Blissfest

July 6, 2008

Northern Michigan is now home to a couple dozen folk/roots music festivals. The granddaddy of them all is Wheatland (between Big Rapids and Mt. Pleasant), now in its 35th year and taking place September 5-7. But some of Wheatland’s participants wanted to take the music farther north, and so Blissfest was born 27 years ago.
Blissfest has served as the model for numerous other music festivals now taking place throughout Northern Michigan. The festival has weathered growing pains, including a public battle over its future a few years ago, as some in the area were tiring of the festival’s growth. But in keeping with its peaceful approach, Blissfest reached compromises and looks to continue as the leader in bringing “roots music” to Northern Michigan for years to come.   
Roots music was born out of a better way to define music that doesn’t fit into the typical folk definition. The term “roots music” is now used to refer to this broad range of musical genres, which include blues, gospel, traditional country, zydeco, tejano, and Native American pow-wow.
Blissfest is successful each year in bringing in a wide-ranging sampling of roots music, and this year is no exception. The festival kicks off this Friday and continues through Sunday, north of Harbor Springs near Cross Village and Good Hart. Here is a sampling of this year’s acts:

Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams
 Some bands have the inherent ability to draw you in immediately, and Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams is one of those bands. Celebrating their 10th anniversary this summer, along with the release of their new CD (The Great Unravel is due out August 5 but the band will definitely tease the Bliss audiences with plenty of samples from the new release), Gandalf Murphy has become a favorite on the folk festival circuit.
Much of the popularity is due in part to the songwriting and distinctive vocal talents of Joziah Longo. He credits the band’s ability to draw in fans on his early understanding of what music is capable of.
“I learned very early on about the power of music,” said Longo. “I started writing songs as a way to escape. I believe music is able to take you on a journey.”
So ardent are the fans of Gandalf Murphy that many travel hundreds of miles to see their shows and others follow the band throughout the summer.
The band blends traditional folk instrumentation with an electric guitar. As for their music, Longo describes it this way:
“It’s punk-classical-hillbilly-Floyd. Our influences musically include Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, David Bowie, Incredible String Band and early Pink Floyd, to name a few.”
Longo’s thought-provoking songs and Dylan-meets-Bono vocals make Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams one of this year’s Blissfest favorites. For a musical sampling, go to: myspace.com/gandalfmurphyand-theslamboviancircusofdreams.

The Duhks
This year’s Blissfest will have a heavy “green” focus to it. Festival organizers plan to implement several new green practices, and Winnipeg-based The Duhks will probably be the festival’s “most green band.”
“As a band we decided to practice what we preach,” said founding member Leonard Podolak. “We have adapted to a more conscious touring plan. We recycle, use biodiesel, reuseable drink containers, and support certified organic food industry and local farmers along the way. Our motto is reduce, renew and offset.”
To keep fans and others informed, the band launched a new website last October: greenduhks.com.
The new green and sustainability approach is not the only difference: The Duhks (pronounced ducks) have lineup changes for the first time since forming seven years ago. In March of 2007 lead singer Jessee Havey left to pursue other interests and was replaced by Sarah Dugas last summer. Sarah’s brother Christian joined the band earlier this year when percussionist Scott Senior left. Despite the changes, Podolak says it is the same old Duhks.
  “Our band is built around its music, so the songs and the music are still there - we just have some new people performing them with us,” said Podolak.
  The Duhks blend gospel, Celtic, old-time, Zydeco, country, Latin, French-Canadian and good old rock and roll to build the foundation for their music. The band also has a new CD due out in August that is themed after their “green” approach.
  “We have called the new CD ‘Fast Paced World,’” said Podolak.  “We are hoping through performance and multimedia, to raise awareness about ways to live a more economically viable and ecologically sustainable lifestyle.”
For a sampling of songs and to view the video of The Duhks practicing sustainability on the road, check out myspace.com/theduhks. They will also perform at the InsideOut Gallery in TC on Wednesday, July 16.
Harper
 Peter Harper has tantalized Northern Michigan audiences since first performing in Traverse City 13 years ago at G.T.’s (now Red Mesa).
“I had received a cultural grant from the Australian government to come over to the United States to give the American people a taste of our culture,” laughs Harper. “I guess the American culture captured me now, that I am a resident here.”
After extensive touring of the United States, Harper fell in love with Michigan and the Midwest, and a few years ago bought a home in the country near Jackson.
“My first trip to Michigan, I immediately felt a connection with the people and the land,” said Harper. “There is good reason why the Midwest has produced so much great music.”
When Harper arrived stateside for his first tour, he found himself on the blues circuit where he remains popular today; but his music expands beyond the blues boundaries. He blends rock and world music with soul and R&B. A few years ago he decided to examine the “roots” music of Australia.
“I have added the didgeridoo, an instrument of the native Australian Aborigines,” said Harper. “Lyrically and musically I have been exploring the culture of the Australian Aborigines. Ironically they have faced the same plight as the Native Americans.”
While Harper’s play of the didgeridoo will fascinate audiences at Bliss, his soulful Detroit rock and roll vocals coupled with his thought-provoking lyrics will equally capture the audience. With the didgeridoo taking center stage, his harmonica play should not be overlooked.
Harper is currently signed with Blind Pig Records and has been on tour of America and Europe in promotion of his latest CD Day By Day. He will perform this Thursday and Friday at The Cove in Leland before heading to Blissfest. For a musical sampling and to see video of his didgeridoo play, search his name on youtube.com
 
OTHER OPTIONS
Besides music, Blissfest is a weekend full of food, fun, art and community and going green. Here is a sampling of some of the new offerings:
Express your Bliss - Discovered at the GrassRoots Festival in New York. Let’s get together and do some art. The pallet is blank and the paint and brushes are ready for wanna-be artists. Check it out next to the third stage. On Saturday and Sunday from 12-4 p.m. This year a Porta John will be painted. Unused of course. 
Best Dressed Camp - There will be two categories -- all natural or trendy for the Best Dressed Camp competition. Winners will be announced at main stage and prizes will be awarded.
Shuttles - The ability to move around on and off the festival grounds is about to get easier. Bliss is rolling out the new and improved Blissfest People Mover with pickup points around the camp grounds. Off-site shuttle service to Sturgeon Bay beach and the Cross Village Store will be enhanced with two buses on Saturday.
Blissfest Birthday Party - All Blissters who are celebrating birthdays in or around July 7-15 are invited to the first annual Blissfest Babies Birthday party. Enjoy birthday cake and fun -- show an ID to get into the Hospitality Area backstage, on Sunday at 4 p.m. 

Tickets are going quickly as Blissfest caps around 4,000. For additional details and a complete listing of music and other festival happenings, check out blissfest.org or call the box office at 231-838-2236.