SPONSOR

Thursday, 12 July, 2012 1:56 PM

Everyone's a Townie at the 8th Annual Townie Street Party!

Calling All Locals: Monday, July 16, 2012, 5 - 9:30 p.m.

|

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Townie Street Party, now in its 8th year, is a kick-off to Art Fair week in Ann Arbor and a fundraising event for the educational and community outreach activities of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair – the Original, a 501(3) non-profit arts organization. Taking place on Monday, July, 16th from 5:00 – 9:30 p.m., the Townie Party celebrates all things local and is our way of thanking Ann Arbor residents for so graciously hosting the Ann Arbor Art Fair each year.

The Townie Party offers a fun-filled evening for the whole family where visitors can enjoy terrific music by some of the area’s most well-known bands; grab a bite of Townie grub; enjoy a brew at the Townie Pub; or take a stroll through the Kids’ Art Fair, which showcases the work of young artists in grades 3 - 8. The Townie Hall and Creative Connections tents feature cool things to do in Washtenaw County and the ArtZone offers a chance to explore your artistic side. The Party takes place on East Washington Street between Thayer and Fletcher and on Ingalls Mall.

MUSIC

The Townie Street Party will feature an evening of live outdoor performances featuring Steppin’ In It, Orpheum Bell and Ryan Racine & Gas for Less.

Steppin’ In It (8:00 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.)

Toting an ample supply of vintage instruments and a sound that brings listeners back to the days of old-time radio, Steppin’ In It is determined to make a dent in the roots community. Hailing from Lansing, Michigan -the heart of Factory Town, USA- these young men pound out their own brand of roots combining old-time country, swing and blues. Together, they achieve the seemingly impossible task of making the most traditional sounds contemporary playing what Performing Songwriter Magazine calls "some of the liveliest and most rocking acoustic roots music around." Upright Bassist Dominic Suchyta and multi-instrumentalist brothers Andy & Joe Wilson compliment the strong songwriting talents of singer/songwriter Josh Davis, who’s haunting vocals paint a picture of rural and urban Michigan breaking its blue-collar back under troubled times.

Orpheum Bell (6:30 p.m. - 7:40 p.m.)

Orpheum Bell is an American band, but in 21st Century America, those words can carry a lot of baggage, both musical and cultural. The five band members write songs that know no boundaries, laying down skewed grooves that skitter around the globe, absorbing beats and meters from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Imagine a Ukrainian gypsy band playing cowboy tangos in a smoky bar in Havana and you’re on the right track. “I’m from Ukraine, Serge our bass player is from Holland, our fiddler Henrik is from Armenia, Michael is from Ohio and Katie’s a Michigan native,” says singer, composer and guitarist Aaron Klein. “Serge, Henrik and I grew up outside the States and, while our music isn’t specifically coming from any one of those places or cultures, the sounds and songs we heard early in our lives get mixed into the songs we’re writing now.”

The band’s influences include Don Gibson, The Clash, Django Reinhardt, the Boswell Sisters, Russian poet and folksinger Vladimir Vysotsky, Dock Boggs, and Bob Wills and you can hear unmistakable elements of them in the music the band makes. The Old Sisters’ Home is their third album and the first featuring drums and percussion, but their elegant, folk inspired sound remains intact.

Ryan Racine & Gas for Less (5:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.)

In Early 2007, Ryan returned as a frontman for his new project Gas For Less. Blending his Rockabilly roots with the punk, pop and bluegrass he picked up as a sideman, his new group creates a hard-edged homage to vintage honky-tonk with tinges of the California and alt-country sounds.
Originals like “Born Sorry” and “Straight and Narrow” harken back to the golden age of country music, while “Best of Times”, and covers of songs by Social Distortion, the Clash, and Tom Petty add a more modern set of influences that make the group more than just a retro act. This is full service “premium grade” honky-tonk.

ART

To find out how to particpate in the 2013 KIDS’ ART FAIR please Click Here

Kids’ Art Fair brought to you by TOYOTA

Support Washtenaw County’s young artists in 3rd-8th grade as they display and sell their artwork just like artists at the Art Fair. Browse this marketplace full of amazing art!

Art Activity Zone

Create free art projects that you can take home with you.Create free art projects that you can take home with you. Various local organizations donate materials and help the whole family walk away with personally made arts and crafts.

Get your hands full of clay and make a funky face like the one shown here (above) with artists from Rovin Ceramics, a Motawi Tileworks company, an Ann Arbor studio known for their rich glazes and unique American designs.

You’ll have a hoot when The Leslie Science & Nature Center guides you through the process of creating an owl mask out of fun colorful materials and textures. This project is fun for the whole family

Create a wild and wacky hat. They are as much fun to wear as they are to make! Visit this tent brought to you by MetroParent to pick out the materials for your very own paper bag hat creation.

Come twist up a bandana for “the man’s best friend” in your life! Humane Society of Huron Valley will be teaching the art of tie dye with a bandana that can be used to adorn your dog.

Polka Dots made out of yarn turn into contemporary wall pieces for your home invented by the wonderful forks at Community Day Care.

Visit the 2clowns Face Painting station (back by popular demand) to get a festive summer look.

Stay tuned! Additional Art Activites will be added as the Townie Street Party approaches.

SOCIAL

Get VIP Access

Enjoy access to a private bar with complimentary refreshments and premium seating. Mingle with leaders, local business owners, and other Townie neighbors. Click here to learn how to become a Townie Friend of the Fair and get exclusive access to The Terrace.

Follow the Townie Street Party on Facebook to get the most current updates

FOOD & DRINK

Local Fare: Domino's Pizza, Ray's Red Hots, Damon's Grill, Insomnia Cookies, Mity Nice Italian Ice, Jamaican Jerk Pit and Groovey Smoothie

Grab dinner or a light snack from local Townie Party eateries on Washington.

TOWNIE HALL

Check out what cool events and changes are taking place in our community. See what your neighborhood businesses are up to and walk away with fun freebies! Participating businesses include Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce, Dexter Area Chamber of Commerce, Saline Area Chamber of Commerce, Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber, Community Television Network, AFS International Student Exchange, Get Downtown Ann Arbor, Clear Result, Think Local First, and Ann Arbor Transportation Authority/TheRide, World of Discovery, Great Lakes Zoological Society.

CREATIVE CONNECTIONS

The Ann Arbor area offers a diverse range of arts and cultural organizations. Creative Connections showcases everything including local arts groups, symphonies, theater companies, art galleries, and more. Participating organizations include Sonic Lunch by Bank of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Women Artists (and a Few Good Men), University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor Civic Theater, University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, BoyChoir of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Public Art Commission, University Musical Society, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Purple Rose Theatre, Sunday Artisan Market, Eastern Michigan University Art Department, and The Ann Arbor Art Center.

Source: Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original

PHOTO BY GLORIA RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Art created by children at the 2011 Townie Street Party.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Domino's Pizza at last year's Townie Street Party

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Alison Lewis and The String of Ponies performed at the 2011 Townie Street Party

Complete Coverage of the Ann Arbor Art Fairs is on AmericaJR.com