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Short's Brewing Company News and Upcoming Events

Brewery News: • 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! Attention fellow home brewers: Join the Northern Michigan Home Brewers online group! Follow this link: http://groups.google.com/group/northern-michigan-home-brewers

Monday, May 12: Couples' Dance $5 7:00-9:00 Learn all kinds of dance, including jitterbug, swing, two step, squares and contras. Come with a partner or find one here!

Saturday, May 17: Pinky Lee Josh n Me with special guest Willy Jam honor cover • 8pm Willy Jam opens at 7:30pm Still glowing from their March performance on Prarie Home Companion, the groups swarms their favorite brewing venue. Jenny Bousquet and Holly Keller have been playing music together for the past year of 2007 as Pinky Lee, writing songs about family, love, and seasons, with a folky, soulful, individual style. Both girls play guitar and mandolin while singing unique vocal harmonies. Josh Hall has been a songwriter performing on the local scene for a few years, as well as playing in a full jam band with his guitar, harmonica, and mandolin as well. He was one of the first people to graduate from MI State college with a degree in poetry and creative writing. His musical style has been largely influenced by artists like Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. Greg Mastin is an established player of multiple instruments, originally from Maine where he had been playing in bluegrass and jam bands for many years. Here in Michigan, he plays the stand up bass for a quadruped of fun loving artists who like to call themselves 'Pinky Lee Josh n Me'.

Friday, May 223: The Vermeers honor cover • 8pm Original high-energy bluegrass mixed with rock

Saturday, May 24: Erik VanHorn honor cover • 8pm Boyne City, Michigan native Erik VanHorn just can't make up his damn mind. One minute he's communicating with the world around him just through his guitar, the next he's lost in the lyrics and music he emanates. The one constant of his live show, however, is it's rawness and emotion. An eclectic mix of blues, bluegrass, jazz and singer songwriter fare, Eriks' music envelops the audience leaving their tummies feeling full of sweet lovely jams.

Friday, May 30: Steppin' In It with special guest Jetty Rae $6 cover • 9pm Jetty Rae opens at 7:30pm Toting an ample supply of vintage instruments and a sound that brings listeners back to the days of old-time radio, Steppin’ In It is determined to make a dent in the roots community. Hailing from Lansing, Michigan -the heart of Factory Town, USA- these young men pound out their own brand of roots combining old-time country, swing and blues. Together, they achieve the seemingly impossible task of making the most traditional sounds contemporary playing what Performing Songwriter Magazine calls "some of the liveliest and most rocking acoustic roots music around." Upright Bassist Dominic Suchyta and multi-instrumentalist brothers Andy & Joe Wilson compliment the strong songwriting talents of singer/songwriter Josh Davis, who's haunting vocals paint a picture of rural and urban Michigan breaking its blue-collar back under troubled times. (all original music)

Saturday, May 31: Well Fed Kids honor cover • 8pm Folk, jazz, original music

Friday, June 6: Harmony and Grits honor cover • 8pm

Saturday, June 7: Seth Bernard CD Release Party 8pm Born and raised on Earthwork Farm in Northern Michigan, Seth grew up surrounded by gardens, goats and stringed instruments, smack dab in the middle of a tightly woven circle of friends and family just outside Lake City. A fine small hometown. Earthwork Music was a seed and now it has a life of it's own! earthworkmusic.com is a good guide to it. The Earthwork Music Collective now has many albums and events to it's name, and more are in the works. A circle of friends. Bernard is still a point guard and a music maker of many colors. Daisy May is his partner. She is a friend of the world's. A beautiful songbird. They two have put their music together and hit the road. www.myspace.com/daisymayandsethbernard Now with several albums of original material under his belt, dozens of appearances on recordings as a producer and multi-instrumentalist and a new big batch of music on the way, Seth is expanding further out into the worlds of music. Call him "Eggs" or "Sethbo," just don't call him late for supper.

Friday, June 13: Katie Shields with special guest Eric Kesseler honor cover • 9pm Eric Kesseler opens at 7:30pm

Thursday, June 19: Samantha Robbins honor cover • 8pm The young singer and her trio blew away the crowd at her Short's debut in May. One of the best young singers to hit th circuit. Jazz, folk, blues.

Friday, June 20: Ember Swift with special guests Dwain Martin and Amy Cook honor cover • 9pm Dwain Martin and Amy Cook open at 7:30pm

Saturday, June 21: Pinky Lee Josh n Me honor cover • 8pm Jenny Bousquet and Holly Keller have been playing music together for the past year of 2007 as Pinky Lee, writing songs about family, love, and seasons, with a folky, soulful, individual style. Both girls play guitar and mandolin while singing unique vocal harmonies. Josh Hall has been a songwriter performing on the local scene for a few years, as well as playing in a full jam band with his guitar, harmonica, and mandolin as well. He was one of the first people to graduate from MI State college with a degree in poetry and creative writing. His musical style has been largely influenced by artists like Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. Greg Mastin is an established player of multiple instruments, originally from Maine where he had been playing in bluegrass and jam bands for many years. Here in Michigan, he plays the stand up bass for a quadruped of fun loving artists who like to call themselves 'Pinky Lee Josh n Me'.

Thursday, June 26: Darlene honor cover • 8pm A different sense of folk-roots, seasoned with styles ranging from European Gipsy, 1st-Nations and American Roots music. Carrying tradtitional and original music to life with a vibrant and expressive performance style, an infective sense of spirit and 'joi d vivre,' a myriad of instruments, and one hell of a voice.

Friday, June 27: Erik VanHorn honor cover • 8pm Boyne City, Michigan native Erik VanHorn just can't make up his damn mind. One minute he's communicating with the world around him just through his guitar, the next he's lost in the lyrics and music he emanates. The one constant of his live show, however, is it's rawness and emotion. An eclectic mix of blues, bluegrass, jazz and singer songwriter fare, Eriks' music envelops the audience leaving their tummies feeling full of sweet lovely jams.

Saturday, June 28: Jetty Rae honor cover • 8pm Music with a conscience and a soul

Thursday, July 3: Josh Davis and the Fool Rooster Band $4 • 9pm Raised between the homes of a Detroit school teacher and an Upper Peninsula outdoorsman, Joshua Davis is the product of both city and country. An early interest in songwriting, country blues and finger-style guitarists pave the way for his original material, which is a seamless union of new and old. After six years and three albums as the primary songwriter and vocalist of the Michigan quartet Steppin 'In It, Davis tracked his first solo record Fool Rooster in the winter of 2005. The album is a collection of original compositions, many with longtime collaborator and lyricist Aaron Allen. Recorded entirely live and in a few short days, the songs are placed in a modest setting with little attention to detail, leaving listeners convinced they were written about their own lives.

Friday, July 4: Pinky Lee Josh n Me honor cover • 9pm Jenny Bousquet and Holly Keller have been playing music together for the past year of 2007 as Pinky Lee, writing songs about family, love, and seasons, with a folky, soulful, individual style. Both girls play guitar and mandolin while singing unique vocal harmonies. Josh Hall has been a songwriter performing on the local scene for a few years, as well as playing in a full jam band with his guitar, harmonica, and mandolin as well. He was one of the first people to graduate from MI State college with a degree in poetry and creative writing. His musical style has been largely influenced by artists like Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. Greg Mastin is an established player of multiple instruments, originally from Maine where he had been playing in bluegrass and jam bands for many years. Here in Michigan, he plays the stand up bass for a quadruped of fun loving artists who like to call themselves 'Pinky Lee Josh n Me'.

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.

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.

Saturday, July 12: TBD

Thursday, July 17: Well Fed Kids honor cover • 9pm

Friday, July 18: TBD

Saturday, July 19: 45th Parallel honor cover • 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: Erik VanHorn honor cover • 9pm Boyne City, Michigan native Erik VanHorn just can't make up his damn mind. One minute he's communicating with the world around him just through his guitar, the next he's lost in the lyrics and music he emanates. The one constant of his live show, however, is it's rawness and emotion. An eclectic mix of blues, bluegrass, jazz and singer songwriter fare, Eriks' music envelops the audience leaving their tummies feeling full of sweet lovely jams.

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: TBD

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: TBD

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

Saturday, August 16: Erik VanHorn honor cover • 9pm Boyne City, Michigan native Erik VanHorn just can't make up his damn mind. One minute he's communicating with the world around him just through his guitar, the next he's lost in the lyrics and music he emanates. The one constant of his live show, however, is it's rawness and emotion. An eclectic mix of blues, bluegrass, jazz and singer songwriter fare, Eriks' music envelops the audience leaving their tummies feeling full of sweet lovely jams.

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: TBD

Friday, August 29: The Ragbirds with special guest Pinky Lee Josh n Me honor cover • 10pm Pinky Lee Josh n Me open at 8pm 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

 

Stay up-to-date on special events!

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

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