Acoustic Alternatives

Album number 13 from Jill Jack comes in her 29th year of releasing music independently. The 14 track affair is an exploration of all the musical styles that makes up the 50+ time Detroit Music Award winner.

On this unprecedented third visit to Grove Studios, Jill brought along band mates Mark Iannace and Michael Robertson to more closely resemble the record.

Somewhere along the way, you get to learn about something long time Jill Jack fans probably don't know about what's ahead for 2027 and hear tracks from Wildflower performed in a trio setting.

Make Hay While the Sun Shines (written by Jill Jack)

Crooked Crown (written by Jill Jack)

Wildflowers (written by Dolly Parton)

Over and Over Again (written by Jill Jack and Craig Carrick)

All the info you'll need about Jill Jack: https://www.jilljack.com/

Catch up on previous Acoustic Alternatives episodes: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Book your space at Grove Studios: https://grovestudios.space/

18 years after I first heard this magical voice that blew me away, Kylee Phillips is finally releasing her first full length album. During what appears to be at least our eighth time sitting down in a similar setting, you'll learn about the new record, Before I Am Invisible and further tidbits that maybe you didn't learn about in my other podcasts since Acoustic Alternatives launched in 2020. Husband, guitarist and engineer Chris DuPont (who made this sound amazing) sits in. This one is a must listen.

All songs written by Kylee Phillips:

What Living's Like

Invisible

Burning

Storyteller

Find Kylee on the Internet: https://www.kyleephillips.com/home

Subscribe to Acoustic Alternatives: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Grove Studio provides support and you should support them: https://grovestudios.space/

Here's a session recorded on Oct 16, 2026 at Robin Hill Farm for the CDL Songfest. I was asked to do the interview for this planned performance. I thought it was worth an ask to see if Chris would let me record it for the podcast. He said yes, but that wasn't relayed to the gentlemen running sound.

I wasn't given the opportunity to do a sound check with my recording equipment, so what you are hearing is a mixdown of the audio from the three video cameras I had set up in the room.

Not the best quality, which probably bothers me more than you, but here it is, warts and all. It includes his performance after the interview!

Markus Hartnett, Mike Francis, Brian Williams, Charlie Reischl & Tony Pace are the SE Michigan Americana band The Minor Pieces.

A listen to this flawed audio (the source mix was great, the feed to my recording device not so much and me forgetting to turn off the reverb on the first section of interview) will reveal bits and pieces about how the band formed and a bit about each band member.

A new band, a first album and I believe a first full band interview. It's my pleasure to introduce you to The Minor Pieces.

Songs written by Hartnett and Francis:

Abilene

Down From The Mountain

About You and Me

Bad News

Follow The Minor Pieces here:https://theminorpieces.com/

Subscribe to all things Acoustic Alternatives here: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Rent Grove Studios here: https://grovestudios.space/

Katie Greene, formerly known as Katie Pederson, impressed me the first time I saw her play an outdoor open mic at the Ann Arbor Art Fair many years ago. I knew I was seeing a special talent and I am so happy that success is finding its way to her. Her trio, The Rebel Eves, is making head way into the hearts of listeners across the country (and soon enough on the Hill Auditorium for the Ann Arbor Folk Festival in 2027). Meanwhile, Katie has a new name and a new album called Emerald coming and I was very happy to chat with her about it at Grove Studios.

Songs, written by Katie Greene:

Spring

Hard Part of Healing

Emerald

Common Denominator

Follow and learn more about Katie here: https://www.katiegreenesongs.com/

Keep track of all things and subscribe to Acoustic Alternatives here: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

The real heroes for AA are the good folks at Grove Studios:

https://grovestudios.space/

Kelsey. is the new moniker for an Ann Arbor based singer who has changed her style (and persona) since the release of her debut recordings as Ceolsige in 2022.

Love Hard is an ambitious new 16 track release that explores the many sides of Kelsey. A little pop and a lot more rock in a style she calls "disco rock."

These acoustic takes on piano and guitar don't truly reflect the hard work that went into making Love Hard, but they do give you a sense of who Kelsey. is as a songwriter and performer. Get to know Kelsey. before the rest of the world does.

All songs written by Kelsey Detering:

Our Eyes

Eternal Flame

Answer To Love

Wasted.

Learn more about Kelsey. at https://kelseyperiod.com/home

Listen to more Acoustic Alternatives at https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Book Grove Studios for all your practice needs (and tell them I sent you) https://grovestudios.space/

Another talent from the vast Michigan music scene made their way to Grove Studios for Acoustic Alternatives. Ani Mari is originally from Marquette (and, as we learn, may return to live there some day), but migrated to Ann Arbor to go to the University of Michigan.

She got attention at the age of 12 in a duo she was in singing by performing a song about a festival at the actual festival and the ball started rolling. Now a decade+ later, school is behind her and capturing the hearts of music lovers everywhere is ahead of her. A new album coming this summer, produced by Chris DuPont, and a tour lined up to promote it, on Acoustic Alternatives you get a taste of what Ani is all about. A bright future awaits this one.

Songs written by Ani Mari:

Genevieve

Tokyo

Burnout

Josephine

More about Ani: https://animarimusic.com/

Catch up on 100+ episodes of Acoustic Alternatives: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Eternal gratitude to Grove Studios: https://grovestudios.space/

The gifted artist Julianne Ankley joins me for a second visit on the podcast, this time with the generous help of Ryan Anderson from Sound Space Detroit for which I am very grateful for.

Julianne is really hitting a creative stride in her career. After being in a band (Redhill) that garnered national attention and putting out some solo material since 2009, things really seem to be going in the right direction. Her latest single, Polar Train, reached far and wide and the new single performed in this session sounds poised for further success.

It was a pleasure to have the chance to chat with her again. Enjoy!

Songs written by Julianne Ankley

What Makes You Dance

Polar Train

Cheap Thrills

More about Julianne: https://www.julianneankley.com/

and her beautiful art: https://www.julianneankleyart.com/

Find over a hundred other episodes of Acoustic Alternatives: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

None of this would have ever happened without Grove Studios getting the ball rolling: https://grovestudios.space/

The main reason for the podcast is music discovery for you, my listener. When I hear someone I think needs a larger audience I make it a point to get them on the podcast and to your ears.

It took about 3 years from the first time I heard his voice for me to get it to your ears, but I think you'll find it worth the wait.

Songs written by John Richard Paul:

Untitled New Song

In Return

Existentialist Blues

There and Back Again

More about John at :https://johnrichardpaul.com/home

More about Acoustic Alternatives: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

More about Grove Studios: https://grovestudios.space/

Marshall, MI's Sammie Hershock is off to good start in her young recording career. Already an award winner and already lucky enough to work with some of Michigan's finest fellow musicians, Sammie is putting out her second full length record in the fall of 2026.

Acoustic Alternatives was lucky enough to get a preview of 4 of the songs to be included on this next record. We also might have learned a secret about the CD release party.

Songs written by Sammie Hershock:

Graveyard Trees

Sensitivity

Gold Star

Dragon Song

Find Sammie on the web: https://www.sammiehershock.com/

Find 100+ other visits on Acoustic Alternatives here: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Grove Studios is the only way it happens. Check them out: https://grovestudios.space/