Earthwork Music & The Livery present another “Sunday Showcase” – a night in which “art meets activism”! This very special December edition features Mark Lavengood and Mike Struwin , and will be in benefit of Anna Russo-Sieber Gallery!

Sunday, December 15th, 2019
7pm showtime
$10 suggested donation – in benefit of Anna Russo-Sieber Gallery!

Sponsored by: New Territory Arts Association
Broadcast via the radio waves on: WZRD Chicago 88.3 FM and Radio Harbor Country WRHC-LP 106.7FM!

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MARK LAVENGOOD: Mark Lavengood is a walking, talking ray of sunshine. His resonant energy and sparkling smile light up every stage, every studio, every room, RV and embrace he enters. A talented multi-instrumentalist, Lavengood specializes in dobro & steel guitar, both of which he’s played for over a decade, while also being well-versed in guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, drums, and a variety of percussion instruments. In 2012, Mark was named winner of 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 the award-winning Michigan-now-Nashville-based Americana outfit Lindsay Lou (formerly, & the Flatbellys), performing at a bucket list of venues and festivals over his time with the band. Since returning to GR, a burgeoning art and music scene in its own right, Lavengood has ‘narrowed’ his focus to his main, namesake project, as well as teaching and developing education platforms, mentoring, writing, recording, growing a music business (Bear Mark Productions) and of course, performing. A natural showman, Mark has released three full-length, critically-acclaimed records, the most recent with the Michigan-based Earthwork Music Collective.
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MIKE STRUWIN: This will be the final collaborative concert for Mike at The Livery this year! Incorporating a myriad of genres, including Alt-Country/Blues & Bluegrass/Roots/Folk/Soul and even Reggae, Mike is a Michigan born artist that has forged a truly unique style all his own.

Growing up in a small beach town, Mike Struwin began his musical photosynthesis at the age of thirteen, with the piano. Soon after, he entwined his fingers around his first guitar and found his passion to be laced within its six strings. A prolific and gifted songwriter from early on, Mike’s first CD was composed and released by the age of seventeen with his first (High School) band Steamboat Willie. The infectious ballads found fertile ground in the ears of his native Michigan and with support from a cadre of talented musicians along the way, Mike has penned and released multiple albums including; “Out of the Blue (2002), Roots Down (2005), Storyline (2008) and Forgotten Hymns (2010 ) all under his own name. World-class musicianship, songwriting and Struwin’s strong, reedy tenor, combined with his stark brand of Americana (tinged with subtle echoes of reggae and soul) earned “Roots Down” national acclaim, which led to soundtrack placement in the independent features Beautiful (2006, Imagine Afrika Productions) and Gringo Wedding (2006, Stepping Stone Productions).
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ABOUT THE ARS: ARS Gallery was established in 2010 in the heart of Benton Harbor’s rapidly growing Arts District. We are dedicated to educating children and adults, alike in the area of the visual and cultural arts. Under the direction of owner Anna Russo Sieber, ARS Gallery manifests this commitment by presenting exhibitions of both emerging and established contemporary artists; by offering educational programs that encourage a deeper understanding and enjoyment of a variety of artistic media; and by providing scholarships for summer and after school arts programming to economically disadvantaged youth.

Past exhibitions have included artists such as Dave Wilkinson, Lynne Tan & Matt Sieber, Meaghan Burritt, Foster Willey Jr., Matt Payovich, John Sauve, and Susan Henshaw & Greta Hurst.