Jan Krist and Jim Bizer, Los Gatos and Aoife Clancy headline Manitou Festival

From staff reports
The Manitou Music Festival will present two gifted Michigan songwriters, Jan Krist and Jim Bizer, at its concert on Thursday, August 16 at 8 p.m. on the graduation green at The Leelanau School north of Glen Arbor. Detroit-born Jan Krist is a well-established veteran of the acoustic music scene. Jan’s musical gifts have been recognized by Billboard Magazine, Entertainment Weekly Magazine, Dirty Linen, Image Journal and others. With 13 nominations and four Detroit Metro Music Awards under her belt, Krist has proven herself to be a Detroit area favorite. She can also claim the honor of being a finalist at the Kerrville song writing competition, in Kerrville, Texas, an annual event which helped to launch the careers of Lyle Lovett and Nancy Griffith.
Los Gatos return to the Manitou Music Festival on August 18

Krist takes her ordinary, plain Jane demeanor and all the elements we’ve learned to take for granted (six strings and common time) and lets us know, this is not your ordinary woman with a guitar, even if it is.
Joining Jan Krist is award-winning songwriter and dynamic performer, Jim Bizer.
Combining a vast musical knowledge with thoughtful and humorous lyrical ideas, Jim concocts songs that are both beautiful and startling. Against a musical kaleidoscope of jazz, blues, country, reggae and god-knows-what-else, he sings about faith, rivers, insanity and a few things you’ve probably never heard before in a song. He leads his audience to many places; you never quite know what will come out of his mouth, or his guitar, next.
Starting his professional career at age 14, Jim has performed literally thousands of times, mostly around the Midwest and his native Detroit. He’s been a “cover” musician, a session player and a composer for radio and television, but his first love is playing his guitar and singing his songs for all who listen. With a comfortable rapport and an intimate delivery, he is equally at home in the house concert or on the festival stage.
Jim is a masterful performer and a superb guitarist, but it is his songwriting that has recently earned accolades: His song “We Are All Connected,” a moving 9/11 testament, won the grand prize in the Great American Song Contest and led to an appearance at the Mountain Stage New Song Festival in West Virginia. Jim has been a finalist (three times!) in the New Folk songwriting competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and made his Kerrville main stage debut in June 2005.
On Saturday, August 18 at 7:30 p.m. the Manitou Music Festival will welcome back the Los Gatos jazz ensemble to the Lake Street Studio Stage in Glen Arbor. The brainchild of drummer and multi-percussionist Pete Siers, Los Gatos began as a Latin Jazz Ensemble in the fall of 1992. The concept of a small group combined with traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms has positioned Los Gatos as consistent crowd pleasers. In fact the band has been performing every Thursday night at Ann Arbor’s Firefly Club since 2001, all the while amassing a large following. In addition to leader Pete Siers, the group also includes vibes player Gary Kocher, bassist Kurt Krahnke, pianist Brian Di Blassio, and percussionist Al Di Blassio. They are inspired by the music of Cal Tjader, the late San Francisco vibes player who ignited the 50s mambo craze.
Pete Siers was born in Saginaw and began studying piano at age six, but quickly moved focus to drums and percussion. Pete earned a degree in Music Education from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, where he studied under the direction of Dr. Bruce Early and Rupert Kettle. As a member of the Aquinas College Jazz Ensemble, Pete was honored with several awards for outstanding soloist and outstanding rhythm section player. In 1988, Pete moved to Ann Arbor to work with acclaimed pianist Eddie Russ. Pete is an original member of the award winning Paul Keller Orchestra, which plays original, obscure and classic big band material from all periods of jazz history.
Los Gatos have release two CDs: Cats Got Your Tongue! and Vol II Insight. These recordings are enjoying airplay across the country as well as regular jazz programming on WDET and WEMU in Southern Michigan.
The Manitou Music Festival will also bring a little bit of Ireland to Glen Arbor with a performance by the gifted singer, Aoife Clancy on Wednesday, August 22 at 8 p.m. at the Lake Street Studio Stage. Opening for Aoife Clancy will be local singer and musician Jenny Thomas. Aoife Clancy(pronounced ‘Eefa’) brings a refreshing new voice to folk music, one that ranges from traditional Irish songs to ballads and contemporary folk. Aoife comes from the small town of Carrick-on-Suir, in Co Tipperary, Ireland, where her musical career began at an early age. Her father Bobby Clancy of the legendary Clancy Brothers, placed a guitar in her hands at age 10, and by age 14 was playing with her father in nearby pubs.
She later moved to Dublin, where she studied drama at the Gaiety School of Acting. After a season at the Gaiety, Aoife was invited to do a tour of Australia. There she performed at festivals and concerts sharing the stage with some of Ireland’s greatest performers, including Christy Moore and the Furey Brothers. Her performances also include a Caribbean cruises with the Clancy Brothers, the Milwaukee Irish Festival and a seven-week tour of the United States with the renowned Paddy Noonan Show.
In 1995 Aoife was asked to join the acclaimed group “Cherish the Ladies,” which is one of the most sought-after Irish American groups in history. For the past four years Aoife has toured extensively doing no less than two hundred dates a year throughout the United States and Europe. She has been a featured soloist with orchestras such as the Boston Pops and Cincinnati Pops and while performing with Cherish the Ladies, collaborated with the Boston Pops on their Grammy nominated Celtic album.
Now with seven recordings under her belt in the last decade, Aoife has clearly established herself as one of the Divas of Irish and contemporary Folk Music. As one reviewer remarked, “she has a breadth of styles that make her concerts fascinating. Her singing would melt packed ice with its warmth and richness” — Mike Jackson, Canberra Times.
Currently, Aoife is touring with her own band in support of her two Rego solo releases and her latest Appleseed release “Silvery Moon”. When she comes to a town near you, be sure not to miss this totally enchanting performer.
Tickets for all concerts are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at the Glen Arbor Art Association and Lake Street Studio in Glen Arbor, Cedar City Market in Cedar and Oryana Food Cooperative in Traverse City.