NM3 Live – News, Events, Stories & More!

by Brandon Johnson

Anybody who’s been unlucky enough to have a conversation with me about live music has probably heard me whining about our lack of a local indie music scene and bemoaning the fact that while I lived in Portland, OR, for three years, I had my pick any given night of a dozen indie bands to see: up-and-coming bands, well-established bands and everything in between.

Since moving back to Traverse City, I’ve been discouraged by the apparent lack of an indie music scene.  There seems to be plenty of bar bands (who play cover songs or may as well be) and plenty of sensitive singer-songwriters (who play cover songs or may as well be), but there is not much in the way of edgy, innovative music.  Really though, I should know better.  I should know that every town has an indie scene, no matter how small.

So I decided to try and find our local indie scene, starting where any self-respecting music fan would start: the local record store. Sound It Out Records, on Union Street, is the place to go if you’re looking to buy indie music; I figured it would also be the best play to find out where to see indie music. Continue reading →

January 23^rd – 7pm

Ruthie Foster has Southern blues in her groove.  She has rock in her rhythm.  Her voice is a blend of gospel redemption, country poetry and jazz elegance. Not until The Truth According to Ruthie Foster… Continue reading →

January 15^th – 7:30pm

If you have not been to a performance from Interlochen’s Jazz series, you are missing out on the North’s best kept secret for live jazz music.The next installment features Jallel Shaw playing an intimate show… Continue reading →

Interlochen Arts Academy

Friday, August 13  – 8pm

David Sanborn is one of the greatest saxophone players of all-time. Renowned the world over, his music has inspired countless other musicians.  His body of work spans the genres of rock ‘n’… Continue reading →

Godwin Jabangwe

The lights flickered on and off, the expectant audience took their seats. The room buzzed with the energy of a crowd who knew what was to come, and the zeal of those yet uninitiated to the experience.

Eric Bibb, in trademark hat, sauntered onto the stage to the tumultuous applause of a packed InsideOut Gallery. He grabbed his guitar, said hello and started with a joke.

“Tuning, like airplane maintenance, always worth it.” We all laughed, like nervous teenagers on a first date. I think the audience was more nervous than the man standing alone on the stage.

He strummed his acoustic guitar and took us all on a spiritual pilgrimage.

Continue reading →