Collaboration, Communication, and Community: How to Thrive in 2025

Inspired by a recent trip to Kalamazoo, I’m doubling down on collaborating, communicating, and community building.

Gooooood Sunday Morning, friends!!! As always, I hope you and those you love are doing fantastic. Brenda and I were recently in Kalamazoo for their craft beverage week, and I came away not only with an excellent experience but some thoughts to share with you.

One bit of housekeeping: we are once again embarking on putting together GIG - The Art of Michigan Music 2025. This year, we are partnering with Jackson College to showcase the work of their graphic design students. I’m very excited about this as I want to bolster up-and-coming artists. That said, we need financial support to pull this event off. If you have the means, we need your support. Hit the donate button to be part of our collaboration. Better yet, buy a GIG t-shirt and poster, too!! Anyway, you slice it to help us support the visual art of Michigan music.

The Key Is Collaboration

Last Friday and Saturday, during Kalamazoo Craft Beer Week, we witnessed many collaborations. Thanks to our buddy John Liberty, we collaborated with Discover Kalamazoo, providing coverage and our perspective on several events. Collaboration was key at each stop over the weekend, whether a brewery worked with the local bakery on a pretzel and beer pairing or a small husband-and-wife team joined forces with the pizza place down the road for a wine and pizza pairing.

The theme of collaboration keeps popping up again and again at Life In Michigan studios. After collaborating on beers with our friends at Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen, Kognisjon Brejjeri, and, most recently, Barrel & Beam, Brenda had the idea to write a series of articles on collaborations in the beer world. In a way, the beer industry in Michigan exemplifies the collaborative spirit. And these collaborations are more than the typical brewery brews a beer with another brewery scenario. Folks are teaming up to support non-profits, to support local businesses, to support the arts, to support their communities, and support each other. While I don’t want to give away all the awesome collaborations, I must shout out to my family at Batch Brewing, City Built Brewing, Loaded Dice, and Ogma Brewing.

Collaborations in Action: Beer

Collaboration with a community focus is part and parcel with Batch Brewing. They started with the Feelgood Tap to benefit various non-profits. Hell, their mug club, the United Federation of Eaters and Drinkers, involves a solidarity day each quarter where members gather to provide community service. Most recently, they supported the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation through sales of Mi Gente. This is where City Built Brewing comes into the picture as they created Mi Gente to recognize and support Latino and Hispanic brewers. These collaborations not only foster creative and delicious beers but they focus on lifting up communities that may not get the attention they deserve.

Stephen (owner of Batch) recently released a video leading up to Batch’s 10-year anniversary. Instead of reflecting on the successes of his team and business (which are many), he highlighted the extremely tough times that Michigan’s locally owned service industry is going through. Winter is hard no matter how you look at it, and this year, in particular, is rough as small businesses continue to struggle with post-pandemic challenges. In Stephen’s video, he urges those of us who enjoy locally owned independent restaurants and pubs to visit your local haunts. This is a collaborative effort that we all can participate in to support the local businesses that matter to us.

Doubling down as is fitting of a brewery named Loaded Dice, co-owner Jef Smith tapped into Batch’s “Support Your Local Haunts” effort. If you stop into Loaded Dice with a receipt from a local independent restaurant, you get 6% off. If you bring in a receipt from a Michigan-owned brewery, you get 9% off. Bring in one of each, and you get 15% off. I love seeing shit like this!

Our friends at Ogma Brewing in Jackson are big-time collaborators. Their actual pub is dedicated to this concept. All year, their walls host the work of a local artist, and they rotate every six months. A grand opening allows patrons to meet the featured artist. They also have the Giving Red Mugs. These are special red member mugs that can be shared with the community. During Red Mug Giving weeks, a portion of the proceeds are donated locally to the Jackson community. We’ve got a red mug that is open to anyone involved with Michigan music.

Collaborations in Action: Music

I also see the collaborative spirit in Michigan music. A few prime examples I've witnessed recently are Jeff Fest/Oigs Fest/Fuzz Fest, Sounds of the Zoo, and Grove Studios.

Jeff Fest was a birthday celebration show for Drink Their Blood guitarist Jeff Hostetler. Jeff and vocalist Benjamin Boggs are collaborators not only with local Kalamazoo bands but also with those in Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Detroit. The same thing happens with Oigs Fest; Brad from Cavalcade, along with Jeff and Benjamin, brings together experimental, punk, rock, and metal bands and fans. Finally, Chris and crew at Fuzz Fest in Ann Arbor (which celebrates 10 years this year!) put all sorts of indy, DIY, rock into a blender and invite us all to join in. These shows bring together a diverse group of musicians, visual artists, and enthusiasts.

Sounds of the Zoo is a week-long free music festival in Kalamazoo founded by a collaboration master and arguably one of Michigan music’s biggest fans, Jennifer Hudson Prenkert. I met Jennifer at GIG last year, and both Brenda and I were like, “Wow! She is awesome!”. Jennifer is passionate about Michigan music, and her enthusiasm is infectious. She’s worked to raise awareness of Kalamazoo’s musical legacy by teaming up with Kalamazoo Gals’ author, John Thomas, and sharing the story of the women who built Gibson guitars during WW II. Jennifer seeks to create a rising tide in the Michigan music scene by collaborating with as many folks as possible. Thanks to her, GIG and Life In Michigan will be at Sounds of the Zoo this year to collaborate on showcasing Michigan music and its visual arts.

Over at Grove Studios, they are collaborating with the Washtenaw Chapter of My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK) and their Formula 734 and FARwell programs. These programs work with at-risk kids who use music to express themselves and foster creativity. Grove Studios offers their outstanding facilities to these kids, providing a safe space to share their fears and feelings in a judgment-free environment. Working together, they empower these kids to lift each other up, which in turn lifts our communities.

How We Thrive

In my view, in order for us to thrive in 25, collaboration, communication, and cooperation are the big three C’s to success. That sentence right there sounds like some bullshit fucking rah-rah go team fuckery, but I honestly believe the core to fighting the system and the oligarchy is collaboration, communication, and cooperation.

You may be thinking, “Hey Chuck! So I’m not a writer, photographer, brewer, musician, artist, etc…how do I collaborate?”

Let’s consult Wikipedia for a definition of collaboration:

Wikipedia defines collaboration as:

Collaboration (from Latin com- "with" + laborare "to labor", "to work") is the process of two or more people, entities or organizations working together to complete a task or achieve a goal.[1] Collaboration is similar to cooperation.

If our shared goal is to enjoy our lives and, in the process, lift up those around us, then writing a story to share your thoughts on others in your community, volunteering your time, going out to see local bands, spending your money at local establishments, and cheering on the work of others is collaboration. Hell, just getting out to spend some time in the real world is collaborating to combat social isolation.

Sharing interests with others and working together doesn’t have to be big. It is as small as a couple of folks working in the garden together. Taking the small collaborative approach makes the bigger ideas and goals doable.

I look forward to collaborating with Brenda and many more folks on stories and our new Life In Michigan podcast. Highlighting your collaborations, spending time talking with people, and celebrating the work of others is how I plan to thrive in 2025. I hope you will join me.

Upcoming Events You Won't Want to Miss

There is so much to share every week. If you have events that we missed, please be sure to post a note on Substack.

Music

Dave and Kristi at Erratic Ale in Dexter on Feb 20 - Enjoy excellent beverages with fantastic music

Chirp with Money Soup at the Rumpus Room in Chelsea on Feb 21 - Get funky, rock out, and have a ball with Chirp in Chelsea

Yeddie, Acid Youth, Idiot Kids at Flipside Records in Berkley on Feb 21 - Punk rock rules at this badass record store

WCBN Winter Fundraiser at The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor on Feb 21 - support and celebrate college radio!

Pulphonice with Hung Up at Bowlero Lanes and Lounge in Royal Oak on Feb 21 - Experience eclectic rock and have a ball

Judy Banker at the North Star Lounge in Ann Arbor on Feb 22 - Wonderful Americana music in one of Michigan’s best listening rooms.

Mazinga Record Release show at Ziggy’s in Ypsilanti on Feb 22 - Punk rock titans release their latest music on vinyl at one of the best venues in the state!

The Strains, The Guillotines and Sonic Smut at Small’s in Hamtramck on Feb 22 - Rock and roll with all the fixins

Downtown Sound: The Gasoline Gypsies at Crooked Tree Art Center in Petoskey on Feb 22 - Soulful rock hitting deep in the pocket.

Head Full of Ghosts at Moonwinks Cafe in Ann Arbor on Feb 22 - Alt rock with emotive lyrics hits Ann Arbor

Boreouts, Macho, and Detroit 442 at the Lager House in Detroit on Feb 22 - Punk and hardcore delights in Detroit

Jason Dennie and Nick Schillace at Trinity House Theatre in Livonia on Feb 22 - Phenomenal acoustic music

Matthew Carlson and Friends at the Avenue Cafe in Lansing on Feb 23 - Songs and stories abound

CMF Pre-party #1 at Flamingo Vintage Detroit in Detroit on Feb 28 - Corktown Music Fest (CMF) pre-party for their upcoming festival on April 24-26. This is your chance to get your wristband early and enjoy great music.

The Mark Lavengood Trio + Loren Kranz at the Rumpus Room in Chelsea on Feb 28 - Slide guitar wizard and bear hug champion takes over Chelsea

Electric Huldra, Good Manʼs Brother, and The Velvet Snakes at the Regal Beagle in Ypsilanti on Feb 28 - Hard rocking night of awesome at this fabulous little dive bar.

Sonic Smut with Lily Bones at Bowlero Lanes and Lounge in Royal Oak on Feb 28 - Progressive psychedelic rock invades Royal Oak

Metal Concert and Fighting Games Tournament at Gate Keeper Games in Berkley on Mar 1 - Enjoy heavy metal and games in a game store.

Feminine Energy #7 at the Ypsi Alehouse in Ypsilanti on Mar 1 - Six awesome female singer-songwriters bring you a night of music.

Beers

Official Unofficial Pre-Party for the Winter Beer Festival at City Built Brewing in Grand Rapids on Feb 21 - Get pumped for the Winter Beer Fest with the awesome folks at City Built

Michigan Brewers Guild 19th Annual Winter Beer Festival at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park on Feb 22 - Enjoy beautiful beers in the great outdoors just north of Grand Rapids. Stop by Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen to get a taste of our collaboration sweet stout “Camping With Uncle Charlie”!

Winter Beer Fest Afterparty at Archival Brewing in Belmont on Feb 22 - Celebrate surviving another winter beer fest with more awesome beer and some delicious food.

Mardi Gras Celebration at Batch Brewing in Detroit on Mar 1 - Get your beads and drink some beers or fancy cocktails

Various Intrigues

The Vintage Market presents My Vintage Valentine at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds in Saline on Feb 16 - forage for that vintage item you need to make a space on Antiques Roadshow.

Patterns, Pies & Pastries at Peace Pie in Marquette on Feb 19 - Hungry fiber art enthusiasts gather for crafts and conversation (and great food!)

2025 Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival at Embassy Suites Detroit in Livonia on Feb 22 - Prepare for underwater adventures.

8th Annual Walloon WinterFest at the Talcott Event Center in Walloon Lake on Feb 22 - See live ice carvings and an antique snowmobile show on the lake. Explore snowy trails with snowshoes and cross-country ski rentals from Legacy Water Sports

Away Games: Improv Comedy at Batch Brewing in Detroit on Feb 22 - Hear.Say’s improv team hits the road with a show at Batch Brewing.

Rev. Rural’s Record Riot at Sanctuary Spirits - Distillery, Brewery, & Winery in Grand Ledge on Feb 23 - Get your records and drink on!

19th Annual Charity Gumbo Cook-Off & Crawfish Boil at Louie’s Trophy House in Kalamazoo on Feb 23 - Delicious gumbo for a great cause

Greater Kalamazoo Winter Restaurant Week on Feb 20 - Mar 1 - Enjoy super deals and delicious food in Kalamazoo!

Traverse City Restaurant Week on Feb 25 - Mar 1 - Fantastic food up in Traverse City area

The Saugatuck Second Line Mardi Gras Pub Crawl on March 4 - A fundraiser for Red Horse Center this is an annual brass band parade & Mardi Gras Pub Crawl through downtown Saugatuck’s favorite pubs and watering holes. It celebrates cultural traditions of New Orleans through our Midwestern lens.

In Other News

We had a phenomenal time at the Sounds of the Zoo fundraiser, which included a celebration of Irene Stearns Day and the upcoming Kalamazoo Gals documentary.

If you are in Michigan, be sure to pick up a copy of MiBrew Trail. The current edition has our stories on Oktoberfest in Germany. There is also a review of our Barrel and Beam collaboration beer by Tony Garant and a fun story on Apoptosis Brewing in Kalamazoo by Jon Becker.

At Rural Innovation Exchange, Laura Fitzgerald has a collaboration story about a new maker space in St. Clair.

One last news update…Brenda and I are doing a thing!! The Life In Michigan podcast will feature the stories of Michiganders. Our first interview is this week, so we’ll have our maiden voyage episode out soon!

Substack Restack Attack

Substack is where it’s at. Check out these other superb publications:

I got sucked in by the images and enjoyed

Lucy Lumen

’s take on the Harman Red 125 film - it sort of makes me want to get a film camera and play around with it.

Harman Red 125 - A Closer Look

You might not know this, but I occasionally suffer from imposter syndrome. I enjoyed reading about

Susanne

’s journey of overcoming feeling intimidated by her art. Plus, she has some wonderful photos of Ireland.

Getting over my intimidation in photography

A series on telephone booths! Love it! Fabulous stuff from

Richard Partridge

It is only a matter of time

Adventures Yet To Print

As mentioned earlier, we went to Kalamazoo for their craft beverage week for a collaboration with Discover Kalamazoo. Our story and photos will be featured on their site soon. Brenda is also starting to work on a series on beer industry collaborations. On Valentine’s Day, we stopped in at Hear.Say Brewing and Theatre to catch some improv while enjoying their super delicious beers, so we’ll have a story about that coming up.

Detroit Vinyl and Beer status: Oh man…it is still waiting in the wings. I’ve got to do something about that.

What Are You Reading?

I haven’t been reading as much as listening to The Unusual Suspects by Malcolm Gladwell and Kenya Barris. I dig their interview style and have been completely absorbed in the stories of their guests. Most of them I’ve known little to nothing about. I was particularly struck by Dr. Dre’s interview and this quote he shared:

“I just believe that we have this small spec of time on this planet, and then we’re out. We’re in the same place we were before we were born, we just didn’t exist. So this spec of time that we have on this planet, which is a really short amount of time, we have to do fucking everything that we can do and hopefully be remembered by what we do when we clock out.”

I’m not so sure I necessarily care if I’m remembered, but I do want to do as much as I can before I clock out.

Another new book that I just got has no words. Dr. Peter Larson is a musician I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing at Fuzz Fest a couple of times. His music is experimental, with connections to traditional music forms. What I didn’t know about Peter is that he is a fantastic photographer! Apparently, he decided in 2024 to take his cameras out and about to capture scenes from his adventures. The book is called Ghosts, and it is filled with wonderful black and wide images.

Dr. Peter Larson - Ghost Photo Book

What Are You Spinning?

Celebrating its 55th birthday on Feb 13 was Black Sabbath’s debut album. I remember seeing this album cover and thinking, “Oh man, this looks evil!”. While there are a few tunes that may touch on the darkside, this album also has a brilliant tune about a wandering magician spreading joy aptly titled “The Wizard” and a protest song called “Wicked World.”

There is no doubt that this album and band created a new genre of music. No matter how many times I hear it, I’m always blown away by its heaviness. The riffs, the pummeling drums, the popping bass, and vocals set the stage for future generations of heavy metal and hard rock.

That’s A Wrap

As my buddy Sturgill once said:

“Keep your head out of the clouds

And remember to be kind

And just stay in school

Stay off the drugs

And keep between the lines.”

Thank you for reading. I hope your week is awesome! Don’t forget to kick out the jams!

Now, here is your moment of zen: