By Jim Bloch
The 21st annual edition of Thumb Fest, southeastern Michigan’s premiere event showcasing acoustic musicians, takes over the picturesque Village of Lexington this Saturday, Sept. 2.
The free all-ages family-friendly event runs 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
“It’s the largest festival we’ve ever had, with 53 individual acts on eight stages, ” said Mike Mercatante, publicity director for the event.
Mercatante and Jenna Reed perform as Still Running, an acoustic duo that often adds a bassist and drummer to the mix. Still Running plays at the Troy Smith Stage at 12:30 p.m. and on the McNabb Stage at 4:30 p.m.
The event is produced by the Blue Water Folk Society and is volunteer-driven. The festival launched in the early years of the century at Camp Oznam, north of Lexington.
“It really blew up when we moved to Lexington,” said Mercatante.
The society understands folk music in the broadest sense.
“I feel that folk is defined as music of the people,” said Mercatante. “It’s not just guys in turtlenecks and sunglasses playing cafes and colleges.”
It’s blues and bluegrass, country and Cajun, Zydeco, protest music, cowboy songs, sea shanties, railroad songs, hillbilly music, work songs, jazz, rock-and-roll and even rap. It’s music with local roots that cross-germinates and gets passed on from player to player, generation to generation,
The Gasoline Gypsies are technically headlining the festival with their genre-transcending rock-and-roll.
“They’re the big act this year, a nationally touring band from the Port Huron area,” said Mercatante. “They just won three Detroit Music Awards. They close the Harbor Stage with an 8 p.m. set.”
The Harbor Stage is the festival’s main stage in the tree-studded park overlooking Lexington’s marina. The Gypsies also play the Courtyard Stage at 4 p.m.
The alt-country band The Whiskey Charmers get second billing, playing the Harbor Stage at 10 a.m. and the Courtyard Stage at 3 p.m.
“A new band this year is Wilson Thicket,” said Mercatante.
A nifty play on the name of classic soul singer Wilson Pickett, the band features mandolin maestro Jason Dennie and promises to show off some the hottest bluegrass picking of the day with Aaron Markowitz on guitar, Scott Kendall on upright bass and Keith Billik on banjo. Wilson Thicket plays the Harbor Stage at 6:45 p.m. and the M-25 Stage at 1:30 p.m.
Plenty of old favorites are on the card, such as Matt Watroba paired with Robert Jones, the Port Sanilac-based folksters Ourselves and Djangophonique, the high-powered band inspired by Django Reinhardt.
In addition to the bands, the society offers a jam tent to which festival-goers can bring their own instruments and play with the pros — a blues jam, country jam, bluegrass jam and more. Workshop tents offer technical skills such as playing the Native American flute, opening guitar tuning and a songwriting circle led by musicians playing on Saturday.
Organizers expect as many as 5,000 acoustic music fans to descend on Lexington for the festival.
“A free shuttle service runs all day,” said Mercatante.
A map of the stage locations and shuttle stops is available at bluewaterfolk.org, as well as the program.
“Access the program ahead of time to help plan your day,” said Mercatante. “But remember to leave time to discover new bands and new genres.”
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
