Ross Boissoneau | Author

Aug. 6, 2022

Good Vibrations: Courtney Wiggins
Music is many things to many people. Hip hop, jazz, rock, classical, folk…the style doesn’t matter in the long run. It’s all about how music affects people.

That’s what attracted Courtney Wiggins to vib… Read More >>

Wilco Returns to Country Sound...with a Twist

Aug. 6, 2022

With a discography of a dozen studio albums, Grammy Awards, and well-regarded tours and live recordings, the success of Wilco is almost a given.

That’s despite the fact that the band, which appears at Interlochen Center for the Arts on Aug. 17, has always operated in a left fi… Read More >>

The Man Behind Dogman

July 23, 2022

Rich Brauer is one of Traverse City’s best-known filmmakers. His credits include movies with Ernest Borgnine (Red Barn), Frozen Stupid and Frozen Stupid 2 (think Dumb and Dumber set on and in Houghton Lake), and the Dogman series (more on t… Read More >>

Follow the Music

July 9, 2022

Maybe you can’t hear the music immediately after you cross the Mackinac Bridge into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Then again, maybe you can. After all, the U.P. is home to several music festivals that take place throughout summer, and there’s no lack of opportunity t… Read More >>

Making the Nights Better

June 25, 2022

Romantic rockers. Gentleman swashbucklers. Orchestral pop band. Even, sometimes to their chagrin, purveyors of soft rock. Whatever appellation you might ascribe to Air Supply, there are a couple you should remember: members of the ARIA Hall of Fame, and, according to lead vocalist Russell H… Read More >>

The Archipelago Project

June 18, 2022

When Dan Trahey and Garrett Mendez were attending school in Traverse City, they had dreams of playing music in their post-school careers. They were able to achieve that goal: The musical experiences of the tubist and trombonist, respectively, range from performing with orchestras and brass … Read More >>

Who’s in the Harbor?

June 11, 2022

For those who make their living at marinas and those whose summertime lives are largely defined by them, it’s the busiest and the most wonderful time of the year.

But just how slammed are marinas these days? Is there enough room for all the boats? How big and how many are ther… Read More >>

The Sounds of Summer

June 4, 2022

From ageless rock stars to Americana troubadours, classical masters to blistering Blues shouters, summer 2022 has it all. And it’s right here in your backyard.

Between headliner shows, don’t forget all the performances that will take place at various wineries, brewpubs, … Read More >>

Ready to Rock

May 7, 2022

Like virtually all music festivals and events, Blissfest—the iconic roots-and-more music festival in Harbor Springs—went dark in 2020. And as with many others, it followed suit in 2021. Now, as we move into a not-quite-post-COVID world, the festival is back, and Executive Direct… Read More >>

The Most Bang for Your Real Estate Buck

April 30, 2022

The last couple years have seen an unprecedented boom in sales of residential real estate. The pandemic pushed many city-dwellers to relocate to areas that promised room to breathe and boasted cultural amenities…areas like northern Michigan. Add to that the region’s increasing … Read More >>

A Tiny, Beautiful Show

April 23, 2022

Though most often associated with folk music, May Erlewine doesn’t care for labels. “I live a life of music,” she says. “Because people need to categorize people, they think of me as a singer-songwriter.”

Erlewine’s musical influences reflect that… Read More >>

Amazing Antrim

April 9, 2022

Heading to the trails? Head to Antrim County. With its many miles of hiking, biking, and other trails (hint: those made for watercraft), it is one of the best areas in the North for outdoor recreation.

For the Hikers
Where to begin? Let’s start at Grass R… Read More >>

Loudon Wainwright III and the Life of a Troubadour

March 26, 2022

Actor, singer, songwriter, band sideman, TV sidekick—each are roles played at one time or another by Loudon Wainwright III. (And don’t forget Grammy-Award winner and father to several other popular musicians.)

Wainwright takes all these roles in stride. “I see myse… Read More >>

Moomers Keeps Moo-ving On: 25 years of America’s best ice cream

March 26, 2022

Northern Michigan’s most popular ice creamery began with sweet and simple roots. Nancy Plummer had always wanted to have an ice cream parlor, so the first-grade teacher at Long Lake Elementary convinced her husband Bob to construct a little building next door to their farm on North Lo… Read More >>

Funky Soul from Syria

March 12, 2022

For Bassel Almadani, sharing his experience as a first-generation Syrian American involves more than just talking to people. For a start, you can dance to it.

That’s because he’s the frontman for Bassel & The Supernaturals. The band blends his soulful melodies and fu… Read More >>

Here They Come

March 12, 2022

Coming soon, a chance to hear the music made famous in the '60s by those four lovable mop tops.

Wait, are we talking The Beatles or The Monkees? Improbably, it’s both. The Sixties Sound concert at Little River Casino on March 19 will feature the music of the Beatles performed … Read More >>

Drink Disruptors

March 12, 2022

Whether you’re the designated driver, it’s dry January, or you’re just taking a night off from the strong stuff, there are countless reasons to seek alcohol alternatives. For those of us skipping the booze, the status quo has long been pop, water, or a virgin daiquiri. If … Read More >>

Kennedy’s Kitchen to Play Petoskey & Suttons Bay

Feb. 19, 2022

While many people look to the month of March — specifically St. Patrick’s Day — for their dose of music from the Emerald Isle, the leader of Kennedy’s Kitchen celebrates his vocation on a daily basis. “Every day when I wake up, I get to do music,” says jo… Read More >>