Saline Summer Music Series Kicks Off June 10

The Saline Summer Music Series of free concerts kicks off 7 p.m. Friday, June 10, on South Ann Arbor Street between Michigan Avenue and Henry Street.

The following concerts will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays through the end of July.

“This year the series switched to Thursdays to build up hype in the downtown area for the weekend,” said Art Trapp, the City of Saline’s Downtown Development Director. “However, we couldn’t change the first concert, because of a scheduling conflict.”

The Saline Fiddlers – America's premier youth fiddling show band – are first up with a June 10 toe-tapping performance of music, song and dance from the traditions of American folk fiddle, bluegrass, jazz, western swing and Celtic music. This nonprofit troupe of Saline High School students, led by Artistic Director Ben Culver, have played more than 1,000 performances all over the United States and several foreign countries, performed three times at the White House and twice on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center, and at the State of Michigan Presidential Inaugural Ball in January 2001.

“Last year Saline Fiddlers kicked off the Saline Summer Concert Series and 600 people came down and it was also our official CD release party,” said the group’s booking manager Mark Visovatti. “Saline Fiddlers are looking forward to bringing another big crowd in their hometown.  The first date of the series works for us because this will be a busy summer including a ‘Land O' Lakes’ tour to Wisconsin this summer.”

On June 16, Charlie Bauman will bring his Dueling Pianos piano party from Grand Rapids for a unique comedy, music, dance and sing-along concert.  The musicians play audience requests and nothing is planned or pre-staged. 

“We had a blast at the last event we played for the Octoberfest celebration.  Everyone was engaged with the show and it reciprocated with all requests being played, danced and sang-along to," Charlie Bauman said. "We're greatly looking forward to our return to Saliine and hope everyone comes to join us in the celebration."

Annabelle Road -- described as a “Carrie Underwood-meets-Johnny Cash-by way of-Skynard trip” -- is the June 23 barnstorming band featuring vocalist Amanda Bailey, fiddler Mackenzie Lerchen, guitarist Jeremy Temple, bassist Larry Craft and drummer Donovan Tarjeft. The band fuses rock and country in a performance that appeals to everyone from rockers to honky tonkers.

The month is rounded out on June 30 with the Detroit-based band Remedy, a five-piece band featuring the extensive use of the electric violin as a lead instrument, with five lead vocalists, guitar, bass, keys, sax, and drums. Remedy delivers an assortment of cover tunes for all ages including songs from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and today.

The Saline Big Band, formed in 1973 by a group of musicians that loved to play music primarily from the swing era, will perform July 7. The 17-piece band comprises local doctors, lawyers, professors, band directors, managers, engineers, and more.

On July 14, Time Machine brings its brand of 70s classic rock to town. Music is a family affair, with Chris “Pops” McCloud on sax, son Bill McCloud on lead guitar, and daughter Amy McCloud on lead female vocals, joined by Don Thibodeau on lead male vocals and rhythm guitar, Brent Austin on bass, and Tommy “Fish Dr” Campbell on drums.

National recording artist Justine Blazer brings her brand of country sound mixed with rock ‘n’ roll to Saline on July 21. Blazer, a Canton native who grew up in Nashville, sings and plays acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and harmonica. Her single and video “Red, White and Blue” has become an anthem for servicemen and women overseas, and she has a new CD, “Welcome to My World.”

Six Foot Poles will round out the concert series on July 28 with a sound that blends vintage rock with a Motown twist. The Ann Arbor-based band includes brothers, Dave, Mark and Mat Brzezinski, Theo Smith, and Mark’s wife, vocalist and percussionist Joelene.

The Two Twelve Arts Center in Saline is partnering with the music series and providing children’s activities: bubbles, chalk art, removable tattoos and more.

“We’re looking forward to a great music series and to welcoming people to downtown Saline to enjoy some great music,” said John Olsen, owner of Spotted Dog Winery in Saline and president of the Saline Downtown Merchants Association that is co-sponsoring the event with the City of Saline.

In the event of bad weather, performances will take place in the gym at Liberty School, 7265 Saline-Ann Arbor Rd.

For more information, visit www.besaline.com.