Good food and great music are coming to the streets of Clarkston once again.
The following acts will appear on the main stage at Taste of Clarkston on Sept. 25, according to the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce’s Web site. The main stage is located at the corner of Waldon and Main Street.
(All times p.m.)
12:10’Kristen Mercado
12:45’The Chiffon Sisters
1:25’Vanilla Curve
2:20?11 Letters Long
3:10’Silverland
4-6’Whack the Mole
Clarkston High School senior Kristen Mercado plays the keyboard and sings both original material and covers by artists like Elton John and Bonnie Raitt. Mercado is a member of the Madrigals Choir at CHS. She recently performed at the Fourth of July Parade and is working on a CD that should be out by the end of September.
The Chiffon Sisters are making their performing debut. Marla Haller of Birmingham, Cindy Iaquinto of Brighton and Kim Arcobello of Clarkston are members of the Farmington Community Chorus and perform 50s-style songs. Examples include ‘Lullaby of Broadway? and ‘Sentimental Journey.?
The Vanilla Curve consists of Scott Medlen, guitar and back-up vocals; Josh Finck, lead vocals; Billy Freed, bass; Rich Bell, drums; and Alex Gilford, percussion, according to their page on myspace.com. The band took top honors in last year’s Battle of the Bands at Clarkston High. They perform music ranging from hard rock to slow and melodic.
11 Letters Long is well known to the area having played in this year’s Concerts in the Park Series. The band consists of Jon Brown, drums; Brandon Boozer, rhythm guitar and vocals; Greg Davis, keyboards; Alex John, vocals; Brennan Haase, bass; and Brian Shepanek, lead guitar. The group is in the finishing stages of an album which should be out by the end of the month. 11 Letters Long has a classic rock sound and often covers artists like the Beatles, BTO and Billy Joel.
The name Silverland may not be familiar to area residents, but the band members should be. Silverland consists of four musicians who have all spent time in other local bands. Matt Chesley of Clarkston, vocals and guitar; Trevor Bozeman of Clarkston, drums; Mark Strubler of Rochester, bass; and James Nichols of Waterford, guitar; make up Silverland. Chesley said the band has an alternative rock sound and will play originals mixed with a few covers by bands like Rage Against the Machine. They are currently working on material for an album.
Whack the Mole headlines the main stage. The band consists of members Tom Zakarian, guitar and vocals; Allan Nahajewski, keyboards; Brian Wood, guitar and vocals; and Tim Kelch, drums. According to Zakarian, the band plays an eclectic mix of songs from the 60’s to present day. Band covers include such artists as the Eagles, John Melloncamp and Paul Simon.
‘We put our own twist on the songs. Some songs are getting tired and we give them a fresher feel,? said Zakarian.
The band often experiments by adding different beats and music styles to classic songs, like when they put ‘My Girl? to a reggae beat said Zakarian.
Whack the Mole has played at events like Music in the Park in Oxford and the Milford Festival. Zakarian said the band is perfect for family audiences and are great to sing along to.