Pickers and jams in michigan

[JeffD]

Hey folks - work takes me to Cheboygan for three weeks next month.

I have to decide whether to bring my mandolin, and whether to rent a car, neither of which is, strictly speaking, needed for the work at hand.

A jam or folks to pick with, a coffeehouse, or even a music store I can't miss, will sway my decision to the affirmative.

Looks like pretty country from the satellite - any music around?

Jeff

[JeffD]

So... sounds like I should leave the mandolin at home, or at least expect to leave it in the hotel room.

[250sc]

Hi Jeff,

Cheboygan is pretty far north but I'm sure there are some pickers up there. Check out the Traverse City area. If you have the time for a 3 hour drive, you might want to drive down to Elderly Instruments in Lansing. Personally, I'm in the suburbs of Detroit, about 4 hours south of where you'll be.

[JeffD]

Actually I was thinking of a weekend trip to Elderly. That might be fun. But that is longish drive.

[Steve-o]

Hi Jeff,
Greetings from Traverse City, MI. #There's a decent music scene here, and even a mandolin orchestra (dubbed "88 Strings"), although we are about 2 hours from Cheboygan. If you are here July 11-13, check out the Blissfest near Cross Village. #It's only about 1/2 hour away and is a great outdoor festival. #Legs Inn, nearby, is a real treat and will have some good music following the festival. Also, consider going to Mackinac Island and checking out the unique environment there - although perhaps no mando content.

...oh, and you might catch some good music in Petoskey, about an hour away. If you are lucky, there might be a good act at the old Opera House in Cheboygan. I've never been there, but remember Butch Baldassari and the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble visited there a couple summers ago. Finally, I don't know if he allows visitors, but Mike Kemnitzer of Nugget fame is located in Central Lake, maybe and hour and a half drive away.

[Dan Eaton]

So... sounds like I should leave the mandolin at home, or at least expect to leave it in the hotel room.

Jeff, if you don't take your mandolin, you're going to go nuts. #It's just not natural for a player to go 3 weeks without his (or her) instrument. #

Even if there are no jamming opportunities, sitting in your room and running scales or picking through "O'Neill's" #or "Ryan's" books for new/old tunes beats the hay out of flipping channels on some cheap hotel TV.

Take your mandolin. #You'll sleep better and work better.

Dan

[Jkf_Alone]

1st saturday of the month theres an "old time" (more like old country) jam in the manton high school (2.5 hours from cheboygan) not really worth the trip by itself, but you can make the rounds in traverse during the day, (theres a cool old L&H oval to play at good news music).

[Tom Sanderson]

Mike Kemnitzer of Nugget fame is located in Central Lake

Mike is a good friend of mine, I just got home from a visit to his house. We have a circle of music friends , mostly old time stuff. it's about 100 miles from Cheboygan

[JeffD]

It's just not natural for a player to go 3 weeks without his (or her) instrument.

That is the honest truth. After a week with no mandolin I will go into withdrawal, two weeks and I'll have the staggers and jaggs.

[Bill Van Liere]

Hi Jeff

If you are still around on Saturday June 28th, I will be performing with my band Tanglemere at the Springfield Township Park near Fife Lake, MI. for a Celtic festival. Small, but quaint venue and always fun. I play mandolin and octave mandolin and am always up for sharing a few tunes.