Guinness Brothers toast Manitou Music Festival

Press release
The Manitou Music Festival is delighted to close out this year’s summer long festival with a rocking good night of music by the Guinness Brothers Band.
The Guinness Brothers Band will perform a Chicago-inspired blend of soul, blues, funk and classic rock on Wednesday, August 20 at 8 p.m. on the graduation green at The Leelanau School north of Glen Arbor.
The band members are: Michael Guinness, Johnny Gould, Rocky Jett, Jerry “Buzzsaw” Lavan, and Devin “The Hammer” Hallengren, and as a band they have developed a loyal fan base in and around the Grand Rapids area.

The horn-driven, Chicago blues the band’s members listened to while growing up colors every song in their repertoire. In addition to several original tunes, the Guinness Brothers maintain a diverse set list, performing music from artists as varied as James Brown, Van Morrison and Santana.
“We don’t worry too much about trends or labels,” said Guinness Brothers sax man Rocky Jett. “We play the tunes we like to hear. Hopefully, other people will want to hear them too. But no matter what we play, there’s always that ‘touch of blues’ in there. It’s just in our blood, I guess.”
Based on audience response at venues throughout the Midwest, the Guinness Brothers mix of “soulful pop” has struck a chord with listeners of all ages. The group regularly plays to sold-out houses across Michigan, Illinois and Indiana.
According to Jett, it is the group’s devotion to a purely “live” sound that keeps listeners coming back for more.
“In an age where so many bands are jacking samples and prerecorded bits into their live shows, I think audiences appreciate hearing music that’s being created on the fly,” Jett said. “For us, the fun in playing is hunting down that spark, that pure moment of communication between the other musicians, the audience and our instruments. It’s that split second when we can say things to each other with music we could never say in any other way; that’s what makes us go on with it year after year. It’s that connection.”
The high-energy action of the Guinness Brothers Band promises to make the “dog days” of August and summer’s end … a rocking good time on the banks of the Crystal River. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the gate and are available at Lake Street Studios in Glen Arbor or at the Glen Arbor Art Association office. For tickets or more information, call (231) 334-6112 or (231) 334-3179.
The Guinness Brothers Band also maintains a website at www.gbrothers.com.