Charlevoix & Beaver Island

The last leg of the Michigan / Canada Summer Island Tour was simply incredible.  The Switchback van, at 300,000+ miles complained a bit as we neared the home of the Colonel.  As luck would have it, though, a phone call got the van in for repair and the Colonel's van ready for our gear.  Then it was on to Charlevoix for the kickoff of the Venetian Festival concert! Charlevoix has a beautiful new band shell on the shore of Lake Michigan, and it was a beautiful evening for a great concert! Switchback took the stage before an audience numbering well over a thousand, and enjoyed meeting many new fans after the show! After storms in Charlevoix preceding the concert, we were unable to secure a strong Internet connection to broadcast live on the web, but that did not curb the enthusiasm of the crowd (or the band!).  After a wonderful dinner of fresh Whitefish, we strolled the main street of Charlevoix, then headed out to the Gallagher family farm, our "home base" in Charlevoix for this trip. The next day was a "day off" and with very limited cell phone service, no Internet, and no TV or radio, we simply enjoyed the company of our hosts Kevin and Annelies, and Kevin joined Switchback in creating music for the Irish mass at the Michigan Irish Music Festival in September.  A lovely, peaceful day at the farm, then back to the Colonel's for a BBQ with friends.  It was another beautiful northern Michigan evening, which culminated in an impromptu front porch concert featuring Switchback, Kevin, vocalist Stephanie O'Dell, and Syzygy guitarist Sam Naples. A perfect evening, then back to the Gallagher's to prepare for the trip to Beaver Island in the morning.  The Beaver Island Community Center is a wonderful facility for the residents of the island, with an Internet cafe, a snack bar, and a really great theater.  We got in, set up and sound checked quickly then were given a tour of the island before going to the beautiful home of  our hosts, Beth and Joddy.  Beth and Joddy came to the island from Milwaukee when they won land in a $5.00 raffle!  We loved spending time with them, talking about music (they have a full recording studio in their home!) and the road of life we all travel down.  Then it was time for the concert and what a time it was!   As this was Switchbacks third concert on the island, it was fun to see old aquaintences and friends who had come out for the show.  The audience was warm and appreciative.  The intimate setting made it perfect for songs done off mic and a nice conversation between performers and audience.  And we all thought the thunderclap between verses of Danny Boy was some fine showmanship on the part of ...God!  And I think the islanders may have second place sewn up in the ongoing "Twister-Dog-Barking-Competition"!  It was uplifting to meet so many new fans after the concert, then back to Beth and Joddy's for some food and conversation well into the night.  The next day it was back on the morning ferry to the mainland, with our dear Cornelia waiting at the docks to see us off as we headed back to Chicago. The drive south was somewhat bittersweet....knowing it will be a long time before we see many of the wonderful friends we were leaving....knowing that life is full of surprises, and remembering the great times we had over the past two weeks made it so. But next week it's on to Iowa, then the Rondezvous and Gloamin' Fest...and next summer in Michigan will be just as sweet.  (pictures are from the Beaver Island Concert-- we really weren't kidding!)