| A little more than 20 years ago, on a cold November evening, a small group of Door County visitors and residents gathered at a local inn, enjoying the first of what has become a popular tradition: monthly winter folk concerts. During this time, more than 55 talented folk singers and songwriters from all over the country have performed at the White Gull Inn.
The concerts were conceived by the Innkeeper Andy Coulson, a banjo player himself and lover of traditional and contemporary folk music. Coulson was frustrated by the lack of live entertainment during the long quiet Door County winters. The first concerts were loosely based on the "house concert" concept, in which traveling folk musicians, often on tight budgets and in need of work, are invited into the homes of fans along the route of their travels. The fans provide the musician with food and lodging in return for a concert to a small group of friends, often right in their living rooms. A collection at the door goes to the artist to help defray expenses.
The house concert circuit has provided work and travel expenses for generations of singers and brought folk music to many rural areas that are too small to otherwise provide such entertainment. "I wasn't sure who would come to a concert on a weekday in winter in Fish Creek," Coulson recalls thinking in the beginning. "But we had plenty of room and board , and figured that we had nothing to lose. At the very least, we'd have some quality folk music in Fish Creek."
In the beginning, it was not easy finding artists willing to come so far for such a small turnout. However, as word got around, more and more musicians decided that a "working holiday" in the quiet beauty of the Door Peninsula was worth the trek to the north country. The series has gradually been able to attract in more and more well known performers, such as Anne Hills, Chris Smither, Tom Paxton and Cheryl Wheeler, many of whom normally play in much larger halls.
The pre-concert dinners, now almost as popular as the concerts, were added in recent years at the request of local residents. White Gull chefs responded by offering an optional fixed price dinner, served at 6 pm for each concert.
Concert tickets are $14.00-$16.00 and can be purchased at the door, although most concerts are sold out, so advance ticket purchase and reservations for the pre-concert dinners are recommended. You may purchase tickets at the White Gull front desk, or you can do it by phone, using a credit card.
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
For decades Don Stiernberg has been known throughout the country for his virtuosity on the mandolin, and his equally impressive talents on the guitar and as a singer. Today considered the country’s premier jazz mandolinist, Don was a teenager when he found his direction in life, meeting the late Jethro Burns for mandolin lessons. Later, as a member of The Jethro Burns Quartet, he was able to share the stage with such luminaries as Chet Atkins, Steve Goodman, and The Newgrass Revival. Don will be joined this concert by jazz guitarist Andy Brown on guitar and Jim Cox on bass for an evening of vintage Stiernberg jazz, interspaced with bluegrass, folk and western swing. Tickets: $15
Optional Pre-concert dinner served at 6 PM. Menu: Braised pork loin chop with red wine, tomatoes and herbs, au gratin potatoes, spinach salad with pears, walnuts and a warmed cider bacon vinaigrette. Pumpkin pie with brandied whip cream for dessert. $18.95
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The Washington Post says, “as songwriters, Neal & Leandra have clearly mastered the art of saying more with less.” The Minneapolis Star Tribune says ‘listening to Leandra Peak’s distinctively husky and lustrous voice might be as heavenly as listening to angels” and “Neal Hagberg writes inspired originals.” The simplicity and directness of their songs is both disarming and elegant. The songs are layered with textures of everyday life and love. This – combined with their remarkable blend and funny stories – connects people’s own experiences in a way that keeps them coming back. Tickets: $15
Optional Pre-concert dinner served at 6 PM. Menu: Grilled Beef Tenderloin with a port chestnut reduction sauce, horseradish mashed potatoes, sautéed vegetables, winter greens salad with shaved fennel, red onions and a honey mustard vinaigrette. Cranberry pie for dessert. $19.95
Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
What can we say about the Berrymans that we haven’t already, other than they have been regulars on our series since the beginning, kicking off their first national tour of each year with a White Gull performance, and who: • “Had our first band (a folky band) in high school in 1964. • Had our second band (a jug band) in college in 1966. • Had our brief third and fourth bands in 1969 and 1971. • Were married to each other in 1967. • Had a five year honeymoon in Canada. • Got a divorce in 1974. • Started playing weekly at the Club de Wash in Madison in 1977. • Became a full-time musical duo in 1977. • Finished playing weekly at the Club de Wash in 1987. • Recorded our first of twelve original albums in 1980.”
To which we’ll add: amazing songwriters, insightful, funny and very entertaining. Oh, and the only group we’re featuring this year (or any year for that matter) that accompanies themselves on the 12-string guitar and piano accordion. Tickets: $15
Optional Pre-concert Dinner served at 6 PM. Menu: Italian sausage lasagna with charred tomatoes and roast garlic, sundried tomato parmesan Focaccia, Classic Caesar salad, Chocolate gelato for dessert. $18.95
Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Steppin’ In It is a band that plays roots music with the homey feel of old timey country, swing music and the blues. The Michigan -based group features the guitar and vocals of Josh Davis, Joe Wilson on steel guitar, dobro and trombone, and upright bassist Dominic John Suchyta. It all adds up to a sound that's as comfortable with folk and bluegrass elements as it is with the finger-snapping R&B of Louis Jordan. Rachael Davis’ songs are drifting, longing things with elements nicked from both folk and pop — guided always by her bright, clear vocals. When Rachael performs with Steppin' In It as Shout Sister Shout, the music is a tribute to the smoky, sophisticated sound of 1930s and '40s jazz, with plenty of influence from Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nat "King" Cole Trio and Sarah Vaughan, and it's a trip to hear Davis channel those old greats. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have a bunch of guys playing the heck out of vintage instruments as backup.
Optional Pre-Concert Dinner served at 6 PM. Menu: Chicken, shrimp & andouille sausage jambalaya with basmati rice and corn bread, mixed greens salad with tomatoes and spiced zucchini in a citrus chile vinaigrette. Pecan pie for dessert. $18.
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Singer-songwriter Jeff Black is a burly, bare-knuckled, blue-collar son of the Missouri plains with dark Irish blood who digs into tough topics with a gentle heart. There’s nothing predictable about a Jeff Black lyric other than it will be sung robustly and it will head
towards hope instead of dwell on despair. In his four albums, Black has collaborated with everyone from rock experimentalists Wilco to Americana favorite Iris Dement
to progressive bluegrass stalwart Sam Bush.
“Black is an artist of substance,” wrote Billboard in a review that compared his piano ballads to
Randy Newman and his rockers to Bruce Springsteen. As anyone who’s seen his moving, funny, and unpredictable concerts already knows, Black never plays the same show twice, responding to the moment and to the unique collection of people on any given night.
Optional Pre-concert Dinner served at 6 PM. Menu: Chicken Marsala with shitake mushrooms, green onions, and linguine, garlic herb Focaccia, spring greens salad, rhubarb torte for dessert. $18.95
Folk Musicians Previously Featured at the White Gull
Date: 1985-2009
Musicians who have appeared in the White Gull folk concert series in the 24 seasons since its inception in 1985: Tom Paxton, Cheryl Wheeler, John McCuen, Bob Gibson, Chris Smither, Michael Smith, Bill Miller, Fred Alley, Vance Gilbert, Neal & Leandra, Lou and Peter Berryman, Michael Johnson, Garnet Rogers, Pat Donohue, Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, Joel Mabus, David Mallett, Suzzy and Maggie Roche, Cindy Mangsen and Steve Gillette, Bill Staines, Buddy Mondlock, Bryan Bowers, Peter Keane, David Roth, Mark Dvorak, Anne Hills, Willy Porter, Michael Miles, Bob Bovee and Gail Heil, Jim Hurst and Missy Raines, Dave Moore, Cathie Ryan, Small Potatoes, Matt Watroba, Peter Mayer, Kenny White, Natalia Zukerman, Eric Lewis, Tommy Burroughs, Andy Ratliff, Hans Christian, David Roth, Brooks Williams, Steppin In It with Rachel Davis, James Keelaghan, Chuck Pyle, L. J. Booth, John Smith, Tom Pease, Louise Taylor, Christopher Shaw and Bridget Ball, Mark Dvorak, Priscilla Herdman, Claudia Schmidt, Moe Dixon, Susan Smentek, Cosy Sheridan, Becky Schlegel, Don Stiernberg, Victoria Vox, Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin, Michael Johnathon, Daisy May Erlewine and Seth Bernard, Peter Mulvey, Jonathan Byrd, Jerry Rau, Phil Passen and Highland Road.
The concerts are held approximately once a month, November through April, beginning at 8 pm, after an optional dinner served at 6 pm .
Phone 920-868-3517 or Toll Free 888-364-9542
E-mail innkeeper@whitegullinn.com
PO Box, 160, Fish Creek, WI 54212
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