The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College will present the Jay Ungar and Molly Mason Family Band on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 8:00 PM in the Milliken Auditorium. Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 at the door, $22 for Museum Members plus fees. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Museum Box office at 231-995-1553 or on line at www.dennosmuseum.org.
While they don’t all live under the same roof, this family makes terrific music and has a rip-roarin’ good time while they’re at it. The Jay Ungar & Molly Mason Family Band features Jay, Molly, Jay’s daughter Ruth Ungar Merenda, and her husband Michael Merenda.
With exceptional musicianship and a vast knowledge of a number of music styles, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason are one of the most celebrated duos in American acoustic music. They achieved international acclaim in 1990 when their performance of Jay’s composition Ashokan Farewell became the musical hallmark of Ken Burns’ The Civil War on PBS.
Ruth and Mike Merenda are also known from their band, The Mammals. Ruth Merenda cut her teeth on traditional music, and grew up to be a top-flight performer. She brings fiddle, ukulele, guitar and deeply moving vocal performances to the Family Band. Mike Merenda favored rock and ska before being drawn into the world of acoustic music. He adds old-time banjo, guitar and percussion to the mix.
These are four terrific musicians, who when you put them together, the sum really is greater than its parts. Double fiddles, sweet vocal harmonies and rhythmic energy abound as two generations collaborate to entertain you with music from the heart and soul of America.
With the purchase of a ticket to this performance, concert goers are invited to a post-concert reception with the performers in the museum court.
The 2013-2014 performance season at the Dennos Museum Center is made possible with support from the Robert T and Ruth Haidt Trust, and the Osterlin Performance Endowment, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts, with media support from
WNMC 90.7, WCMU Public Broadcasting and TV 29&8. Housing for our performers is provided by the Cambria Suites and Country Inn. The Ungar and Mason concert is sponsored by Bob and Grace Rudd.