The Michigan State Fair, LLC, presented by Ram Trucks, is all about celebrating Michigan’s great abundance of tremendous resources and famous exports…Agriculture, Automobiles –and MUSIC! The 2018 Michigan State Fair will be open Thursday, August 30 through- Monday September 3 at the Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave in Novi. Advance Tickets are on sale now at all Southeast Michigan Kroger stores and at www.MichiganStateFairLLC.com.
The Michigan Music Mega Jam will be Monday, September 3 at 1:00 PM on the Ascension Main Stage…Attention! Long Post Alert!! It takes a whole lot of words to effectively describe all this musical talent!! 😉 Just don’t miss this jam!!
The fourth annual Monday Michigan Mega Jam, now presented by Three Chord Bourbon and WOMC Detroit 104.3 FM will joyfully honor the state’s diverse musical legacy–with a sparkling multi-genre All-Star cast for 2018. Featuring shining Michigan stars Laura Rain and The Caesars, Carolyn Striho , 2017 State Fair Superstars The Gasoline Gypsies, Brandon Calhoon, Nique Love Rhodes & The NLR Experience, Al Bettis Music, Ideeyah, with host/emcee Nadir Omowale, all anchored by the stellar foundation of Detroit own THE BROTHERS GROOVE (Chris Codish, keyboards, JamesSimonson, bass, and Skeeto Valdez, drums, wsg Wayne Gerard on guitar).
Three Chord Bourbon is an exciting new beverage produced in Michigan, just launched in June statewide, as well as in New York and California. Three Chord is a collaborative effort led by multiple Grammy Award winning musician, producer and film composer Neil Giraldo. “We are so delighted to welcome new Michigan Megajam presenting sponsor Three Chord Bourbon, says State Fair Executive Director Steve Masters, “Their deep roots in the music industry and dedication to delivering a high quality product blend perfectly with our mission to present an amazing and unique musical experience at the Michigan State Fair Megajam!” Three Chord founding partner Neil Giraldo has worked with some of the greatest artists in music, including Pat Benatar, John Waite, Rick Derringer, Kenny Loggins and many more. Three Chord Bourbon gets its vanilla, caramel and maple soaked notes from a proprietary process they call “Perfectly Tuned Taste” which finishes the bourbon with sound…tonal vibrations. The name is also rooted in music as “Three Chords” are the roots of the blues and the 1-4-5 chord progression.
Three Chord is proud to produce their products in Michigan, and also proud to support music based non- profit organizations such as the Megajam at the Michigan State Fair, LLC.
“The annual mission of this All-Star Michigan Mega Jam Revue performance is to showcase and celebrate the amazing depth and wide spectrum of musical talent that Michigan has to offer, for the world at large,” says Mega Jam producer and host Nadir Omowale. “Michigan truly has such a uniquely diverse musical heritage and an incredibly talented music community, and here at home, we tend to take this for granted. Choose any genre. From rock to hip hop, to jazz, to soul, country and techno, Michigan boasts so many powerful artists, it’s nearly impossible to name them all. Our annual mission is to honor and celebrate an array of these legendary artists, and songwriters, through the decades, and also show off some of the best current artists the state has to offer. These same performers also happen to be widely regarded as some of the most talented in the world, in their respective genres.”
These glittering artists, each a star in their own musical galaxy, will be backed this year by The Brothers Groove, the stellar All-Star house band, the MegaJam cast will perform both original songs and classics by favorite Michigan artists and songwriters, spanning various genres from Motown to Rock to Gospel.
Carolyn Striho has been defying musical genres and creating music in punk, folk, rock and roll, jazz, blues as a singer/songwriter, musician and performer for many years. Her dynamic concerts, full of passion and creativity make Carolyn a regular on the festival circuit, across the Midwest and Canada, also touring in the UK, Italy, and Japan.
Her super high energy shows often include Striho playing keyboard with the heel of her boot or her forehead; she deftly switches between guitar and keys while belting out vibrant vocals. It’s not merely about the music with Carolyn, it is a full body representation of her art and soul .
Backing up her original songwriting with amazing performances for years has earned Carolyn national and international respect. She is highly regarded on the Michigan Music scene, and has been honored by the Detroit Music Awards as Outstanding Rock/Pop Songwriter in 2015 & 2016, Outstanding Acoustic/Americana Album in 2014, Outstanding Rock/Pop Album in 2010 and more.
Laura Rain and the Caesars transform funky Soul and R&B into something fresh and unexpected with their own unique vision. Inspired by the spirit of classic recordings of a bygone era, Laura Rain creates her own environment of expression with a powerful and soulful voice. The band was formed in the Motor City in 2012, with her husband George Friend, and the pair set off on a creative journey, writing and recording their own music. The two garnered many accolades from music press and radio with their debut release “Electrified” in 2013. Performing with a stripped down lineup of organ, guitar and drums, the band developed it’s signature sound, and cultivated a vintage toned energetic foundation.
Beginning in 2014, the band began touring heavily within the U.S. and Canada. Starting in Chicago with regular appearances at the House of Blues and Buddy Guy’s Legends, Laura Rain has stunned audiences with her intensity and powerful voice. Performing in over 25 states from California to New York, the band has delighted audiences with their dynamic performances. Featured at the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, Marquette Area Blues Festival, Edmonton Blues Festival, the Legendary Blues Cruise and many other top tier clubs and festivals, Laura Rain and the Caesars continue to grow making new friends and fans along the way.
Brandon Calhoon, a native son of Beaverton, MI, came to early fame as a finalist on the hit CBS reality TV show Rock Star: INXS in 2005. Since then, his career trajectory has expanded to embrace both the Rock and Country music genres, with several popular releases recorded in Detroit, northern Michigan and Nashville, and further forays into providing soundtracks for several television series (Battle Creek, Justified, Backcountry Quest) as well as commercial campaigns for Chevrolet, the MLB Network and Red Bull International. His 2010 song, Detroit City, became a local pride anthem of sorts, and he has since attracted multiple nominations from the Detroit Music Awards for Outstanding Rock Vocalist. Brandon spent much of 2017 in Nashville, writing and recording his most recent release, Let It Ride, with Grammy Award winning writer/producer Jim “Moose” Brown. Brandon will be performing across the U.S this fall with experiential marketing firm EEI of Rochester Hills, representing Ram Trucks at select Harvest celebration events.
The Gasoline Gypsies, of Port Huron, serve up rollicking, genre-transcending Blue Water Michigan Rock & Roll, delivered by four guys who clearly love their craft. With three part vocal harmonies, driving guitar and bass riffs, the songs are powerful and intense, yet simple and pure. The Gypsies are soon to release their most recent effort, “Vagabundos!” following a year full of accolades including being deemed one of the “Three Best Unsigned Bands in the USA” by JBL, 2018 WDIV Local 4 Best Original Rock Band in Metro Detroit, and Grand Prize Winners of the 2017 Michigan State Fair Superstar contest. The Gypsies also recently took home two Detroit Music Awards for Outstanding Americana Group and for Outstanding Americana Recording, for their 2017 release, Killin’ Time.
Ideeyah: Defining her style as a funky creation influenced by electronic, soul and funk, you can find Ideeyah zoning out to a plethora of genres from Alice Coltrane to Zap Mama. Her on-stage presence captures attention and easily turns spectators into believers as she exudes an aura of love from her microphone into the amplifiers. Ideeyah’s craft has garnered her mass appeal from her peers in the music world summoned upon to open up for/ perform alongside the likes of Jessica Care Moore, Monica Blaire, Joi, Erykah Badu, Nona Hendryx, Norma Jean Bell (Prince), Divinity Roxx (Beyoncé), Waajeed (Platinum Pied Pipers), Theo Parrish, Talib Kweli, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Dwele, Zo!, and Amp Fiddler. She is currently touring with her debut solo album, BRAVE.
Al Bettis proves that it’s never too late to follow your passion. Inspired at age 30, this self-taught singer-songwriter learned to play guitar and compose music. Al blends sounds of folk, jazz, and soul in a way that defies any one genre. Quickly attracting attention and making an impact, his debut single “It Is Beautiful” reached local top 10 countdowns in 2014. Gaining even more accolades for his live performances, he achieved the runner-up spot in the 2017 Michigan State Fair Superstar competition. Al Bettis recently released his new single “The One That Got Away” and is currently working on a new EP titled Hard Love.
Nique Love Rhodes is a hip-hop artist/performer, record producer, social entrepreneur, and community advocate from Detroit, Michigan with the mission to set souls on fire and contribute positive vibes in the world one song at a time. Inspired by artists such as Bob Marley and U2, Nique Love Rhodes creates music that elevates positive vibrations within the universal collective conscience, promotes social consciousness and social responsibility, and inspires people to affect positive change in the world.
With her self-released debut album, Against All Odds, Nique infuses her songs with messages of hope, unity, spirituality, and calls to action for social change as seen in songs such as “Love Heals All” and “Rise Up,” which was licensed for use by the NFL Network and the Detroit Lions. In 2013, Nique was nominated for two Detroit Music Awards. Her music is galvanized by her bold, energetic, and empowering live show. Backed by her band The NLR Experience, her interactive shows fuse hip-hop music with soul, rock, and jazz to create a dynamic live musical experience. This is sonically captured in the band’s most recent project, a live album titled the NLR Experience, which is currently available on all streaming platforms.
The Brothers Groove are perhaps most conveniently described as a jazz funk trio with bluesy, soulful vocals. Their music exudes a sly, savvy funkiness sprinkled with unique characters, harmonies, and ideas. Chris Codish (keyboard/vocals) has penned colorful songs that he paints in smoky hues with his intimate baritone while James Simonson (bass) and Skeeto Valdez (drums) lay down a rock solid pocket underneath (both are also explosive, dynamic soloists in their own right).
Held in very high regard, special guest Wayne Gerard combines his mastery of the guitar with his love for production and composition to produce the total package. With numerous recordings and productions under his belt, he has also toured and performed with the likes of Bob James, Stevie Wonder, Angela Bofill, Warren Hill, Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor and many others. He has scored 10 feature length and short films as well as providing music for numerous film trailers and commercials.
Host/Producer Nadir Omowale doesn’t have time to be satisfied. There is far too much life to be lived.
The fourteen-time Detroit Music Award winner and former MTV News correspondent is driven by an impassioned activism. His music is influenced by funk, but don’t call Nadir a funk revivalist. His understanding of rock, R&B, hip hop, and jazz takes funk to a most Nadir-centric next step; a Southern born, and Detroit raised sound that doesn’t fit in traditional boxes…
…just like this extra special, amazingly unique, one time only MICHIGAN MEGAJAM, Monday Sept 3 at the Michigan State Fair!!
The 2018 Michigan Mega Jam, presented by Three Chord Bourbon and WOMC, FM 104.3
Monday, September 3, 1-4 PM at the Michigan State Fair, Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi!
Tickets on sale now at all Southeast Michigan Kroger locations and at
www.MichiganStateFairLLC.com
