Saturday in the park, late summer, late afternoon, and dozens of people are taking it easy in the comfortable sunshine, the first sunshine after a week of rain.
A bonfire is burning off to one side, not for warmth but for atmosphere, as the crowd draws from a pool of communal mellowness to which they also are contributing.
At the center of it is a near-constant stream of resonant tones wafting through the air in perfect aural harmony to the scent of smoke from the fire.
Welcome to "The Gathering," Trenton's annual outdoor acoustic guitar festival. Rain shortened the planned two-day event to one, and even that was hindered by some early sprinkles. But when the skies parted, dozens of guitarists and people who just like the sound of guitar music quickly got the party started, a sign of how much this event has caught on in three short years.
"I think it's a wonderful event," said Patty Goodman, who, along with her husband, Jerry, owns Music Workshop in Brownstown Township.
They have attached themselves to The Gathering as an annual sponsor.
"This is our second year," Jerry Goodman said. "We plan on growing with them."
Aside from the obvious business interest the Goodmans have in promoting guitar music, they have chosen to back The Gathering because they are music lovers themselves, and the event is about the love of music — specifically acoustic guitar music.
Held on the grounds of the Trenton Cultural Center, The Gathering was conceived in 2005 by Barb Olsen, event coordinator for the city's Parks and Recreation Department. The idea was to have a no-pressure, just-for-the-fun-of-it jamboree for guitar players of any skill level.
That is exactly how The Gathering has developed. It is like an open-mic coffeehouse, except without the house.
"I think it's great," Patty Goodman said. "It's a great opportunity for the local talents to come down and play a little guitar out in the park and have people listen to it."
Jerry Goodman added that the setting is a rare opportunity for people who play just for the love of it to play in public. No one is getting paid. There aren't any recording contracts on the line. It's not like being in a band, where everyone has to work together and stay together as they play.
"If you make a mistake, oh well, we all do, we all will," Goodman said. "I know I will. It's forgiving. People can enjoy it instead of being too much of a critic."
The talent runs the gamut from lifelong professionals to teenagers who've been playing for a few years, but there's a feeling of fraternity. Regardless of experience or ability, anyone who plays the acoustic guitar is part of the club.
"You're looking at a bunch of working class Joes," Manny Munoz said. "We work for a living. Most of us don't play in a band. We don't play in clubs."
Munoz was there with Sam Mullins. The two had met a few months ago, and have played together a few times, working on comedy musical act.
"Think Smothers Brothers, Martin and Lewis," Munoz said, "That's the kind of act."
Munoz played at The Gathering last year, and even though he and Mullins have only played together a few times, he thought this might be a good opportunity to get up in front of people.
"The idea was to get out, have some fun, listen to other players, see if anything we do gets a smile or any applause," Mullins said.
Each guitarist gets to play a few songs. After playing their set, Munoz and Mullins stuck around to listen to some of the other guitarists. Munoz was particularly impressed by the fellow sitting over at the next picnic table. He had done some songs he wrote about his family, and his lyrical style reminded Munoz of Bob Dylan.
"It's kind of 'folky,' I guess," Mike Brock said of his musical style, "Kind of a mixture of folk, country and blues."
Brock used to perform, but his psychology practice takes up a lot of his time. He said it's hard to find the time to get out to places where he can take his guitar and play. This is his second year playing at The Gathering, and he appreciates the event.
"It's fun to play; you only have to do a few songs," Brock said. "But also seeing the mixture of talent out here, you get the people who are just beginners and you get the people who can really play."
Brock noted one guy, in particular, who played some Bach, who was especially impressive.
That guy was Rob Bourassa of Wyandotte. The Bach piece was "Joy of Man's Desiring."
The guitar has been a big part of Bourassa's life all his life. In fact, it's been his bread and butter.
"I played since I was a little kid," Bourassa said. "I started performing at Greenfield Village when I was 13. I started teaching guitar at a music store before my 13th birthday. I was on the road all through high school during the summer. Played bluegrass banjo.
Currently music director and performer at Greenfield Village, Bourassa recently closed his music studio in Royal Oak after 12 years, so he could start an online studio from home, teaching guitar students over the Internet.
Like everyone there, Bourassa has a special affinity for acoustic guitar. They each in their own way described what it is about the instrument that holds its special appeal. There's a purity in the tone, they said. It's versatile. And it demands a commitment.
"You have to play percussively to be heard properly," Bourassa said. "You have to have a little more hand strength.
"It's not as simple as electric guitar, although electric guitar has its own technique.But you have a real rhythm instrument. And it's more of a solo instrument. It's better than piano or any other instrument in terms of performing by yourself with.
The Goodmans agreed that while the electric guitar has its place, there is something more comfortable, more intimate about the acoustic guitar. While electric guitars are exciting, especially for young beginners, there is something about the acoustic guitar that has an ageless appeal.
"The guitar has been around for a long time," Jerry Goodman said. "I think it's really going back to basics.
"The acoustic guitar is on its way back, I think. It used to be for a while in the folk scene, you heard a lot of acoustic, and then that went away for a while. But I think the style of music that's out there now lends itself more now to acoustic styles.
The Gathering isn't going anywhere. If anything, it might be expanded to include banjos, mandolins, ukuleles and other acoustic string instruments. From the size and enthusiasm of the crowd, despite bad weather, it is clear this is one musical event that has struck a chord with a segment of Downriver.
GO
Generalinfo
