Bishop Hill Arts Council Events

Midsommar Music Festival

Bishop Hill’s Midsommar Music Festival will return Saturday, June 27th with a strong line-up of musical performers.

Highlights of this free all-day event include Main Stage performances, Music Workshops; Open jamming, a Swedish Maypole celebration and Old-Fashioned Barn Dance at the Colony School in the evening.

Main Stage performances in the village park gazebo will begin at 11 am and end at 4 pm.

Main Stage activities will finalize after the maypole is decorated with flowers and an invitation from the VASA Lodge #683 to join in the maypole procession. The procession will begin in the park and end at the Colony School where visitors can join in the

Maypole dancing and have refreshments. Everyone is welcome.

Several musicians will offer music workshops in which visitors can hone their musical skills, learn new tunes and ideas, or just listen and enjoy. Bring your instruments for some excellent free musical jamming sessions, located throughout Bishop Hill. Visitors can pick up a program for more details at the information booth in the park.

This year’s line-up includes:

Ernie Sandquist, an expert Swedish Accordion player who has played throughout the Midwest for more than 50 years. He’s played for the last 8 years for Julfest in Rockford. Ernie grew up in Jokkmokk, Sweden, which is in the Lapland area of the Arctic Circle. Ernie will lead the Midsommar procession from the park to the Colony school. If anyone would like volunteer to join the maypole procession and play violin please call the Bishop Hill Heritage Association at 309-927-3899 or 927-375-6844.

Black Hawk Pipes and Drums is headquartered in the Quad Cities and affiliated with the Quad Cities Scottish American Society. Pipe Major is Peggy Lee and Lead Side Drummer is Debbie Ledbetter. Members of the pipe band come from the Quad Cities and surrounding communities. Uniforms are traditional Scottish attire, with the kilts being the Black Watch tartan. When appearing in parades or concerts, the band plays traditional Scottish bagpipe music and are always a hit.

Singer-songwriter Lee Murdock will provide a musical portrait of life on the Great Lakes with his concert of Great Lakes maritime music. Murdock is a renowned Midwestern musician who has released more than 10 recordings of folk and maritime music. Noted as a fluent instrumentalist on 6 and 12 string guitars, Murdock combines ragtime, Irish, blues and folk styles with his flair for storytelling in songs. Lee has uncovered a boundless body of music and stories in the Great Lakes. There is an amazing timelessness to this music. Great Lakes songs are made up of hard work, hard living, ships that go down and ships that come in.

The Mountain Men will debut at their first Midsommar festival. In the early 80’s, band member Rick Rosetto (banjo) took a family trip to Branson with long time friend Dave Lawson. Inspired by the music of the roving bluegrass groups, Rick built a mountain dulcimer. A few years later he bought a cheap banjo, some instruction books, and videos and set out to learn banjo. John Heffron a good friend from church encouraged Rick by patiently strumming along on guitar with simple tunes. John introduced Harvey Oltman (fiddle) and we had the beginnings of a bluegrass band. The Mountain Men have enjoyed playing Bluegrass/Gospel/Traditional music in the Chillicothe area since 1992. They started playing at small events and local churches in Chillicothe. “We really enjoy the mix of Gospel that is part of the origins of Bluegrass.” Most of the group is from the Chillicothe area. Rick, John and Harvey have been the core of the group and many others have played and sang with them over the years. Dave Lawson is the lead vocalist. Rick’s son Rich plays upright bass, Jill Zepeda joins in on vocals and guitar, Mike Denny plays a mean guitar and mandolin, and Brian Dupont stands in on bass. The group regularly performs in central Illinois festivals, churches and private events. For more information check out www.mountainmenmusic.com.

The Tony Hamilton Orchestra will debut at this year’s Midsommar event. They began in 2002 playing wonderful Big Band Music. “As we acquired more and more great arrangements, it has enabled us to focus on bringing this type of music to the Quad City area. Our goal is to renew interest in ballroom dancing and get the younger generation interested in this type of music.” Tony said.

The orchestra is set up like the Glen Miller Orchestra and the Count Basie orchestra (4 saxes, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, piano, bass and drums. This provides the full sound of those great orchestras. It will take you back 60 years.

EXORNA will be playing at this year’s Midsommar Music Festival. They are an authentic & energetic Celtic music trio from Ireland, England, & the US... with rich vocals & fiery rhythms from Victor McMullan on bodhran, spoons, bones, & snare..., flashy reels & jigs from Forrest Harris on fiddle, banjo, whistle, & accordion..., & dynamic and exciting sounds from Mark Butler on guitar. They are booked regularly for a variety of events & venues... including festivals, pubs, restaurants, weddings & private parties. With their wide variety of traditional music... from lively jigs & reels of Ireland & Scotland to traditional Irish pub songs, & with stops in England and the US along the way...Exorna has something for every music lover.

Heritage Folk Dancers of Bishop Hill have entertained diverse audiences from area grade schools to Swedish government officials. Their goal is to perpetuate Swedish culture for future generations and they do it with style and make it fun for all involved. Members of the Heritage Folk Dancers are also involved with the VASA Youth & Children’s Club.

The Rusty Pickup String Band will play for the barn dance later in the evening at the 1861 Colony School. They play “old timey” American tunes. They have been a main staple for years in the Midwest and very popular. "Monthly, in various halls in the central Illinois region, we hold old-time barn dances, featuring squares, circle mixers, contras, reels, waltzes, polkas and such,” Jim Hicks said. Suggested donation for the dance; $5.00 adults, $3.00 children, Family Max, $15.00

Music Workshop with the Templeton Family – The Templeton family of Lostant, IL specializes in traditional Bluegrass and Gospel. Their 8 home schooled children got interested in old time music from Dad and know and are friends with Mark Dvorak who has played throughout the years in Bishop Hill. They will play at the 18th Annual Threshermans Bluegrass Festival in Pontiac, IL in 2010. Their influences are Lester Flatt and Earl Skruggs, Mark Dvorak and many others.

The festival is co-sponsored by the Bishop Hill Heritage Association, Bishop Hill State Historic Site, Bishop Hill Old Settler’s Association, Bishop Hill Vasa Lodge #683, the Bishop Hill Arts Council and area businesses. It is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency and by the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation. The days’ activities are free! Donations are welcome. For directions and more info. visit www.bishophillartscouncil.com or www.bishophill.com For more information please call 309-927-3345 or 927-3899.