The Suggestion Box: Near North Happenings By N3 Entertainment Gurus 'For the leaves they are a changin’ (apologies to Bob Dylan) and autumn has begun to ring the bell of summer’s end just as we at N3 World Headquarters and Mummery (plants, not bandaged Egyptian royalty) predicted would happen. Not that predicting a seasonal change is any big deal perhaps, but some of us certainly enjoy those rare opportunities of being correct even if the bar is set pretty low. We also predicted a month that would be filled with a great deal of entertaining activities and it’s been a pretty nice ride already including... ...a festival, a few concerts, some interesting exhibits and the return of high school sports sharing the docket of diversionary doings. Still looming for next weekend is Trail Town II up in our County Capital where kayakers, runners, walkers, strollers, and folks just looking for a good time will gather to celebrate the trails including the watery one known as the White River. But we will save that for next week. Working backwards we’re going to start with Sunday because the Dogwood is putting on a show you simply will not want to miss. Raion Taiko is a drumming group who will be taking to the main stage of the Dogwood at 3pm on Sunday afternoon and if you are in one of those seats prepare to be awe struck by the performance that will unfold before you. To call this collection of musicians a drumming group feels like a disservice because they do not provide the audience with a concert, they provide them with an experience. An experience you not only see and hear but one that you can feel as their powerful sound resonates within. We at N3WH are huge fans of the Dogwood’s shows. The level of entertainment that takes place in this oasis of style and substance that exists right here in our community is mind-boggling and we jump on any chance to visit this valued venue. But this one is a huge Must See if you’ve never witnessed this type of entertainment. It’s mid-afternoon so those who might not be particularly enamored with pro football but reside with people who are, have a most pleasing preference to pursue while the pigskin purveyors tie up the tube to follow their fantasy league stats. Just go to this site and give them a listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPrYWATXxgg Ok, did you watch it? Good, then we’ll see you there. Tickets? www.dogwoodcenter.com Saturday at 7pm at the Black Box of the Dogwood is the Concert For Peace presented by the Newaygo County People For Peace. This annual event is held by a group of local folks dedicated to the task of promoting peaceful solutions to all levels of conflict. A wide variety of musical genres will be on hand from the traditional drumming and singing of Miiskwaasining Nagamojig (Swamp Singers) to the Civil War inspired tunes tossed out by the Newaygo Community Choir. The talented and barely teenage Cody Routley, Eastside Mike & A Couple Of Mugs, and Zelly’s Opryhouse Band with the evening’s emcee Steve Alpert strumming the banjo, will also be taking to the stage. Ticket info is at www.dogwoodcenter.com Friday is the second day of the four-day Hibernian-oriented extravaganza known as the Irish Music Festival in Muskegon. This is perhaps the best organized, most easily accessible, highly entertaining, and veritable feast for the eyes and ears fun-fest in our region. There’s great food and drink, wonderful entertainment, intriguing vendors, and activities abounding throughout the enclave. Whether wanting to see a caber tossing or hear what goes into an Irish wake or grab some traditional Irish chow this event celebrates the Irish in all of us. Spend a few hours at the Irish Fest and you’ll soon be sipping on a pint of Guinness or perhaps a little Bushmill’s single malt and before you know it you’ll be working up a reasonable Irish brogue and waxing sentimental about the Blarney Stone. And how can you possibly pass up a band with the name Ten Strings and a Goatskin? As far as the music goes don’t be thinking you’ll be hearing some tenor crooning 'Danny Boy'. The bands that populate this festival are positively smoking hot and a boatload of high energy enjoyment. Oh, and the Cedar Creek Cloggers whose membership includes a resident of N3WH will be taking to the dance stage at 3pm Saturday. Trust me, if you’ve never been to one it’s a great time and if you have a partner who prefers to watch football on Saturday afternoons, the tented bar areas have TV’s with the games on and seating nearby. Nuff said. Get to Muskegon and support one of the finest ethnic festivals to be found anywhere. The Michigan Irish Music Festival runs through Sunday and info can be gleaned by visiting www.michiganirish.org. So get out there and grab some weekend good times all the while remembering the classic phrase attributed to Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, a rather rambunctious Ann Arbor rock group from a few decades ago: “Well there’s a whole lotta things that I’ve never done “But I ain’t never had too much fun.” Ahhh, Cody. Such a way with words. Comments are closed.
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November 2024
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