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Whorled weaves a World Folk music tapestry at Midland's Creative
360, Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 7 pm.
Masterful musicians meld and swirl their many cultural influences and passions into joyful tunes, parts of which you are sure to recognize. One can readily detect the Celtic, Bluegrass, and Classical influences, but also hear notes of Gyspy Jazz, traditional Japanese, Moroccan and Caribbean music. What an audio treat to have them in Midland after 2 years performing the Festival circuit and various Concert Series across Michigan. Join us for an ear-dazzling journey of music by Whorled!
Creative 360 is located at 5501 Jefferson, Midland, MI 48640
Tickets available in advance online or by calling Creative 360 at (989) 837-1885, and at the door. For online ordering go to becreative360.org and click on Get Event Tickets to get started!
Admission to the concert is $10 per person for Folk Music Society Midland members, $15 per Non-Member. Open to the public. Memberships available at the door.
This concert is brought to you by the Midland Folk Music Society with grant support from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation and is a collaboration with Creative 360.
Whorled is....
Award-winner at Grand Rapids' 2024 Jammies XXIV in "Traditions" and "Song of the Year" categories.
Grand Rapids' The Stray Café Battle of the Bands winner 2022
Comprised of Thom Jayne, Keala Venema, and Mariko Venema
Thom Jayne plays guitar and didgeridoo. European and African influences from living various places abroad are infused in his music. Prior to Whorled, he played in a band fusing African, Jazz, Latin, and Celtic music. In addition to Whorled he plays guitar in the Celtic band Trillium.
While Keala (Ke) Venema is steeped in Celtic and bluegrass music traditions throughout her youth, playing a wide-range of instruments: guitar, fiddle, Bodhran, and tin whistle. She is the lead fiddle instructor for Michigan Academy for Folk Music and Triumph Music Academy, even teaching at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Ke has learned from among the best, having jammed with Grammy nominees and winners. In addition to playing primarily fiddle in Whorled she plays with a jazz fusion band and with folk acts such as Ben Traverse, who has recently appeared on Creative 360's stage.
Mariko Venema plays the accordion for Whorled and is Ke's mother. Her classical training in piano and life in Japan informs her musical ventures into jamming, first with the melodica, and now playing the accordion in Whorled. Mariko has taken a deep dive into learning about accordion music, covering Irish, Old Time, and Gypsy Jazz styles, but also, traditional Brazilian, French, and Italian ways of playing accordion. She has studied under world-class teachers in New Orleans and France, as well as a premiere jazz teacher. Mariko teaches piano and accordion in the Grand Rapids area.