Lac La Belle
opening for Black Jake & the Carnies
Friday, December 21st, at The Ark in Ann Arbor
Doors at 7:30, show stars at 8
$15
Lac La Belle began with a repertoire of old-time country and folk, but they soon added original material. The songs were honed during two sizable tours in 2009 and this creative flurry culminated in the first eponymous recording, released in November of that year. Recorded by Jim Diamond (The White Stripes, Detroit Cobras, The Dirt Bombs etc), the entire record was cut live in the studio, using only a few microphones. Its spare production captures the timeless quality of Lac La Belle’s sound.
The group has now completed six tours of the mid-west, south and east, with appearances at Hiawatha Festival, The Detroit Folk Festival, Dally in the Alley, Dune Grass and Hollerfest (MI); Whofest (Chattanooga, TN), The Chicago Calling Festival (Chicago, IL) and The Avant Fairfax Festival (Fairfax, VA), and completed their first European tour in 2012.
Their newest release, "Bring on the Light" boasts twelve original works and one traditional arrangement, performed with a variety of instruments from accordion to banjitar. Each song presents a melodic tale, be it an intimate anecdote, or stories on their hometown Detroit, "Bring on the Light" captures the drifting spirit of early America.
Jennie Knaggs mined folk music first hand, meeting and playing with musicians of Central and Southern Appalachia during her course of travel and advocacy work in the region. Her snapping rhythm guitar, mandolin and accordion playing are all in fine display with Lac La Belle. She is the 2000 Hollerin' Champion of Wise Co., Virginia and Letcher Co., Kentucky, and she gracefully applies her vocal techniques in the duo's original works with her soaring and yodeling vocals. Knaggs has studied opera and has toured Ukraine and Europe in various vocal ensembles, and performed and taught as an artist in residence in Labro, Italy in 2011. She continues to sing with the fifteen piece Odu Afrobeat Orchestra, and teaches voice privately and in workshops. Knaggs is the principal vocalist in Matthew Barney and Jonathan Bepler's upcoming film, "Ancient Evenings," to be released in theatres in 2014.
Nick Schillace is recognized as a solo instrumentalist who has contributed to the American Primitive guitar canon with his releases Box Canyon (2005) and Landscape and People (2008.) Raised by folk and blues enthusiasts, he acquired early training at Augusta Heritage in Elkins, West Virginia. Schillace draws on this background as he sings and plays banjo, mandolin and resonator guitar in Lac La Belle. Other recent work includes tenor guitar in Odu Afrobeat Orchestra, electric guitar in Indoorpark (with percussionist Jon Moshier) and the experimental/traditional group Duo un Duo with bassist Joel Peterson. Schillace has toured and performed with other fingerpicking greats, including Bert Jansch, Peter Lang, Jack Rose, Keenan Lawler, Eric Carbonara and Glenn Jones. Considered an authority on early 20th century American fingerpicking guitar styles, Nick is sought after as an instructor both privately and in workshop settings.
Tour Dates
Friday, December, 21, 2012
The Ark
With Black Jake and The Carnies
Ann Arbor, MI
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Mittenfest
Ypsilanti, MI
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Ghettoblaster Sessions
Sponsored by Motor City Brewery
The Park Bar
Detroit, MI
Friday, February 8, 2013
Mexicains Sans Frontieres
With Orpheum Bell
Grand Rapids, MI
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Gopherwood Concert Series
with Orpheum Bell
Cadillac, MI
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Stone House Concert Series
Detroit, MI
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Johnny's Speakeasy
Ann Arbor MI
Friday, March 8, 2013
Jerry's Deli
With Orpheum Bell
Chicago, IL
Friday, March 22, 2013
Arab American Museum
with Glenn Jones
Dearborn, MI
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Trinity House Theater
38840 W. Six Mile
Livonia, MI
