Michigan natives Sam Corbin and Jen Sygit weigh in on what they like about performing in Michigan. Corbin and Sygit are both singer-songwriters and were part of the third annual (SCENE) Metrospace Folk Festival on Saturday.
Sam Corbin and Jen Sygit chatted with the crowd while preparing for their performances Saturday night at (SCENE) Metrospace. Soft amber light fell upon the equipment-cluttered stage as music lovers from across the state streamed in to crowd the tiny performance space.
Corbin and Sygit were the first to take the stage Saturday night as part of the third annual (SCENE) Metrospace Folk Festival, a two-day concert series spotlighting local folk artists.
The event, held Friday and Saturday night, featured artists sponsored by Michigan-based companies Fox on a Hill Productions and Earthwork Music.
Sarah Yonkman, a Lansing resident, said she was attending the event for the first time.
“I think folk music is a way to bring people together,” Yonkman said. “It’s a great way to promote diversity and education.”
Seth Bernard, Chris Dorman, Steve Leaf and the group Gifts or Creatures performed Friday night. Saturday night’s event included performances by May Erlewine, Ralston Bowles, Drew Howard and Corbin and Sygit, among others.
Corbin and Sygit played various songs Saturday from both of their albums as well as a Bob Dylan cover, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” before turning the stage over to veteran performers Bowles and Howard.
“There’s a younger generation coming up behind us and an older one before us,” Sygit said, referring to Bowles and Howard. “We’ve been fostered by these guys and they’ve become our friends and family.”
Bowles, a Grand Rapids native, took the stage despite his recent bouts of chemotherapy which he said had thinned the callouses on his hands, making it more difficult to play guitar. Accompanied by Howard, Bowles played songs from his album about peace, politics, truth, religion and even social networking.
“It was a real treat to have Ralston performing,” said Tim Lane, the director of (SCENE) Metrospace, 110 Charles St. “Lineups have been primarily from the younger artists, so it was nice having someone from the older guard (performing). It was a once in a lifetime concert event for the Folk Festival.”
Lane said more than 225 people attended the festival.
Singer-songwriter “Daisy” May Erlewine closed the festival with folk and soul tunes that at times involved audience interaction. Erlewine, Bowles and Howard joined in the last song accompanied by Mike Lynch on the keyboard and Laura Bates on the bass.
Bowles said events such as the Folk Festival are important in light of Michigan’s economic situation.
“I think music is what helps people get through hard times,” Bowles said. “It’s an important part of humanity to listen and see expressions of the human spirit.”
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