Elbow Room hosts a night of indie folk
If you're looking for a supplement — or an alternative — to the Riverfolk Festival in Manchester this weekend, go no further than the Friday night lineup at Ypsilanti bar the Elbow Room. It's a four-pack of young folksters you (may have) never heard of (but should). This Is Deer Country make the trek from their native U.P. to deliver dreamy tunes, while Philadelphia-based Hezekiah Jones is influenced by the homespun sounds of Iron & Wine and M. Ward. Also from Philly is Chris Kasper, whose laid-back style is reminiscent of Jack Johnson.
Topping off the evening is Chris Bathgate, a purveyor of melancholy melodies who's become one of southeast Michigan's favorite sons of alt-folk. A native of Illinois, he relocated to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan. Through his own prolific discography — last year's "A Cork Tale Wake" is his latest full-length, but he's since released an EP and a 7" split single with Hezekiah Jones — and an opening slot for Saturday Looks Good To Me in 2007, he cultivated a fanbase extending far beyond the coffeehouse circuit. In 2006, Real Detroit Weekly named him Best Solo Artist in Michigan, and in 2008 his songs "Serpentine" and "Yes I'm Cold" were selected as NPR Song of the Day and Starbucks Song of the Week, respectively.
PREVIEW Who: Chris Bathgate, Hezekiah Jones, This Is Deer Country, Chris Kasper. What: Rustic folk from four performers on the rise. When: Friday at 10 p.m. Where: The Elbow Room, 6 S. Washington, Ypsilanti. How much: $5. Info: 734-483-6374, or visit the Elbow Room web site.
Chrysta Cherrie is the entertainment producer/copy editor for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at chrystacherrie@annarbor.com.