The Empire Area Community Emergency Fund has gone into overdrive. Instead of the usual Sunday afternoon concert at a local venue, organizers Gerry Shiffman and Chris Skellenger have planned a day-long Summer Solstice Celebration for this Sunday, June 23, from noon until 9 p.m. at Empire’s Johnson Park. Two stages will feature continuous live music performed by 29 talented local musicians who have volunteered to support this effort.
The Leelanau Summer Music Festival opens its 2013 season at the intimate Sala Koncertowa concert hall in Holy Rosary School 2.5 miles north of Cedar with the renowned Verdehr Trio, which will perform on Wednesday, June 19, at 8 p.m.
On the Summer Solstice, Friday, June 21 at 7 p.m., the Cuban salsa band Grupo Aye will perform on the banks of the Crystal River at the Leelanau School, north of Glen Arbor. After entertaining an enthusiastic crowd of all ages there last June, Grupo Aye will return this year to “Rock the River”.
Endurance Evolution, the local marathon facilitator spearheaded by high school buddies Joel Gaff and Eric Houghton, will hold two races in Leelanau County this month to benefit good causes. On Saturday, June 15, athletes can run the Glen Arbor Solstice Half Marathon and 5K before the town’s BBQ and Brew festival, to benefit the Glen Arbor Park Commission.
The Summer Singers, sponsored by the Glen Arbor Art Association, are looking for new singers to join the group. The choir of 60 plus singers under the direction of Northport resident, Patrick Kuhl, rehearses every Tuesday beginning June 18 from 7-9 p.m. at the Glen Lake Reformed Church in Burdickville. A concert, part of the Manitou Music Festival, will be held Tuesday, August 13. There are no auditions. All are welcome. For more information, call Karen at (231) 334-3730.
Award-wining Michigan brothers, Jack and Dave Dempsey, have teamed up to write Ink Trails, a literary trip around the state of well-known and sometimes obscure authors introducing the breath of their works accomplishments. Sharing their discoveries and how the Michigan landscape helped shape their writing leads to a greater appreciation. Benzie authors Bruce Catton and Gwen Frostic and Glenn Ruggles of Antrim County are included along with Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg, Arthur Miller, Robert Traver, James Oliver Curwood and Jane Kenyon. The Dempseys will visit the Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor on Saturday, June 15 at 2 p.m. to share their journey and findings. Other books by Dave include William. G. Millikan, Waters of Michigan, Great Lakes for Sale and by Jack, Michigan and the Civil War.
Mark your calanders for some toe-tapping fun on Friday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the green space between the Empire Post Office and Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak. Beryl Skrocki reports that the Surf & Kayak shop will host the Texas musician duo of Kevin Higgins & Barbara Malteze.
You can celebrate National Trails Day, June 1, on the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail (SBHT) at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. National Trails Day encourages all Americans to get outside to celebrate the importance of natural places where you can recreate, breathe some fresh air, and experience what nature can offer, including inspiration, education, solitude, amazing scenery, and peace of mind. There will be information, activities, and a refreshment stop hosted by the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes (FSBD) and Park Rangers along the first segment of the SBHT, which runs from the Dune Climb to Glen Arbor. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking is available at the Dune Climb, the historic village of Glen Haven, or in Glen Arbor at the lower Alligator Hill trailhead.
This Sunday, May 26, from 4-6 p.m. at the Village Inn in Empire, the Empire Area Community Emergency Fund will hold its monthly fund-raising concert to honor and celebrate the memory of Joah Dye, a beloved member of the community — not a musician, but rather a lover of music, people and life. The performers have chosen to “headline” Joah at this event. Among some of his favorite musicians are Chris Skellenger, Tom Fordyce, Norm Wheeler, Paul Koss and Patrick Niemisto who lovingly coined this event “Pickin’ On Joah”.
The Glen Arbor Art Association (GAAA) has announced this year’s Manitou Music Festival lineup of musicians. The highlight will be this year’s Dune CLimb concert, on Sunday, July 14, featuring the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra.