Bridge as metaphor. Bridge as inspiration. Musical bridges… SCENE MAGAZINE 2009

The idea was to save the Michigan Street Bridge in Sturgeon Bay from the wrecking ball. A grassroots group formed to raise money for and public awareness of the bridge. A byproduct of the group’s interest in historic preservation was a weeklong gathering of musicians, now known as the Steel Bridge song Fest.

The event culminates in a series of concerts around Sturgeon Bay and in a yacht yard in the shadow of the bridge, with a wide variety of music by local, state, national and international artists. Jackson Browne has headlined at the final main concert every year.

But what the public does not see is how the week starts off, with a group of invited songwriters convening and collaborating to create new music that somehow relates to the bridge or a bridge. The best of those songs are released annually on a Steel Bridge Songs CD, with each year’s recording appearing on disc at the next year’s festival. Proceeds from the sales go to a bridge fund held by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

As he has ever year since its inception, Jackson Browne headlines the main concert in the yacht yard beneath the old steel bridge.

The list of 150 or so performers is amazing. Check it out on the website, sbsf5.com. Here’s a partial list of just local bands/artists appearing at the festival: Andy’s Automatics, Blueheels, Chris Aaron, Dana Erlandson, Honky Tonk Twisters, Ifdakar, Nicki Sims, Profane, The Wandering Foolz.

We’ve heard stories of how musicians are so charmed by the area and the event and all the other musicians that they cannot help but return. Adam Mackintosh, a West Coast native, went one step beyond. He moved to Door County. We caught up with him for a few questions.

SCENE: Did you actually move here after participating in the fest? Which year was that and how did it happen? Had you run into pat mAcdonald on the music circuit?

ADAM MACKINTOSH: Yeah, actually. I met Chris Aaron at the second Steel Bridge (2006) and he invited me out to Denver to do some writing with him. We were doing some tracking in Madison with Clyde Stubblefield on drums and playing shows in the region when I slipped on some ice and broke my ankle in three places. Chris dropped me off in Sturgeon Bay where I had 6-8 weeks to heal up and got to know Door County. I did sponsorship for the festival and got to know more about the area and the people. Portland was completely behind me at that point, and falling in love with Anna (Sacks) pretty much sealed the deal. Anna had been working on the Holiday Music Motel project with pat, Jackson Browne and several others so we got an apartment and started doing things like the Songwriter Showcase to keep the vibe going through the winter. pat I met several years ago in Barcelona while on tour there, through our friend Eric McFadden.


SCENE: Where were you coming from (I saw a reference to Portland on the website)?


AM: I lived in Portland for 6 years and managed/booked Dante's while taking yearly trips to Spain to tour with my band. Before that I was in New Orleans for 5 years and San Francisco before that, which is where I actually "came from."

SCENE: What was it that attracted you to the area? Was there a "eureka" moment to the decision?

AM: Well, I was attracted to Anna and by the idea of working with the festival. The "Eureka" came in a slow motion sort of way, fanned out in the frames of 2 years' work. Somewhere around the "K" I think it started to make sense, when I realized the potential to be a full-time musician in this place. I began teaching kids guitar and composition, doing songwriter showcases all over the region and playing lots of shows in smoky Wisconsin taverns. Having a guitar in my hands the majority of the day has been a truly worthwhile endeavor. When I put The Last Dancers together things really started to get hustling. Now we're booked through summer on the peninsula and are recording a great deal of original music.

Since the fest is the result of grassroots volunteerism, has your role in the festival grown?


My role these days is more like an Ambassador. I tell people how great it is and to graciously accept if they are invited.

What is your role in this year's fest? Anything in particular you are looking forward to this year?


At this point my involvement is mostly musical, which is where I have worked very hard to be. I still help in a behind-the-scenes sort of way but it's more long-term and community based. Doing more outreach to other musicians nationally and working more venues into the actual routing of the musicians getting to the festival. For example, I've set up a show at a new venue this year with Player/Kommander from Birmingham, Alabama, that will help offset their travel costs to get James Hall here for the week of writing.

This year I am looking forward to a large group of cutting-edge musical creatives working together amid the borders of chaos. I think some very special things are going to come of it.

Is music your sole source of income? If so, did your standard of living change here?


Music is about 75% of my income these days and live shows, CD sales and teaching seem to be where it actually comes from. My standard? It used to be worry all the time, now it's rock all the time, so yes, it's changed dramatically.

What do you think of the music scene in northeastern Wisconsin?


It's pretty weird at first, especially coming from a hoity-toity place like Portland. But what you start to figure out eventually is that the audiences here know their music, they like to party and are generally very down to earth. Once you figure out how to make the kids and the wigs dance at a fish boil, you've arrived.

I can say this, there is a serious venue shortage statewide and many of the places out there could really benefit from adding a stage or a house sound system to their spaces. It would make mid-liner touring acts consider Wisconsin a more viable market to play in.

Want to say anything about Doorcountyscene.com (an online music calendar/promotional site he created for the Door County music scene)?


Beyond all the great songs written and recorded here by songwriters in the county (that stream free in the flash player), this year I've set up individual pages for some of the artists who tour through Door County in the Summer on the site, since I have very little time to administrate it these days. What's cool about that is everyone's Myspace calendar is listed so you can see when and where they will appear all season and those pages link back to the artist's pages so you can listen and learn more about them.

Also, several new venues are on there now that have just started having music this season, like The Fishing Hole.

Any regrets about moving here?


None. It has been great and I have met many great people I will know all my life.

Anything else people should know about Adam Mackintosh?


I have a song called Steam Train in a film coming out later this season called Westbound. It was made by Arketype, a Green Bay media company. It has music by pat mAcdonald, Melaniejane and Victoria Vox.




Green Bay Band Reviews
Adam Mackintosh and the Songwriter Showcase Review at Kavarna Green Bay, WI 2009

Adam Mackintosh and Pat mAcdonald at Kavarna Green Bay, WIGreen Bay Band Reviewer - TJBy TJ
August 20, 2009
I'm kind of happy and sad at the same time. Tonight we end Adam Mackintosh's regular hosting of the "Song Writer Showcase" at Kavarna on Broadway. Adam's influence on the community was truly felt on this night, the "Song Writer Showcase" held monthly downtown on Broadway Ave, lends a stage to area musicians that have come with songs to share. It is simple and minimal. Songwriters play three of their songs usually solo or accompanied by a musician or two. The music genre was primarily what I would call urban folk, a blend of traditional folk with ties to rock and alternative. For the past year Adam Mackintosh has been hosting, inspiring and mentoring local musicians at the Kavarna songwriter showcase and now he has moved the band to California. Adam Mackintosh's music is awesome; his album "The Gracious Living of Adam Mackintosh" (available on itunes) is one of the best recorded and most eccentric raw alternative albums; it has a playful dark side and lingering minor tones. A very creative and well thought out production and Adam's crystal clear vocals and raw emotion are sure to find a place in your imagination.

Adam Mackintosh and Connor Sands at Kavarna Green Bay, WITonight he was playing on an older Gibson acoustic with a more subdued energy than what is carried on his recorded albums. His tone was soft, his vocals brilliant, and the use of chords and solo work were just amazing. I arrived a little late, but the majority of what I saw at the show was the many talented musicians and Adams collaboration with them on the stage or on the PA mixing board. Locally known artists like Connor Sands of Midwestern Charm, Palmer Shah, Jana Holland, Marybeth Mattson, Pat MAcdonald and many others came out to share their songs and talent tonight. It was a great mix of styles and the musical talent was amazing. The sense of community at Kavarna was heartfelt and the influence that Adam has had on our music scene will continue to last and grow while he is out making his mark in California. Adam's jams with Pat MAcdonald during the encore and close of the night were so cool and in true songwriter fashion. A special thanks goes out to Kavarna owner and musician Alex Galt for giving music such a special place grow. You can catch Kavarna's food and music lineup on their website. To check out Adam Mackintosh's music go to his website and order his new album "Last Dancers" I hope they love him as much out in Cali as we do here! Come back soon!








Portland, Oregon circa 2004

“I always have a wide open heart for bands that are far away from musical trends, and so it's with Adam Mackintosh, which are led by singer/songwriter Adam Mackintosh. It's not easy to pigeonhole their sound, but while listening to the album names like early David Bowie, Gentle Giant or later Beatles are still on my mind. All songs are very emotional and mostly introspective, but sometimes added with a hard rocking edge. The melancholic resonance of Mackintosh' voice and his crystalline guitar playing are complimented by the well-tempered organ sound of David Graham and a soulful rolling rhythm section.”

“Opening his debut full-length, Adam Mackintosh, with the line "Everything you'll ever need to know is written in the music" (and repeating it during intermission), Portland, Oregon's Adam Mackintosh testifies to his belief in music and its power to enlighten and guide you through life. Softly sung over an acoustic guitar and light drums and bass, the line is an apt fitting for a record that recalls everything that is good about music.”

“Front man Adam Mackintosh knows how to write a great song, whether it is pop or rock. Putting this statement to the test, Gracious Living manages to offer up eleven solid testimonials to the statement's validity.”





July 25, 2008 Peninsula Pulse- Wisconsin
Adam Mackintosh is a unique songwriter and will play at the Town Hall Bakery August 1. Adam is the former lead musician in the Portland, Oregon act Gruesome Galore and has learned longevity and excelled as a songwriter.

Performing three years at Steel Bridge Songfest in Sturgeon Bay with some of the nations best writers, Mackintosh has shared stages and recordings with Jackson Browne, Pat MacDonald, Clyde Stubblefield, James Brown's Funky Drummer, James Hall of The Pleasure Club, Eric McFadden of Parliament Funkadelic and a multitude of highly talented industry professionals. Mackintosh has performed at over 300 concerts in the U.S. and Europe to crowds ranging from 10 to 5,000. His style of music has been compared to many of the greats, including Harry Nilsson, David Bowie, John Lennon, Radiohead, George Harrison and Jellyfish.

Come and enjoy the magical music of Adam Mackintosh. Joining him will be Anna Sacks, a wonderful singer with a velvet voice.

The show starts at 7 pm and tickets are $10 at the door. Host Jeanne Kuhns will open. Mackintosh recorded with Kuhns on her new CD Ghost Ranch, so they will do a song or two together!


July 17, 2009
Since his relocation to Sturgeon Bay in early 2007, Adam Mackintosh has been a driving force in bringing together the talents of many of the gifted writers in Door County. On Saturday, July 25 at 7:30 pm, Mackintosh will gather a number of those musicians on stage for a concert at Third Avenue Playhouse.

The show will feature Mackintosh’s original songs, performed in an acoustic style with his musical cohorts. Mackintosh has appeared with musicians such as Jackson Brown, Clyde Stubblefield, and Eric McFadden of Parliament Funkadelic. His style of music is reminiscent of David Bowie, John Lennon, George Harrison, and the Kinks.

As a co-founder of the Songwriter Showcase, he and his partner Anna Sacks have hosted over 100 performances in Door County alone, most of which have been in cafes throughout the region.

Special guests for the evening include Pat Bohan, Jeanne Kuhns, Melaniejane, pat mAcdonald, Jake Nyberg, Robin Bienneman, James Hall, Anna Sacks, George Sawyn, Ryan Thompson and Rick Younglove.

Tickets for the show are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students, and can be purchased at the TAP box office from 10 am – 3 pm, Monday through Friday, as well as an hour prior to performances. Tickets may also be purchased at the Dancing Bear on 13 N. Third Avenue.

GREEN BAY PRESS GAZETTE

Adam Mackintosh, a unique local songwriter, and guitar player, plays the Woodwalk Concert Series histed by Jeanne Kuhns Friday, July 10, accompanied by singer/songwriter Anna Sacks’ vocals and keyboarding.
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After six European tours and three years in Wisconsin working with some of the nation’s best songwriters, mackintosh has shared stages and recordings with James Hall, Storm Large, Jackson Browne, pat mAcdonald, Clyde Stubblefield, Eric McFadden of Parliament Funkadelic and a multitude of others.

He has performed at over 400 concerts in the United States and Europe to crowds ranging from 10 to 5,000. His style of music has been compared to Harry Nillsson, David Bowie, John Lennon, Radiohead, George Harrison and others.

Sacks’ crisp and down-to-earth style can mellow a crowd or bring them to their feet, complementing Adam’s music.

The Woodwalk series is held in a restored barn surrounded by gallery owner Margaret Lockwood’s paintings and the art of other regional artists. Desserts, snacks, and beer and wine coolers are available for purchase. The series runs Fridays through August; for more, visit www.jeannekuhns.com.

Adam Mackintosh and Anna Sacks take the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, July 11, at Woodwalk Gallery and Events barn, 6746 County G, south of Egg Harbor. Admission is $10 at the door, and reservations are taken.