Tracy Beck in the Park
Folk, Country & Americana
Wednesday, August 1, 3:00 pm - Downtown Sister Bay

“Let the wind carry me into the sun as an eagle soars,”
is a poem emerging from Tracy’s present and up coming CD releases as a recording artist. Although this singer/songwriter is based out of southeastern Wisconsin, a lot of her songs reflect her love of the outdoors, and the mountains she fell in love with while living out west and spending time in Montana.

Her music journey began in the fourth grade when she was given a recorder and the opportunity to choose an instrument. She chose the saxophone and stayed with it until her love of poetry and writing led her to the acoustic guitar.

Tracy has played a variety of venues; festivals such as Bastille Days and Summerfest in Milwaukee, county fairs, small café’s such as Side Walk Café’ in New York to Café’ Lena in Saratoga Springs, and several home venues in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Unpredictability is an essential part of Tracy’s music. What sets her music composition apart is her eclectic style. Tracy is a wonderful blend of folk, Americana, blues, and roots music. Her unique vocals combined with infectious hook lines and ever-changing musical moods will take you on a memorable emotional journey. This is very evident in her new release, “Into the Sun;” she dabbles in a variety of colors and textures in her vocal approach, delivering a rough edge, or a soft vocal touch.

Some of her influences are Rickie Lee Jones, Joni Mitchell, Robinella, John Denver, Allison & Krause, Bob Seger, and The Eagles. At her performances she plays the acoustic guitar and harmonica. Beside her is her percussionist and back up vocalist Darnell Ellis, whose brush work is as incredible to watch as their harmonies and performance are to listen to.

Be sure to catch Tracy’s performance at Sister Bay Concerts In The Park Wednesday at 3 pm. To purchase her latest CD, “Let the Wind Carry Me,” go to www.tracybeck.com or pick up your copy at the concert.

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TRACY BECK

Wednesday, August 1, 2006 - 3:00 - Beach Park Pavilion

Sponsors:
COUNTRY HOUSE RESORT
DR. THOMAS MAHEW DDS
DOOR COUNTY ADVOCATE
NORTH SHORE BANK

 

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TODAY
Wednesday, July 25

Hey everyone. I went to the opening night of Jazz at Birch Creek last Wednesday and it was amazing! The Lab Band, which will be performing at the park on Wednesday had been together for less than 3 full days and they sounded like pros! I’m really looking forward to hearing them this week after being together for 10 days. It’s going to be good!
Gregg
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Birch Creek is a music school by day and a performance venue in the evenings, offering over 35 concerts throughout the summer months in the campus’ historic concert barn east of Egg Harbor. Birch Creek offers four two-week resident sessions in Symphony, Percussion and Steel Band, and Big Band Jazz (two sessions). Students range in age from 13-19, and are given the unique opportunity to perform alongside their instructors, whose credentials include performing with such impressive groups as the Minnesota and Chicago Symphonies, the Eastman School of Music, and the Count Basie and Frank Sinatra Jr. Orchestras. Birch Creek Music Performance Center is a unique summer music school and concert venue located on Wisconsin’s beautiful Door County peninsula. For more than a quarter of a century, Birch Creek has been summer home to outstanding young musicians and some of the country’s top performers and music educators, who teach by day and perform by night in the rural campus 500-seat concert hall.
Birch Creek’s Jazz program offers students a unique learning experience at levels of jazz performance not found in most other jazz programs in America. The program gives students an effective combination of experiences to help them master the fundamentals of jazz while establishing professional attitudes by playing side-by-side with some of today’s top performers and educators. The Birch Creek program provides an environment not found on large lecture-style campuses – our small size and busy concert schedule challenge each student, whatever his or her level, to learn and perform at a pace found on the professional music scene.
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Big Band Jazz I
Wednesday, July 25, 2006 - 3:00 - Beach Park Pavilion

Sponsors:
DOOR COUNTY BAKERY
DOOR REMINDER
ECOLOGY SPORTS
FRED & FUZZY’S
GOING GARBAGE & RECYCLING
HELM’S FOUR SEASONS RESORT

 

 Birch Creek Jazz Track 2 [2:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

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The Dang-Its
Wednesday, July 18, 3:00 pm - Downtown Sister Bay
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There’s country, and then there’s country. For The Dang-Its, country music means those roots and branches, those nutrients and life blood of a vital American art form that rarely make an appearance in the mainstream of popular culture. Honky Tonk, Western Swing, Americana, Folk, Bluegrass, Alt-Country, Singer-Songwriter, Cajun. These are the roots and branches from which The Dang-Its take their inspiration.
Since 1998 The Dang-Its have merged these diverse genres to create their own unique sound. Based in Madison WI, the group has won or placed in nearly every reader’s choice poll since its inception. Equally at home on a concert stage or club, The Dang-Its exhibit an easy rapport with audiences and an unmistakable joy for the music. Noted for their unusually broad repertoire, The Dang-Its move easily from a Johnny Cash classic to a contemporary alt-country look at the modern world, from a comical study of love (or lost love), to emotionally gripping observations about life, loss and true heartache.
Guitarist and singer Tom Waselchuk brings a diverse background to The Dang-Its. His career includes work in jazz and swing, bluegrass and folk. Tom is the band’s principal song writer and front-man on stage, where he adds a relaxed charm and wit to his obvious technical abilities and love of the music. Co-fronting the group is vocalist, acoustic guitarist, and 5-string banjo player Sheila Voss. Her extensive background in bluegrass along with the strong, mountain-air purity of her voice make Sheila a powerhouse performer. (Tom and Sheila’s duet harmony singing is the equal of any in the business!). Rick Nass plays pedal steel guitar and brings an extra dimension to the band: his steel guitar features a “synth” set-up, which allows him to faithfully mimic the sound of scores of other instruments, from piano and accordion to cello and pan flute. Among other things, this allows Rick to duplicate on stage parts played by guest artists on the group’s studio recordings. Drummer Mark Luhring anchors The Dang- Its’ rhythm section with years of wide ranging professional experience, from Broadway and jazz to pop and rock. BiL Solomon is the group’s bassist and vocalist. BiL (sic) has performed a wide array of music in the course of his far-flung travels, and his unique wit (not to mention wardrobe) make him an entertaining foil for Tom and Sheila.

Be sure to catch The Dang-Its performance at Sister Bay Concerts In The Park Wednesday at 3 pm. To purchase their latest CD, “Our Way,” go to www.dang-its.com or pick up your copy at the concert.
For information contact Gregg Luhring - 920-246-6917

THE DANG-ITS
Wednesday, July 18, 2006 - 3:00 - Beach Park Pavilion

Sponsors:
PHEASANT PARK RESORT
PORTSIDE BUILDERS
PROPERTIES OF DOOR COUNTY
SCANDIA VILLAGE
SCANDINAVIAN LODGE
SISTER BAY BOWL
THE VIKING GRILL AND LOUNGE

 

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Steel Band and World Percussion from Birch Creek Music Center!

Wednesday, July 11

Birch Creek is a music school by day and a performance venue in the evenings, offering over 35 concerts throughout the summer months in the campus’ historic concert barn east of Egg Harbor. Birch Creek offers four two-week resident sessions in Symphony, Percussion and Steel Band, and Big Band Jazz (two sessions). Students range in age from 13-19, and are given the unique opportunity to perform alongside their instructors, whose credentials include performing with such impressive groups as the Minnesota and Chicago Symphonies, the Eastman School of Music, and the Count Basie and Frank Sinatra Jr. Orchestras. Birch Creek Music Performance Center is a unique summer music school and concert venue located on Wisconsin’s beautiful Door County peninsula. For more than a quarter of a century, Birch Creek has been summer home to outstanding young musicians and some of the country’s top performers and music educators, who teach by day and perform by night in the rural campus 500-seat concert hall.

The Steel Band and World Percussion program is considered to be one of the most comprehensive summer education experiences for the young percussionist/drummer. Through hands-on experience in performance, small-group instruction, and master classes, the program provides an excellent working knowledge of all the instruments and styles essential for today’s percussionist. The Birch Creek program provides an environment not found on large lecture-style campuses – our small size and busy concert schedule challenge each student, whatever his or her level, to learn and perform at a pace found on the professional music scene.

Steel Band and World Percussion
Wednesday, July 11, 2006 - 3:00 - Beach Park Pavilion

Sponsors:
3W DESIGN GROUP
ACTION ELECTRIC
AL JOHNSON’S SWEDISH RESTAURANT
AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE
AZURE MENSWEAR
BAY SHORE TRAVEL

 

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Sorry to say that the July 4th concert with the wonderful Vicky Emerson (and only 4 songs into her show) was washed out by a sudden downpour.

Unbeknownst to Vicky, as she started to play to a welcoming crowd and a sunny sky to the east, we watched her start the show as the menacing storm clouds came up behind her from the west over the water. We heard a buzz through the crowd that the weather service had just released a maritime warning and then we watched as 50 boats rushed to beat the storm and get into the Sister Bay marina.

While Vicky played her piano, sang, told stories and joked around with the audience, she finally realized something was up as people hastily grabbed their chairs, packed up their blankets and ran for the parking lot.

Barb & I and some brave audience members helped Vicky quickly pack it up and get her piano, guitar & sound system into her vehicle before we were totally soaked. 10 minutes later as we were drying off at home and Vicky was on the road back to Minneapolis, the sun came out and we didn’t see another drop of rain for the rest of the day.

I was really looking forward to her show. Vicky has recently moved herself to New York from Minneapolis (via Elmwood, WI - UFO Capital of the Midwest) she’s back to Minnesota this summer to do some touring and to record a new album at a studio near Minneapolis. We were lucky to be able to get her again this year because of her touring and recording but we may not be so lucky in the future. You can keep track of her skyrocketing career and get yourself copies of all her CDs at vickyemerson.com.

Gregg