Stoll Vaughn

ONE TO WATCH: THE SINGULAR STOLL VAUGHN

He’s toured with John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, a few of the Allman Brothers, and he’s composed for David Lynch. But the former Interlochen student prefers to go it alone. And he will, this month, across the North.

By Ross Boissoneau

Like virtually every other performer, Stoll Vaughan is excited to get back on the road. Relieved. And a little concerned. “It’s still not the same. You just don’t know,” says Vaughan.

The Kentucky-based singer-songwriter will be performing in northern and Western Michigan, beginning with a show at St. Ambrose in Beulah on Aug. 9, at Acoustic Tap in Traverse City on Aug. 10, High Five Spirits in Petoskey on Aug. 12, and the Cabbage Shed in Elberta on Aug. 13, with an additional date at WYCE in Grand Rapids at noon on Aug. 12. He’ll then head south for two shows in Tennessee.

Vaughan is well acquainted with the area. He graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy, which he cites as particularly inspirational — despite the fact he wasn’t enamored of school.

“John Wunsch [then head of the guitar program] saw something in me. I wasn’t a classical player, but he and the head of the English department, Michael Delp, inspired me to go out there and chance this,” he says. “It was an amazing school. It changed my life. But I hated school.”

Stoll has since carved out a career as a singer-songwriter in the vein of John Prine and Townes Van Zant. His albums have been well received, and he’s toured across the country as well as Europe; his debut album was named one of “Alternative Country’s Top Ten Records of the Year” in the Netherlands.

He’s quick to credit his trajectory to two mentors who’ve had such an impact on his work. One is Mike Wanchic, John Mellencamp’s longtime guitarist and producer.

“After Interlochen, I went to Indiana and got involved in Mellencamp’s world,” Stoll says. “Mike Wanchic got me geared into songwriting. That’s where I really found my place. I’m not the greatest guitarist.”

Maybe not, but it’s clear from listening to his music that his guitar playing is an essential part of his artistry. “I make music people can pick up a guitar and play. My quest is to get myself out of the way,” he says.

His second mentor: John Wunsch, who remains pivotal even today. “I’m sponsored [by Wunsch and his Traverse City guitarstrings company, Strings By Mail], and I’m so grateful he was willing to invest his time.”

Vaughan has toured with the likes of Mellencamp, John Fogerty, James McMurtry, Marty Stuart and the Allman Betts Band. The lattermost is led by three sons of the original Allman Brothers Band, and Vaughan has written songs that have appeared on both the band’s albums.

His music has also found its way into television and film, including True Blood, Friday Night Lights, Shameless, and The Office, including three songs in the series finale. He also worked with screen legend David Lynch, composing original music for his Interview Project.

“Most of my stuff for TV is stuff I’ve written for myself, as opposed to working with a director and trying to do music for his show.”

Stoll says he’s spent time as part of a team writing songs, where ideas are thrown out, first with the subject of the song, then adding details. He prefers the solo work.

“Solo, there’s less headaches. Keeping a band together is like herding cats. I’ve been playing by myself the last few years,” he says. His fourth studio album, Desires Shape, was released last year. It follows his preferred approach: stripped down to intricate guitar and voice in service to the lyrics.

That will be the format of his shows in this area. In fact, the performance at Acoustic Tap is being billed a house concert.

Though Stoll will perform alone, he’ll be traveling with his wife, Elizabeth, who is expecting their first child. He’s looking forward to showing her the area in which he spent a seminal part of his life. “She loves touring. We haven’t done it for a while. This is our first chance to jump in the RV. I think [each show] will be a really good night of songwriter performance.”

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aug saturday ELK RAPIDS HARBOR 07 DAYS: Aug. 4-7. Today includes the Harborun, Cornhole Tournament, Chicken BBQ, Grande Parade, Hole in One Contest, Pet Show, Sand Sculpture Building Contest, Dingy Parade, Paddle Harbor Days, Swan Race, Boat Lighting Contest & Display, fireworks & much more. elkrapidsharbordays. org/erhd-events-schedule ----------------------

WALK-A-THON: Frankfort’s Bellows Park on Crystal Lake. Walk, run, bike. Benefits Benzie Senior Resources. Register & begin your walk between 7:30-9am. A brunch box will be served from 8:30-11am. 231-525-0600. ----------------------

AMERICAN LEGION POST 531 CAR SHOW, CORNHOLE TEAM TOURNEY & DANCE: Enjoy these events representing Copemish Heritage Days. Classic Car & Truck Show Registration, 8-10am, $10 entry fee. Judging 10am1pm. Copemish Heritage Parade is at 1pm in Copemish. Cornhole Team Tournament Registration Starts at 2pm. $20 per team. DJ playing your dance favorites at the Legion from 7-9pm. Rock out to Fragile Hammer from 9-11pm. $5 Cover. 944-0221. facebook.com/copemishdays ----------------------

ONEKAMA DAYS: Aug. 6-9. Today includes Lions Pancakes in the Park, Boosters 5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile Fun Run, PLA Antique Car Show, Lions Doubles Cornhole Tournament, pig roast, fireworks, Bump n’ Run & more. 8a699dd0-4d22-4f80-ac28-71784a0b8c4d. filesusr.com/ugd/111d5a_ca1355cbc43b409bbe954f25a06f4e3e.pdf ----------------------

46TH ANNUAL BOYNE FALLS POLISH

FESTIVAL: Downtown Boyne Falls, Aug. 5-8. Polish food & music, rides, games, horse & tractor pulls, parades & more. boynefallspolishfestival.com/schedule-of-events ----------------------

MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSE FESTIVAL: Mission Point Lighthouse, TC, Aug. 6-7. Located at the north end of a picturesque drive along M-37 through cherry orchards & vineyards, the 2021 Michigan Lighthouse Festival host, Mission Point Lighthouse stands as a classic piece of 150 year old Michigan history. Visitors get a peek of what life was like around the turn of the century for lighthouse keepers & others who lived & worked in the area at the time. michiganlighthousefestival.com ----------------------

PETOSKEY ANTIQUES SHOW: 9am-5pm, Emmet County Fairgrounds, Petoskey. $10 per person; 12 & under, free. petoskeyantiques.com ----------------------

33RD ANNUAL BOATS ON THE BOARD-

WALK: 10am-4pm, Boardman River, downtown TC. Featuring vintage boats of all materials, boats older than 25 years, & wooden boats of any age. Free. wwcacbs.org/event/boats-onthe-boardwalk-boat-show

41ST ANNUAL SUTTONS BAY ART FESTI-

VAL: 10am-6pm, Marina Park, Suttons Bay. Featuring 100 artists, community groups, community library book sale, food vendors & a children’s area. Sun. includes a pancake breakfast. suttonsbayartfestival.org/about-1 ----------------------

58TH ANNUAL PORTSIDE ARTS FAIR: 10am-5pm. Held at Elm Pointe, 01656 South M-66 Highway, just 1.5 miles north of East Jordan. This juried art show is a family-friendly event with live entertainment, a snack booth sponsored by The Depot Teen Center, homemade pies & an opportunity to tour the historical museum located on site. Donations appreciated. portsideartsfair.org ----------------------

BOOK SALE: 10am-4pm, Helena Township Community Center, Alden. Sponsored by Friends of the Alden District Library. Featuring books, DVDs, & music CDs. 231-331-4318. ----------------------

PAUL MCMULLEN MEMORIAL 5K: 10am, 3740 South 41 Rd., Cadillac. Cross-country style course. It is held in memory of 1996 Olympian, Paul McMullen. $30. runsignup.com/ Race/MI/Cadillac/PaulMcMullenMemorial5kR unWalk?aflt_token=vkmwDmweQ4iCYn8otSO OnKQ3vCO8buOw ----------------------

SIDEWALK SALES DAY IN BEULAH &

BENZONIA: 10am-4pm, Downtown Beulah & Benzonia. Two blocks of downtown streets will be closed so that shoppers may roam freely among the bargains. A variety of vendors from the Beulah Art Fair will also participate. ----------------------

WALLOON WOODIES 2021: 11am-12:30pm. Held on the docks in front of Barrel Back restaurant in the Village of Walloon Lake. A group of wooden boat owners get together the first Sat. in Aug. to parade their boats down Walloon Lake. Free. facebook.com/walloonwoodies ----------------------

GAYLORD AUTHOR GLEN A. CATT:

11:30am-1:30pm, Saturn Booksellers, Gaylord. An in-store sit-n-sign for Catt’s new book, “International Leadership: The Glen’s Market Culture.” saturnbooksellers.com/event/sit-n-signgaylord-author-glen-catt ----------------------

ONEKAMA ONEFIFTY EVENT: 1-6pm, Village Park, Onekama. Onekama Parks & Rec Scavenger Hunt. onekama.info/onekama-onefifty ----------------------

KALKASKA COUNTY CELEBRATES 150

YEARS: 3-5pm. Free Community Ice Cream Social at the Kalkaska Senior Center/COA, 303 S. Coral St., from 3-5pm. Display of the 1971 & 1996 Time Capsule. Join local officials & dignitaries for a proclamation, music & memories. Free. ----------------------

GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER’S PLEIN AIR WEEKEND 2021: Painters from across Michigan & the Midwest will converge on Glen Arbor Aug. 6-7 for the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s 12th Plein Air Weekend. This year the event will be highlighted by two outdoor painting competitions & two exhibitions of original work. The Quick Draw is Fri., Aug. 6. This year’s theme

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send your dates to: events@traverseticker.com

Ahoy mateys! Pirates invade Boyne City, Arrrgust 11-15 during the Boyne City Piratefest! Head to the Pirate Queen Pageant, Piratefest Parade, Cap’n Kid’s Fair, Pirate River Raft Adventure, The Battle of the Boyne River, The Highlander Games, Peg Leg Tavern Trot and much more. boynecitypiratefest.com

asks artists to “Capture Village Life: Images of Empire & Glen Arbor.” Quick Draw paintings will be on view & for sale at the Glen Arbor Township Hall on Fri. from 5-6:30pm. The Paint Out Exhibit & Sale is Sat., Aug. 7. It features work by 70 artists who registered early to be included in this all-day painting event. The evening viewing & sale is 5:30–7pm at the Glen Arbor Township Hall. glenarborart.org/eventspage/plein-air-weekend ----------------------

MOTORS & MAYHEM DERBY: 6pm, Kalkaska County Fairgrounds Arena. Presented by Keiser Boys Motorsports & the Kalkaska County Agricultural Fair. Pit passes, $15. Adults, $10; kids 3-10, $5. fb.me/e/cGS0TIDWG ----------------------

GAYLORD COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA: PA-

VILION POPS: 7pm, Pavilion on Court, downtown Gaylord. Hear the orchestra play pops favorites including traditional marches, rock tunes & movie themes. Free. ----------------------

LIVE MUSIC IN THE VILLAGE WITH IZZY

WALLACE: 7-9pm, Crystal Mountain, Barr Park, Thompsonville. crystalmountain.com/ event/live-music-saturdays/8 ----------------------

TRAVERSE CITY DANCE PROJECT COM-

MUNITY TOUR: 7pm, Bronson Park, Kingsley. This free outdoor performance will feature a string quartet from the Traverse Symphony Orchestra performing Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons & choreography by Dance Project artistic directors Brent Whitney & Jennifer McQuiston Lott & guest choreographers Alyssa Meyers, Maddy Falconer & Madison Vamostack. The second part of the evening includes two contemporary dance premiers & the program concludes with an optional Q&A with the dancers, choreographers & musicians. ----------------------

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. ROCKFORD RIV-

ETS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. Norte Night. Norte will have their own orange cheering section, a pre-game balance bike race, & ceremonial first pitches. $3 per ticket will fund Norte programs. northwoodsleague.com/traverse-city-pit-spitters/ ----------------------

LAVENDER HILL FARM SERIES: CHRIS

WAGONER & MARY GAINES: 7:30-9pm, Lavender Hill Farm, Boyne City. These musicians, together & separately, are founding members of several of Wisconsin’s musical groups, past & present: Harmonious Wail (vintage jazz), The Common Faces (original “folk-soul”), The Bob Westfall Band (original “jazz-grass”), The Moon Gypsies (original Americana/roots-rock), The Stellanovas (“cafe jazz”) & many more. $30 barn; $10 lawn. lavenderhillfarm.com/serieslineup

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