Wheatland Music Festival

The Wheatland Music Festival is a music and arts festival organized by the Wheatland Music Organization, a non-profit organization specializing in the preservation and presentation of traditional arts and music.[1] Community outreach services include programming for Senior facilities and schools across mid-Michigan, year-round instrument lessons, scholarship programs, Jamborees, Traditional Dances, and Wheatscouts - a free program educating children through music, dance, storytelling, crafts and nature. Each year, the organization holds its annual Traditional Arts Weekend the weekend of Memorial Day, and its annual festival during the second weekend in September in the unincorporated community of Remus in the state of Michigan, in the United States.[2] The first Wheatland Music Festival was held August 24, 1974.

Wheatland Music Festival
GenreTraditional arts and music
Date(s)Weekend after Labor day
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Remus, Michigan, United States
Inaugurated1974
Previous event2019
Next event2021
WebsiteWheatlandmusic.org

History

In the early 1970s a small group of Mt. Pleasant Food Co-Op (now the GreenTree Cooperative Grocery) members and local musicians were staging free concerts and benefits around the Big Rapids and Mt. Pleasant, MI areas. Common sites were city parks and public halls. Proceeds enabled the food co-op to pay rent and utilities. Meanwhile, founders of the Wheatland Music Organization were organizing about two concerts a month during the summer.

The First Wheatland Bluegrass Festival was held as a benefit for the Mt. Pleasant Food Co-Op, August 24, 1974. It was a one-day event held on the Rhode family farm, located four miles east of Remus on M-20. June Rhodes' utility room became festival headquarters, her backyard was the backstage area, and her sister-in-law's yard across the road was the parking lot. The flatbed trailers were in place along with the first-aid tent, a sound system, and a hotdog stand.

Several hundred people attended the First Wheatland Festival. Perhaps the single most important attendee was the local postmaster. Before the first festival was even over he had already offered the use of his farm for the next year. The one improvement he could offer was a hayfield instead of corn stubble and dirt. All in all he knew just what the festival idea needed.

Who was that postmaster? And why would he want hundreds of strangers sleeping across his 160-acre backyard? What would his wife have to say about this? Mark and Gladys Wernette were contemplating taking a big step towards an uncertain future. But like their parents, Mecosta County's Alsatian pioneers, Mark and Gladys were committed to what they thought was their civic responsibility and offered to lend a hand.

By 1975 Wheatland was born. Elections were held and the board of directors was established. Many of the first directors are still active in the organization. This can be attributed to their faith in each other, their commitment to community service, and passion for preserving and presenting traditional music and arts.

With the 47th annual festival being deferred to 2021, officials blamed the COVID-19 pandemic as the result of 2020's cancellation.

Timeline

1970s

[3] 1974

  • 1st Wheatland Music Festival (one-day event on Aug 24)

1975

  • Board of Directors Established (May 13)
  • Articles of Incorporation filed as "Wheatland Music Organization" (May 29)
  • Festival moved to Wernette Farm

1976

  • Wheatland Music Festival becomes a 2-day event
  • Information tent was born: rented from the Beal City Knights of Columbus

1977

  • Wheatland Bylaws are ratified/amended
  • Non-Profit Status is awarded
  • 1st Wheatlan Music Festival album is produced
  • 1st WMO Reunion is held at Central Michigan University

1978

  • 1st "Main Stage" is built

1979

  • "Our Front Porch" radio show is developed
  • Costabella Cloggers make 1st appearance at Wheatland Music Festival
  • Public Transportation 1st used at Wheatland Music Festival

1980s

1980

  • Day-long textile arts workshops held at Wheatland in March
  • 6 Albums are now on Wheatland's Record Label
  • 1st Grant was received to host a Community Education Program in October

1981

  • 1st WMO Newsletter is established

1982

  • WMO purchases their 1st computer
  • WCMU Begins taping the music festival

1983 Land purchase: WMO puts $100 down on Gunnison Property

  • WMO Sponsors 1st Music Conference
  • WMO Begins Old Time Country dances in Mt. Pleasant

1984

  • "Our Front Porch" radio show is offered to National Public Radio
  • Land Contract signed to purchase 20 acres from Mark and Gladys Wernette

1985

  • Wheatland Cabin is built
  • Kids Hill Playhouse is built

1986

  • More work done at Kids Hill: 5 picnic tables built along with a wood-framed swing and fenced-in area for sheep

1987

  • A recycling program is introduced at Wheatland
  • Ice made available for sale on site for first time
  • Wheatscouts program for children begins at Wheatland
  • WMO monthly Jamboreed begin at Wheatland

1988

  • "Third Stage" Dance Pavilion is built
  • WMO added "Inc." to its name
  • WMO Logo Trademarked/Patented
  • Teen Dance at the Festival is established

1989

  • Elyce Fishman Scholarship established
  • 1st Wheatland Dance Camp is held over Memorial Day Weekend (May 26–28)
  • WMO collaborates with MSU to produce "Michigan In Song" Michigan performers cassettes
  • WMO Presented with "Ambassador's Award" by Mecosta County Chamber of Commerce

1990s

1990

  • 140 Acres purchased from Mark and Gladys Wernette
  • WMO Board develops revised mission statement, bylaws and organizational goals
  • WMO Copyright registration process begins
  • The Gladys Wernette Classroom Building is built

1991

  • Kitchen Building is built
  • Wheatland Memberships begin
  • Mark and Gladys Wernette celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary

1992

  • Information Building is built
  • Electricity became available at all work stations and lighting is added to the campgrounds
  • Orientation Workshops begin for campground volunteers
  • "Peace Train" added to Kids Hill

1998

  • Original "Main Stage" is moved to Kids Hill
  • The structure now known as "Main Stage" is built

2000s

2001

  • The Hospitality Building known as the "Post Office" is built in honor of Mark Wernette

"2014" whoo-hoo!! 40th. Anniversary Wheatland music festival. "Carry it on" dance project. To hopefully another 40 years.

Performers by year

2010s

2019

[4]2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

  • Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women
  • Joel Mabus Trio
  • Big Medicine
  • BeauSoleil
  • Rory Block
  • Laura Cortese
  • Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys
  • The Hotmud Family
  • Genticorum
  • Nic Gareiss & Friends
  • The Paschall Brothers
  • Slide Ireland
  • Jeff & Vida
  • The Cornfed Girls
  • Ralston Bowles
  • Open Range
  • Davis vs. Davis
  • The Red Sea Pedestrians
  • Seth and May
  • The Wild Turkeys
  • Starlight 6
  • Steppin’ In It
  • Michigan Songwriters: Jill Jack, Barbara Jordan, John Latini, Josh Rose

2000s

2009

2008

2007

  • Eric Bibb
  • Uncle Earl
  • Aubrey Ghent
  • The Duhks
  • The Gimbles
  • GiveWay
  • The Lost Bayou Ramblers
  • Orpheus Supertones
  • Seth Bernard & Daisy May Erlewine
  • Mountain Heart
  • Earthworks Music
  • The Tarbox Ramblers
  • Rusty Blaides
  • Rhythm in Shoes
  • Tom Russell
  • Like Water Drum & Dance
  • Detour
  • The Great Lakes Ceili Band
  • The Milroys
  • The Schrock Brothers
  • Floyd King and the Bushwhackers
  • Michigan Songwriters: Drew Nelson, Rawlston Bowles, Jen Sygit, Jen Cass

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1990s

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1980s

1989

  • Ira Bernstein
  • Ralph Blizard and The New Southern Ramblers
  • Delton Broussard and The Lawtell Playboys
  • Cephas and Wiggins
  • Fiddle Puppets
  • Henrie Brothers
  • Johnny Gimble
  • Howard Levy
  • Laurie Lewis and Grant Street
  • Joel Mabus
  • Memphis Beck and the Red Hots
  • Millie Ortego
  • Song Sisters
  • Sukay
  • Wildcats
  • Robin and Linda Williams

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

  • Beausoleil
  • Sandy Bradley and The Small Wonder String Band
  • Major Contay and the Canebrake Rattlers
  • Costabella Cloggers
  • Jean Denny
  • Robert Dodson
  • Double Decker String Band
  • Fiddle Puppets
  • Foot Loose
  • Day and Kay Gordon
  • Henrie Brothers
  • Hot Mud Family
  • Lost World String Band
  • Joel Mabus
  • Na Cabar Feidh
  • Reel Union
  • Sally Rogers
  • Claudia Schmidt
  • Mike Seeger
  • Dick Tarrier

1982

1981

  • Bosom Buddies
  • Wilma Lee Cooper and the Clinch Mountain Clan
  • Dance All Night
  • De Dannan
  • Rick and Maureen Del Grosso
  • Fiction Brothers
  • Fiddle Puppets
  • Henrie Brothers
  • Hot Mud Family
  • Ken Bloom
  • Mulligan Dancers
  • Na Cabar Feidh
  • Percy Danforth
  • Red Clay Ramblers
  • Sally Rogers
  • Dick Tarrier
  • John Turner and the Fiddletree Band
  • Whetstone Run
  • Williams Family

1980

1970's

1979

  • Backwoods String Band
  • Costabella Cloggers
  • Patrick Couton
  • Dekalb
  • Dutch Cove String Band
  • Green Grass Cloggers
  • Gypsy Gypo String Band
  • Henrie Brothers
  • Hot Mud Family
  • Lost World String Band
  • Joel Mabus
  • Port City Bluegrass Boys
  • Quackgrass
  • Red Clay Ramblers
  • Reel World String Band
  • Jean Ritchie
  • Roustabout String Band
  • Tracy and Eloise Schwarz
  • Mike Seeger and Alice Gerrard
  • Sinclair Bros.
  • Carl Story
  • Williams Family with Jay Round

1978

  • Patrick Couton
  • Kitty Donohoe
  • Fall City Ramblers
  • Flat Pickers Local No. 169
  • Green Grass Cloggers
  • Highwoods String Band
  • Hot Mud Family
  • Lost World String Band
  • Joel Mabus
  • Wade Mainer
  • Martin, Bogan and Armstrong
  • New Pine River Valley Boys
  • Quackgrass
  • Quality Quinn
  • Red Clay Ramblers
  • Sinclair Bros.
  • Swamp Cats
  • Jay Ungar and Lynn Hardy
  • Vice Versa
  • Williams Family

1977

1976

  • Cabbage Crik
  • Easy Pickins
  • Highwoods String Band
  • Pine River Valley Boys
  • Mike Seeger
  • Stillhouse String Band
  • Sweet Corn
  • Williams Family

1975

  • GLA Grass
  • Kathy Ann and the Sounds of the South
  • Kentucky Grass
  • Pine River Valley Boys
  • RFD Boys
  • Stillhouse String Band
  • Don Stover and the White Oak Mountain Boys
  • Sunset Express
  • Williams Family

1974

  • Bean Town Valley Ramblers
  • Easy Pickins
  • Kentucky Grass
  • Roy McGinnis and the Sunnysiders
  • Pine River Valley Boys
  • Tennessee Valley Boys

References
  1. "Our Mission". Wheatlandmusic.org. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. "Wheatland's History". Wheatlandmusic.org. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  3. "Wheatland Timeline". Wheatlandmusic.org. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  4. "Past Festival Performers". Wheatlandmusic.org. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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