By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
A band helped the Black Swamp Arts Festival celebrate milestone years will be coming back on the Main Stage as headliners to help it celebrate the festival’s 30th year the weekend of Sept. 8-10.
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is credited with reviving interest in the Big Easy’s brass band tradition, mixing in funk and jazz elements, to the traditional sound.
They were on hand for the 15th festival back in 2008. The New Orleans legends will perform Saturday, Sept. 9, at 10 p.m.
Singer, songwriter and guitar slinger Ruthie Foster took the stage at the Friday supper hour the next year and returned in 2010. Foster will perform Friday Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. Foster is a soulful singer and songwriter who taps into the deep roots of Americana, blues, folk, rhythm ‘n’ blues and soul.
These acts join fellow headliners: Kaleta and Super Yamba Band, fronted by a guitarist who performed with both King Sunny Ade and Fela Kuti, (Friday night at 10 ); Amythyst Kiah with her amalgamation of blues-rooted sounds (Saturday night at 8); and festival closer country balladeer Cole Chaney, (Sunday afternoon at 3:30).
From the soul gospel sounds of The Sensational Barnes Brothers, the opening Main Stage act Friday at 5 p.m. through to Chaney’s country closer, the music on the Main Stage flows smoothly through a panoply of American and global sounds.
Friday also marks the return the 2022 festival closers Making Movies, which fuses Latin rhythms with the drive of rock ‘n’ roll.
[RELATED: Making Movies draws on rock laced with ancient rhythms to get people moving on the dance floor]
Saturday’s show opens at noon with local favorite Mike Williams on saxophone. In past years, he’s been enlisted to play the National Anthem to open the Saturday festivities, this year he’ll be featured in a full set.
He’s followed by Toledo folk rockers The Antivillains at 1:30 p.m. Then at 3 p.m. bluegrass movers and shakers from western Michigan Full Cord with BG native Grant Flick on fiddle perform. At 4:30 p.m. contemporary bluesman Buffalo Nichols takes the stage.
The jam band Yam Yam opens the evening set at 6:15.
Sunday’s show opens with jazz guitarist Alex Anest and his organ trio at 11 a.m., followed by the horn powered jazz inflected soul of Strictly Fine at 12:30 p.m.
[RELATED: Strictly Fine stands up tall with mix of funk, jazz, & jokes
At 2 p.m. Line Piñon, a string band from New Mexico celebrates the traditional sound of the southern border.
According to the Cole Christensen and Tim Concannon, BSAF Performing Arts Co-Chairs: “The 2023 Main Stage music lineup honors the past, present, and future of the Black Swamp Arts Festival by showcasing a diverse mix of musical genres, styles, and performers.
“We take pride in putting on world-class event that is free and accessible to all audiences that rivals many ticketed festivals across the country. In looking back on the last 29 years and the incredible talent that has performed in Bowling Green, we wanted our 30th anniversary lineup to celebrate our history by bringing back several past festival favorites, while also honoring our commitment to featuring incredible up-and-coming bands from around the country.
“The Black Swamp Arts Festival has always embraced an eclectic mix of local, regional, national, and international musicians, and we feel this year’s music lineup is our most diverse yet.”
Several bands are also playing additional sets on the Community and Family stages.
2023 Black Swamp Arts Festival Main Stage schedule:
Friday September 8
- 5 p.m.: The Sensational Barnes Brothers
- 6:30 p.m: Making Movies
- 8 p.m: Ruthie Foster
- 10 p.m: Kaleta & Super Yamba Band
Saturday September 9
- Noon: Mike Williams on Sax
- 1:30 p.m: The Antivillains
- 3 p.m: Full Cord
- 4:30 p.m: Buffalo Nichols
- 6:15 p.m: Yam Yam
- 8 p.m: Amythyst Kiah
- 10 p.m: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Sunday September 10
- 11 a.m.: Alex Anest Organ Trio
- 12:30 pm: Strictly Fine
- 2 p.m: Line Piñon
- 3:30 p.m: Cole Chaney
The Black Swamp Arts Festival is a three-day, free live music and arts festival committed to providing quality art and music experiences.
For more information and to connect to the festival, visit www.blackswampfest.org, Black Swamp Arts Festival on Facebook, and @blackswampfest on Twitter and Instagram.
