Arriving Tuesday afternoon in downtown Traverse City, the shops and restaurants were already buzzing with business. The streets were alive with a playful spirit, filled with children and families enjoying Tuesday night’s festivities, participants of the 5th Annual Traverse City Film Festival. Oscar-winner and Festival creator, Michael Moore, infused the listeners with his passion and commitment for the event and the people who make it happen, year after year. A thick crowd gathered to celebrate the beginning of this year’s festival and to see Traverse City’s own Rich Brauer receive the 2009 Michigan Filmmaker’s Award.

The evening evoked an ambiance as potent as votive candles warming a dinner party and transformed a charming little affair – a night at the theater – into a night of magic. Bold red letters hung on the marquee; a stage was set in lights; the streets were busy with shuttering cameras and ticket clad tourists. Separated by only a city block, a stunning foreign film, Troubled Water, explored themes of forgiveness and redemption. The film was screened for two theaters filled perfectly full. Concluding the shows, a question and answer session occurred with the film’s director who had traveled from Norway to present and speak.

Shop keepers and locals were embracing the opportunity to participate in Tuesday’s Festival events, which drew attendance from far and wide. The Festival films this season span a wide range of topics, but those passionate about supporting local communities, independent films and the visual arts, were naturally drawn to the scene. Northern Michigan residents hungry for “big city” culture to satiate quaint “little city” life, praised the event. Many young people stationed in the area found an oasis for their creative inclinations. Others simply love film and devour the opportunity to participate in the screenings of documentaries, obscure films, classic, political, and comedic films–just some of the genres represented throughout the week. Along with panel events, lectures, and free family films, the calender of any attendee could be completely filled!

Driving home I noticed Will Smith’s head–the size of a truck–looming against the backdrop of night sky, as adventurous viewers reclined at the Open Space to entertain aliens for a night by the Bay. Though I could not see the audience, I imagined children and parents snuggled up beneath the stars, feeling a warm breeze off the lake, their hearts filled with laughter. Who could resist a night so fine?

Explore many more photos, videos, blog posts and tweets from the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival and also check out Absolute Michigan: On Location at the Traverse City Film Festival.

Participating Chocolatiers

• Charles Layton Chocolates
• The Chocolate Den
• Chocolate Exotica
• Forest Confections
• Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate
• Jacques Torres Chocolate
• Kilwin’s Traverse City

Compatible Tastes (Coffee, Tea & Wine)

• Higher Grounds Trading Company
• Great Northern Roasting Company
• Great Lakes Tea and Spice
• Light of Day Organics
• Serenity Tea Bar and Café
• Bel Lago
• Black Star Farms
• Chateau Chantal
• Ciccone Vineyard & Winery
• Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery
• Good Neighbor Organic Winery
• Leelanau Cellars
• Shady Lane Cellars
• Grand Traverse Distillery

Entertainment

• The Turtlenecks (Norm Wheeler and Mike Sullivan)
• Dane Pedersen – guitar
• Linda Davis – piano
• The Alderman Ensemble

This is the first duo album Seth and May have released under their real, full names: Samuel Seth Bernard and May Erlewine. This could be a metaphor for what this album is made of. The album has 12 original songs performed by a core band of May on vocals, acoustic guitar, violin, viola, piano, organ, dulcimer and banjo, Seth with lap steel, piano, keyboard, mandolin, tenor sax and electric guitar, Dominic Suchyta on electric and upright bass and Mike Shimmin playing drums and percussion.

Encouragement is one of the main ingredients and underlying themes in this album. The album is a synthesis of the music, grass roots activism, and love that Seth and May have been developing on their own, together and with their many communities.

Sunday, March 29 Release at InsideOut Gallery

There will also be a CD Release event at InsideOut Gallery in Traverse City on Sunday, March 29th. For this special release event Seth & May will be accompanied by Joshua Davis, (vocals, guitar), Dominic Suchyta (electric and upright bass), and Mike Shimmin (drums, percussion). Tickets are $12 in advance and are available at Borders Books, Oryana, Cuppa’ Joe, Patisserie Amie & InsideOut Gallery. Tickets are $15 at the door. Doors open at 6pm and the show starts at 7. For more Information please call the InsideOut Gallery at 231-929-3254.

There will also be a show at the Old Art Building in Leland on Friday, March 27th at 7:30 PM, and you can get a poster with more shows around the state right here.

Visit earthworkmusic.com for more information on Seth Bernard and May Erlewine. Here’s a video from their last show at the Art Building (click the HQ link):

Photo: Welcome Back: Samuel Seth Bernard & May Erlewine by Andy McFarlane

The video is May Erlewine singing her song Water and it includes some water photos courtesy photographers of the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr. There’s links to view the photos bigger on Absolute Michigan and you can click to YouTube if you want to spread the word on your blog or Facebook or see the video in high quality.

Micheal, Ingemar, Lisa and Rick of the Benzie-based band Song of the Lakes have released a new DVD titled Live at Interlochen. It features a full-length movie of Song of the Lakes 25th Anniversary concert by Rich Brauer & Brauer Productions and the documentary Journey to Joy by Rebecca Glotfelty of Real People Media.

The DVD premiers at the State Theatre in Traverse City on Tuesday, March 25, 2008. Be sure to come because it’s a fantastic show!

You can order the DVD from their web site.