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This talented band performs
throughout Saturday bringing you nature-themed folk songs of
Michigan and America, lively quartet harmonies, some mighty wind
and their usual tomfoolery.
(click on the image for a larger
view)
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Sample some Blue
Water Ramblers music tracks from their Mason
Street Sessions CD |
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Track Title |
(.mp3) |
(.wma) |
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Standing On The Rock |
Listen |
Listen |
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Roseville Fair |
Listen |
Listen |
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Home Grown Tomatoes |
Listen |
Listen |
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All My Life's a Circle |
Listen |
Listen |
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The members of the
Blue Water
Ramblers have been delighting audiences throughout Michigan
and the Midwest for over 30 years. Banjo-Jim Foerch picked up
his first banjo 1965 and hasn't put it down since. He says
singing the songs of Michigan, America and our lives to all the
people they meet on tour is the best thing he's ever done.
"Everyone I ever met here in Michigan or around the Midwest is
proud of our home state and our country. Our songs express that
pride the best way we know how--by getting us all singing
together!"
Bear Berends holds down the rhythm with his big, black six and
twelve string guitars. "I wanted to sing with Banjo-Jim, so I
learned all his songs and taught him mine and here we are," he
explains. Whether delivering the lead line or harmonizing with
his solid baritone, Bear sculpts the Blue Water Ramblers'
sound.
Dave Bunce sparks up the bright tunes with his sizzling mandolin
and creates innovative harmonies on the vocals. Like Bear and
Banjo-Jim, Bunce has been entertaining allover the midwest since
his early twenties. "There's nothing I'd rather do than find a
good song, work it up with the boys and deliver it to an
enthusiastic audience," says Bunce.
California Dan Lynn moved to Michigan in 2000 after a great
career as a bassist in a bluegrass band touring allover the
Golden State. He missed picking and was intrigued to hear about
our Jam on the Grand in Augus4 2002. Dan showed up with his bass
and we jammed the day away. Just a few weeks later we were
looking for a stand-up guy who played stand-up bass and
California Dan said, "Yep." Now he's the rock steady foundation
of that Blue Water sound we Ramblers present.
The Blue Water Ramblers' repertoire comes right out of
their Michigan life experiences and the history of the Great
Lakes region. It includes lake shanties, lumberman ballads,
union rallying cries, farmers' paeans, Michigan humor, '60s
civil rights and protest music, love songs, gospel music and
children's ditties. Everyone agrees that these combine into a
versatile repertoire to the delight and entertainment of their
audiences. "I think my hero, Woody Guthrie, would approve,"
opined Banjo-Jim. "We're singing the people's songs about the
people's lives and they can join right in and sing along."
"Music is something you do with your friends," said Bear. "It's
great to sing on stage, but we also like to pick with people
whether we find them out in the parking lot or around the
campfire." Tom adds, "That's right. When we're harmonizing with
a pal's song or jamming out onfi of the old fiddle tunes, we
have created community in the best sense of the word!"
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