BELLAIRE -- Randall Moore, percussionist for the Ann Arbor-based band The Ragbirds, has at the ready an "elevator pitch" to explain the group's sound.
"We call it infectious global groove," Moore said.
Interested? There are two chances to hear The Ragbirds this weekend in Bellaire. The band, fronted by singer-songwriter Erin Zindle, plays tonight at Short's Brewing Company and at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Chain O' Lakes Campground. The performances are part of the first Chain O' Lakes Music Festival this weekend at the Bellaire brewery and campground.
"A lot of the bands that play at Short's stay with us while they are playing. They come up for the weekend. We've gotten to know a few of the bands and just like to support the smaller musicians," said campground owner Flip Rutledge.
At 8 p.m. tonight at Short's, singer-songwriter Rose Fraser and Pinky Lee, a female vocal duo from Petoskey, open for The Ragbirds. Saturday at the campground, the first musicians take the stage around noon. The Ragbirds are scheduled at 1 p.m., followed by Squeaky Clean Cretins, Luke Winslow-King and Susan Fawcett, Seth Bernard and Daisy May Erlewine and Who Hit John?. The festival moves back to Short's at 8 p.m. Saturday with more from some of the same musicians. An informal jam session takes place Sunday at the campground.
The Ragbirds will bring folk-rock music tinged with "heavy world overtones," said Moore, who also plays djembe. The band began with Moore and Zindle, who plays violin, mandolin, banjo, accordion and percussion.
They toured in more than a dozen states, but Short's is "one of our favorite places in the world," Moore said.
"We love their beer," he said. "We love the area, of course. Obviously, that area of the state is really gorgeous."
The group followed up their debut album "Yes Nearby" with "Wanderlove" in 2007. Moore said The Ragbirds will next record a live album to capture the "intensity" of their shows, known for getting the audience "up and dancing."
Tonight's show at Short's will be a night for girls to rule the stage, said Dave Schwartz, the brewery's booking manager and a drummer for Pinky Lee.
"We've just got four of the best female singers I've ever heard around here, and they are all original songwriters as well," he said.
Admission to tonight's event is $6. The cost to get into the campground, located on M-88, is $10 plus tips. Rutledge said festival-goers should expect to pay $30 to $60 for the weekend.
