Manchester Farmers Market

It was great to be back in town for a local favorite farmers market in Manchester, MI. Main street has the same vibe as many small New England towns. It makes me feel at home and yearn for home at the same time. I set up under the tent to overcast and ominous skies. The weather here is similar to New England. It can change pretty quickly. Fingers cross, and hoping for some sun, I began my first set opening with some upbeat love songs: Friday I’m in Love, I think we’re Alone Now, and then slowed down a bit with I Melt with you. I leaned into a classic Whitesnake song with Here I Go Again, and then a more nostalgic number in Forever Young. Counting Stars was well received, as was my renditions of Stuck on You and Every Rose has its Thorn.

By this time the rain was light but steady, more than a mist, but not quite a downpour. I completed the first set with Fade Into You. I had planned for a quick break after the set, but with the rain, I decided to splash on into my second set. I opened with my version of Brandi Carlile’s Story, which is solid, but no where as transformational as hearing her live version in concert (we attended last month!). I started into The Sounds of Silence, when the market coordinator stopped by. People were packing up due to the weather and I was welcome to pack it in or play on for a bit, my call. I decided to do a few more songs, to help with the folks packing. I played Better Days, Imagine, and I Can See Clearly Now. After the second chorus, a guy came out of the building behind me and shouted “I don’t believe you.” Meaning the rain. No argument here. I closed out the rainy affair with my rendition of Holding Out for a Hero before packing it in. Luckily, I always keep a roll of paper towels in the car, which came in handy.

Manchester is always fun to play. The rain didn’t stop us, and Somehow I Can See Clearly Now, became the song of the day.