The Black Swamp Arts Festival typically books acts that make up for lack of celebrity with devoted
followings and strong musicianship.
The festival though did have a superstar this year, said Kelly Wicks, who chairs the performance
committee. [PHOTO
GALLERY]
"The bank stage is the real superstar," he said referring to the atrium at the former
Huntington Bank office. Located on South Main Street in the middle of the juried art show, the stage
features performances that use no amplification.
This weekend that included a dance choreographed specifically for the space by Tammy Starr, well-known
local musicians Tom Gorman and Chris Buzzelli jamming with their offspring, and bands such as Chicago’s
Doko Benjo, who normally play amplified, unplugging for a change.
"There’s something wonderful about hearing the sounds of the instruments on their own," said
Grammy-winning guitarist John Jorgenson, who like many acts at the festival, played shows on two or
three of the festival’s four stages.
"You’re right there looking people right in the face," said country singer Wayne "The
Train" Hancock.
The organizers continue to surround the event with music that covers the spectrum of all the music not
heard on commercial radio. On the southern end is the Main Stage, in the middle is the acoustic stage
and its opposite number the electronica stage featuring experimental music upstairs in Grumpy Dave’s and
on the northern end the family stage, which features a mix of entertainment, some aimed directly at
kids, some simply with broad appeal.
So at one point on Saturday afternoon a listener had a choice of a sing-along on "This Land Is Your
Land" with the Yellow Room Gang on the youth arts stage, or blips and beeps from a band on the
electronica stage, or the high-energy tunes of the Gypsy band Parno Graszt on the acoustic stage, or the
soulful blues vocals by Curtis Salgado on the Main Stage.
During Parno Graszt’s set the irrepressible members of Little Cow, also from Hungary, appeared at the
fringes of the crowd and began singing along, clapping loudly in time. At the song’s end Parno Graszt,
through their interpreter, teasingly said this was their first experience of hearing themselves in
stereo with a herd of little cows.
Martha Everett, who chairs the youth art committee, said she appreciated the variety of music now
available on the family stage. Little Cow especially impressed her.
Bill Cherry, of Bowling Green, said he loved the performance by the singing group the HeeBee BGs. The
stage also featured circus acts staged by students from the Bowling Green State University Arts Village
as well as Main Stage performers Yellow Room Gang, Little Cow and Parno Graszt.
The Main Stage drew steady crowds throughout the day. Mid-day Kate Mutchler, Brooke Darah and Emily
Thomas sat taking in the music. The Northview seniors had been invited to come down by their American
Government teacher Sam Melendez, a member of the festival’s performance committee. They were drawn by
their teacher’s enthusiasm for the festival and music in general.
"It’s definitely unique," Mutchler said. She was impressed by the different styles of music and
the arts and crafts.
The Goldmine Pickers, a bluegrass group, made a big impression, Darah said. None of them had heard
bluegrass before.
"The entertainment is getting better every year," said Bruce Kiacz, of Bowling Green, who said
he regulrly attends the festival.
Parno Graszt drew fans to the Main Stage from its earlier sets around town for its late Saturday
afternoon set.
The octet, playing its first American show ever at the festival, set the stage for the evening acts.
Hancock delivered a set of straight-up barroom country and western complete with whining steel guitar and
songs about cheating lovers dying in a car-freight train wreck on "Highway 54."
Lee Rocker, establishing a buoyant groove with his full-size bull bass, took the music more toward rock
‘n’ roll with a set of rockabilly tunes. The Saturday closer Cowboy Mouth offered 90 minutes of
rabble-rousing, good-time punk rock.
"I want you to forget about all the crap that’s going on in the world," frontman Fred LeBlanc
said. Throughout the show he stage managed the crowd, getting them to have their hands in the air and
scream louder.
He pushed his band along with raucous drumming. The beat had bassist Regina Zernay bouncing up and down
with her pigtails flapping in the air. More than a thousand fans crammed up in front of the stage on
their feet and clapping.
Sunday’s music was quieter even with Greg Ginn, founder of the hard core punk band Black Flag, starting
the show. Ginn and his Texas Corrugators spun long, bluesy improvisations.
Doko Benjo delivered a funky, contemporary set with tight horn lines, quirky lyrics and some rhythmic
trickery. Two top guitarist Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones, a smooth-toned bluesman, and swing stylist
Jorgenson closed the show.
Getting ready to climb back in his van to head out Jorgenson had high praise for the festival, including
Wicks and acoustic stage coordinator Cole Christensen.
"Bowling Green hospitality is unlike that in most places we play. They just look after us so
well," he said. That makes a difference in the performance. "What it does is make us
personally invested."
(Sentinel staff writer Karen Cota contributed to this story.)
