By Jim Bloch
Thumb Fest, the premier acoustic music festival in Michigan’s Thumb, takes over the village Lexington on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend.
In addition to 50 acts on eight stages scattered throughout town, the festival will feature a jam tent, workshop tent and a children’s area.
“It’s our 22nd festival and our approach this year is a little bit of getting back to what it was originally, the old flavor of traditional American folk music,” said Mike Mercatante, media director for the festival.
The event is Saturday, Aug. 31, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. There is no charge to attend.
Folk music is literally the music of the people and everyone attending the festival will find a genre to groove to — from coffee house folk to blue grass, New Orleans brass, Celtic, panworld, Zydeco, blues, jazz and Americana.
The Rev. Robert Jones returns with his blues from the lowland and storytelling. Jones will perform solo and in a joint session with Leonardo, who also specializes in playing the blues and elucidating its roots. Jones plays a tribute to folk legend Ledbelly on the Harbor Stage at 1 p.m. Jones plays again on the Courtyard Stage at 5:45 p.m. Jones and Leonardo play the Jam Tent at 3 p.m. Leonardo will hold a tuning workshop at 12:30 p.m.
“Creole du Nord, the great Cajun band, is one of our headliners,” said Mercatante.
They play the Harbor Stage at 8 p.m.
The award-winning alt-country band Whisky Charmers plays the M-25 stage at 4:30 p.m. “They’ve won a ton of Detroit Music awards,” said Mercatante. “We also have a great duo coming in call Ironwood featuring a guitar and mandolin player. They use high tech equipment to supercharge traditional Celtic music.”
Finvarra’s Wren plays the Harbor Stage at 4:15 p.m.
“They’re Irish music purists,” said Mercatante. “They’re totally authentic in their original songs and in their choice of material.”
New this year is Los Hermanos Alvarez playing Conjunto dance music at the Courtyard Stage at 2 p.m.
Mert Sela, from Turkey, plays Flamenco guitar on the Simons Street Stage at 1230 p.m.
The festival is produced by the Blue Water Folk Society.
The 15-member Thumb Fest Committee is directed by Marty Malek. Tom Schlicting is the artistic director.
“Expect a record number of vendors,” said Mercatante.
There will be plenty of free parking and free shuttle buses.
Sponsors include A & W Lakeside, Angel’s Garden, Eastern Michigan Bank, Ember Health & Wellness, Greenbush Knights of Columbus, Lexington Village Theatre, Sweetwater Gourmet Deli & Bar, Inn the Garden, Lakeside Building Supplies. McGovern Agency, Mortgage 1 Inc., The Imprint House, The Town Shoppe, Trash to Treasures, Village Pub, Virginia McNabb/Town & Country Realty and Woman’s Life.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com. .
