Michigan music isn't just a Saturday night escape! Every Thursday during the summer Zak Bunce, Coyote Crossing Resort sound guy and brother of local musician Rachael Davis, welcomes local artists to the stage.
The event started roughly eight years ago after the resort owners, Pete and Julie Finch, decided to build a stage and outdoor event space.
While their stage has held artists like Them Dirty Roses and the Luke Winslow-King Band, it remains a place for the community to gather and experience the real-ness of music.
The night begins with a performance from Bunce and through each song, names are added to the setlist.
On July 18, Keenan Cooper, John Oliver, Zak Thurston, Nathan Allan and more took the stage.
According to Bunce, Oliver started coming to the event last year. During his time on stage Oliver “did something he’s never done before at an open mic.” Though his “first” was playing a cover song, it highlighted the reality of local music performances.
Throughout his set, it was clear that Oliver got “looser” as Bunce called it. For his last song, he even brought Bunce back on stage.
Cadillac native, Zak Thurston, came from Lansing to perform at CCR. Thurston describes his music as classic rock with blues and Americana touches.
Thurston says he tries to visit CCR’s open mic night as much as he can which recently hasn't been as often as he’d like.
According to Thurston, he plays many instruments and started out on the violin in school. Now, he records his own songs in his basement studio. Even with experience and plenty of practice, Thurston says he still gets nervous at the start of his stage performance.
In Traverse City, Bunce hosts an open mic night at The Workshop Brewing Company. A year and a half ago, Nathan Allan met Bunce there and has now become a regular at both events.
Living just half an hour away from CCR, Allan started coming to the event this summer. Drawn to the outdoor setting and overall “vibe” that the event has.
“We’ve got a fire going, and there’s a lot of non-players that come out just to listen too,” said Allan.
Allan describes his music genre as “Singer Songwriter Alt Country.” With a personal dislike for “Top 40 Country,” he says he likes to play “twangy stuff.”
With influences from general life and the experiences that come with living in Northern Michigan. “I’ve been all over but I always gravitate back here,” said Allan.
Allan says he started playing the guitar at 13 and instantly as writing his own songs. Though he didn't get comfortable with songwriting until his 20s, Allan played in “lots of garbage bands” over the years. He says those bands are the reason he stuck with music.
Along with playing at open mic nights in the area, Allan also does “proper” shows sometimes. Pre-COVID he performed this way more often but July 20th at CCR marked his first proper show since.
“I just lost the habit of weekly gigs and then realized I didn't really like playing just bar gigs,” said Allan. “I liked playing my own songs and it's hard to play your own songs at typical bar gigs because people want something they know.”
Allan says he continues to create music because of his own enjoyment, saying it is a great thing to come home to after work.
