Catch The Moxie Strings Saturday, August 20
The Moxie Strings will be performing at the Wilson Center at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 20.
Hailed by The Grand Rapids Press as “top-notch, instrumental wizardry,” The Moxie Strings offer listeners the unique opportunity to experience some of the world’s best- known instruments through an electric, innovative lens.
Diana Ladio and Alison Lynn hold Bachelor of Music degrees in music performance and music education, which have given each the technical foundation to explore the limits of her instrument and helped the group build a reputation for musical excellence. Alison performs on a newly-invented, electric cello, and Diana on a contemporary 5-string violin. Both use a variety of audio effects pedals.
?The Moxie Strings compose the majority of their pieces and arrange melodies from many countries, resulting in a genre-blurring blend of ear-catching, mainstream melodies and foot-stomping, rock-influenced rhythms. The band’s polished, high-energy show continues to redefine strings’ role in contemporary music, and offers audience members a diverse, fun, musical experience.
Tickets can be purchased at the door for $20.00.
Take a look at the Mint Festival
by Maralyn Fink
I was in the parade with my Nurse Honor Guard of Clinton County in the rain, but we did fine with our umbrellas and had a great time.
I attended the Mint Festival on Sunday, checking out the vendors. A nice crowd attended even though the weather certainly was not ideal.
Rock out with Miranda and the M80’s on August 24
If you’re looking to spend an evening with one of the most energetic and entertaining bands in mid-Michigan, mark on your calendars for Wednesday, August 24 as the day to make that happen. That’s when Miranda & The M80s will hit the stage at the William E. Tennant Performance Shell in the beautiful St. Johns City Park.
“This group, formed in 2015, has been a state wide favorite for a number of years,” says Bill Tennant, Concert in the Park coordinator. “Jeff Dietrich, the group’s leader and drummer, is a graduate of St. Johns High school. He and the band do a great job of playing all of that wonderful 80s music. You will thoroughly enjoy this evening of rocking out with Miranda, Jeff and their friends.”
Miranda & The M80s consists of Miranda, who brings a background of classical training and musical theater experience to her amazing vocals, Len ‘The Axe’ who studied guitar at MSU, Drew ‘The Bass Melter’ who has a few years of classical training and Jeff, who has a vast background of drumming experience in many different genres. This group of unique individuals come together to form this amazing cohesive band – a band you’re going to want to spend some time with.
The concert is sponsored by the Clinton County Arts Council (CCAC) and the City of St. Johns. It is open to the public free of charge but donations are gratefully accepted.
All concerts are presented rain or shine. The Lion’s Club food trailer will be available this year. Social distancing and safety precautions are strongly encouraged. The CCAC receives funding from the Michigan Arts & Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
O’Rourke and Zeitler close St. Johns Brown Bag Series
On Friday August 26 at noon the Brown Bag Concert series concludes by presenting Siusan O’Rourke and Zig Zeitler featuring Irish and American Folk and a touch of the Blues. Sponsored by St. Johns Area Community Fund with gifts in memory of Forest and Doris Swatman, the series takes place at The Rotary Pavilion near the depot on Railroad Street in St. Johns.
Siusan O’Rourke, the daughter of first-generation Irish Americans was reared in a family that taught appreciation for the music of their culture. Siusan possesses an astounding voice, a rare deep rich alto that is enveloping beyond the emotion of the song. She morphs seamlessly from treasured timeless songs to contemporary from Irish Tradition to American Roots from sorrowful ballads to whimsical songs.
Zig Zeitler is a seasoned and versatile musician and brings long experience with American Roots music to the duo’s repertoire, particularly his dexterous skills on Guitar, Banjo, Fiddle, Harmonica and especially the Irish Bouzouki. Although his history is strongly steeped in Blues and the music of the Cajuns in Louisiana he is touted as a World musician being able to pull from many genres to flavor any arrangement.
Grab take-out lunch from any participating downtown food/drink purveyor and sit back for an hour listening to the music of the three-time Irish music award top duo’s nominees, Suisan & Zig.
Check them out: https://siusanandzig.com/home or www.facebook.com/siusanandzig
St Johns Area Community Fund is a nonprofit working with donors dedicated to make the St. Johns Area a better place to live and work for all.
Homegrown Productions holding auditions August 22, 23
Homegrown Productions will be holding auditions on August 22 and 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the Wilson Center Auditorium, 101 W. Cass Street in St. Johns.
Performance dates are October 6-9.
It’s not a musical; it’s a comedy. There isn’t a single murder, but there might be four. The action begins at midnight in a mansion not too far from Broadway, in a blizzard, with a power failure.
If you’re ready for a fast moving, satiric romp in classic (think Casablanca) costumes, you’re encouraged to audition.
For more information, email susanderosa@msn.com or tomwebb73@gmail.com.
Calling all Singers and new Singers
Mint City Singers 2022-2023 rehearsals begin on Thursday, September 8 at 7:00- 9:00 p.m. at St. Johns Lutheran Church.
Audition forms will be available for pickup on Thursday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m.