Local musicians reunite at fest

TRAVERSE CITY -- Big things may be happening for them on the national stage, but The Bihlman Bros. are never too big for the National Cherry Festival stage.

The powerhouse blues band will reunite in Traverse City Saturday for the first time in at least four years to help kick off the 83rd annual festival. They'll open for blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd at 7 p.m. on the Bay Side Music Stage.

"Playing the Cherry Festival again is going to be great," said Jeff "Jabo" Bihlman, lead guitarist and vocalist for the band, which also includes brother Scot "Little" Bihlman on drums. "It's always a great venue."

The duo is among several "hometown" acts on this year's festival entertainment lineup, which features country, rock, pop and tributes. Others are rockers Twisted Finster of WKLT Radio fame; Chelsee Oaks and Rob Bolin, recent contestants on the Country Music Television talent show "Can You Duet"; the NMC Community Concert Band and Jazz Band and the Cherry Capital Chorus; New Orleans-flavor dance and party band The Fabulous Horndogs; Crooked Chords, first runner-up in Leelanau Sand Casino's Rock Your Way to the Top contest; and blues band The Corvairs.

The Cherry Fest gig is the first Traverse City appearance for The Bihlman Bros. since 2004 or 2005, said Jeff Bihlman, who lives in Interlochen and teaches at the Interlochen Guitar Festival, the National Guitar Workshop and WorkshopLive while also writing and scoring music.

"Scot's been living in Los Angeles for the past four years so we play out on the West Coast more than anywhere else," he said . "We haven't been playing much as a band because I've been doing more of the TV and film stuff and Scot is acting" in commercials for the likes of Burger King, Volkswagen and the National Football League.

"It's pretty tough," Jeff Bihlman added, of his long and frequent commutes to California. "But there's no question that since Scot moved out there it's been easier for us to do some things, especially with his connections there."

Those "things" include signing a deal three weeks ago with Warner/Chappell Music, the publishing arm of top-four music label Warner Music Group, and recording several tracks for the recent movie "Love N' Dance," starring Amy Smart, Tom Malloy and Billy Zane.

Bihlman received his fourth Emmy award in June for a documentary about the recording of the soundtrack at the legendary Cherokee Studios in Hollywood. Home to more than 300 gold and platinum records by artists like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, the facility closed its doors in August 2007 to make way for development. The Bihlman Bros. were the last to record there.

In opening for Shepherd, the band will perform its hits like "Looks Like Rain" and "American Son" as well as tunes from a new CD including the number one requested song on KLT, "Believe." Bihlman said the CD, "What U Want," is expected to be released in late summer, but copies will be available for Cherry Festival audiences.

"Northern Michigan, as crazy as it sounds, has been so good to me, personally, and the band," he said. "The people here have supported the Bihlman Bros. beyond belief. We've got a bunch of stuff cooking, and it's great to get the ball rolling here."

This year's festival entertainment lineup is designed to appeal to families, with a special focus on 1980s music and on patriotic music for "Heroes Day" Monday, said Festival Media Relations Director Susan Wilcox Olson. So far, top-selling acts are Shepherd, '80s rocker Billy Squier and the Pink Floyd Tribute band Think Floyd USA, which will play before and during closing night fireworks.

"The whole '80s genre has seemingly taken the country by storm, so we're following suit," Olson said.

Following the success of last year's stage relocation facing the bay to alleviate excess noise, this year's Bay Side Music Stage will be approximately in the same spot, Olson said.

"It was met with great reception, and based on winds and the like, it seems like we had eight great nights with few comments or complaints," she said.

Main stage entertainment begins at 7 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m. and the main act beginning at 9 p.m. A Bay Side Entertainment Stage V-Pass good for all eight nights is $15; individual night tickets are $10 each for Squier and Shepherd, $7 each for 1964 The Tribute, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes and Sammy Kershaw, and $5 each for Twisted Finster and Think Floyd, while supplies last.

All seating is general admission, but V-Pass holders will be allowed first access to the seating area at 6 p.m. unless otherwise specified.

Tickets are available online at www.cherryfestival.org, at National Cherry Festival headquarters located at 250 E. Front St. in the Chase Bank Building (Suite 301) or by calling 947-4230.

NMC Community Concert Band, Jazz Band and Cherry Capital Chorus; The Fabulous Horndogs

Photos

Kenny Wayne Shepherd opens the Bay Side Music Stage series Saturday. The Bihlman Bros. are the opening act. Special to the Record-Eagle