Dunegrass Festival ’06 tops the charts

By Jacob Wheeler
Sun editor
This region has hosted some pretty bitchin’ musical acts over the years, but never have we seen a lineup this juicy: Electric Hot Tuna, Song of the Lakes, the Neptune Quartet, Steppin’ In It, Seth Bernard & Daisy May and wait, listen to this, Greg Brown and Iris Dement! Do not miss this year’s Dunegrass Festival, August 4-6 in the heart of Empire.
Jeremiah Sequoia and the crew at Grassroots Productions took over the Dunegrass Festival last year and brought it back from the brink of closing down, and now they have one heck of an encore on tap. Rest assured, the Village of Empire will be the envy of folk and bluegrass lovers all over the country.
Photos by Kali Coles

That’s right, Greg Brown, one of the most popular male folksingers in America, will visit our town — he of the kindred Midwestern spirit with the Ozarks voice, the poet’s tongue and child’s demeanor. Short of Bob Dylan, himself (pre-1965), what more could we want?
Music aficionados should also recognize the other names on tap for the three-day festival (check out the lineup at www.dunegrassfestival.com). Electric Hot Tuna played here last year. The Neptune Quartet and Song of the Lakes are well-known northern Michigan bands with mileage and charisma. Seth and Daisy and the boys from Steppin’ In It have wowed every crowd they’ve met in Michigan.
Throw in the local gangs Cabin Fever, the New Third Coast and K. Jones and the Benzie Playboyz and you’ve got a small-town aura that connects this star-studded festival with past Dunegrass blasts.
Last year’s highlight Vince Welnick, who passed away earlier this summer, will be remembered during the final act on Friday night with a Tom Constanten & Friends Tribute. Tom and Vince both played with the Grateful Dead during the famed band’s early days (As we speak Vince is up in heaven jamming with Jerry!). And Saturday night runs late with Electric Hot Tuna and Cornmeal jamming late into the night.
But for folk music lovers, Sunday is the day. Settle into a lawn chair or picnic blanket, chow down on some of the great, and healthy food the vendors sell, and enjoy Seth and Daisy (played Empire’s Asparagus Festival in May), Song of the Lakes, the Neptune Quartet, Iris DeMent, Steppin’ In It, and Greg Brown.
Tickets are more expensive this year, and that reflects the quality of the music. Pre-sold weekend passes cost $75 ($90 at the gate), Friday and Saturday only $45, Saturday and Sunday only $55, Friday only $25 ($30 at the gate), Saturday only $30 ($35 at the gate), Sunday only $30 ($35 at the gate). Weekend camping passes cost $15, $10 for Saturday and Sunday, and $5 for Sunday only. Buy tickets locally at East Shore Market in Beulah, Cedar City Market in Cedar, the Cabbage Shed in Elberta, Deering’s Market in Empire, Kejara’s Bridge in Lake Leelanau, Café Bliss in Suttons Bay, or Horizon Books and Oryana Natural Foods in Traverse City or visit www.dunegrassfestival.com.