Songs for summer foot traffic: Blake Elliott plays the patio
From staff reports
Glen Arbor has a new music venue this summer. The M22 patio, where guests gather at the outdoor bar to sip wine at Katy and Matt Wiesen’s M22 Store, has hosted live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays since mid-June, featuring artists Blake Elliott and Dennis Palmer. (Andre Villoch will play Saturdays on the patio this fall, on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, 12 and 19).
We caught up with Blake before her final appearance on the patio this season—Tuesday, Aug. 20—to learn what the experience has been like.
Glen Arbor Sun:What’s the M22 patio like as a music setting, what’s the vibe there?
Blake Elliott: Playing on the patio at Crystal River Outfitters/M22 has been a great experience the past two summers. It’s a nice mix of full-timers and visitors, so every week it’s a bit different. There’s plenty of the foot traffic, so you really feel like you’re a part of what’s happening in town. I love when families stop to listen or little kids dance by!
Sun:Where have you found (or what prompted) inspiration or muse lately?
Elliott: Lately, my inspiration for writing has been coming from some changes I’ve experienced over this past year. Shifting emotions within myself, new ones coupled with old, and how to process them have been at the forefront of my mind. Personal growth is really at the heart of it. Some songwriters are able to really dig into the substance of worldly, external issues as a means of creating both art and community. I admire that because I’ve always written from my very internal, personal experiences.
Sun:Tell us about red lipstick!
Elliott: Red lipstick is my favourite thing. It’s my go-to, the first thing I notice on someone else, and it’s classic. Once you find the right shade, never look back!
Sun:Where can folks catch you the latter half of August? Any upcoming gigs you’re especially excited about?
Elliott: My schedule is on BlakeElliottMusic.com but I’ll be at CRO/M22 one last time for the summer series on Aug 20.
Sun:Have you been on the road this year or sticking close to home? What’s been memorable
Elliott: I have really stayed local the past couple of years, even with a few trips out west. Colorado definitely is a place I’ve fallen in love with and have enjoyed the musicians I’ve connected with out there. Arizona was wonderful too! I love being home though and love where I live, which can be a struggle as a musician in Northern Michigan. You do have to leave to work or it gets too saturated. I have prided myself on not being a snowbird because I think if you love “Up North” you should love all of the seasons and I truly love winter in this area. It’s actually my favorite season here! That said, I’m making some plans to take my music to the Southwest for a stretch this winter. Don’t worry—I’ll be back to cross country ski as soon as I can.
Sun:What’s the secret to connecting with your audience?
Elliott: Another musician that I really respect once said to me that the difference between a folksinger and a singer songwriter is this: Folksingers write songs for and about the people. Singer-songwriters write songs for and about themselves. In my case, it’s very true. I write to process my life and emotions first, but I’m beyond grateful when others find something for themselves in my music. I have attempted to cast a wider net when writing, to go outside of myself, but I come out the other side feeling lost. I really like bringing the audience into the story between songs, making them laugh, or just making them feel like a part of the show. At the end of the day, life is distilled down to how we each interact or relate to the world. I can only share what is in my heart and my mind. It’s the truest of things that I know. I hope baring my truths fosters connections.
