The Great Indoor Folk Festival Returns

Feb. 12, 2016

Adair Correll is the head of Northern Michigan Songwriters in the Round, an organization that began in June of 1997 with five musicians seeking a more “listening audience.” That group has expanded to more than 60 songwriters from northern Michigan who perform on the third Friday of every month at Horizon Books in Traverse City. Their influence has grown beyond their own ranks to include the Great Indoor Folk Festival, now in its eighth year of promoting singer-songwriters at an annual day-long performance event.

TWIST AND SHOUT

“[Fellow musician] Bob Downes called me back in 2008 and said we ought to try and do something in February, since it’s such a slow time of the year,” Correll said.

Held at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, the event stations performers throughout the main building, making use of the alcoves along the twisting corridors, as well as a small stage in Left Foot Charley’s tasting room.

“We have around 1,000 people attending every year now,” Correll said. “And they move around a lot; they’ll stop for a while to listen to one artist, throw out some applause, then move along to listen to someone else. Most of the venue stops will always have some people at them at any given time.”

EIGHT STAGES

Those stops include eight stages in all: one kids’ stage, featuring performers like Ron Fowler for the youthful set; two solo stages, highlighting solo acts; a pair of duo stages (north and south) to shine the spotlight on those who perform in pairs; “Then we’ve got the New Folk stage, for more youthful Americana performers, because the rest of us are a bunch of old guys,” Correll laughed. The New Folk stage will present sets from acts like Oh Brother Big Sister and The Olivia Mainville Band.

A stage in Left Foot Charley’s tasting room will allow for longer sets. This year, the fest has added an additional venue: “Kirkbride Hall,” Correll confirmed. “The auditorium has just been remodeled, so that’s also been made available to us.”

SONG SUPPORT

Six dozen acts will contribute to the festivities, with many of the shops and food vendors open during the event so people can shop, eat, drink, stroll and listen to the music. In addition to the performers already named, the following artists are confirmed: Saldaje, Barbara Jordan, Jenny Thomas, Kirby, Jim Hawley, Max and Ruth Bloomquist, New Third Coast, Carter Creek, and Jim Crockett, among others. The bands perform for free, but there are several ways the audience can support them.

“We do put out tip buckets, but the money from those go into a fund for Songwriters in the Round and also to cover the after-party and food for the musicians that perform at this event,” Correll said, “but you can directly support the musicians by buying their CDs, as all those proceeds go right to them.”

FREE FUN

Free is a big buzzword for the Great Indoor Folk Fest; it’s free for folks to attend, too.

“That’s one of the things that make this such a good draw,” Correll said. “People get the chance to see a wide variety of types of music, from noon to 5:30pm. It’s continuous music for over five hours.”

The musicians themselves thrive on the exposure, as well as the camaraderie.

“I also like it because I get the chance to talk to all of these great performers,” Correll continued. “This is one time during the year that there is an assembly of this kind of music in a more casual environment, as opposed to a big, busy summer festival. So, it’s mostly people reuniting with their fellow musicians and friends.”

The Eighth Annual Great Indoor Folk Festival will take place Sunday, Feb. 21 at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. For more information, find them on Facebook.