“Underground” concert series starts in Manchester

Coming across a somewhat enigmatic Facebook post about an “Underground” music series starting in Manchester was enough to pique plenty of people’s interest to show up on Saturday night for a great night of acoustic music.

“What do Muddy Waters, Doc Watson, Don McLean, Bruce Cockburn, Josh White Jr., Mose Allison, John Hartford, and Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee all have in common? They have all played in Manchester, Michigan. True story.”

That was the beginning to a post introducing this new venture, with the stated hopes of “bringing quality entertainment for Manchester and the surrounding communities to enjoy,” that got it all started. An event page then popped up announcing the first concert to be held on May 11, and that’s how history begins.

The “underground” was part of the charm in the lower level of the Manchester Mill, home to a variety of shoppes and business ventures. But on Saturday night it was also home to some rich folk, blues, and rock music provided by Michigan artists Jim Roll and Carol Gray, with special guest Cooper Young. The two sets were warmly received by the audience of 40 or more people, who found seating wherever they could!

Encouraged by their success, organizers Steve Girbach and John Mooneyham have scheduled their next concert featuring Railcar Graffiti–a Brooklyn-based five-piece band playing a blend of folk, old-time Amerian string, and Celtic roots–and Scotty Karate, a popular local one-man band who plays country, blues, rock, and twang, on June 29. Tickets are available by contacting undergroundmusicmanchester@gmail.com. Show information should be coming out this week, according to Girbach.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.