Dogwood

August 13 – Ralston Bowles - 7:30 p.m.
2021-08-13 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Detroit) | Dogwood Center for Performing Arts, 4734 S. Campus Court, Fremont, MI, 49412, United States
Widely revered as “the ambassador of West Michigan music,” award-winning folk and Americana artist Ralston Bowles is a uniquely compelling troubadour whose influence and songs reach across the United States and the globe. The musician and singer-songwriter has released several critically acclaimed albums – including “Carwreck Conversations” and “Rally at the Texas Hotel” – containing songs that have been covered and reinterpreted by a host of indie-folk artists, from Peter Mulvey to Caroline Aiken. He has frequently toured the United States and Europe, sharing stages with the likes of Bob Dylan, Shawn Colvin, Arlo Guthrie, Hothouse Flowers and many more. His compelling and insightful songs have inspired a generation of musicians, evidenced by a recent double-album (“Michigan Music”) compiled as a tribute to Bowles, a project featuring 33 Michigan bands and solo artists.
Ralston Bowles’s father played the fiddle, guitar and banjo in the Appalachia hills before he moved to Gary, Indiana, to work the steel mills. Ralston’s first professional job was at the age of 16 when he was asked to make up one of his story songs for a neighborhood party. After graduation he found himself playing in clubs and coffeehouses throughout the Midwest, making up songs about the people and places he visited. He has received awards and recognition from American Songwriter Magazine, NSAI/CMT, Unisong, the International Song Competition and Mountain Stage New Song, among many others. As a Kerrville New Folk finalist, he even found himself opening for such artists as Shawn Colvin, T-Bone Burnett and Arlo Guthrie. His first recording, “Carwreck Conversations,” was produced with Marvin Etzioni and earned him triple Jammy Awards locally and recognition as best musician in West Michigan by Grand Rapids magazine. It also led him to his first commercial release through Judy Collins’ Wildflower Records. His second album Rally at the Texas Hotel also won best album of the year and features a duet with Bob Dylan band leader, Charlie Sexton. He has become a bi-annual favorite at Boston’s Club Passim. He first came to Italy 4 years ago to participate in a Townes Van Zandt Tribute night in Milan at Casa 139 with a number of world traveled musicians celebrating the Texas songwriter. Ralston’s newest album “Little Miracles” features 35 musicians, all of them top-drawer players was produced by band leader for Emmy Lou Harris, Phil Madeira. Ralston recorded his parts while in the midst of chemotherapy treating colon cancer. Tracks were recorded in numerous states and assembled in Nashville. He is currently in remission and glad to be back out playing again after a long two year break.
Click here to get your tickets now! Tickets are $15 each, reserved seating. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont. Doors open for seating at 7:00 p.m.
Online sales close two hours prior to events, please call the box office for ticket availability at 231-924-8885 if online sales have ended.

July 30 and July 31 – Dogwood Summer Youth Theater: “Comedy of Errors” - 7:30 p.m.
2021-07-30 19:30 - 2021-07-31 19:30
“Comedy of Errors” is one of William Shakespeare’s early plays with a major part of the humor coming from slapstick and mistaken identity, in addition to puns and word play. As the story unfolds, the characters Antipholus and Dromio go to Ephesus to find them after both being separated from their twins in a shipwreck. The other set of twins live in Ephesus, and the new arrivals cause a series of incidents of mistaken identity. At the end, the twins find each other and their parents and resolve all of the problems caused earlier. The Dogwood Summer Youth Theater will be directed again by Chelsea Webb and Casey Webb.
Admission is free but tickets are required, limited to 10 per person. Please click here and complete checkout for your tickets.
Seating style is reserved seating. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont. Doors open for seating at 7:00 p.m.
Online sales close two hours prior to events, please call the box office for ticket availability at 231-924-8885 if online sales have ended.

July 16 – Grand Rapids Symphony Brass Quintet Ensemble - 7:30 – 8:00 p.m.
2021-07-16 19:30 - 20:00
This outdoor performance on the lawn East of the Dogwood Center will feature a mix of light classical and pops with musicians from the Grand Rapids Symphony brass ensemble! Join us and you will experience a world-class brass quintet ensemble performing for you live at the Dogwood! Musicians include Charley Lea and George Goad on trumpet, Erich Peterson on horn, Chris Haoulihan on trombone and Jacob Cameron on tuba. Bring your lawn chairs or a picnic blanket to enjoy the evening. This program is funded in part by the Fremont Area Community Foundation.
For more information please contact the Dogwood Center at 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont, Michigan.

July 9 – Red Clay Strays – 7:30 p.m.
2021-07-09 19:30 - 21:00
From the far reaches of rural south Alabama, the Red Clay Strays claim their unique sound with a humble confidence that can only come from their upbringing. This band, on stage and off, reminds you of southern music’s heyday and gives you hope that it may not have lost its way after all. Growing up listening to gospel along with artists such as Waylon Jennings, The Eagles, and the Allman Brothers, their wide range of influences create a combined style of the country music and southern rock we’ve all been waiting for. Lead singer, Brandon Coleman, with vocals that bring to mind a young Elvis, is the heart of their high energy show along with Drew Nix on rhythm guitar, Zach Rishel on lead, Andrew Bishop on bass and John Hall on drums.
Click here to get your tickets now! Tickets are $15 each, reserved seating. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont. Doors open for seating at 7:00 p.m.
Online sales close two hours prior to events, please call the box office for ticket availability at 231-924-8885 if online sales have ended.

June 18 - Brett Newski & the No Tomorrow - 7:30 p.m.
2021-06-18 19:30 - 21:30
Brett Newski & the No Tomorrow has a unique sound that falls somewhere between 90’s Alternative Rock and Geek Rock. Brett Newski is the lead singer, alternative songwriter, illustrator and podcaster based in Milwaukee, WI. He has been featured on Rolling Stone, NPR, American Songwriter, SiriusXM, Boston Globe, and Paste.
Known by many as the first band ever to be kicked out of Wal-Mart for playing an illegal show, Brett Newski & the No Tomorrow are bringing their 90’s influenced sound across America this year.
Coming off recent sonic collaborations with Barenaked Ladies co-founder Steven Page and Brian Vander Ark of the Verve Pipe, Newski launches eight new tracks, a soundtrack to his book titled “It’s Hard to be a Person: Defeating Anxiety Surviving the World, and Having More Fun.”
Newski has played alongside acts like Pixies, Violent Femmes, Courtney Barnett, Manchester Orchestra, Better than Ezra & New Pornographers. He continues to tour over 100 dates per year.
Newski’s podcast Dirt from the Road dives into strangest travel stories, mental health boosts, and how to navigate the hurdles of being a person in modern times. Guests include The Lumineers, All American Rejects, Dashboard Confessional, Guster, Heartless Bastards, Verve Pipe, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Frank Turner. Visit brettnewski.com for more information.
“Newski’s live shows are part rock n’ roll, part stand up, and part therapy. In the end, the room is won over.”
-Jim McGuinn, The Current, MPLS
Click here to get your tickets now! Tickets are $15 each. Seating style is reserved seating with social distancing. Seating is limited to 75 total. Mask guidelines per MDHHS will be followed at the Dogwood Center. For information, phone 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont. Doors open for seating at 7:00 p.m.
Expectations of visitors to the Dogwood Center:
Respect social distancing guidelines.
Observe and comply with signage and guidelines posted throughout the facility.
If you are not feeling well… stay home and get well!
Let’s help keep each other healthy!

May 22 - Dogwood Summer Youth Theater Auditions – 2:00 pm
2021-05-22 14:00 - 17:00
The Dogwood Summer Youth Theater will be holding auditions on Saturday, May 22 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Dogwood Center for Performing Arts, for their summer production of Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors” for youth ages 12 years and up. Casting calls for a 14 male and female roles with room for a few extras.
The “Comedy of Errors” is one of William Shakespeare’s early plays with a major part of the humor coming from slapstick and mistaken identity, in addition to puns and word play. As the story unfolds, the characters Antipholus and Dromio go to Ephesus to find them after both being separated from their twins in a shipwreck. The other set of twins live in Ephesus, and the new arrivals cause a series of incidents of mistaken identity. At the end, the twins find each other and their parents and resolve all of the problems caused earlier.
Young people attending the audition should enter using the canopy covered door at the Dogwood Center. Masks covering nose and mouth are required by all while inside the Dogwood Center.
If unable to attend the auditions on May 22, video auditions of a recorded reading of the audition monologue will be accepted through May 23 and emailed to webb.caseyrose@gmail.com.

Click here for the Dogwood SYT Audition Monologue 2021
Click here for the Dogwood SYT Audition Form 2021

The Dogwood Summer Youth Theater will be directed this summer by Chelsea Webb and Casey Webb. The performance dates for “Comedy of Errors” are July 30 and 31. This program is funded in part by the Fremont Area Community Foundation.
For more information please contact the Dogwood Center at 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont, Michigan.

May 8 - Lynn and the Moonshine Runners - 7:30
2021-05-08 19:30 - 21:00
Lynn and the Moonshine Runners are purveyors of Mountain Music, combining Bluegrass, Alternative Country and Indie to form a style that is captivating, moving and emotional. 12 String flat picker and strong vocal artist Lynn Thompson was born in East Tennessee and raised in Chicago, his musical influences range from Peter Gabriel to the Stanley Brothers. Ian Grant is on Bass Guitar and provides rhythm and a beat that is both big stage and porch persona. Their music reaches the heart, soul, spirit and the funny bone!
Click here to get your tickets now! Tickets are $15 each. Seating style is reserved seating with social distancing. Seating is limited to 75 total. Masks worn over mouth and nose will be required at all times in the Dogwood Center. For information, phone 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont. Doors open for seating at 7:00 p.m.
Expectations of visitors to the Dogwood Center:

Respect social distancing guidelines.
Wear face covering over both nose and mouth.
Wear face covering at all times.
Observe and comply with signage and guidelines posted throughout the facility.
If you are not feeling well… stay home and get well!
Let’s help keep each other healthy!
