Cover Story
Music With A Vision
Inspiring Emmylou Harris Headlines Calvin’s Festival of Music
Thursday, March 29, 2007
By John Sinkevics
The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS — After more than 35 years in the business as a country and contemporary-folk icon, countless inspiring collaborations with other singers and a flawless reputation for artistic excellence, Emmylou Harris still can’t quite explain what makes a good song appealing.

“I’ve never quite understood that process,” Harris said. “It’s a whole other language, music and lyrics. How many times have we been affected by the melody and the beat of a song? Music has had a profound effect on me.”

Harris’ music and her astonishing voice certainly have had a profound effect on audiences, spiritually and emotionally, making the singer an ideal choice as Saturday’s headliner for Calvin College’s Festival of Faith and Music. Opening the show will be another alluring voice, Neko Case, a singer-songwriter in the alt-country and indie-rock scene.

But Harris also stresses this spirituality isn’t an obvious, up-front affair.

“I don’t think I’m very overt about it,” she said by phone from Austin, Texas, from the recent South by Southwest music conference. “I’m not a gospel or Christian artist. I do those old gospel songs because I think they’re so beautiful and whatever people want to take from that they can. The music comes through me and whatever people want to be touched by, I hope they’re touched by something. I hope they feel better about their day.”

Harris, 59, has been making people — and other musicians — feel better since the early 1970s, especially after her association with country-rock’s Gram Parsons, with whom she recorded 1973’s milestone “Grievous Angel” album.

Though long associated with country music, the Alabama native and Nashville resident acknowledges she’s never been a mainstream artist. Her albums, in particular those since 1995’s “Wrecking Ball,” seamlessly cross genres and styles spotlighted by her graceful, ethereal voice. And since 2000’s “Red Dirt Girl,” she has earned acclaim for her songwriting.

“I still have enough credibility and visibility,” she offered, “and I’m with a wonderful record label (Nonesuch) that could care less whether radio plays me.”

Indeed, Harris insisted she has “never had to worry about” commercial success.

“I just seemed to come out at a time that was right, when an audience was ready for what I was doing,” she said. “It all came together in a way that was serendipitous. … I was much more successful than I or the record company or anybody else, with the exception of my mother, thought I would be. I was never expected to do anything but the unexpected.”

As a result, she’s gone on to win a dozen country and contemporary-folk Grammy Awards, and recorded duets with Neil Young, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Dave Matthews, Elvis Costello and others.

“I think they’re all special,” she said of her memorable collaborations. “Every person’s voice has its own point of view, their individual artistic vision, how they create music. Hopefully, I bring that, too. When you bring these two things together, you create something that’s never been created before.”

She even teamed up — as unlikely as it sounds — with Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopler for last year’s “All the Roadrunning” album, which earned critics’ raves and a Grammy nomination.

“It was such a joy to make,” she said, with glee in her voice. “He’s just such a brilliant writer.”

Harris has started “piecemeal” work on a new solo album, though she doesn’t expect it to be completed until next year, partly because a much-anticipated Emmylou Harris box set, “Songbird,” will be released by Rhino Records in September.

In the interim, she’ll continue to serve as a high-profile advocate for another cause that’s near and dear to her heart: dog adoptions.

Harris, who owns four dogs and five cats, also operates Bonaparte’s Retreat, a rescue facility on her Nashville property that saves dogs from euthanasia and places them in homes.

“When you get that one adoption, it’s very satisfying,” Harris said. “I do whatever I can as a public figure.”

And as a singer, Harris continues to do whatever she can to affect and move her fans.

“I’m lucky,” she said, “that I’ve gathered a wealth of material that still resonates for me and still resonates for the audience.”

Festival schedule

When: 12:30-11 p.m. Friday, 8:45 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Calvin College, 3210 Burton St. SE.

Festival registration: $100, open to the public, includes everything except Friday night’s sold-out Sufjan Stevens concerts. Individual tickets, $30, are available for Saturday night’s Emmylou Harris/Neko Case show. Registration begins at 10 a.m. Friday in the east lobby of the Fine Arts Center.

Information: 526-7587, calvin.edu/admin/sao/festival/conference

Friday concerts: Sufjan Stevens and Anathallo, 6 p.m., Fine Arts Center (sold out); Sufjan Stevens, 9:30 p.m., Fine Arts Center (sold out); Sarah Masen, Liz Janes and Son Lux, 9 p.m., Calvin College chapel.

Saturday concert: Emmylou Harris and Neko Case, 8 p.m., Calvin College Fieldhouse, $30, Calvin box office, 526-6282, tickets@calvin.edu

Lectures/workshops: Scheduled throughout the weekend with addresses by Lauren Winner, David Dark, Sufjan Stevens, Neko Case and Emmylou Harris. Open only to those who register for the festival.

Bandspotting: Fifty-two bands/artists from across the country entered Calvin’s first Bandspotting contest aimed at giving exposure to new talent. Son Lux from Cleveland, the winner, will perform at 9 p.m. Friday in the chapel. All registrants will receive a CD containing music by the top five bands/artists: Son Lux, Romantica, Josh Caress, Breathe Owl Breathe and Matthew deZoete.

He hears message in today’s music
By John Sinkevics
The Grand Rapids Press

Ken Heffner is the force behind the festival.

The gregarious, musically astute student activities director at Grand Rapids’ Calvin College has booked bands and artists of consequence on campus for more than a decade. He’s also assembled the third biennial Festival of Faith and Music, which this weekend — through lectures, chats and concerts — takes a deeper look at music with meaning, at artists who have something to say.

Heffner had plenty to say to The Press about the two-day conference, too:

Q: What’s the purpose of the Festival of Faith and Music?

A: The music festival began by being a subset of the Festival of Faith and Writing. We’re using the same kind of model. We’re approaching contemporary music, but deliberately choosing not to focus on what’s going on in the Christian music industry or the worship music industry. There are all sorts of conferences that address those things. We want to look at artists who call themselves Christians or who have a Christian vision, but who are working in the larger music world. … There are few places where you can have the kinds of conversations that we have at this festival.

Q: Why did you book Sufjan Stevens and Emmylou Harris?

A: Sufjan, in many ways, typifies (what the festival is all about). He gets at that very well. A Christian who is doing outstanding art but not doing it in a Christian subculture is unique, and he’s being recognized by a lot of people. We’ve known him from the very beginning, because he used to play here when he was a student at Hope College. Emmylou has been here once before. We don’t presume she’s a Christian herself, but her music is very much shaped by that vision. In some ways, we’re not all that concerned about whether you believe. This is not an evangelical quiz. We’re just interested in your art. She’s such a wonderful collaborative artist and … she has a wide demographic audience. She has been doing this a long time, and she has a lot to tell us.

Q: Which presentation or performance are you most excited about?

A: I’ve always been fascinated to see what Sufjan’s up to. He’s bringing in a whole entourage … and having props brought in, and a video presentation is being made of the performance. He has this comprehensive vision, a whole aesthetic package. And I love hearing Emmylou.

Q: For those who’ve never attended the festival, what might they get out of it?

A: The festival is kind of a showcase for what we do here all the time … with the concert series. This thing of popular music is much bigger and deeper than you’ve been told. The way music is covered … and marketed is primarily as a commodity. That sells contemporary music short. It’s about communicating, it’s about art. … (Usually) we’re not encouraged to engage with a contemporary music text like we would a text by Shakespeare or a musical text by Bach. We’re hoping people who come to this festival come with a presentation about what could be done with music and take it back to where they come from. A lot of other colleges are sending people to this festival. We’d like to see it replicated among other Christian colleges.

Q: How do you explain the big jump in interest? (More than 1,000 people have registered, almost six times as many as in 2005.)

A: I think the bigger names helped. The timing for Sufjan was right. He’s just taken off and, in many ways, became the big star. Our primary reason for bringing in Emmylou is because of her incredible reputation. That will get the attention of people across the country.

Sufjan: Calvin fave
Thursday, March 29, 2007
By Tricia Woolfenden
The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS — In some ways, Calvin College can claim Sufjan Stevens as its own.

The prolific Detroit-born, New York-based musician has performed on Calvin’s campus numerous times throughout his eclectic career and has developed strong ties to the Grand Rapids college.

“There’s this long relationship we have with him,” said Ken Heffner, Calvin’s student-activities director. “It’s been fun to watch his career develop.”

Stevens — a ‘98 Hope College graduate — first performed at Calvin in the mid-’90s with his former band Marzuki and later with the Danielson Famile. Since 2004, the eccentric singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist has appeared three times at Calvin, solo and with a band.

Heffner said Stevens, who has become a major name in the indie music scene, has planned an elaborate show for his two sold-out Friday-night performances as part of the Festival of Faith and Music.

“He’s taking this show pretty seriously and coming out a day early to rehearse and set up,” Heffner said.

Stevens, who scored a big hit in 2005 with his album “Illinois,” will bring an entourage of nearly 20 people with him, including a projectionist and film crew in addition to theatrical drops and sets.

It is unclear if Stevens, who declined interviews for this tour, will continue to pursue his highly publicized “50 States” project, in which he vowed to record an album for every state in the union.

In addition to back-to-back performances, Stevens will give an as-yet-untitled lecture at 11 a.m. Saturday. Heffner said Stevens’ extensive musical background and education make him a particularly qualified speaker. Stevens holds an undergraduate degree in music theory and a master’s degree in creative writing.

“He’s able to talk articulately about music,” Heffner said. “Most people can’t talk about what they do. It’s why we pushed him to do a lecture. He understands the bigger process.”

If you go

Sufjan Stevens
When: 6 and 9:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Fine Arts Center at calvin College
Admission: Both concerts are sold out.
Lecture: Stevens will give a lecture at 11 a.m. Saturday. The event is open only to those registered for the Festival of Faith and Music, $100.

The Sufjan file
Michigan-born musician Sufjan Stevens is a busy man. The singer has released at least one album every year since 2003. Here’s a look at the quirkly multi-instrumentalist’s career:

“Michigan” (2003) - This beautiful ode to the Mitten State set the tone for Stevens’ trademark lush instrumentalism and paved the way for the highly publicized “50 States” project. Suggested spins: “Vito’s Ordination Song,” “Romulus.”

“Seven Swans” (2004) - This album featured a pared-down sound, strong vocals and overt references to Christianity and Biblical allegories. Suggested spins: “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” “Size Too Small.”

“Illinois” (2005) - The 22-track concept album was the second in the fabled “50 States” collective and served as Stevens’ breakthrough album, becoming one of the most critically acclaimed CDs of the year. Suggested spins: “Chicago,” “John Wayne Gacy Jr.,” “Casimir Pulaski Day.”

“The Avalanche” (2006) - The 21-track disc includes outtakes and extras from the “Illinois” sessions. Suggested spins: “The Mistress Witch From McClure.”

“Songs for Christmas” (2006) - This box set includes five EPs of holiday tunes and carols recorded between 2001 and 2006 as gifts for Stevens’ friends and family.