• A. Trae McMaken

  • The website of the Michigan / Great Lakes fiddler and storyteller.

  • "Trae McMaken astounded the audience . . . A terrific fiddler and singer he definitely is!" Beaver Island News on the 'Net.

    Sheer brilliance of style, executed in the most authentic, creative and passionate way possible. . ." "Trae’s 'performance,' actually his story-telling art, transformed the ordinary into extraordinary!" Linda Schweihofer, China Township Supervisor.

    Wonderful - Enlightening - Fun - Great Living History Lessons."
    "The combination of stories and music you present is a treasure."
    Joan Vinette, Michigan State University Extension Program, "Life of Lake Superior," Outdoor Education.

    "We were lucky to get you and your music, Trae. Wonderfully intricate and historic music."
    "You added the touches of goodness of character and fine music that Munising Bay Arts Festival really appreciates."
    Ramble G. Nichols, Munising Bay Arts Association.

    "Loved the songs + stories." Karen O'Brien, Atkins School, Bridgeport, Michigan.

    Read more reviews of Trae.

Leaving Beaver Island, Back to da UP

By trae on Jul 8, 2012 | In General

Well,

     I have fiddled, accordion'd and sung up a storm on Beaver Island, especially with the powerhouses Danny Gillespie, Danny Johnsten, and Jim Boynton for easily over 12 hours of performing. On top of that performance time, the Glen McDonough Folk School workshops I taught went fabulously as did the Glen McDonough Memorial Concert and the other engagements I had on the island. My stay has been a series of ups.

Below is a video from one of my Glen McDonough workshops. To start off the second afternoon by getting the kids moving, I taught them foot percussion. Here is my demonstration.

 

     Of course, the best part of being on Beaver Island is the friends I get to re-connect with and the adventures and fun I get to have with them. Some of the fun things I got to do included sailing in The Sweet Pea as well as setting foot on High Island (uninhabited member of the Beaver archipelago) for the first time thanks to musician and friend John McCafferty taking me on a great seadoo adventure. Then there was all the music and swimming and chattering.

   Thanks to all those who put me up on the island -- Cindy, Dusty, Danny, Tammy, John, and Beth and families -- thanks for the hospitality! I had a great stay.

   For now, I'm trying to get some computer work done before I head off again, and this is my buddy while I do. Molly is a lovely three year old lab who is currently deep in dreams. There's nothing more homely on the road than a sweet, friendly dog snoring next to you.

 

  It is now my last night on Beaver Island, but tomorrow night I'll be on another island -- this time in Lake Superior. Grand Island is the location for my next stop. I'll be teaching a series of workshops for MSU's extension program "Life of Lake Superior" as the artist in residence for Grand Island Day. 

The following photo is a shot of the Munising Bay Arts Festival where I recently performed, taken the day I performed. It was taken from the air by Tony Williams. My car is pulled up to where I unloaded my equipment alongside the the stage in this shot. Grand Island is a large island found at the mouth of this bay, so I'm looking forward to seeing some of my new Munising friends again.

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