Dunegrass focuses local, with a little Big Easy

Glen Arbor Sun

Now that Dunegrass organizer Ryan Lake has the 2009 rebirth of the festival under his belt, he can focus on bringing harmony to the popular annual northern Michigan music event, which celebrates its 18th year this August. To Lake, that means trimming the number of bands, so that festival-revelers can hear them perform more than once, and above all, emphasizing Michigan artists.

Ninety percent of the 32 bands scheduled to play at Dunegrass 2010 — August 6-8 at the Empire Eagles’ property on M-72 east of Empire — hail from the mitten state, says Lake. The local performers include Steppin’ In It, Luke Winslow-King, Susan Fawcett and Michael Beauchamp, who belong to the Earthworks Music collective and are as familiar to local folk aficionados as beaches and cherry pie.

But Dunegrass also supports a smooth musical connection between New Orleans and northern Michigan. Lake once lived in the Big Easy (he spent the winter in nearby Lake Ann, and has camped on the Dunegrass land all summer, in preparation for the festival); Winslow-King calls the Bayou home after honing his skills at the Interlochen Art’s Academy, and this year’s festival will once again import a famous act from America’s first musical mecca — following Porter Battisse Stoltz’s show last year that nearly brought down the roof.

Big Sam’s Funky Nation will headline Friday night at midnight. HBO viewers will recognize trombonist and bandleader “Big Sam” Williams from “The Wire” producer David Simon’s new hit miniseries, “Treme”, about life in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. Williams has toured with everyone from James Brown to Dave Matthews.

Lake is also stoked to have Greensky Bluegrass on tap for Saturday at 9 p.m. Greensky may team up with Earthworks members Jen Sygit and Sam Corbin. And he’s curious to see what form local favorite Steppin’ In It takes when it plays with a big band, drums and bass. (Glen Arborites will remember Steppin’ In It from their acoustic acts at pastoral sites such as Thoreson Farm and at the Dune Climb.)

Even the musicians we think we already know could surprise us, explains Lake. “Everyone goes through phases where you do one thing and then morph into something totally different. If an artist isn’t creating, then they’re not an artist.”

Dunegrass 2010 will feature two alternating stages on the infield, in order to avoid delays between acts.

As always, the festival features many kid-friendly events, including arts and crafts and educational workshops on Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. Twister Joe will be there twisting balloons, and the food lineup will include Thai, barbecue and gyros, with a full coffee bar for those needing a pick-me-up. For the spiritually inclined, Rachael Davis will lead a Sunday morning gospel hour at 11 a.m.

Dunegrass is preparing for as many as 2,500 revelers this year. Tickets cost $74 for a weekend pass ($90 if you buy at the gate), $40 for a day pass, and $25 per vehicle if you’re camping. You can purchase tickets on the festival’s website until August 4 at DunegrassMusicFestival.org or buy them at Oryana or Old Town Coffee In Traverse City.

And if you see video cameras at the festival, smile and wave. Vic McCarty, a well-known local TV broadcaster, is reportedly making a documentary-style movie about Dunegrass. Also, we’ll post daily updates on our website GlenArbor.com from the festival. Once again, Dunegrass lives!