MUSIC & TALENT
2024 PERFORMERS
Stay tuned for updates on the complete performance list!
Jessica Dominic
Sugarbush
Sugarbush (Ziinziibaakdokaaning in the Odawa language) is a collaboration among friends with a mutual love of music. Originating on the shore of Larks Lake MI including local talent from Northern MI and special guest from Ann Arbor. Our style includes rock, country, mountain music covers and heartfelt originals. We are grateful to be kicking off this event on Friday night. We love our water!
Ruby John
Ruby John is a Traditional Fiddler and a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa Chippewa Indians from Northern Michigan. Ruby learned to fiddle the traditional way by ear, listening to and learning from experienced fiddlers all over Michigan. Attending OFMA Jamborees (Old-Time Michigan Fiddlers Association), TC Celtic Sessions, Algomatrad Traditional Music and Dance camp (St. Joseph Island ON), Elder Youth Legacy Métis Collective and Bluegrass Festivals. She has performed throughout the US and Canada.
Ruby along with guitarist John Warstler have performed together and known each other for many years, but in the last few years have developed a hard driving sound, of many different styles of fiddling. They look forward to sharing their set at the Water Is Life Festival.
Pete Kehoe
Pete’s a singer, multi-instrumentalist and a 2011 Michigan Emmy Award-winning composer and songwriter hailing from northern Michigan. His songs and compositions can be heard on many cable TV shows and documentaries on TLC, Discovery Channel, PBS, History Channel and more.
He’s also composed music for a myriad of web programs/videos for such clients as TED, The Christopher Reeve Foundation, Dow Chemical, Weyerhaeuser and many, many more.
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Pete’s performed at numerous Michigan music festivals, including Blissfest, ArtPrize, and the Wheatland Music Festival. He’s also won many regional awards over the years, and is co-founder of Big Water Creative Arts, a 501(c)3 non-profit music outreach organization, providing free music programs and music education for seniors, kids, and the differently abled of all ages. He continues to perform regularly throughout Northern Michigan.
SETH BERNARD
Music Maker. Water Protector.
Founder and Co-Executive Director of Title Track, working for clean water, racial equity and youth empowerment.
Founder of Earthwork Music, encouraging community healing through collective musicianship, and the Earthwork Harvest Gathering, a celebrated annual cultural that takes place on the family farm where I grew up.
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Lavendar Lions
Northern Michigan's The Lavender Lions create eclectic ballads that drip like honey, esoteric jams that evoke the feeling of timelessness.
Dave
Kroon
On a night in March 1996, under a full moon at Maili Point, Oahu, Kroon was given the rare and sacred gift of sighting a Night Rainbow. This rainbow compelled Kroon to pick up his guitar and compose after a twelve year absence. The sighting transformed him from a successful businessman into a composer, lyricist, singer, guitarist, arranger, and producer. Kroon is a native Hawaiian and has a wide range of musical styles.
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Alina Morr & Urban Tropical
The hottest new group to come out of Southwest Detroit’s lively music scene is Urban Tropical. The brain-child of Alina Morr, Pianist/Arranger for the legendary, Grammy Nominated jazz group Straight Ahead, the band features the city’s hottest Latin and Jazz Players….a powerful mix
Urban Tropical plays authentic Latin music, along with generous servings of funky dance tunes.
In addition to playing a monthly residency at Ann Arbor’s prestigious Blue Llama Club, the group’s recent appearances include functions for:
Puerto Rican Festival. Clark Park, Detroit. August, 2022.
Global Detroit. September, 2022.
Hispanic Heritage Celebration. Amazon Headquarters. October, 2023
Noel Night. Detroit MidTown. December, 2022 and 2023
Cliff Bells’ Detroit, Premier Jazz Club
The band consists of: Eddie Caraballo, Bass and Vocals; Armando Vega, Conga and Vocals; John Douglas, Trumpet; Christopher Kaercher, Saxophone and Flute; and Djallo Djakate Drum Set,
and Alina Morr, Pianist/Arranger/Director/Coros.
CONTACT: Alina Morr (313) 384-4855
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Patty Pershayla & the Accidentals
Patty PerShayla was called in to support The Accidentals on their 2021 Vessel tour, adding another Michigan-born multi-instrumentalist to their already well-stocked arsenal. Over the course of two summer tours, several collaborations, and many Nashville barbecues, the sisterhood has grown, due in no small part to the addition of The Accidentals’ drummer Katelynn Corrl. Sav has been consulted for lines in Patty’s songs, Katie and Patty hold down the low end and share a love of wacky chord progressions, Patty even did a little videography for the “Crow’s Feet” music video. Instruments are passed around like a pair of traveling pants and harmonies are easily found when the trust is so strong. For select shows this summer while Sav Madigan has other obligations as an incredible side artist, Patty and her band, The Mayhaps (guitarist Lucas Powell and drummer David Hempstead), are sharing the stage with Katie Larson and Katelynn Corrl for a collaborative set of original music by both bands, plus a few surprises.