History of the Buttermilk Jamboree
The Buttermilk Jamboree was established in 2011 by Circle Pines Center as an effort to cultivate our local community's kinship around cooperation, sustainability, music and art. It's function was designed to raise funds and awareness for this historical non-profit organization in a way that could bring people together to celebrate friendships and appreciation for the arts. The festival featured dozens of Michigan bands and artists as well as a few nationally touring groups. The Orchard Stage and the Sugarbush stage hosted the eclectic group of performers throughout the day and into the night, and the Open Mic stage gave a showcase for anyone with the courage to use a microphone. With a children's area, daily educational workshops, a tent conveniently located near the Orchard Stage serving locally crafted beer, wine and mead, beautiful campgrounds and so much more; this festival really started out with something for everyone.
Almost every area of Circle Pines was utilized in some way for the first music and arts festival in their history. There were tents scattered throughout the orchard, campers parked along the tree lines, jam sessions around the fire pits, and everywhere you looked- people truly enjoying themselves. In the workshop areas, they learned uses of wild herbs and plants, how to ferment and preserve their own food, how to play various instruments, how to make recycled paper, and much more. Instructors and local experts taught anyone who wanted to listen about their craft, or area of expertise; educating the dozens of eager students who came their way. In the vendor's area, artisans showcased handmade art and clothing next to booths where wellness specialists offered healthy living services such as massage. The lineup between the two stages included many well known groups such as An Dro, Chuck Whiting & His Rowdy Friends, the Conklin Ceili Band, Covert, Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys, Hot Day at the Zoo, the Macpodz, Orpheum Bell, Ralston Bowles, Rootstand, Seth Bernard & May Erlewine, the Tony LaJoye Trio, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus and many more. Truly, a showcase of some of the best musicians around.
There were other, more quiet, elements of the Buttermilk Jamboree as well, one of which was a memorial tribute and silent auction for Nick Metzner, who passed away suddenly in 2010, leaving behind many friends and family- several of whom were in attendance, and served as volunteers. They were able to commemorate his memory with a display at the Sugarbush Stage, and a presentation made from the Orchard Stage, including a poem that was written by Nick, and read by his mother. It was a touching way for his loved ones to remember a special person who remains greatly missed.
Throughout the grounds of Circle Pines Center, at any given time, there were so many wonderful things happening. Late at night, in the deep of the forest, a special presentation was set up with visual art projected onto a screen that festival attendees could watch while listening to ethereal music on wireless headphones. On the other side of the Sugar Bush Stage, the resident family of goats and ducks were audience to the twirling contra dancers moving throughout the pavilion. On top of the hill near the organic garden, face-painted children made dreamcatchers, fairy huts and homemade instruments. In the grassy lawn of the farmhouse, people of all generations smiled, tapped, and danced along to the acts that ranged from folk to R&B music. Putting on a music festival had long been in the thoughts of Circle Pines Center, and the 2011 Buttermilk Jamboree promised to be the start of something that could endure for many years to come.
Almost every area of Circle Pines was utilized in some way for the first music and arts festival in their history. There were tents scattered throughout the orchard, campers parked along the tree lines, jam sessions around the fire pits, and everywhere you looked- people truly enjoying themselves. In the workshop areas, they learned uses of wild herbs and plants, how to ferment and preserve their own food, how to play various instruments, how to make recycled paper, and much more. Instructors and local experts taught anyone who wanted to listen about their craft, or area of expertise; educating the dozens of eager students who came their way. In the vendor's area, artisans showcased handmade art and clothing next to booths where wellness specialists offered healthy living services such as massage. The lineup between the two stages included many well known groups such as An Dro, Chuck Whiting & His Rowdy Friends, the Conklin Ceili Band, Covert, Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys, Hot Day at the Zoo, the Macpodz, Orpheum Bell, Ralston Bowles, Rootstand, Seth Bernard & May Erlewine, the Tony LaJoye Trio, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus and many more. Truly, a showcase of some of the best musicians around.
There were other, more quiet, elements of the Buttermilk Jamboree as well, one of which was a memorial tribute and silent auction for Nick Metzner, who passed away suddenly in 2010, leaving behind many friends and family- several of whom were in attendance, and served as volunteers. They were able to commemorate his memory with a display at the Sugarbush Stage, and a presentation made from the Orchard Stage, including a poem that was written by Nick, and read by his mother. It was a touching way for his loved ones to remember a special person who remains greatly missed.
Throughout the grounds of Circle Pines Center, at any given time, there were so many wonderful things happening. Late at night, in the deep of the forest, a special presentation was set up with visual art projected onto a screen that festival attendees could watch while listening to ethereal music on wireless headphones. On the other side of the Sugar Bush Stage, the resident family of goats and ducks were audience to the twirling contra dancers moving throughout the pavilion. On top of the hill near the organic garden, face-painted children made dreamcatchers, fairy huts and homemade instruments. In the grassy lawn of the farmhouse, people of all generations smiled, tapped, and danced along to the acts that ranged from folk to R&B music. Putting on a music festival had long been in the thoughts of Circle Pines Center, and the 2011 Buttermilk Jamboree promised to be the start of something that could endure for many years to come.
Thank you to EV0FILMS for this great compilation of the 2011 festival!!
History of Circle Pines Center
Circle Pines Center is a member-owned and run non-profit cooperative organization. We run a children's summer camp and year round retreat and conference center with programs for families, children and adults. The co-op owns 294 acres of land with rolling hills, hardwood and pine forests, meadows and frontage on Stewart Lake. We have miles of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing, diverse wildlife and an organic garden and orchard.
The mission of Circle Pines is to teach peace, social justice, environmental stewardship and cooperation. The Center aims to demonstrate cooperative alternatives for economic and social issues and to teach cooperation as a way of life.
The History of Circle Pines Center began with the Central States Cooperative League, which met at the Ashland Folk School (1882-1938) of Grant, Michigan. The school offered a meeting place for people to attend conferences, retreats, and institutes on economic reform, peace education, and the growing cooperative movement. The summer school program at Ashland drew people from all cooperative sectors, who shared vital information about strengthening their co-ops, building the movement, and creating a better world. Families also went there, to play together and to find joy and purpose in cooperative recreation.
In 1938 the state Fire Marshall condemned the folk school building, so Chief Noonday Camp was rented to continue the programs. The Central States Cooperative League took over the operation of the summer school when the move was made, and the group set about looking for a permanent site for the new cooperative. They wanted to ensure that there would always be a place for cooperators to gather. In 1940 the Stewart Farm was purchased.
A Quaker work camp helped to ready the site that first summer, and the next year people were able to gather at their own cooperatively-governed Center. The purpose they constructed there; to become a center for cooperative culture to carry out education through demonstration, hasn't changed. The mission today is what it was then, to show the "superior advantages of cooperation as a way of life."
In the 40's and 50's, Circle Pines flourished as a folk school and family camp. Blues musician, Big Bill Broonzy, was on summer staff when Pete Seeger came to visit in 1957. Soon there was the turbulence of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam era anti-nuclear peace movement in the 60's and 70's. CPC'ers were involved, some as activists, some as observers, some even as veterans, but all were concerned. The following period has seen an acceleration of the ongoing interest of the CPC community in the environment while strengthening links with the movement for natural foods and organic gardening. As the twin pines surrounded by a circle represent the ever-lasting, enduring qualities of mutual cooperation, so does Circle Pines Center endure and thrive despite all obstacles.
People of different ideologies and religious beliefs are able to find common ground and work together for their mutual benefit in a non-judgmental environment where the dignity and worth of each individual is respected and valued. Today's Circle Piners are active in many social, educational and political activities and are still creating the history of the Center.
The mission of Circle Pines is to teach peace, social justice, environmental stewardship and cooperation. The Center aims to demonstrate cooperative alternatives for economic and social issues and to teach cooperation as a way of life.
The History of Circle Pines Center began with the Central States Cooperative League, which met at the Ashland Folk School (1882-1938) of Grant, Michigan. The school offered a meeting place for people to attend conferences, retreats, and institutes on economic reform, peace education, and the growing cooperative movement. The summer school program at Ashland drew people from all cooperative sectors, who shared vital information about strengthening their co-ops, building the movement, and creating a better world. Families also went there, to play together and to find joy and purpose in cooperative recreation.
In 1938 the state Fire Marshall condemned the folk school building, so Chief Noonday Camp was rented to continue the programs. The Central States Cooperative League took over the operation of the summer school when the move was made, and the group set about looking for a permanent site for the new cooperative. They wanted to ensure that there would always be a place for cooperators to gather. In 1940 the Stewart Farm was purchased.
A Quaker work camp helped to ready the site that first summer, and the next year people were able to gather at their own cooperatively-governed Center. The purpose they constructed there; to become a center for cooperative culture to carry out education through demonstration, hasn't changed. The mission today is what it was then, to show the "superior advantages of cooperation as a way of life."
In the 40's and 50's, Circle Pines flourished as a folk school and family camp. Blues musician, Big Bill Broonzy, was on summer staff when Pete Seeger came to visit in 1957. Soon there was the turbulence of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam era anti-nuclear peace movement in the 60's and 70's. CPC'ers were involved, some as activists, some as observers, some even as veterans, but all were concerned. The following period has seen an acceleration of the ongoing interest of the CPC community in the environment while strengthening links with the movement for natural foods and organic gardening. As the twin pines surrounded by a circle represent the ever-lasting, enduring qualities of mutual cooperation, so does Circle Pines Center endure and thrive despite all obstacles.
People of different ideologies and religious beliefs are able to find common ground and work together for their mutual benefit in a non-judgmental environment where the dignity and worth of each individual is respected and valued. Today's Circle Piners are active in many social, educational and political activities and are still creating the history of the Center.
