BaseLine Folk Society

11/21/2024

It was another memorable night of song and cheer at the Baseline Folk Society Saturday evening. Host Rick Pitts stoked the crowd with his campfire tunes and cowboy wit. The sweet sound of his harmonica and guitar had listeners imagining they were out on the open range, but it wasn’t long before he had everyone in stiches over moose dropping near-misses!

Rick welcomed husband and wife duo Marty and Laura Kohn to the stage to share their latest collaborations. Their chemistry and clever lyrics charmed the room as they played for peace, for legends past and for the parking meter man that is doing his best. Alex Zakem also joined the stage for a little pickin’ and grinin’ on the banjo. The whole performance was such a hit, show-goers were calling “Encore!” Much to everyone’s delight, Marty and Laura weren’t monkeying around when they delivered a rousing rendition of their hilarious sing-along hit.

Join us next month on Saturday, December 21 for host Stephanie Sorenson and featured guests – mother daughter songstresses Cathy Miller and Julie Bengtsson. Until then, we wish you all a warm and fulFILLING Thanksgiving holiday 😊🦃🥧

11/05/2024

Our feature for November is the delightful duo of Marty and Laura Kohn. We have had the pleasure of having Marty and Laura on our stage many times over the years and they always leave us wanting more! Clever parodies and original songs mix well with Marty's fabulous arrangements of classic tunes, all enhanced by Laura's vocals and instrumental accompaniment. They will perform a 30 minute set beginning at 8:00 p.m.

November's host is Rick Pitts. Rick is a regular at BaseLine and we always love to hear his renditions of familiar songs and originals. Equipped with guitar, harmonica and cowboy hat, Rick knows how to entertain! With his easy manner and subtle sense of humor, Rick is a shoo-in for hosting! As host, he will sing two songs and introduce the performers throughout the evening.

10/20/2024

No seat went unfilled (on stage and off!) for a night of spooktacular talent! Host Maggie Zakem shared more of her story telling treasures, testing our memory skills with a cumulative sing along and a haunting tale fit for Halloween accompanied by banjo extraordinaire Alex Zakem.

At the Baseline, to raise the roof it takes a village, The Village Strings that is! Our featured guests transported the audience to eras past, from medieval times to turn of the century Appalachia, playing whimsical arrangements on the hammer dulcimer, fiddle, banjo, penny whistle and much more! Follow their page for updates about upcoming community performances you won’t want to miss.

We had an exceptional turn out for the open mic portion of the night…some new, some regulars, and some longtime friends we’ve missed. Whether heartfelt or humorous, your lyrics brought light to the human experience we all share in. Thank you to our performers and patrons for being with us for another night of musical kinship.

Join us November 16 for host Rick Pitts and darling duo Marty and Laura Kohn!

10/08/2024

Join host Maggie Zakem and featured guests The Village Strings for a rousing night of festive and traditional music that will take you back in time! Looking to take the stage and share your own talents? Be sure to sign up for open mic and enjoy performing for our welcoming listeners. See you soon!

10/08/2024

TRICK OR TREAT!!!

It's that time of year again when the ghosts and goblins, skeletons and ghouls (and the weather) are playing tricks on us. Well, rest assured we at BaseLine are all about treats; be they musical or edible!

We have the magical treat of being entertained by a myriad of talented musicians who bring their songs to share with us. But beware of the trick! Some of these songs will haunt you with their melodies and words into the wee hours under the moon and the stars. Then again, that bewitching reoccurrence could be a treat as well!

As for our edible treats...well, the ghoulish brownies and cookies will surely keep your skeletal figures from rattling!

We do hope the spirits will move you to join us on Saturday, October 19th, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for an evening of acoustic folk and traditional music. Donations are $7 at the door or annual memberships are available. A printable flyer is attached with details for your reference.

Our October host is our very own Maggie Zakem. Maggie has been involved with BaseLine for many years and is a member of the Board of Directors. Maggie's lovely guitar playing is second only to her sweet, lilting vocals. Folk music is very special to Maggie because it tells stories and has beautiful melodies. As host, Maggie will perform two songs and introduce the performers throughout the evening.

Featuring this October we have the ever delightful Village Strings returning to our stage! What a treat! A traditional music group, the Village Strings bring with them such talented musicians from southeastern Michigan playing a plethora of instruments. The featured instrument is the hammered dulcimer while being accompanied by mountain dulcimer, autoharp, dulciborn, lapjo, mandolin, fiddle, harmonica, penny whistle, concertina, tambourine, spoons, banjo, banjola, guitar and bass. Whew! They play a mix of Traditional, Celtic, Irish, Scottish and Folk music that keeps the tradition alive and will make you want to stomp your feet, clap your hands and maybe even dance a jig.

The fun will definitely be here and we hope you will be too!

Be well and be safe.
Cathy Miller
President, BaseLine Folk Society

09/23/2024

We had a wonderful time welcoming old friends and new to kick-off our 19th season. Baseline President Cathy Miller served as host, setting the tone for a fun-filled evening with her season opener favorite and a twist on an old familiar tune.

Cathy Wieland and Sarah Melton Keller joined voices as the evening’s feature. They showcased originals with snappy blues rhythms, sweet harmony and reflective lyrics about family, life’s hurdles and the ‘spirit’ of Michigan.

Thank you to all our performers for sharing your talents, and to our listeners for your support. See you next month for more fun and entertainment.

09/10/2024

08/26/2024

Greetings from BaseLine and Happy Summertime!

I wanted to reach out to you, our patrons and performers, before our 19th Season begins in September. I can't wait! It is such a treat to be part of the music and camaraderie that makes BaseLine what it is: a unique musical venue with hometown warmth.

The heart of BaseLine is made up of two of my greatest loves..music and friends. OK, three of my greatest loves...music, friends and cookies!

I would like to reflect on my introduction to BaseLine and maybe shed some light on who I believe we are and the tradition we want to continue. In 2007 I saw a little blurb in the Northville Community Ed brochure about monthly folk singing at the Art House. I got so excited! I couldn't believe there might be people out there like me who loved to strum and sing and share their love of music with their peers. So, I gathered up my courage and my guitar and took my "act" out of my family room and "on the road" to the Art House.

Well, let me tell you, I was not disappointed. I had the opportunity to play to a welcoming audience and to listen to performers sing from their heart. It was an awesome experience and I was hooked! I have been participating every month ever since. Oh, I don't always get to play but I always get the same warm feeling when I hear performers singing the special songs they want to share.

BaseLine moved from the Art House to Plymouth in 2009 to allow for more seating for our increasing number of followers. As you know, the seats are plentiful but we are still logistically limited to the amount of time we can spend together. We have two and a half hours from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. every third Saturday from September to May. Two and a half hours to be a part of a musical gathering that warms the cockles of your heart. The only thing better would be if we had all night...but we don't.

I have a favorite saying that goes like this: "You can't change the wind but you can adjust your sails." To enjoy BaseLine to the fullest, it may take some adjusting of our sails. We will always be able to participate in the enjoyment of acoustic folk and traditional music. We will always be able to show support for our fellow musicians. We won't always be able to perform every month but, by golly, the nights we can perform are something mighty special!

There is a method to filling our finite number of open mic spots to ensure variety and accommodate unique opportunities. The first claim on an open mic spot is for newcomers to BaseLine. We all know the courage it takes to bring what you have and present it in front of an audience for the first time so we need to make sure they have that chance. Next in line are those who have not performed in the previous month. Finally, if we have more performers than time allows, we have a lottery to fill the remaining spots. And that's how it works. We do what we can within the boundaries we are given. And it's all good!!

We hope to see you all in September to enjoy and participate in what we have to offer. Ours are the simple pleasures: we sing, we listen, we appreciate, we have fun!!

Be well and be safe.

Cathy Miller
President, BaseLine Folk Society

05/19/2024

Thank you everyone for coming out for our last baseline gathering of this season! We appreciate you all and look forward to seeing you in the fall! Have a blessed summer!
Terry Treppa did a great job hosting! And The Elderly Brothers +1 were wonderful!

05/08/2024

Greetings, BaseLine Family!

Here we are, all too soon, at the final BaseLine event for our 18th Season. Time truly does fly when you are having fun! We hope you have enjoyed being a part of our musical adventures and look forward to seeing you again in September when we launch our 19th Season.

Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote, "Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp,
but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." We hope you will come and sit down with us for a few hours and share in some happiness with an evening of acoustic folk and traditional music beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday May 18th at the Plymouth Arts Council. A printable flyer is attached for your reference.

Your host for May is Terry Treppa. Terry is back in Michigan from his winter sojourn to Arizona where he enjoys jamming and teaching harmonica and ukulele. He also plays the guitar and banjo. A Senior Catholic Priest, Terry helps out at St. Mary's in Wayne and St. Richard's in Westland. As host, Terry will sing two songs and introduce the evening's performers.

Featured this May is a folk-singing trio named The Elderly Brothers. Tom Lamb, Bryan Childs and Mike Day are members of this "elderly" trio who are in the prime of their life and enjoying performing ageless folk songs which have a timeless tenacity for being remembered and revered. I am fairly certain we will all want to sing along! They have been practicing hard and will present their well-rehearsed 30 minute program beginning at 8:00 p.m.

Thank you all for your loyalty and support in keeping our doors open for the appreciation of a much loved music genre that never gets old. For keeping alive the songs and stories of times and lives gone by...we thank all our musicians. Our sound technicians Dave and Tracey Drouillard have done a fantastic job of making all of us sound great and we totally appreciate their efforts. Finally, thank you to all the Board members who work together to bring an entertaining evening to you for nine months of the year. Thank you John Delle-Monache, Maggie Zakem, Karen Ludwig, Scott Ludwig, Julie Bengtsson and Sara Thompson. Great 18th Season!!!

We hope to see you on May 18th and we wish you a relaxing and memorable summer.

Be well and be safe.

Cathy Miller
President, BaseLine Folk Society