Madison Heights Gets Musical with Trail Tunes Event
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 5, 2021)
Madison Heights, MI – The sound of happiness swirled in the air of Civic Center Park in Madison Heights as over a thousand people came together for the city’s second Trail Tunes concert event.
Unlike a typical music festival, where concerts are performed sequentially on a stage, this event makes use of cozy spaces throughout the park to have several mini concerts happening at once. Guests stroll among the performances, or seek out the ones they want to see.
Abi, whose website is abiwithani.com, was among those singing her heart out at the event. “I had such a marvelous time at this year’s Trail Tunes! The turnout was fantastic, it was great to have so many people getting outside to experience what we all had to offer. I participated in the event last year as well and it was nice to see how much Trail Tunes has grown between then and now.
“Music brings the community together and connects us all in ways the other fine arts can’t. When we’re happy, sad, in the midst of a global pandemic, we turn to music in the hopes that it will pull us through. I can’t tell you how many people I know, musically inclined or otherwise, stand by the claim that music saved their life. I’m proud to be a part of the tight knit community that is the Metro-Detroit music scene, and I’m happy I was able to contribute to the Madison Heights Trail Tunes.”
Beyond the performance, Abi made time to immerse herself in the moment.
“I’m not sure I can pick a single favorite moment because it was, truly, a very good day. I was able to talk to quite a few of the people in attendance (and got some great feedback about my sets), I got to reconnect with a few old friends, I got to experience the talent of the other musicians around the park, and treated myself to some of the best lemonade I’ve ever had,” she said. “The arts board really went above and beyond to make the event a smash and I cannot wait to see what next year brings!”
The Pink 50’s connected with the crows with songs like “Smile” and “News Media Outlet.”
“A festival like this, we felt, was definitely a breath of fresh air for live music,” they said. “There were so many amazing bands and we are grateful to have been a part of the Trail Tunes. People have been itching for a long time to see some sort of live music; and finally they had that chance.”
After Blue is a duo made up of Katie Williamson on percussion and Tom Alter on guitar. They sang a song written last summer called “Macarons.”
“It is about making your own fun when the normal activities we usually rely on aren’t available,” Alter said. “It seemed like a perfect song for the occasion.”
Like other musicians there, it wasn’t just about their show, but about connecting. “It was a perfect day for strolling and taking in some music. Music events like this are a great way to bring community together. Our favorite part of the event was playing our music and then being able to hear other talented acts perform. We always wanted to hear the Keynote Sisters and it was great to find them set up right near us and playing at times we were not.”
The event had more than just music, with a family zone added to keep kids entertained, food trucks, dancers, and booths for artists. Among the visual artists was Kara Gheldof of Madison Heights who was selling creations made of nails and string.
“I started just before the pandemic,” Gheldof said. “and I really like it. I like when it’s just nails and it looks like nothing, and how I can see it coming together as I work. It’s so rewarding.”
A friend convinced her to come along doing craft shows, and she took on the Madison Heights Trail Tunes solo. “It’s fun watching people walking through, especially kids. Kids are so in awe of it. Especially if it’s the first time they’ve seen string art,” she said.
Councilperson Mark Bliss and Volunteer Vita Palazzolo co-chaired the Trail Tunes event. “Vita and the entire planning committee were thrilled at the turnout, but mostly excited to see so many people come together in such a fun, and safe, way. Live music is such an important part of our lives and it’s absolutely incredible that we were able to bring that to our city through the kindness of our donors and the passion of our incredible volunteers,” Bliss said.
“Part of the fun of this event is having bands play in unique places – like in front of the police station, in the gazebo, and on the baseball diamond, but one thing we’ve heard loud and clear is the need for a few main stages in the park,” Bliss said. “If we are able to do this next year our planning committee would love to add three separate headliner stages for acoustic, top 40, and rock bands at next years’ festival – with featured musicians still located in some of our favorite locations in the park. We would also like to provide transportation around the park, with the main stages serving as “bus stops,” if we can get enough donations to make that a viable option.”
Participating bands included:
Colin & the Cougars: https://m.facebook.com/colinandthecougars
Leisure Machine: Facebook.com/leisuremachine
Zosette & the Groove: https://zgroovedetroit.com/
Armani Monté: Armanimonte.com
The indigo curve: http://instagram.com/theindigocurve
Gwenyth Hayes: http://gwenythhayes.com
Fresh 2 Death: http://facebook.com/fresh2deathentertainment
Keynote Sisters: http://www.keynotesisters.com
ABI: http://abiwithani.com
Visitor – https://www.visitorband.com/
After Blue: http://afterblueband.com
Kate Hinote Trio: https://www.facebook.com/katehinotemusic
Lunar sessions: https://youtu.be/hJw8usdUa_0
Paul Parente Jazz Connection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7AiKFfxo_g
Easy Beach: https://www.instagram.com/easybeachmi/
Capital Street Basement Musicians: https://www.facebook.com/Capital-Street-Basement-Musicians-173247609414637/
Scott Wrona Quartet: http://scottwronajazz.com/
The Pink 50’s: https://www.facebook.com/ThePink50s/
Oakland County Times is a reader-supported publication. Please chip in on our PayPal page or sign up for a monthly pledge on Patreon.
For more local news visit the Oakland County Times Madison Heights News Page.
Visit the Oakland County Times Event Page for other fun and educational things to do!
Thank you to Jim Shaffer & Associates Realtors for sponsoring this section!
To submit event info email editor@oc115.com .
If you value Oakland County Times, please consider a small monthly contribution on Patreon.