Festival web site and/or check out photos on Flickr from the Manitou Music Festival.

You can get a nice photo of the "nosebleed seats" at the dunes right here and there's also a photo gallery from 2005 on the Song of the Lakes web site.

The annual Cedar Polka Festival runs Thursday through Sunday, June 30 - July 3, 2011. Highlights include a parade on Saturday at noon, softball tournament, a polka mass and (of course) polka under the big, big tent with the big names of polka. More details as we have them!

Thursday, June 30, 2011
The 29th annual Cedar Polka Festival begins with the flag raising ceremony at 5:00 p.m. Music and dancing begins immediately after the ceremony. Music TBA.

Friday, July 1, 2011
Sidewalk Chalk Art at 10 am, meet at the Town Hall. Music and dancing beings at 2 pm.

Saturday, July 2, 2011
Face painting at 10:30am, at the Town Hall. Polka Fest Parade beings at noon at the Solon Twp. Hall. All participants should be at the Solon Twp. Hall by 11:30 am sharp.

Music and dancing begins at 2 pm and runs until 1 am.

Sunday, July 4, 2010
Polka Mass celebrated with Bishop Cooney begins at 11 am under the tent. Music and dancing resumes at 1 pm .

Admissions (per person)
Thursday - $5.00
Fri. & Sat. - $10.00
Sunday - $5.00
3 Day Pass - $20.00
Ages 13-20 - 1/2 price when accompanied by parent
Ages 12 & Under - Free when accompanied by parent

Bands subject to change. Space available for rent on the tennis court.

For Info Phone: (231) 228-3378 or (231) 228-5562

The photo is Polka Dancing in Krakow by beastiekeith. Check out the Library of Congress Local Legacies and the Leelanau.com/map Cedar Polka Fest location