We want to give a shout-out to all the great sponsors of GIG—The Art of Michigan Music 2024, which will be held Nov 8-10 at Art 634 in Jackson.
Shout-out to the Sponsors of GIG – The Art of Michigan Music 2024
To be a sponsor means that you believe an organization’s mission is meaningful and benefits your community. Brenda and I at Life In Michigan feel strongly about the mission of GIG – The Art of Michigan Music, which is to showcase the visual artists who create the imagery you see in music. We feel that these visual artists need to be recognized and celebrated for giving us the beautiful album/cd covers, the gig posters, the band/concert photos, and other visual works that support the music community in Michigan and around the world.
We also feel that it is important to recognize the other sponsors of GIG – The Art of Michigan Music for sharing the mission behind GIG and striving to support their community through the arts. Here is our shout-out to these fabulous businesses. We hope you’ll remember them when deciding how to spend your hard earned money.
The Rockstars
While all the sponsors are appreciated, the group known as “Rockstars” took it up a notch. Like Spinal Tap, they cranked their support up to 11. These folks ROCK!
Manchester Underground Music and Art
Manchester Underground Music and Art is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote music and the arts in support of the developmentally disabled adult community locally and across the State of Michigan. They have partnered with River Raisin Distillery (480 W Main St, Manchester, MI) in Manchester to host a monthly music series featuring a variety of exceptional music from singer-songwriters to bluegrass, to blues, and more.
Art 634
What had once been a carriage and wagon factory in the 1850’s has been transformed into a creative hub and event space called ART 634 (634 N Mechanic St, Jackson, MI). They have a variety of event spaces available for rent. They have a space for you, from a small family gathering to a huge wedding or major event such as GIG. The folks are ART 634 care deeply for their community and have been extremely helpful in ensuring that GIG – The Art of Michigan Music will be awesome.
Rocket Printing
We’ve used Rocket Printing (605 S Washington Ave, Royal Oak, MI) a number of times. They printed posters and cards for our wedding and even printed the very first GIG poster for us in 2016. Today, Rocket Printing is a one-stop shop for all of your printing needs. They also offer design and mailing services. We can’t thank Tony at Rocket Printing enough for his support.
Guitar HiFi
Located right next door to Rocket Printing is Guitar HiFi (607 S Washington Ave, Royal Oak, M). They have one hell of a selection of new and vintage instruments, amps, and effects. On the hi-fi end, they carry new and used amps, turntables, speakers, and more. Their staff is extremely friendly, and they offer instrument and amp repairs in-house.
The Label Executives
In the music world, label executives may get a bad rap. However, from our perspective, this group is all about supporting their community and making a difference. They are dedicated to kicking out the jams in the spaces they call home.
Ogma Brewing
We love the people at Ogma Brewing (129 E Michigan Ave, Jackson, MI). They were one of the first to support our zany idea to put on a 3-day music art show with live music. It comes down to the fact that while they love creating wildly delicious beers and killer food, at their core, the folks at Ogma care deeply for their community. They have championed the arts since before they opened their doors and continue to provide Jackson with unique events that highlight their town and its artists.
Experience Jackson
While many towns and counties in Michigan have some sort of visitors bureau, few are as highly engaged and encouraging as Experience Jackson. When we told Rachel from Experience Jackson our plans for GIG – The Art of Michigan Music, she immediately offered her help. The Experience Jackson brown bag quarterly lunches have introduced us to a variety of amazing people in Jackson County who are putting on events to showcase this often overlooked part of the state. We could immediately feel a wave of positivity and vigorous energy in these meetings, confirming Jackson is a place where the arts thrive. There is so much to explore in Jackson County, and Experience Jackson is your ultimate guide.
Dawn Corporate Giving
What started out in Jackson in the 1920s as Dawn Donut Company has grown over the last hundred years into the leader in baking products. Dawn Corporate Giving recognized that GIG – The Art of Michigan Music offered a unique way to showcase Michigan’s visual artists who create the imagery in music while also being an attraction for the city of Jackson.
The Stratton Setlist
Your one source for insightful music reviews and interviews should be The Stratton Setlist. I’ve had the pleasure of reading many of Lori’s excellent interviews with a variety of music artists. Each story paints a compelling picture of the music and the inspiration behind its creation. On top of the superb work in The Stratton Setlist, you can also check out Lori’s writing for A2 Pulp (part of the Ann Arbor District Library)
The Sun Times News
Thanks to Chuck Colby at The Sun Times News, we have met so many amazing people in Washtenaw County. His newspaper is a rare and precious thing. The reporting team at the Sun Times News covers not only the local news, politics, and sports for Dexter, Saline, and Chelsea, but they also provide stories that highlight the people living and working in their communities. Along the way, they tell stories about things to see and do in Southeastern Michigan.
Michigan Music Alliance
Formed in West Michigan to help address needs of musicians in the area, Michigan Music Alliance has worked to support musicians across the state. Their innovative educational series called The B-Side Sessions provides a wealth of information designed to help musicians with their small business needs. GIG – The Art of Michigan Music will leverage some of these B-sides for our Saturday educational sessions. The proceeds from the cash bar at GIG will go to support Michigan Music Alliance.
The Tour Managers
The gig won’t happen without a solid manager backing you. Here are our tour managers for 2024.
Lucky Monkey Tattoo
The artists working at Lucky Monkey Tattoo ( 3024 Packard St, Ann Arbor, MI) are phenomenal. Any imagery you can imagine, they can render as one-of-a-kind artwork that is personal to you. Owners Dana and James are incredible people (and musicians) who have tirelessly advocated for the arts community in Michigan. We feel privileged to call them friends and welcome their support.
McShane Photography
Jena Hovey owns McShane Photography, and her work is extraordinary. I met Jena while working with National Rock Review (now defunct) and have kept in touch ever since. She even shot our wedding photos. Her concert photography for Loud Hailer Magazine is pure magic, and you’ll be able to check out a few choice shots as she is one of our GIG—The Art of Michigan Music artists. We can’t thank her enough for helping us make GIG a success.
The Roadies
The workhorses on and off the stage, this group works hard to pull off the show night after night. Cheers to our Roadies.
Virtue Drums
Virtue Drums (1206 W Michigan Ave, Jackson, MI) sells remarkable handcrafted custom drums, specially curated cymbals, hardware, cases, and more. The shop is dedicated to music and the artistry of the drum. With Jackson as its home, Virtue Drums seeks to do all it can to promote and support the Michigan music community.
Adorned Tattoo
Located in the small town of Manchester is an oasis of tattoo artistry at Adorned Tattoo (135 E Main St #203, Manchester, MI). Danielle is passionate about creating beautiful art that exceeds their customers’ expectations. She also takes great pride in offering a relaxed and welcoming space.
Get Your Tickets
Tickets for GIG—The Art of Michigan Music 2024 are on sale now at Passage Event ticketing. A single-day ticket costs $25, or a weekend pass costs $45. Stay the weekend! We have reduced room rates at the Courtyard Jackson and TownePlace Suites Jackson (HURRAY – rooms must be booked by October 8th to get a special rate).
Become a Supporter!
We warmly invite you to join our Life In Michigan community. Your support is not just appreciated—it is essential. It enables us to continue sharing the unique and captivating stories that showcase Michigan in all its vibrant glory. Whether you buy us a beer or provide ongoing support through Substack, every contribution enhances our mission.
If our content resonates with you, we encourage you to become ambassadors of our stories. Share our work on your social media or forward a link to someone who would appreciate it as much as you do. Your support, in any form, breathes life into our cause and keeps the spirit of Life in Michigan thriving.
Thank you for being a vital part of our community.
Stay Connected
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Cheers!
