Earthwork Music Collective believes in the intrinsic power of music to raise both community and self-awareness. Comprised of musicians, teachers, healers, farmers, water protectors, and community organizers, they encourage cooperation and collaboration, using music as a tool to serve, heal, inspire and empower. This monthly series features members from all around MI converging to create cosmic collabs, cultivate lasting relationships with our community, and elevate environmental and social justice movements.

Jordan Hamilton creates music that fuses the soulful voice of the cello with hip-hop rhythms and heartfelt melodies, offering a sound that feels fresh and personal yet hints at tradition. Emotional energy crafted from integrity, immaterial and immortal, experienced at the speed of sound, with a bit of bounce, groove by the ounce, and all the jump you’ll need to move.

Mark “Huggy Bear” Lavengood is a walking, talking ray of sunshine. His resonant energy and sparkling smile light up every stage, studio, room, RV, and embrace he enters. In 2012, Huggy won the acclaimed Rockygrass Dobro Competition hosted at Planet Bluegrass’ headquarters in Lyons, CO. Predominantly as a dobro player, Lavengood toured world-wide for 7 years with Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, performing at a bucket list of venues and festivals over his time with the band. As artistic director and ambassador for Smiling Acres Music Fest and curator of “Prine Time” tribute tours, Huggy fosters community connection through constant collaboration.

Ben Traverse (they/them) has been a gentle steward of tradition for over a decade. Their voice, rising like mist from Michigan’s northern woods, carries echoes of working-class ballads long etched into the earth. Traverse roves across the Great Lakes Basin purveying the finest sea shanties, bluegrass, Celtic, and old time music and sharing the history from which they came.