Michigan Steel Guitarists...please stand up.

[Karl Truitt]

Karl in Grand Rapids here. Things are a bit slow in West Michigan, so in the mean time...I'm working on the back neck.

[Carmen Acciaioli]

Grew up and learned pedal steel in Metro Detroit area of Michigan.

[Frank James Pracher]

I'm a lap steel player, south of Traverse City. Lost my thunder for gigging in 2020, but I still enjoy playing on my porch... and my neighbors still like me so, that's something.

[Justin Wierenga]

Hello!

Multi-instrumentalist (pedal and lap steel, guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo) over here in West Michigan that keeps busy around 150ish gigs a year as well as working a lot in studios.

I gig on steel with The Bootstrap Boys quite a bit, as well as Ralston Bowles, Eric Engblade, Justin Avdek, Tommy Foster, Carrie McFerrin, etc.

I've also played steel occasionally with the killer bluegrass group Full Cord.

[Karl Truitt]

Hi Justin

....where are you in West Michigan....the steel is deader than disco in Grand Rapids....anyway...glad to hear you're busy

cheers
Karl

[Jack Hanson]

I played an outdoor wedding on a little pond outside Hesperia once. The best part was the ride back and forth on the car ferry between Manitowoc and Ludington.
Does that count?

[Karl Truitt]

Hi Jack

Sure does....Hesperia is a small town north of Fremont MI....the SS Badger is a fun ride too

[Kyle Van Koevering]

Hey everyone,

I’m in the Grand Rapids area and have been playing for about a year now. Nice to see others in the area on here.

[Jack Hanson]

....the SS Badger is a fun ride too

Because the wedding in Hesperia (the groom was from Fremont and the bride was from Charlevoix) occurred almost a half-century ago during the summer of 1977, one or both trips across Lake Michigan could very well have been aboard the SS Spartan. I just can't remember. Nevertheless, it was definitely a fun ride, no doubt about it!

[Justin Wierenga]

Hey Karl!

I live in Grand Haven, but will be playing steel at Artprize today in Grand Rapids, and then also playing steel tomorrow for the Easttown Block Party during the day, and then at Tip Top Deluxe for the evening gig.

Being a multi-instrumentalist playing many genres of music, that's the only way I can stay busy nowadays!

[Drew Howard]

Hi Justin! GR has workin' steel guys, Justin Wierenga and Andy Travis. Mark Huggy Lavengood kills on dobro!

I'm out of Lansing and standing up. Lansing is not a live music mecca by any stretch, but Grand Rapids is happening with venues like the Tip Top Deluxe, SpeakEZ Lounge, Meijer Gardens, etc..

I've been a SGF member for almost 30 years. Holy cow, where did the time go?!