Summer is just around the corner! Find out what’s in store at Erickson Center for the Arts, a nonprofit arts organization located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. From wine tasting to tribute concerts, here are 12 events you won’t want to miss starting this May.
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June 17 | From Bolivia with Love featuring Sergio Ruiz & Javier Pinell | 7-9 PM
Join Javier and Sergio as they perform a program of music by Bolivian composers for violin and piano. Get lost in the beautiful melodies and dance rhythms, as they take you on a musical journey covering the high plateaus of the Andean mountains, great valleys and exotic rainforests of the Amazon.
June 22 | “Mrs. Kelly’s Journey Home” by Breeda Miller | 7-9 PM
This story has a whole lot of heart and humor! In this theatrical memoir, Breeda Kelly Miller brings to life a funny and profound look at her mother’s journey from Ireland through the end of her life, charting experiences felt by generations of immigrants and adults caring for their aged parents.
Photo by The Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company
June 24 | The Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company: Midsummer Madness | 7-9 PM
The Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company presents Midsummer Madness, an hour-long adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In this enchanting story, four young lovers journey into the forest outside of Athens, but there’s trouble afoot—they find their love lives in disarray due to mischievous fairies. This production will delight Shakespeare fans and newbies alike and is appropriate for all ages.
June 29 | Sue Huber Evening of Piano featuring Neil Donato & Ken Pesick | 7-9 PM
Sit back, relax and enjoy these improvised selections from the American Jazz, Popular and Songbook repertoire on piano. Neil Donato (piano) and Ken Pesick (bass) met in the Upper Peninsula during the summer of 2016 while playing with separate bands. They quickly discovered their shared affinity for improvised music, and since, have played together across the state.
July 6 | The Presidents: In Their Own Words, by Richard Schlatter | 7-8 PM
Join Artprize Grand Prize-winning artist and graphic designer Richard Schlatter for a presentation on the top 15 presidents, using their own words to capture the intricate nature of each presidency. This presentation combines humor and little-known facts about each of the presidents.
July 8 | The Accidentals | 7-9 PM
Don’t miss this Northern Michigan favorite! Formed in Traverse City in 2012 by singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Sav Buist and Katie Larson, The Accidentals feature an eclectic blend of indie folk, pop, bluegrass, rock, classical, and other genres. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and VIP tickets are available.
July 13 | Ben Rosenblum Nebula Project | 7-9 PM
Award-winning Jazz Pianist and Accordionist Ben Rosenblum and Nebula Project will perform a riveting show featuring prominent global music influences as well as the incorporation of the accordion into a jazz format. Rosenblum recently released his third album, Kites and Strings, which is the first to feature him on both piano and accordion alongside his new sextet, Nebula Project.
Photo by Kelsey Knight
July 22 | Wine and Cheese Tasting Auction & Fundraiser | 4-8 PM
Don’t miss the largest and most popular event of the summer season! Support programming at Erickson Center for the Arts with its annual fundraiser featuring wine pairings, a silent and live auction, and raffles with great prizes. This year, the fundraiser will be located outside The Pine Performance Center.
August 3 | Magic Bus: A Musical Journey to Woodstock | 7-9 PM
Get out your best ’60s attire and journey back into the Haight-Ashbury District of San Francisco in 1967. Magic Bus is equipped with both outstanding musical abilities and an authentic look that’s sure to spark some memories or, if you’re too young to remember, it’ll give you the Woodstock experience of a lifetime.
August 24 | James Garner’s Tribute to Johnny Cash | 7-9 PM
This show walks the line! For the past 15 years, James Garner and his band have faithfully recreated Johnny Cash’s most popular hits with stunning accuracy in this fun tribute honoring his life and music.
September 2 | Blue Jean Jamboree featuring The Orbitsuns | 7-10:30 PM
Get ready for The Orbitsuns, Motor City’s finest purveyors of low-down outlaw country. Frontman Vinnie Dombroski made his name with alt‐rock giants Sponge in the ‘90s, taking the charts with hits like Molly (16 Candles). The event will also feature pulled pork sliders and slaw appetizers served by Upper Crust Deli.
September 5 | John Ellison and The Carpenter Ants | 7-9 AM
Catch John Ellison and The Carpenter Ants at The Pine! John Ellison was born in Montgomery, West Virginia, and grew up in a mining town. In 1959, he quit his job and bought a one-way ticket to Rochester, New York. Later, he formed The Soul Brothers Six, whose first release was Some Kind of Wonderful, a song that became popular in 1974 with the Grand Funk Railroad’s version. It has since been covered by more than 75 artists. At 81, he continues to perform with enthusiasm, and when he’s in the United States, The Carpenter Ants are his backing band of choice.
Photo by Erickson Center for the Arts