Playlist

2026 Humans of Muskegon 

Humans of Muskegon: Musician Edition is a program that aims to highlight and support musicians in Muskegon County and give them an opportunity to share their stories, music, and connection to West Michigan. In this series, MADL Librarian Ian Wright connects with ten local music groups from across Muskegon County as they tell their stories and perform one of their pieces. The musicians participating in this series perform an incredibly broad range of genres, from singer-songwriter to jazz fusion, and showcase the incredible talent and musicianship that is alive and well here in Muskegon County.
Special thanks goes toSteve Albert of Blue Lake Public Radio for recording and engineering our interviews and musicians.

Interview: Two Dudes in Flip Flops, opens a new window

Brothers Greg and Jeff Grossenbacher have been performing music together for quite some time. They began with the bluegrass band The Cedar Shack Gang then they formed Sons-of-Beaches a Jimmy Buffett-style party band in which they still perform today. After taking a hiatus from SOB's for a while, Greg began joining Jeff at his Thursday night solo steel pan show and Two Dudes in Flip Flops, was born! Their "trop rock for your Caribbean soul" is designed to take you to the islands with guitar, steel pan, and tight vocal harmonies. 

Living on Key West Time, opens a new window

Two Dudes in Flip Flops

Interview: John Merchant, opens a new window

John Merchant's earliest memories revolve around one thing: making music. "There was never a time where I thought, 'I want to be a fireman, or I want to be a soldier,' from day one it's been music." He plays solo dates, duos with former Dutch Henry bandmate Greg Miller, violinist Angela Corbin, 80's hair metal throwback "American Hairband", does freelance gigs, teaches, and still occasionally straps on a guitar for a live Beatle show in front of the mirror.

Railway Town, opens a new window

John Merchant

Interview: Christine Mattson, opens a new window

Christine Mattson began playing guitar/harmonica and writing in 2000. After 4 years playing out in the duo 75Walls, Christine changed course to a life on the water as a sailboat captain, writing and playing out along the way. She is getting back to her West Michigan musical roots and is ready to share her music.

Hold On, opens a new window

Christine Mattson

Interview: Butterduck, opens a new window

ButterDuck is a four-piece band hailing from the Montague/Whitehall area, delivering a sound they’ve proudly coined "Trombone-Infused Rock." Blending an eclectic mix of covers and original material, the group brings an energy and character that feel both refreshingly new and unmistakably their own. Each member arrives with a distinct musical background—ranging from a classically trained trombonist to a self-taught percussionist, and everything in between. Yet, rather than clash, these varied influences collide in a way that feels organic, vibrant, and unexpectedly cohesive. The result is a sonic palette that sets ButterDuck apart from the typical local-band fare.

Wandering Left, opens a new window

Butterduck

Interview: Ruth & Max Bloomquist, opens a new window

Max and Ruth were introduced in 1975 by friends that saw they had similar musical interests. They played their first official gig together in June of 1976 as the trio that came to be known as Amaryllis. The trio played together for nearly 20 years, and now Max and Ruth continue to perform as a duo. 

Go to Mexico, opens a new window

Max and Ruth Bloomquist

Interview: Immerse the Soul, opens a new window

Eric began his musical career banging on pots and pans and got his first drum set at 6 years old. After high school he joined the Muskegon metal band Stemcell and in 2005 switched to hand drums. Since that change, he perform shows with The Secret Belly Dancers and Girls On Fire. He also performs with various bands, leads drum circles, and teaches about the history and healing properties of drums at colleges and festivals. 

Immerse the Soul, opens a new window

Immerse the Soul

Interview: Kennadi Hester, opens a new window

 Musician and doula, Kennadi Hester, has always had music as a central part of her life, beginning with the influence of her father, Richard “Dick” Hester. She started playing piano at just four years old and was always singing along the way, later picking up guitar shortly after high school. Dick Hester, born in 1931, was well known in the local music scene for arranging barbershop harmonies and bringing people together through music. He and his brother even performed comedic ukulele acts around town, and he was known for always shining in one way or another. Before he passed away—while she was pregnant with her first daughter—he wrote his own obituary, ending it with the line: “My life was a pretty melody, and I leave on a high note.” Today, that musical legacy continues. She performs at local bars, coffee shops, weddings, and other venues, often sharing the experience with her daughters, Melody and Emmy Lou.

Candles, opens a new window

Kennadi Hester

Interview: Justin Avdek, opens a new window

 Justin Avdek's work captivates audiences with its raw, passionate energy and soulful voice. Avdek draws influence from rock and roll and incorporates aspects of indie rock into his style to create a distinctive blend. Justin has been a part of many groups in West Michigan, and has been playing venues since 2010. His band, Earth Radio, has been a part of the Michigan festival circuit and he has also been playing with Seth Bernard, Mark Lavengood, and Eric Engblade. 

You and I by the Fire, opens a new window

Justin Avdek

Interview: Justin Wierenga, opens a new window

Justin Wierenga is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, band leader, and session musician with a primary focus in guitar, pedal/lap steel guitar, and dobro. After playing professionally for over a decade in many styles of music, from country and bluegrass, to rock, metal, funk, jazz, reggae, new age and world music, Wierenga has forged a unique, singular voice for himself regardless of the instrument he plays.

Lost in the Sauce of Life, opens a new window

Justin Wierenga

Interview: Muskegon Chamber Choir, opens a new window

The Muskegon Chamber Choir made up of its original 16 members held its first official season in 1964-65. In 1966, the choir expanded to 22 members, and the number has continued to rise since. The Choir remains devoted to the production of diverse choral works from theRenaissance to the contemporary, and in 1988, the choir performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Agnus Dei, opens a new window

Muskegon Chamber Choir