Starting with a simple idea and an unquenching thirst for music, Stephen Volas started Grassroots Productions in the autumn months of 2004. He had spent years traveling the country with both the Grateful Dead and Phish, so after returning home one summer he noticed very few national acts performing around Northern Michigan. Stephen made it his goal to build this bridge, which would not only match great music with a beautiful place, but also shed light on the melting pot of talent around the area. The following summer he partnered with his friend, Jeremiah Sequoia, who shared Stephen's passion for all things music.
One of the first events they handled was the Sleeping Bear Dunegrass and Blues Festival. Stephen had met Mike Vanderberg, one of Dunegrass' founding fathers, at the Farmer's market in Empire where Mike worked. After mentioning how much energy the festival takes, Stephen offered to have Grassroots assume responsibility for Dunegrass... and the rest is history. The two buddies from high school worked countless hours to make the festival a success under the Grassroots name. Stephen worked diligently on signing nationally known bands and obtaining licenses and permits while Jeremiah was steadfast in gaining support for the festival and organizing vendors and volunteers. Their hardwork paid off. For the first time in years, the festival made a profit- and Grassroots was ready to grow.
The momentum continued into 2006, as they produced concerts consistent with Stephen's goal of bringing artists from around the world to perform at venues that would otherwise only see town meetings or random wedding parties. Also playing a big part of this success was the army of friends and family that support Grassroots, involving them with event promotions and staffing. This grassroots philosophy ignites the efforts and enthusiasm of the community, which in turn helps build the solid foundation for the company to branch from. Josh Stoltz, another friend from high school and a previous business owner, was brought aboard during the summer months as the team produced another solid Dunegrass and headed into autumn. Solidifying their leading role in area music production was The Fall Concert Series held at the City Opera House in Traverse City, Michigan. This was a weekly event featuring live performances in the historic theater, but also provided a place in the lobby for area restaurants to sell concessions and for local artists to showcase their work.
Since 2004, Grassroots has entertained the likes of over 12,000 people from local town halls to one of the biggest, up and coming festivals in the state. With the energy positive and enthusiasm high, there are great expectations for Grassroots Productions to become the premier musical production company of Northern Michigan and beyond.
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