October 12—Stas Vanglevski and Misha Litvin are both musically stunning and have a wonderful stage presence and incredible rapport with the audience. Their music ranges from classical, to folk, to traditional. Stas plays the Bayan, a Russian version of the accordion. Misha is a master mandolinist and a master of the Domro (a Russian mandolin). Misha is a professor of mandolin at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. He is originally from Minsk, Belarus and holds a masters degree in orchestra conducting and music education. Stas has toured extensively as a soloist throughout the former Soviet Union, Canada, Europe, and the United States including numerous performances with Doc Severinsen, Steve Allen and with Garrison Keillor on the Prairie Home Companion Show. Additionally, Stas has performed with symphony orchestras throughout the United States. (www.stasv.com)

November 9—Corinne Rockow lives in Marquette and has performed in schools, nature centers, libraries, festivals, conferences, & coffeehouses across the Great Lakes region since 1984, accompanied by her "extended family" of guitar, banjo, bones, dulcimers, flutes, drums, accordion, recycled instruments---whatever makes interesting sounds! She has been trained and employed as a music therapist and K-8 music. She has been teaching Arts Integration courses for the Education Department for Northern Michigan University since 1999, UW's School of the Arts in Rhinelander since 1988 and is a touring Artist-in-Residence for the Wolf Trap Institute in Washington D.C. Corinne also enjoyed a stint touring Michigan State Parks for the Mich. Humanities Council's Summer Culture Tour with a lively program centered around the history & lore of the Finnish Sauna. All of this points to Corinne’s philosophy about being a musician and storyteller: the word "troubadour" has a root that means "finder of treasure", and this is the essence of what she strives to share as she travels. It helps us all remember who we are, where we come from, and offers a sense of direction and hope for the future. (www.corinnerockow.com)

December 14—The Augustine Family will headline the December event along with stage time to feature local young artists. The Augustines from L’Anse have been performing throughout Michigan and Wisconsin at many folk festivals and fairs. Henry, Laura, and their children Joe and Rebecca play and sings a pleasing variety of songs and play violin, hammered dulcimer, percussion rhythm instruments, guitars, mandolin banjo and upright bass.

January 11—Bryan Bowers is a master autoharp player and traditional songster and has been a major presence on the North American folk music scene since the mid–1960s. He is a powerful singer and a gifted performer and is a returning favorite to the Second Sunday Folk Dance stage. For nearly three decades, Bryan Bowers has been to the autoharp what Earl Scruggs was to the five-string banjo. He presents instrumental virtuosity combined with warmth, eloquence, expression and professionalism. Bowers has been described by the Houston Post as one of the finest all-around entertainers on the folk and bluegrass circuit and a person who is a national treasure. (www.bryanbowers.com)

February 8—Chulrua music is the old instrumental dance melodies of Ireland: jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas, and the occasional song. They also play walking marches, slow airs, set dances, and the harp music of Turlough O'Carolan and others. Chulrua concerts are in keeping with the old tradition—music in a relaxed, intimate atmosphere, and tunes offered as they were handed down from generation to generation in Ireland. Together the members have almost 70 years of experience performing at community fairs and festivals, colleges and universities, folk clubs, and a variety of other venues—doing concerts, workshops, dances, and school residencies all over the United States.

Button accordion icon Paddy O'Brien has amassed a veritable hoard of rare versions of tunes and stories gleaned from more than forty years of patiently seeking out and spending time with older musicians throughout Ireland. A native of County Offaly in the Midlands of Ireland, Paddy is is revered by Irish music aficionados worldwide. Fiddle player Patrick Ourceau was born and raised in France, settled in New York City in 1989 and is now based in Toronto, Canada. Although he is mostly self-taught, Patrick’s fiddle playing has been greatly influenced and shaped by the music of the great Co. Clare and East Co. Galway musicians he has been in contact with over the years—from his many visits to Ireland and frequent meetings with fiddle players Paddy Canny and Peter O’Loughlin, but also from the great musicians living in New York City, particularly flute player Jack Coen from Woodford in Co. Galway. Pat Egan is becoming a recognized force on the contemporary folk scene. A native of Tipperary, Pat grew up singing and playing, and has been a professional musician since 1985. He served his apprenticeship with the Dublin groups Old Bawn and De Min, and has since been a member of Idle Wall, and the Mayo-based traditional group Sheeaun. He has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, in the U.S., Ireland, and abroad. (www.chulrua.com)

March 8—Mustard's Retreat is Michaele Hough and David Tamulevich, who have played together as a duo since 1974. Starting out at the famous Ark coffeehouse in Ann Arbor they have played some 3,000 shows and created several recordings over the past 28 years. Most recently their shows are taking them to prestigious places such as the Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap. Both are wonderful singers and songwriters who are known for close and intense harmonies and rippling guitar work. (www.mustardsretreat.com)

April 19 (NOTE: 3rd Sunday because of Easter)—Sparky and Rhonda Rucker have performed throughout the U.S., singing songs and telling stories from the American tradition. Internationally acclaimed Sparky Rucker has been performing over forty years and is recognized as a leading folklorist, musician, historian, storyteller, and author. Sparky accompanies himself on guitar, banjo, and spoons, and has released over eleven recordings. Rhonda Rucker is an accomplished harmonica and piano player, and also adds vocal harmonies to their songs. She has developed her own unique style of playing harmonica, which complements their music, whether they are playing railroad songs, Appalachian music, blues, slave songs, Civil War music, gospel, work songs, cowboy music, ballads, or Sparky Rucker's original compositions. Sparky and Rhonda hail from Tennessee and this will be their second Second Sunday Folk Dance appearance. (www.sparkyandrhonda.com)

A Message from White Water