This Sunday, Oct. 11, ArtRat Gallery welcomes Sweet Dee & the Wild Honeys to Americana Sundays, the monthly concert series curated by the The Stableford Agency. Americana Sundays: An Afternoon with Sweet Dee & the Wild Honeys runs 3-5pm at 46 Division Ave. S in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. (Admission $15; tickets available on Eventbrite.)
Dee Sutton, an Americana singer-songwriter from West Michigan, blends a rich tapestry of musical genres and cultural influences, from the salty swing of Hot Club Jazz to the Old Timey bounce of traditional American country swing music. Dee has been featured as Singer of the Month in the UK’s Country Music Magazine. Her most recent album, Alone Again (released in 2025), won the “Best Americana Album” award at the 2026 Jammies, and features many players from her band, Sweet Dee & the Wild Honeys.
Ahead of the show, ArtRat checked in with Dee about her triumphant return to Michigan stages and her plans for the future.
You returned to performing in 2025 after an 11-year hiatus. What changes do you see in the West Michigan scene since 2014?
Lots! For one, everything is online now. No more stapling gig flyers to city posts. The need for social media marketing is like another job but very effective in reaching a wider audience much faster.
I went into playing music again thinking I’d start a band and have this collaborative approach, but that hasn’t worked out. Everyone plays with multiple bands these days, people my age have built lives outside of music, and finding folks that like the music I do is like a needle in a haystack when bluegrass and old time is king right now, so lining different musicians up to play various shows and do rehearsals, get people caught up on new material, has made me shift directions and rebrand myself to Sweet Dee.
I’ve been going at it a little over a year now and finally feel like I have found a steady group that plays with me, that genuinely enjoys the energy we create together on stage. I still have to rotate lead players depending on who’s available, but it’s definitely become less chaotic. I’ve come to really enjoy the mashup of players and being able to play with different musicians and meet new people. I’ve had musicians reach out and offer to play with me, which has been really cool and I’m just grateful for the friendships that have been built along the way. West Michigan has a very supportive music scene that I don’t recall existing 12 yrs ago. It’s a great time to be a part of it.
The Wild Honeys have included a movable feast of regional all-stars! Who all will you be playing with this Sunday?
Well as you know when I booked this gig, I was performing with a trio but have since had some personnel changes. Now it’s going to be Sallie Bacon on bass, Brian Ferriby on drums, Justin Wierenga on pedal steel, and Drew Howard on guitar and steel. They have become my band fam, I love them very much and am just grateful they want to play with me when they do!
You produced your comeback album, Alone Again, even before you assembled a band. Do you have plans to return to the studio?
Yes, I’m in the studio working with Tommy Schictel at Goon Lagoon recording my second album, which will be released before the end of this year under Sweet Dee and am really excited about this one. We’ll be in the studio the day before our ArtRat performance to finish tracking. It’s being recorded live so it’s moving along much more quickly than the last record. I’m grateful for everyone contributing their time and energy into this. It’s going to be a killer album.
What can the Americana Sundays audience expect from Sunday's show?
Expect an all-inclusive space that rejects all forms of hate. It’s been a tough year for folks in GR and I want to provide a slice in time where people can find joy, experience belonging and shared positive intent with their community. We need to redefine patriotism outside of flag decals and white men telling us what America is or stands for. The real American experience is celebrating the diversity that makes us great and that’s exactly how I want folks to feel at my shows.
Expect some pedal steel battling, Western swing, and Gypsy jazz that you won’t find anywhere else in Michigan. It is an experience to have both Justin and Drew performing together with Sallie and Brian driving the rhythm section. It’s my happy place to be in the middle of that, and I hope to share it with as many people as possible.
What do you like best about playing in Grand Rapids?
The energy! The camaraderie, the community, the belonging, & people like you facilitating creative spaces for people to come together.
