IRA GLASS to perform at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival

“Reinventing Radio: An Evening with Ira Glass” at the Power Center, June 23, 2012

The official Summer Festival publication outlines the performance by Mr. Glass in these terms:

The creator of public radio’s This American Life talks about his program and how the show is put together. As part of this, Glass mixes stories from the show, live onstage, combining his narration with pre-taped quotes and music, recreating the sound of the show as the audience watches.

Ira Glass will perform at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival June 23.  The Lamp Post Inn will offer special hotel rates for that evening .  Go directly to The Lamp Post Inn site and use the promo code SUMMERFEST to receive a 10% discount.   The Lamp Post Inn is located less than a 10 minute drive from Power Center and the various other venues of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival.

Esperanza Spalding - Bassist, vocalist, and composer Esperanza Spalding has quickly emerged as one of the brightest lights in the musical world. With a unique and style-spanning presence, Spalding became the first jazz musician to receive the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2011. Spalding tours in support of her newest album, “Radio Music Society.”

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is proud to announce that Ms. Spalding will be performing on June 21 at the Power Center at the University of Michigan.   The nearby Lamp Post Inn will offer special overnight hotel rates using promo code SUMMERFEST.

Wikipedia has this to say about Ms. Spalding’s artistry:

Influences and attitude toward music and jazz

Spalding cites jazz bassists Ron Carter and Dave Holland as important influences on her music; Carter for the “orchestration” of his playing and Holland for the way his compositional method complements his personal style.^[52] She has described the saxophone player Wayne Shorter,^[13] and singer-songwriter Milton Nascimento, as heroes.^[53] She has also noted her preference for the music of Brazil.^[13]

Spalding says she loves fusion music and was influenced by a “wonderful arc that started 40 years ago where people kept incorporating modern sounds into their music.”^[29] She has expressed concerns that jazz has wandered from its roots, suggesting that jazz has lost its street value and its relevance to “the Black experience to the Black Diaspora and beyond” now that has been co-opted by the “seasoned ‘art’ community”.^[7] She notes that in its early days, jazz was “popular dance music” and “the music of young people who considered themselves awfully hip”, and believes “hip-hop, or neo-soul [...] is our ‘jazz’ now as far as the role these genres play in the music genre lineage”.^[7] Spalding, who has expressed a desire to be judged for her musicianship rather than her sex appeal, believes that female musicians must take responsibility to avoid oversexualizing themselves.^[29][13] and that in order to write original music, one must read and stay informed about the world.^[13] She has said she models her career on those of Madonna and Ornette Coleman.^[12]

Ms. Spalding is just one of the numerous artists performing this summer at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival.  Be sure to check out their website at Ann Arbor Summer Festival.

The University of Michigan hosts a large number of Sports Camps for boys and girls during the summer and the Lamp Post Inn is less than 1 1/2 miles from all sports venues.   A complete list of sports camps and dates is available at University of Michigan Athletic Website or at the special summer camp information page.

Parents or sponsors that are either dropping off participants or are staying overnight for the complete camp are invited to stay at the Lamp Post Inn at a significant discount.   For those that are eligible and wish to stay, please use the promo code CAMPS12 at our website.

Al Green to perform at Ann Arbor Summer Festival on June 16th.   The concert will be held at Hill Auditorium on the campus of the University of Michigan.   The Lamp Post Inn, a local hotel will offer special overnight rates using promo code SUMMERFEST

According to Wikipediea Al Green:

Albert Greene (born April 13, 1946),^[1] better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as “You Oughta Be With Me”, “I’m Still In Love With You”, “Love and Happiness”, and “Let’s Stay Together”.^[2] In 2005, Rolling Stone named him #66 in their list of the ’100 Greatest Artists of All Time’. The nomination stated that “people are born to do certain things, and Al was born to make us smile.”^[3] The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Green in 1995, referring to him as “one of the most gifted purveyors of soul music.” Green has sold more than 20 million records.^[2

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival asserts  that

The Reverend Al Green is known the world over for his extraordinary voice, unmistakable sound, and legendary hits. Having sold more than 40 million records, won 11 Grammy Awards, and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the minister of L-O-V-E is still captivating audiences with his unique blend of Memphis soul, gospel, blues, and early rock and roll.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones have come together once again to “drive the music forward to places where it might’ve progressed had the band kept working on it all along” claims pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy.  The Michigan Theater will host the reunion tour and tickets are now available on the Ark website. The performance is scheduled for  Thursday, April 19th.  For those that will be attending the concert and need nearby hotel reservations check out the Lamp Post Inn and use the promo code ARKEVENT.

The Ark describes the concert and group this way

A reunion of groundbreaking progressive musicians

Bela Fleck helped create progressive bluegrass music during his days as banjoist with the band New Grass Revival in the 1970s, but he was just getting started. Forming his own band, the Flecktones, in 1988, he forged a genre-defying music that was equal parts jazz, bluegrass, and sheer sonic experimentalism. Bela has traveled around the world, collaborating with musicians from many traditions and creating new and unique hybrids. Now, groundbreaking banjoist/composer/bandleader Béla Fleck has reconvened the original Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, the extraordinary initial lineup of his incredible Flecktones combo. Their album “Rocket Science” marks the first recording by the original Flecktones in almost two decades, with pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy back in the fold alongside Fleck, bassist Victor Wooten, and percussionist/ Drumitarist Roy “Futureman” Wooten. This Grammy-winning quartet is, quite simply, creating some of the most forward-thinking music of their long, storied career. While all kinds of genres come into play—from classical and jazz to bluegrass and African music to electric blues and Eastern European folk dances—the result is an impossible-to-pigeonhole sound all their own, a meeting of musical minds that remains, as ever, utterly indescribable.

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Most eyes are focused on the the University of Michigan Spring football game next weekend and for those attending the game they can receive discounted hotel rates at the Lamp Post Inn using promo code SPRINGGAME.

But the weekend is not just about football.   The University of Michigan Athletic Department labels the weekend Victor’s Weekend and they have announced a full schedule of other activities and events going on over the three day weekend.

The Athletic Department website states:

To obtain additional information on any of the activities go to the Athletic Department Website.   If you are staying at the Lamp Post Inn, please get additional information on directions and accompanying activities by speaking with the front desk staff.

Grandstands of Michigan International Speedway.

Three big days coming up at the Michigan International Speedway located about 36 miles from The Lamp Post Inn. Check out the Sprint and NASCAR series events at their website.

The official site lists the racing for the weekend to include:

June 16 – The NASCAR Nationwide Series will make its 21st appearance at MIS in 2012. Fans will see many of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ top stars go head-to-head with the Nationwide Series regulars in what makes for a great day of racing. Kids 12 and under are free on Saturday’s. Junior pricing for 13-17 are half price in any reserved seat. See defending Alliance Truck Parts 250 race winner Carl Edwards and others in an action-packed day of on-track activities.

June 17, 2012 -The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to the Irish Hills on Father’s Day with the running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400. NASCAR stars, such as former MIS winners Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, return to MIS for another action-packed day of side-by-side racing. With great camping, affordable adult prices, kids 12 and under free in the Turn 3 grandstands (children require ticket), half off in any reserved seat for juniors 13-17, free parking and the ability to bring a cooler with your favorite food and beverages, MIS is the perfect summertime destination for fans in 2012.

Fans of the MIS events can reserve rooms at a special discounted rate by using the promo code BIGRACE at the Lamp Post Inn Website.

Guests of the Lamp Post Inn can take any of the 12 busses.  Once you arrive at either the Blake Center or the Central Campus Transportation Center, transfer ($1.50) to bus route number #4 to go to the Lamp Post Inn.  The Central Campus Transportation Center is about a 5 minute ride from the Lamp Post; Blake Center a 15 minute ride.  We are located at the Manchester/Sheridan stop at the corner of Stadium and Washtenaw.   Bus route #4 is the main bus line that goes directly from Downtown Ann Arbor, through the University of Michigan Campus and hospital area and then toward Ypsilanti and The Lamp Post Inn.  We are about a 6 minute bus ride from the University of Michigan campus (South University or Central Transportation Center).

Photo by Angela J Cesere in Annarbor.com

The Michigan softball team heads to Columbus for a double headed this weekend before returning home next week to play both Western and Michigan State.   The Wolverines are led by their two outstanding freshman pitchers who have pitched all but 18 innings this year and have posted an impressive 1.86 ERA.

The Lamp Post Inn is located less than 1 1/2 from the Wilpon Complex and the softball fields.   Those fans staying over for the Western Game or the Michigan State Games may received discounted overnight rates at The  Lamp Post Inn by using the promo code BASEBALL12.

This weekend, April 7 – 8, 2012  the Michigan Wolverines will  take on the Michigan State Spartans in a home on home series in baseball.

Michigan will be traveling to East Lansing on Saturday to meet the Spartans but will then come home to Ray Fisher Stadium for a 3;00 PM Sunday afternoon baseball face off.

The Lamp Post Inn will offer a special overnight rate to any Wolverine or Spartan fan wishing to stay overnight on  Sunday evening.   In order to take advantage of the offer you will need to go to the Lamp Post Inn website and make reservations using the promo code BASEBALL12.   It will be necessary to make reservations in advance since the Lamp Post Inn will be closing early on Sunday to allow our employees the chance to celebrate the holiday with their families.    Our hours that day will be 9:00 AM to 2:oo PM.   It is not necessary that you check in prior to 3:00 PM on Sunday as long as the reservation has been completed on line since we will make arrangements to see that you are able to check in after the baseball game.