Jul 27 Saturday
Westbound Situation blends the precision of classical chamber music, the rhythmic drive of bluegrass, and the colorful expression of jazz into a new style of chamber music—chambergrass. The quartet—comprised of Grant Flick on violin, Jake Howard on mandolin, Zach Brown on cello, and Jacob Warren on bass—mixes composition and improvisation seamlessly into their entirely memorized arrangements.
The group formed out of the Acoustic Music Seminar (AMS), a program run by multi-instrumentalist Mike Marshall. The program accepts 16 talented string players under the age of 22 from around the world to participate in a week of intense improvisation, composition and performance training. All four were two time participants, an honor that not everyone is able to receive. Some notable AMS alumni include Paul Kowert of the Punch Brothers, Alex Hargreaves of Turtle Island String Quartet, and Xavier Foley, winner of the 2014 Sphinx Competition.
Westbound Situation has a strong commitment to music education. The group’s combined experience in classical, bluegrass, jazz, and original/improvised music is something not typically offered in the standard curriculum found at most schools and colleges (at least not all at the same time). These styles, among others, give each student the chance to make their own music, and through this process valuable lessons in creativity, listening, and leadership are achieved. Each member of the group maintains a private studio, and all have been invited to provide workshops and masterclasses at schools and festivals across the country.
Westbound Situation’s exciting and diverse concerts feature a set of unique original repertoire colored with recognizable standards from many genres. With bluegrass, classical chamber music, and jazz all coming together in the group’s concept of chambergrass, a Westbound Situation concert is dazzling musical journey not soon forgotten.
Jul 28 Sunday
10-piece big band led by Chris Smith, specializing in hot jazz of the 1920s and 30s. Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Duke Ellington and other jazz legends are prominent in their repertoire. For listening or dancing.
Jul 30 Tuesday
The Easy Street Jazz Band has played Dixieland jazz for over 50 years right here in Ann Arbor. Leader/trombonist Terry Kimura picks familiar tunes from the traditional jazz repertoire and blows the dust off some forgotten gems from Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Walter Donaldson, Hoagy Carmichael and other great composers from the early part of the 20th century. Kimura, Matt Collar (tr), Chris Tabaczynski (reeds) Pete Siers (percussion), Rod McDonald (guitar and banjo), Paul Keller (bass), and a guest pianist play great jazz for listening and dancing fun.
Aug 04 Sunday
Aug 06 Tuesday
Soak up the sunset with music on the farm, from the Dick Siegel Trio, Tuesday, August 6th !
-Arrive between 5:30 and 6pm, the 1st set of music will start shortly after 6, and the 2nd set of music will start around 7:30.
-Bring your own food & drinks to this picnic concert (This isn’t a served farm dinner, feel free to bring something to share but its not a potluck so make sure you have what you want to eat!)
-There are picnic tables, come early to snag a spot, and feel free to bring lawn chairs!
-There’s limited parking, and we expect this event to sell out!
About Dick Siegel:
Midwestern songwriting legend Dick Siegel brings his irresistibly exuberant music to Green Things Farm for the first time! Siegel emerged as a noteworthy songwriter of the Detroit/Ann Arbor music scene in the 1980s, releasing his first first album, Snap!, to critical acclaim and soon garnering attention far beyond the confines of his adopted state of Michigan. Since then, Siegel has been performing his blend of American folk, blues, jazz, and R&B on stages from New York City’s Bottom Line to the Vancouver Folk Festival. Considered a songwriter’s songwriter, Siegel was honored by WDET as one of “Detroit’s Top Musical Artists of All Time,” a group that includes musical legends the likes of John Lee Hooker, Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, and Aretha Franklin. For this performance, Siegel will be joined by his long-time musical partner guitarist Dave Roof and upright bassist Charlie Reischl (who you know from Wych Elm at the Farm Dinners!) From a hint of Hank Williams and a bit of Bob Dylan to a little T.S. Eliot meets the Beatles, Siegel serves his tunes up hot and fresh, ready for audiences to enjoy.
Aug 13 Tuesday
Aug 20 Tuesday
Aug 27 Tuesday
Sep 03 Tuesday