About the band White Water

Dean and Bette Premo and their children, Evan and Laurel, form the stringband called White Water. They perform at concerts, festivals, and dances all year round. The family lives in the town of Amasa in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where Premo family roots run several generations. White Water is known for its musicianship, four-part harmony vocals, and endearing stage presence. In addition to traditional and contemporary folk music, White Water has a large repertoire of dance music and teaches folk dancing to audience members of all ages.

Music has been a Premo family affair for a long time. Laurel and Evan began their performance careers as three and five-year-old dancers, demonstrating clogging, schottische, and other traditional dance. It wasn’t long before they joined in the music-making with their voices and instruments. Today, the Premo children anchor White Water’s music and are full-fledged partners in the business.

Dean and Bette's combined experience in education, nature, and the environment shows in their apt weaving of these themes into White Water performances. Their Michigan roots inspire historical reflections and stories about the people who settled and live in the Great Lakes area. (Click More Info for other details about White Water's members.)

Dean and Bette Premo formal training is in ecology and limnology, respectively. The business they operate, White Water Associates, is an ecological consulting firm and full-service environmental laboratory. Their capacity to perform music programs is a uniquely enjoyable part of the business.

Evan is studying performance bass at the University of Michigan School of Music. He has launched a website featuring his double bass music at www.evanpremo.com including clips and photos. Together with his partner, soprano Mary Bonhag, Evan forms the unique and entertaining Duo Borealis.

Laurel is a high school sophomore and plays viola with the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, guitar with the high school jazz band, and flute with the high school concert band. Laurel, too, has a webpage featuring music, artwork, and photos found at www.laurelpremo.com.

Since Evan is now at college, White Water often plays as a trio with Laurel confidently leading both instrumental and vocal parts of many of the band’s tunes.