Song of The Lakes

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Celebrating songs of Leelanau: Ingemar Johansson’s Pearl of America

Our story series celebrating songs inspired by Leelanau County and the Sleeping Bear Dunes continues with “Pearl of America,” written by Ingemar Johansson of the band Song of the Lakes. For many, the song “Pearl of America” encapsulates the serene beauty and profound connection to northern Michigan’s stunning landscape. But for its creator, Johansson, the journey to this musical ode was a personal odyssey that began across the Atlantic. Song of the Lakes perform every Wednesday during July and August at the Manitou Tallship in Traverse City West Bay for the sunset cruise.

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Song of the Lakes keeps sailing onward: iconic band celebrates 40 years

“Oh Lake Michigan, beautiful pearl of America, thank you for finding me a home …” sings Ingemar Johansson, the transplanted songwriting Swede who wrote his anthem to the big lake in the 1980s. Along with his wife, flutist Lisa Johansson, and multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter Michael Sullivan, the band Song of the Lakes is about to complete 40 years of celebrating the “sweet water seas” and the maritime culture and magical beauty of the lake-blessed center of the United States.

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Inland Seas celebrates 30 years

As Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) sails into the 2019 summer season, the organization is celebrating 30 years of inspiring curiosity and encouraging stewardship in the Great Lakes region.

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Library hosts Song of the Lakes

The Glen Lake Library will host a performance by Song of the Lakes on Thursday, July 25, at 7 p.m. The concert is based on the classic children’s book Paddle to the Sea, written by Holling C. Holling, originally published in 1941. This concert will feature original music performed by the band, along with narration by Norm Wheeler. Children and adults are invited to this free performance, which will be held at the Empire Township Hall. For more information, call the library at (231) 326-5361, or check its website at Glenlakelibrary.net.

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Empire Emergency Fund holds Summer Solstice celebration

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.

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11 Oaks holds music fundraiser at Boonedocks

This Sunday, Sept. 11, the water access nonprofit 11 Oaks will hold its sixth annual Music Fest and Fundraiser, at Boonedocks in Glen Arbor. Featured bands beginning at 2 p.m. include Song of the Lakes, New Third Coast, Andre Villoch and Doug Zernow/Zack Light. According to 11 Oaks’ Chris Skellenger, technologies in extreme urban gardening and gravity fed drip irrigation will be on display for all to see.

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Dunegrass Festival moves to Benzie County

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At the close of its second decade, the Dunegrass Music Festival now has a new home. The popular northern Michigan folk and bluegrass festival is leaving Leelanau County, where it was born to the late Mike Vanderberg in Empire in 1993 and exploded last decade to feature nationally known acts.

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The invisible music man

Maple City area resident Jan Waling (pronounced “Yon Whaling”) is used to being incognito. His job has been to make others shine at what they do. For more than 30 years, Waling has sweetened the sound of performers’ music and voices at concert venues near and far, helping with the setup, running the mixing board and, eventually, recording performances — live and in the studio.

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