Tradition Showcases

The Great Lakes Folk Festival strives to not only present great music but to inform audiences about the history and social context of the music. Each year, a few on-stage sessions are devoted to musicians who share stories about their art as well as compare different styles and traditions of playing one type of instrument (i.e. fiddle, banjo, accordion).

Sessions are also devoted to tradition bearers from Michigan who share with audience members how they learned their skills and how they pass them on in their communities today.

Traditions Showcases are always a popular part of GLFF, combining musical mastery, storytelling and a spontaneity that can never be recreated anywhere else again!

Friday, August 10

Accordion Traditions-  8pm at the Abbot Road Stage
Bringing together merenge player Joaquin Diaz; Celtic player, Brian O hAirt and Leroy Thomas,  Zydeco

The Root of Bluegrass- 9:30pm on the Abbot Road Stage
The members of Claire Lynch's band demonstrate and discuss the roots of Bluegrass with Bob Blackman.

Saturday, August 11

Fiddle Traditions- 1pm on the Abbot Road Stage
3 festival fiddlers, David Bass from the Freight Hoppers, Bryan McDowell from Claire Lynch's band and Devin Shepard from Bua compare and contrast styles in this popular showcase

Strings Around the World- 7:45pm on the Abbot Road Stage
Join 4 of our performers to find out more about their unusual (to Western eyes and ears) instruments.  Hasu Patel will play and explain the Sitar, Temesgen will introduce you to the Begena, Ara Topouzian will discuss the intricacies of the Kanun and Mehdi Darvishi will show the Kamanche

Sunday, August 12

Percussion Traditions-  12 noon on the Abbot Road Stage.
Come to this session and hear TBA.  The backbone that supports all the other musicians.

Airport Jam- Traditions Showcase- 3:00pm at the Abbot Road Stage
What happens when 3 or 4 musicians who have not worked together get up on stage and start to improvise? It will be fun to be there and find out.