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Community Picnic and Concert

Free food & live music on front lawn of Faith Lutheran Church!

4515 Dobie Rd., Okemos

FEATURING: Ruth & Max Bloomquist, folk music artists

Saturday, August 1, 2015
3:00 – 7:00 PM

View the Community Picnic Poster

Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos will be hosting a community picnic with live music on Saturday, August 1, 2015, from 3:00-7:00 PM. This event is free of charge and open to the public. The picnic and concert will take place on the front lawn of the church. Games and activities for children will also be provided. This event is provided as a gift to the community. Ruth and Max Bloomquist, Michigan folk music artists, will be the featured performers at this event.

“…veritable folk music legends in Michigan, captivating audiences with their songs, their harmonies and their folk-infused charm.”  John Sinkevics, The Grand Rapids Press

Ruth and Max Bloomquist ( www.ruthbloomquist.com ) have been making music together since they met in 1975 and discovered their shared love not only for each other, but for music and songs made with acoustic instruments and featuring lyrics from the heart. Ruth and Max immersed themselves in folk, bluegrass, country, singer songwriters, and other acoustic music to create a sound and style all their own.

An award winning songwriter, Ruth was inspired to write songs from her own heart and experience. In 1997 Ruth and Max released Ruth’s first CD, Jewel Of My Heart, a collection of original songs that were popular with their audiences. Two more “solo” CDs followed to rave reviews. Meanwhile, in 2003, Ruth was a winner of Merlefest’s Chris Austin Song Writing Competition with her joyful Gospel song, By The River. Ruth’s songs have also been recognized by the South Florida Folk Festival, the Great Lakes Songwriting Contest, the Lake Superior Big Top Chautaqua, and Mike Pinder’s Songwars. Ruth has lead songwriting workshops at the Wheatland Music Festival and the WMO Spring Traditional Arts Weekend, has showcased her songs at the IBMA World of Bluegrass, and has assisted Bluegrass Songwriter Committee head Louisa Branscomb in bluegrass songwriter song circles.

Ruth was also named Outstanding Vocalist of the Month for December 2006 by Singer Universe Magazine. Her resonant alto has been compared to Anne Murray, Linda Ronstadt, and Kathy Mattea. After hearing Ruth and Max perform the Scott Wiseman standard, Remember Me, Garrison Keillor told Ruth, “You have a big voice… I’d like to sing that song with you.”  And the next night he did!

For more information, call Faith Lutheran Church: 517-349-0620

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