Milan, MI's Lauren Blackford came to my attention as an opening act for my friend and recent guest on the podcast, Rochelle Clark at her show at The Ark. I brought Lauren on stage that night, embarrassingly briefly saying her name wrong in the process. After hearing just a few songs from the stage, I knew that I was witnessing something special. The "IT" factor was there and I immediately invited her to be a guest on the podcast backstage after her performance.

Songs written by Lauren Blackford:

A Good Thing

Wasted Potential

Dead Body Baby

One Too Many Times

Find Lauren on the web at: https://laurenblackford.us/

Find more Acoustic Alternatives episodes at: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Please support Grove Studios (which Lauren already likes): https://grovestudios.space/

I first encountered Kate Peterson as half of the duo Nervous But Excited. With the band's unknown status (hiatus? vacation? definitely not broken up) I took the opportunity to visit with Kate about her upcoming Michigan performances and chat about her life and get her to sing a couple of songs. I don't think she was too nervous, but perhaps a little excited.

For reference, Nervous But Excited recordings included guest appearances from Theo Katzman, Frontier Ruckus, Chris Bathgate, Mike Lynch, Erin Zindle, Drew Howard, and many others.

All songs written by Kate Peterson except where noted

Roots

Said and Done

Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers)

Blank Pages.

Find out more about Kate: https://www.katepeterson.com/

Find 100 other Acoustic Alternatives episodes: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Book Grove Studios for your needs: https://grovestudios.space/

Welcome to podcast episode #100.

I've never met anyone who has met Joshua Davis that has had anything bad so say about him.

He's had a pretty special career since releasing his first record with the band Steppin' In It 25 years ago. A beloved member of the Michigan music community and a one time Top 3 contestant on The Voice, Josh has shifted to playing out less and making his living closer to his home in the Traverse City area.

I've tried to catch him on a few of his recent visits to Southeast Michigan, but this time it fell together quickly. We realized timing worked and 16 hours after I booked the studio, with little preparation time, we met at Grove Studios. Problem is, neither one of us had enough time to wake up for this 8:00 a.m. session and I forgot to his record on the cameras. I did spend a fair amount of time setting them up at a good angle and this one was going to turn out great. I guess we'll never know.

Songs written by Joshua Davis:

Paper Boats

Congratulations and Condolences

99 Names

Joshua Davis' website: https://joshuadavismusic.com/

Acoustic Alternatives' website: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Grove Studios website: https://grovestudios.space/

Ypsilanti, MI residents Rochelle Clark and Jason Dennie didn't have to go far to get to Grove Studios (7 minutes apparently), but their music will take you on journey somewhere south of there. Both have been making music for quite a long time.

They originally met when Rochelle was taking guitar lessons from Jason at Herb David Guitar Studio. Eventually they found each other to be not just musical partners, but partners in life. Rochelle's voice is one that I once said to her in a radio session "you could sing John Bommarito is a big jerk" and it would sound good. I have that audio. It does sound good and it doesn't even hurt when she sings it. Jason's guitar playing, which is what drew me to him in the first place, has him atop my list of best acoustic guitar players in the area (and he may be the best mandolin player in my music scene as well).

Enjoy this conversation with two people I am proud to call friends. If you want to hear the interviews that I've done with both in the past, subscribe to my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/c/AcousticAlternativeswithJohnBommarito

Songs:

Blue (written by Rochelle P Clark)

If I Could Make You My Own (written by Dori Freeman)

Simply Perfect Day (written by Jason Dennie)

Honey Hangover (written by Jason Dennie)

More about all things Acoustic Alternatives: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Find Rochelle on the web: https://www.rochellepclark.com/

Find Jason on the web: https://www.jasondennie.com/

Book a session at Grove Studios for your musical needs: https://grovestudios.space/

This one was a long time in the making. I'd been checking in with Tony Lucca on the occasions he would come back to his home state of Michigan for a show to see if he was available to join me for a chat. Two previous in studio sessions in Ann Arbor in 2010 and 2016 established a mutual respect for one another.

When I first heard his music in 2010 on an album called Rendezvous with the Angels I had no idea what an interesting backstory he had. To paraphrase something I say in our conversation, how is that I can get access to someone with this much talent and history?

It's a long one and I actually left a few questions out when we were recording due to time restraints. Enjoy this conversation with Tony Lucca.

Songs written by Tony Lucca:

In My Life Today

True Story

Back in '87

Top and the Bottom

Find Tony on the web at: https://www.tonylucca.com/

See or listen to other Acoustic Alternatives sessions: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Book Grove Studios for your next musical needs: https://grovestudios.space/

Detroit/Hamtramck, Michigan's Jackamo has been drawing comparisons to some of the best indie folk groups around since they began their journey many years ago.

Sisters Alison and Tessa Weircioch handle the vocals and the talented Jimmy Showers does the guitar work. Together it is a rich, harmonious adventure in sound. Their first record is coming out soon and we talk about it, their lives and their upcoming shows on the latest Acoustic Alternatives.

Songs, written by Jackamo:

Her

Paper Cranes

Lucy

Find Jackamo on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrMuHGoWUoJ-il9SzRg4SOA

Find out more about Acoustic Alternatives:

https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Eternal thanks to my host, Grove Studios:

https://grovestudios.space/

Phoebe and Jacyln are talented sisters originally from Lake Orion, MI who've been making music together for over a decade. Their peers in the local music scene, including Jill Jack, have been helping to lift them up as they've continued to find their path and hone their craft over the years. Their third release, Temporary By Design, comes nine years after their debut covers record, Come What May, and shows the growth the duo have made since their debut. Put it on and feel what they've been through via the heartfelt lyrics.

Songs, written by Keynote Sisters, include:

Done and Damned

Phoenix Tears

Waitin' On You

It's All Talk

More about Keynote Sisters at: https://keynotesisters.com/

More about Acoustic Alternatives: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Grove Studios makes it all possible: https://grovestudios.space/

Brooklyn based – Brooklyn MI that is – singer songwriter, contributor to the feeding of hungry people who prioritize organic produce, multi-instrumentalist, and all around good guy, Billy King joins me at Grove Studios for a chat about his new record, Chill.

Learn a bit about the difference between the family farm he works on and the similarly named produce seller in the area, the Hollerfest Music Festival that takes place on the family farm, hear an as of yet unreleased song and more.

All songs written by Billy King

Makes Me Wonder

Truth Lies

Chill

Snow in NOLA.

More about Billy King: https://billykingdom.com/

More about Acoustic Alternatives: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Book your session at Grove Studios: https://grovestudios.space