Ravinia 2024 Issue 1

CAROUSEL STAGE 7:30 PM THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024 MICHAEL CLEVELAND † & FLAMEKEEPER JOSH RICHARDS, vocals, guitar NATHAN LIVERS, vocals, mandolin JASIAH SCHRODE, banjo CHRIS DOUGLAS, vocals, bass † Ravinia debut PAVILION 7:30 PM FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024 HONEYMIND TOUR BEN PLATT † with very special guest BRANDY CLARK Brandy Clark –Intermission– Ben Platt † Ravinia debut MICHAEL CLEVELAND The tension between tradition and innova- tion is at the core of bluegrass music, and the fiddle playing of Michael Cleveland ex- emplifies this musical tug of war. From an ear- ly age, Cleveland heard old-time and bluegrass music at local jams and festivals near his hometown of Henryville, IN. His grandparents hosted regular bluegrass gatherings at the American Legion, and at age 4, Cleve- land began playing the fiddle. He attended the Kentucky School for the Blind in Louisville, where he learned the Suzuki method of violin. Traveling with his grandparents to area bluegrass festivals, he heard many legendary players perform at Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Festival in Bean Blossom, IN—at the age of 9, Cleveland got to play with Monroe at the festival. When Cleve- land was 12, he met music historian Dave Samuelson, who curated several Braille-labeled tapes for the young musician that served as Cleveland’s es- sential listening guide to bluegrass music. His repertoire and musicianship grew, and in 1993 he played the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards show with the Bluegrass Youth All-Stars. Cleveland began playing professionally after he graduated from high school, first with Jeff White and later with Dale Ann Bradley and Rhonda Vincent. In 2006, he formed Flamekeeper, the seven-time recipients of the IBMA’s Instrumental Group of the Year award. In addition to touring with his band, Cleveland has performed with a Who’s Who of bluegrass greats. Nevertheless, he re- mains rooted in his local Southern Indiana community, where he continues to play with friends when he is not on tour. Cleveland has been recognized 12 times as the IBMA’s Fiddler of the Year, and in 2018 he was inducted into the National Fiddler’s Hall of Fame. His recording Fiddler ’ s Dream was nominated for the Best Bluegrass Album Grammy Award in 2018, and the following year he won for his album Tall Fiddler . Cleveland’s life of adversity and achievement was featured in the 2019 documentary film Flamekeeper , and in 2022 he was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship. This is Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper’s first appearance at Ravinia. RAVINIA.ORG  • RAVINIAMAGAZINE 79