2016 Festival Schedule

(more schedule information coming soon!)

Click Here to visit the Performer Line-Up Page

Main StageCentennial StageDance StageRhythm StageThe Song TentWorkshop LaneFolk Instrument TentsKids HillMiddleGround

MAIN STAGE

FRIDAY

6:00-6:50pm Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band
7:10-8:00pm The Cactus Blossoms
8:20-9:10pm The Black Twig Pickers
9:30-10:20pm Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble
10:40-11:30pm The Mike + Ruthy Band

SATURDAY

12:00-12:50pm The Mike + Ruthy Band
1:10-2:00pm The Cactus Blossoms
2:20-3:10pm Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band
3:30-4:20pm Adonis Puentes & the Voice of Cuba Orchestra
4:40-5:30pm Charlie Musselwhite
6:30-7:20pm Three Women and the Truth
7:40-8:30pm The Gibson Brothers
8:50-9:40pm Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble
10:00-10:50pm Solas
11:10-12:00am Asleep at the Wheel

SUNDAY

10:00-11:00am Gospel Hour
11:20-12:10pm The Gibson Brothers
12:30-1:20pm Three Women and the Truth
1:40-2:30pm Adonis Puentes & the Voice of Cuba Orchestra
2:30-2:50 Kids Hill Parade
2:50-3:40pm Nic Gareiss & Friends
4:00-4:50pm Charlie Musselwhite
5:10-6:00pm Asleep at the Wheel
6:20-7:10pm Solas

CENTENNIAL

FRIDAY

6:00-7:00pm Soltré
7:20-8:20pm Red Tail Ring
8:35-9:35pm Stella!
9:55-10:55pm Luke Winslow-King
11:15pm-12:15am Mark Lavengood Bluegrass Bonanza

SATURDAY

11:00am-12:30pm Open Mic
12:45-1:35pm Luke Winslow-King
1:50-2:40pm Chris Buhalis
3:00-4:00pm Solas
4:15-5:00pm Brothers Duets: The Gibson Brothers and The Cactus Blossoms
5:15-6:45pm Michigan Singer-Songwriters: May Erlewine, Frank Allison, Natalie Mae, Joe Shields
7:45-8:45pm Charlie Musselwhite
9:05-10:05pm The Black Twig Pickers
10:25-11:25pm The Mike + Ruthy Band
11:45pm-12:45am The Go Rounds

SUNDAY

11:30-10:15am Open Mic
1:15-2:30pm Community Sing w/ Sally Potter & Friends

DANCE STAGE

FRIDAY

5:30-6:15pm Cajun Dance Instruction w/Ira Bernstein and Back Bayou
6:30-8:20pm Squares & Contras w/Haas Kowert Tice
8:40-10:20pm Rockabilly Dance w/Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys
10:45pm-12:45am Cajun Dance w/the Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band

SATURDAY

9:00-9:45am Yoga w/Catherine Tobin
10:00-11:00am Family Dance w/the Rhythm Billies and Jan Fowler calling
11:15am-12:15pm Beginning Clogging w/David Goodwin
12:30-1:30pm Sean-nos and Set Dance Combo w/Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble
1:45-2:45pm Dance the Tune w/Nic Gareiss and Cleek Schrey
3:00-4:15pm Salsa Dance Instruction w/Brian Gorchowski and Salsa Verde
5:45-7:00pm Squares & Contras w/The Black Twig Pickers
7:30-8:45pm Swing Dance w/Jive at Five
9:15-10:30pm Cuban Dance w/Adonis Puentes & The Voice of Cuba Orchestra
11:00pm-1:00am Cajun Dance w/the Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band

SUNDAY

9:30-10:15am Yoga w/Catherine Tobin
11:00am-12:30pm Family Dance with the Blue Water Ramblers
12:45-1:30pm Let’s Talk Dance w/Ira Bernstein

RHYTHM STAGE

Click Here to visit the Rhythm Stage webpage

Percussion Schedule

FRIDAY

4:30pm Morroccan Darbuka w/Ryan Paul Gates
6:00pm Brazilian Samba Jam/Parade w/Deep Blue Water Samba
8:00pm Grand Opening Celebration!
10pm-1:00am Open Drum

SATURDAY

11:30am Morroccan Darbuka w/Ryan Paul Gates
1:00pm Japanese Taiko w/Carolyn Koebel
2:30pm Samba Batucada w/Deep Blue Water Samba
4:00pm West African Djembe w/Ryan Edwards
6:00pm SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: Members of Adonis Puentes & the Voice of Cuba Orchestra
7:30pm Puerto Rican Bomba w/Josh Dunigan
10pm-1am Open Drum

SUNDAY

11:30am Rhythm Theory w/Ryan Edwards
1:00pm Latin Ensemble w/Josh Dunigan

THE SONG TENT

SATURDAY

12:00-12:50 Natalie Mae
1:00-1:40 Frank Allison
1:50-2:30 May Erlewine
2:40-3:20 Eliza Gilkyson
3:30-4:10 Ralston Bowles
4:20-5:00 Gretchen Peters

SUNDAY

12:00-12:40 Joe Shields
12:50-1:30 Michelle Chenard & Pete Kehoe
1:40-2:20 Mary Gauthier
2:30-3:10 Jan Krist & Jim Bizer

WORKSHOP LANE

SATURDAY

12:00-1:00pm Fiddle w/Brittany Haas and Clayton Campbell (Gibson Brothers)
1:00-2:00pm Celtic Fiddle w/Winfred Horan (Solas)
1:00-2:00pm Banjo w/Nathan Bowles (Black Twig Pickers) and Mike Merenda (Mike + Ruthy)
2:00-3:00pm Blues Slide Guitar w/Luke Winslow-King and Matt Stubbs (Charlie Musselwhite)
3:00-4:00pm Guitar w/Ruthy Unger Merenda (Mike + Ruthy) and Nate Myers
3:00-4:00pm Deep Southwest Virginia Fiddle w/Mike Gangloff & Sally Anne Morgan (Black Twig Pickers)
3:30-4:30pm Mandolin w/Jesse Brock (Gibson Brothers) and Mark Schrock

SUNDAY

1:30-2:30pm Harmonica w/Charlie Musselwhite
2:30-3:30pm Ukulele w/Frank Youngman and Rachael Davis

FOLK INSTRUMENT TENTS

FRIDAY NIGHT

Dulcimer Tent

SLOW JAM  4:30 – 5:30   WITH GLYNN SUSIE KATHY & FRIENDS

SATURDAY

FOLK TENT #1

8:30 – 9:30    BEGINNING CLAW HAMMER BANJO w/Steve Craig
9:45 – 10:45    BLUES GUITAR w/Nate Myers
11:00 – 12:00   FLAT PICKING GUITAR w/Bruce Ling
12:15 – 1:15     BARE BONES BEGINNING MANDOLIN  w/Glynn Russell
1:30 – 2:30    BARE BONES BEGINNING  GUITAR w/Susie Russell
2:45 – 3:45    BEGINNING FIDDLE w/Bruce Bauman

FOLK TENT #2

9:00 – 10:00    BEGINNING UKULELE w/Ron Fowler
10:15 – 11:15    HARMONICA w/Mike Ross
11:30 – 12:30    INTERMEDIATE MANDOLIN w/Tom DeVries

2:00 – 3:00    BODHRAN w/Mark Boughner
3:15 – 4:15    PENNY WHISLTE w/Patrick & Collin DeWitt

FOLK TENT #3

9:00 – 10:00     CAJUN FIDDLE w/Jack Freeman
10:15 – 11:15   BARE BONES BASIC DOBRO AND SLIDE GUITAR w/Keith & Helen Caldwell
11:30 – 12:30    UKULELE CHORDING w/Don Benson
12:45 – 1:45      CLAW HAMMER BANJO w/Dave Leonard
2:00 – 3:00       LEARNING TUNES ON THE SAW w/Tom Eno
3:15 – 4:15           SONG WRITERS CHALLENGE w/Rick Novak
4:30 – 5:30         HURDIE GURDIE w/Dave Leonard

DULCIMER TENT

9:00 – 10:00    CHORDING HAMMER DULCIMER w/Allen & Joyce Switzer
10:15 –  11:45    BEGINNING “PLUS”  HAMMER DULCIMER w/Kathy Hagen & Kathy Dean
12:00 – 1:00    BARE BONES  MOUNTAIN DULCIMER w/Jo McLachlan
1:15 – 2:15     MOUNTAIN DULCIMER w/Wanda Degen
2:30 – 4:00     HAMMER DULCIMER w/Rick Thum
4:15 – 5:30    SLOW JAM w/Glynn, Susie, Kathy & Friends
8:00 – 10:00   CAJUN JAM  w/Jack, Roger, Robin, Neil & Friends

SUNDAY

FOLK TENT #1

8:30 – 9:30        BEGINNING CLAW HAMMER BANJO  WITH  STEVE CRAIG
9:45 – 10:45      JAZZ GUITAR   WITH  NATHAN MYERS
11:00 – 12:00   FLAT PICKING GUITAR   WITH  BRUCE LING
12:15 – 1:15     BARE BONES BEGINNING MANDOLIN    WITH   GLYNN RUSSELL
1:30 – 2:30       BARE BONES BEGINNING GUITAR     WITH  SUSIE RUSSELL
2:45 – 3:45       BEGINNING FIDDLE    WITH BRUCE BAUMAN

FOLK TENT #2

9:00 – 10:00      BEGINNING UKULELE w/Ron Fowler
10:15 – 11:15    HARMONICA w/Mike Ross
11:30 – 12:30    INTERMEDIATE MANDOLIN w/Tom DeVries

2:00 – 3:00       INTRO TO BODHRAN w/Mark Boughner
3:15 – 4:15       PENNY WHISLTE w/Patrick & Collin DeWitt

FOLK TENT #3

9:00 – 10:00     CAJUN FIDDLE w/Jack Freeman
10:15 – 11:15   SONG WRITERS CHALLENGE w/Rick Novak
11:30 – 12:30    UKULELE CHORDING w/Don Benson
12:45 – 1:45      CLAW HAMMER BANJO w/Dave Leonard
2:00 – 3:00     LEARNING TUNES ON THE SAW w/Tom Eno
3:15-4:15       BARE BONES BASIC DOBRO AND SLIDE GUITAR w/Keith & Helen Caldwell

DULCIMER TENT

9:00 – 10:00     CHORDING HAMMER DULCIMER w/Allen & Joyce Switzer
10:15 –  11:45    BEGINNING “PLUS”  HAMMER DULCIMER w/Kathy Hagen & Kathy Dean
12:00 – 1:00       BARE BONES MOUNTAIN DULCIMER w/Joe McLachlan
1:15 – 2:15        MOUNTAIN DULCIMER w/Wanda Degen
2:30 – 4:00     HAMMER DULCIMER w/Rick Thum

 

INSTRUCTORS

FOLK TENT #1

BRUCE BAUMAN   Bruce is one of the founding members of Wheatland, a fine fiddler and an excellent instructor.  Get yourself a good start on your fiddle and have fun while doing it.

STEVE CRAIG   Another very  talented musician, Steve can be found playing, teaching or selling items in the vendor area.  Steve comes to us from Missouri and does a great job teaching Claw Hammer Banjo.  Don’t miss his early workshop.

BRUCE LING   Bruce hails from the Grand Rapids area and is an all around musical genius, as he plays mandolin, fiddle and guitar and is a great bass vocalist.  Join him in his Flat Picking Guitar workshop.  He is one of the best around.

NATHAN MYERS   Nathan has been an accomplished instructor and musician for many years.  He has been involved in Wheatland since its beginning.  You will enjoy as you sit and listen or join him and some friends in either his Jazz Guitar or Blues Guitar workshop.

GLYNN RUSSELL   Glynn can also be found in the Folk Tent teaching Beginning Mandolin.  He will give   an introduction to the mandolin as he and Susie make the class fun as well as informative.  Glynn offers a simple fast way of learning to play the mandolin.

SUSIE RUSSELL   Susie’s great teaching abilities have been enjoyed by many in the past years.  She is a welcome performer in the Folk Tent area as she teaches to new players as well as seasoned players and gives a new approach to playing the guitar.

 

FOLK TENT #2

MARK BOUGHNER   Mark is a very familiar face around Wheatland.  Not only is he a great musician and instructor, but he helps out in the Medical Area.  He is also a member of the local musical group known as Hurry The Jug.  You will enjoy his Bodhran Class.

TOM DEVRIES  Tom has been playing guitar, mandolin and harmonicas in the West Michigan area, solo, and with many bands since 1970’s, currently with the Blue Water Ramblers.  He uses this Intermediate Mandolin workshop to cover backbeat chops, chord voicing and function, moveable two-note scales, improvising, his   ” two number system,“  and much more.

PATRICK & Collin DEWITT   Patrick and Collin play various musical instruments.  Join them and some of their group while they teach the Penny Whistle.  All may attend.   Whistles will be provided.

RON FOWLER   Ron is not new to Wheatland.  He has been attending since the forth festival; sharing his folk songs and stories, and now joining us as a Ukulele Instructor.  You are sure to enjoy his style as he teaches Uke, made easy to learn.

MIKE ROSS   Mike is another great addition to the Folk Ten.  He instructs and shares the Harmonica, as he has for many years, with a hint of the Blues and Folk Styles.  The key of C will be used.  Mike will address each student’s skill level.

 

FOLK TENT #3

DONALD BENSON   The Ukulele is very popular; and as excellent starter instrument, even for those who know nothing about music but would like to learn to play a stringed instrument.  Don will teach you how to tune, strum and hold your uke while you learn basic chords.  A handout is provided as par for the class.  Ukes will be available for use in class if needed.

KEITH AND HELEN CALDWELL      Well known to Wheatland, again we welcome Keith and Helen to our folk tents.  Be sure to enjoy their Bare Bones Blues and Bluegrass Dobro and Slide Guitar Workshop.

THOM ENO   Tom and friends  teach us to play tunes and bring some very unique sounds from the Hand Saw.  We are sure you will enjoy this workshop very much.

JACK FREEMAN   Jack is a long time member of the Wheatland staff.  Jack is also another multi-talented performer.  He can be found at some of the jams as well as his workshop.  Please, do yourself a favor,   and attend this great Cajun Fiddle workshop.

DAVE LEONARD   Dave is a well known face around the Wheatland campus.  He is known for his homemade instruments and unique style and sound.  Stop by and join him as he does a laid back style of Claw Hammer Banjo.

RICK NOVAK   Since   “Coming Alive” as he calls it, he has performed at various venues and music festivals since 2002.  He is joining us again this year to share his song writing talents.

 

DULCIMER TENT

WANDA DEGEN   Wanda has been a long time teacher and performer at Wheatland.  She is an accomplished musician and vocalist and is enjoyed by all, as she shares her talents at many festivals and other assorted events throughout the year.  She brings to us an interesting and informative Mountain Dulcimer workshop that we are sure you won’t want to miss.

KATHY HAGEN & Kathy Dean   They bring us a fresh, new approach to playing the Hammer Dulcimer.  They are very accomplished and structured musician and play in several bands and clubs.  Both play with The Broken Glass String Band from the Mt. Pleasant area.  All levels welcome.

JO MCLACHLAN   Everything that Jo does is full steam ahead:  teaching, dancing or running around the Wheatland campus helping anyone and everyone for many years.  You will surely be pleased and enjoy her Mountain Dulcimer class as she teaches you to play the Mountain Dulcimer.

ALLEN AND JOYCE SWITZER   We welcome the Pucker Brush Players as they bring us their wonderful wit, musical talents and teaching abilities.  Both are music majors and now travel the globe performing and teaching traditional music and historical reenactments.  Be sure to join Allen and Joyce, and maybe Woodward, as they teach as easy and fun way to chord on the Hammer Dulcimer.  You will be enlightened.

RICK THUM   Rick is like a breath of fresh air as he teaches and performs.  He comes to us from Missouri and has been a Wheatland Staple for several years.  Rick can be found selling from his booth, teaching or maybe playing for some of the dances.  Don’t miss his great Dulcimer workshop, as he brings us new tunes and ideas.

Kids Hill

CLICK HERE to visit Kids Hill webpage for more information!

FRIDAY

STAGE

5:00-5:50           The Porters
6:00-6:50           Susan Harrison
7:00-7:50           Blue Water Ramblers
8:00-9:00           Family Spooky Story Swap w/Robin & Emily Nott

WORKSHOPS

4:30-5:15            Jay’s Jaw Harp
5:20-6:05            Fiddle w/Bruce Baumann
6:10-6:55             Beginning Bodhran w/Lisa Groot
7:00-7:45           2nd Annual Wheatland Jugband Jamboree w/Surcadiana

 

SATURDAY

STAGE

10:00-10:50       Songs for Kids by Woody Guthrie w/Surcadiana & Special Guest Drew Nelson
11:00-11:50          BenJammin’s Educational Music
12:00-12:50         Jump Bunny String Band
1:00-1:50             Susan Harrison
2:00-2:50            Lake Effect
3:00-3:50           Nik Carman
4:00-4:50           The Porters
5:00-5:50           Kid’s Hill Open Mic w/ Blue Water Ramblers
6:00-6:45           Dinner Break
7:00-7:50           Maciek Biezunski
8:00-8:50           Lullaby Stories by BenJammin

WORKSHOPS

9:30-1:30            The kokirico workshop will run concurrently with the craft making the instrument (in the corral)
10:00-11:30        Cartooning w/David McCord
11:35-12:20          Bones w/Dan Croy
12:25-1:10             Congas w/Cory Cole
1:15-2:00              Spoons w/Rachael Claire
2:05-2:50            Origami w/Alex Ash
2:55-3:40            Jay’s Jaw Harp
3:45-4:30           Harmonica w/Kevin Murphy & Ted Bergin
4:35-5:20            Bling Blang & Slap Happy w/Surcadiana

 

SUNDAY

STAGE

11:30-12:20          Sing for Your Soul w/Lauren Lane Powell
12:30-1:20           Footworks
1:30-2:20             Lake Effect
2:30-3:20            Blue Water Ramblers

WORKSHOPS

9:30-1:30            The kokirico workshop will run concurrently with the craft making the instrument (in the corral)
10:25-11:10          Fiddle w/Bruce Baumann
11:15-12:00          Bones w/Dan Croy
12:05-12:50         Congas w/Cory Cole
12:55-1:40           Songwriting w/Rachael Claire
1:45                        12th Annual Kid’s Hill Percussion Parade

MiddleGround

Click Here for more information about MiddleGround

FRIDAY 3-6

Head Wreaths
Bandanna Purses
Juggling
Open Mic
Aroma Bath Salts
Hacky Sac
Hula Hoops
Felt Purses
Disc Golf
Dream Catchers
Mandalas

SATURDAY 12-3

Tie Dye

Open Mic
Felt Purses
Aroma Bath Salts
Hemp Necklaces
Flower Pins
Juggling
Friendship Bracelets
Mandalas

SATURDAY 3-6

Henna
Juggling
Hippy Headbands
Hemp Necklaces
Hacky Sac
Mandalas

SUNDAY 12-3

Friendship Bracelets
Disc Golf
Henna
Juggling
Open Mic
Flower Pins
Hemp Necklaces
Hippy Headbands
Mandalas