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Short's Brewing Company News and Upcoming Events

Brewery News: • Duhks (coming July 17) advance tickets now available at Short's $12 • Now open Thursdays! • Vote your Short's! Shorts Brewing Company is expanding into other states. Where those states are is partially up to you! As part of our expansion formula we are considering this vote in our calculations. The final decision will be determined by state laws, logistics, competition, and your vote. • Bellaire: A Culinary Jewel in Michigan's Chain-of-Lakes Country (From the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau) • Short's Brewing Company Expansion: Short's Brewing Company announces Bellaire expansion, new Elk Rapids facility. Read more!

Thursday, July 3: Blind Dog Hank honor cover • 9pm 'Blind Dog Hank' is Sandy Blumenfeld and Geno Miller playing rhythmic blues and folk/blues original and classic blues rock tunes. The band consists of Geno (guitar & mandolin) and Sandy (slide guitars) as the nucleus,with fiddle and harmonica players Jonah Powell and Greg Stanton playing on occasion. 'Blind Dog' has been performing around Traverse City and Leelanau county for the past several years. Sandy and Geno are long time friends and musicians from previous projects such as The Tourists, The Red Ball Jets, Luther Gravy, The Zebra Mussels, and others. The music is upbeat, high energy, and will bring folks out on the dance floor throughout the concert.

Friday, July 4: Pinky Lee honor cover • 9pm Holly and Jenny bring their band to Short's looking fo folks that want to get up and move with their new up-energy sound. Their March appearance on Prairie Home Companion has started a new group of fans for them--come be one of them. Folk-rock, country, soul.

Saturday, July 5: Brett Mitchell & the Giant GHOST 9:00pm • $4 Brett Mitchell & the giant GHOST: the 4 piece band is pop rock at its finest, chock full of upbeat electric rock with catchy licks, acoustic whims, and Brett’s vocals that will absolutely captivate you. Brett Mitchell was born (too late) and raised in Midland, MI. He taught himself to play the drums at age 14 and was traveling and drumming professionally by age 17. Brett began strumming guitar at age 18 and in 2005, with a studio gift certificate for 4 hours, he began recording what eventually would become his debut CD, {Stereo}. Brett now lives in a small house, inspiration for the new album, Small House, which released in November ‘07. With the buzz of the new album and the premier of the new video, Born Too Late, Brett and his band, the giant GHOST, are gigging heavily throughout the Midwest. Brett provides vocals & electric/acoustic guitar and giant GHOST revolving guitarists, Scott VanDell of Saginaw, MI, and Rick Manges of Midland, MI, provide the wail factor, while Mike Cramton, a Saginaw, MI native, supplies tender vocal harmonies and the best of the best in percussion support. Bill Hall, also from Saginaw, has come on board, with his amazing bass intuition, completing the fantastically tight and mesmerizing Brett Mitchell live pop sound. A show will include Brett’s originals and the covers that inspire him.

Wednesday, July 9: Carl Sterr and Friends honor cover • 9pm

Thursday, July 10: Grass River Natural Area Benefit Concert with Switchback Nestled in the hills of Antrim County in Michigan's northwest corner of the lower peninsula, the Grass River Natural Area encompasses lakes, a meandering river, rushing streams and crystal clear creeks — a haven for plant and animal life, including both rare and endangered species spanning five distinct ecotones. This natural eco-guardian project and adventure in environmental tourism lies midway on the renowned Chain of Lakes waterway, a connector of Torch and Clam lakes, and Lake Bellaire.

Friday, July 11: Andrew Sturtz honor cover • 9pm The local singer-songwriter-guitarist returns with a band this time after his amazing solo debut in June. Andrew is one of the best young male vocalists ever to perform at Short's. Martin Sexton is his main influence. Terrific original jazz-folk.

Saturday, July 12: Ann and Will Rowland honor cover • 9pm Ann and Will have been described as 'folk music with punch'. No surprise. Will paid his musical dues playing in Rock and Country Bands throughout Michigan, while Ann could be heard playing for audiences across the north in coffeehouses and open mics. An unlikely combination, but what happens when the two collide is a well-choreographed dance of two styles. Together, they leave no holes in a performance. Close your eyes and it's hard to believe that this much music can come from just two people. Great song choices, close harmonies, clean instrumental work and tasteful arranging combine to create their unique sound.

Thursday, July 17: The Duhks 7 PM Doors, 8 PM Show with special guests the Well Fed Kids $12 in Advance, $15 at the Door All Ages Welcome Presented by Porterhouse Productions Tickets Available Online @ www.PorterhouseProductions.com and in Traverse City at Cuppa Joe, Borders Books & Patisserie Amie, and in Bellaire at Short's Brewing Co. Advance ticket prices do not reflect outlet or online handling fees The Winnipeg, Manitoba-based DUHKS have always gravitated towards traditional roots-based song structures, but they've never stopped evolving since their inception five years ago. Due in part to a collective musical worldview that knows no boundaries, that evolution led the band to their latest offering Fast-Paced World, the first Duhks record to feature prodigies Sarah and Christian Dugas (replacing vocalist Jessee Havey and percussionist Scott Senior respectively). It's an album that reflects the quintet's newfound confidence, with Sarah bringing five original songs to the band's encyclopedic collection of originals and covers both old and new. It's that kind of musical DNA that makes the band's spot-on fusion of traditional bluegrass, folk rock, Afro-Cuban jazz and soul so accessible and yet so hard to pigeonhole. It's also earned them a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Country Vocal Performance category as well as a Juno award in their native Canada. check out the DUHKS' newest tune 'MIGHTY STORM' here: http://www.duhks.com/ and more songs on the DUHKS' MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/theduhks/ find out more about the DUHKS' sustainability projects here: http://www.greenduhks.com/ Also check out WELL FED KIDS MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/thewellfedkids

Friday, July 18: David Molinari honor cover • 9pm with special guest Jon Timm at 8pm From the Zydeco-influenced band, Creolization, multi-instrumentalist and songwriting, David Molinari, and accordionist, Lauran Bittinger, team up as a duo to deliver Molinari's emotive and energetic pop songs in an entertaining, foot stomping, soulful performance. Instrumental and stylistic variety as well as improvisational musical arrangements characterize their act, making fro a creative and high energy evening.

Saturday, July 19: 45th Parallel $4 • 9pm First appearance at Short's for these local rockers!

Thursday, July 24: Sam Corbin and Jen Sygit honor cover • 9pm To hear Jen Sygit sing reminds us that old souls do live in young minds. This Fresh talent haling from Southern Michigan has made a sudden impact on the region's musical community. Whether delving into mournful blues tunes, haunting folk ballads or rousing bluegrass numbers, Jen's rapidly growing repertoire of original songs has surpassed many with its sophisticated lyrics and intense emotion. This Interlochen Alumus, while composing songs primarily on guitar, also plays old-time clawhammer banjo as well as the dobro.

Friday, July 25: TBD

Saturday, July 26: Jetty Rae honor cover • 9pm Music with a conscience and a soul

Thursday, July 31: Dwain Martin and Amy Cook honor cover • 9pm Singer-songwriter Dwain Martin and Amy Cook (also of Acoustic Stew) have set out on a duo adventure as their busy schedules allow. They will be presenting originals from Dwain's song book and his newest, soon-to-be-released CD. Dwain has been writing songs for well over 20 years. Dwain and Amy have also been active in the local open-mic and coffee-house circuit for several years. Dwain is a dynamic lyricist and Amy's bass guitar skills make the foundation for some of the best folk music in Northern Michigan. Dwain and Amy continue Short's ongoing series of duos.

Friday, August 1: Andrew Sturtz honor cover • 9pm

Saturday, August 2: Boyne River Remedy honor cover • 9pm

Thursday, August 7: Luke Winslow-King honor cover • 9pm Hailing from Northern Michigan, Luke Winslow-King is a singer/songsmith, multi-instrumentalist and composer on a journey to become a true musical expeditionary. Inspired by New Orleans old time music, impressionism, delta blues, and classical composition, his sound is both rustic and elegant.

Friday, August 8: winter/sessions honor cover • 9pm winter/sessions started in 2001 as an aesthetic movement to pass the long winter months of Michigan. The first recordings of winter/sessions are raw, a basic analog 4-track recorder with often only a single microphone. Since then, the recording process has changed, as has the setting. Their debut album, 'memphis/sessions,' was recorded and produced independently in Memphis, Michigan in the spring of 2007 and was released in September at the Earthwork Harvest Gathering. The album has since been nominated for two Jammie Awards by the Grand Rapids independent radio station WYCE: Best Local Folk Album of the Year and Best New Local Folk Album of the Year. With the line up of a bluegrass band (acoustic guitar, dobro, banjo and mandolin) winter/sessions stay clear of a single genre. Their sound is rooted in traditional bluegrass and folk, however winter/sessions likes to move their music progressively in and out of genres, away from a stylized or prescribed category. Their end product is a sound that is both pure and new, a sound that hangs midway between tradition and innovation. Their sophomore album solstice/sessions is being released early this summer.

Saturday, August 9: Dwain Martin CD Release Party honor cover • 9pm Dwain has been writing songs for well over 20 years and is a dynamic lyricist.

Thursday, August 14: Salmon Company featuring Samantha Robbins honor cover • 9pm

Friday, August 15: Jetty Rae honor cover • 9pm Music with a conscience and a soul

Saturday, August 16: TBD

Thursday, August 21: Ten Foot Tall and 80 Proof honor cover • 9pm

Friday, August 22: Well Fed Kids honor cover • 8pm Folk, jazz, original music

Saturday, August 23: Mark Duval and Tracci Seuss honor cover • 9pm

Thursday, August 28: Nick Strange Cosmic Duo honor cover • 9pm The musical entity known as Nick Strange has been in existence in various forms since 1998. From 1999 to 2005 the band released four critically acclaimed CDs as a trio. In 2005 as the final touches of the forth CD “Stray Dog Serenades” were being recorded, Band leader Daniel Orcutt by chance met Jessica Oberholtzer and she came to the studio to sing some backing vocals for the disk. This was the musical equivalent of a lighting strike. Her outstanding abilities as a vocalist inspired an evolutionary process of change for the group culminating in the release of “Yesterday was Better” in October of 2007. The Nick Strange Cosmic Duo is currently in the preliminary stages of CD number six which will feature songs sung by Oberholtzer in a stripped down acoustic music setting, also featuring ethereal grooves overlaid with electric cello.

Friday, August 29: The Ragbirds honor cover • 10pm with special guest Pinky Lee at 8pm and Rose Fraser at 7pm Girl singers rule! In one of the best shows of the year, four top female singers - Erin, Holly, Jenny and Rose - will take over the brewery all night long. Folk, jazz, rock, country, reggae, latin, street beat, afro-beat - is there anything left? Dance, listen, laugh and cry. You'll be exhausted by closing time. New CDs from all three groups. The Ragbirds use many traditional folk instruments including violin, acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo, accordion, acoustic guitar, piano and harmonica. But this folky root is firmly embedded in the soil of rhythm, ancient and new, incorporating African poly-rhythms and Afro-Cuban tumbaos, over sometimes rock, hip-hop or reggae style drum-kit.

Saturday, August 30: TBD

Friday, September 6: Boyne River Remedy honor cover • 8pm Legend holds that the recipe for the elixir known as the “Boyne River Remedy” was closely guarded, whispered from aged father to son, mother to daughter, stretching back to the darkness before recorded time. Only recently did a fearless group of local musicians unlock its secret mix of blues, classic rock, and traditional music, blending it with traces of hip-hop, alternative, and funk to create a sound as catchy as the bird flu (though thankfully less toxic). On the spot, they swore a pact to join their powers into a virtuosic rock band with a dynamic, positive stage show. Taking the name of the potion as the title of their mystical order, the Boyne River Remedy set out on a quest: to bring this elixir to all who need the life-giving properties of rock-n-roll. Are you ready for the Boyne River Remedy?

Friday, September 12: Reggie and the After Party honor cover • 8pm Out of the ashes of Detroit super group "bloom," "The After Party" is a rock band playing all original music with some rock & soulful pieces thrown in to please everybody. Reggie Smith is the best front man in the city, and surrounds himself with heavy hitters schooled in blues, jazz, funk, and everything inbetween.

Saturday, September 13: Pinky Lee honor cover • 8pm Holly Keller and Jenny Bousquet bring their new plugged-in band to Short's looking for fans that want to get out on the floor and move. Folk-rock, country, soul and a bit of reggae.

Saturday, September 20: Josh Hall and the Alcohol honor cover • 8pm

 

Stay up-to-date on special events!

Tuesday Night: Open Mic, 8pm
Open Monday to Saturday from 11:30 am till midnight - sometimes later.
Sunday noon to 11 pm

Smugglin Plumbs: Sweet perfume of rich roast and plum, cast through hearty malted complexity, finishing slightly sweet and dry. .75 lbs. plumb per gallon. 5.8% ABV

Cup a Joe coffee Cream Stout: Deep aromatics of malt, sweet espresso and cocoa. Flavor is robust with big malt character covered with cream and coffee. 6.0% ABV

Snow Wheat: Winter Hefeweizen Style What Ale - notes of banana and clove

Hangin Frank: Toasted pale ale with tons of citrus hoppiness.

The Golden Rule: Our organic English IPA has a simple malt profile which lends most of its attention to the unique hop flavor and aroma. 5.8% ABV

The Magician: A rich lustrous dark red London ale. Rich malt complexities lending notes of toaste caramel, raisins, toffee, and slight roast chocolate. Very light hop additions let the true malt characters promenade throughout the tasting enjoyment this beer
offers. 6.0% ABV

Black Cherry Porter
Chocolate Wheat
Huma Lupa Licious
The Village Reserve
The Soft Parade
Local's Light
Pontius Road Pilsner
Autumn ALe
Bellaire Brown
Pandemonium Pale Ale

The Beer Locator:
Find Short's brews all over Michigan!

Want to serve Short's at your establishment? Let us know!



Bellaire Smokehouse

Rooted to Nature

Disc Golf Michigan

Grass River Natural Area

Michigan Folk Live

Stonewaters Inn

The Village of Bellaire

The Inns of Antrim County
Up North Lodging

Grand Victorian Bed & Breakfast Inn

Applesauce Inn

Institute for Sustainable Living, Art & Natural Design (ISLAND)

Deep Wood Press

Earthwork Music

Fritz Horstman

Nathan Baker Photography

Steppin' In It

Ween

Trattoria Stella

Magnum Hospitality

Michigan Brewers Guild

Pro Image Design

Chain O' Lakes Camp

Brewers Association

Master Brewers Association of the Americas