BENTON HARBOR — The Mendel Center Hanson Theatre Living Room Series ushers in 2018 with songwriter May Erlewine at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12.

Longtime fans might refer to Erlewine as “Michigan’s Songbird,” but her songs have traveled far beyond her home state. Erlewine’s music has been listened to by people all over the world.

Erlewine was raised in a family rich with art and music. She began writing songs and playing them for the people at a very young age. Her journeys have taken her all over the world, from street corners to renowned stages. May has performed for all walks of life. In her travels Erlewine came to know the land and the pulse of the people. Her songs aim to show a connection and concern with everyday folk.

Erlewine pulls from a wide variety of sounds and influences to create her unique musical landscape — traditional folk roots, old time country swing, soul, and rock and roll.  She is mostly inspired by the hearts of the people and the one in her chest, fans said. Her music seeks to embrace emotion through telling life’s stories in song form.

Erlewine is a member of the Earthwork Music Collective, a group of independent artists who share resources and talents to raise both community and self-awareness, along with facilitating and encouraging original music in the state of Michigan.

Earthwork was created as a means to form a viable alternative path to the conventional music industry. Through collaboration, the collective strives to incorporate efforts of environmental advocacy, social justice, creative empowerment, and community building into the core functioning of a musical profession.

Erlewine is no stranger to the recording studio and continues to write and record songs for the times. Some boast of her newest record, Mother Lion produced by Tyler Duncan, to be her best yet. Her songs have been sung by national acts, including Joshua Davis, Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem, Sawyer Fredericks (NBC The Voice), Railroad Earth, Greensky Bluegrass, Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys, and the list goes on.

Local brewing favorite The Livery will offer an array of craft beers before the show and during intermission. Their craft beer creations will be available at the cash bar in the Hanson Theatre lobby. The Livery will also provide samples of their house-made, spent-grain pizza along with beers available for sampling from growlers.

The Hanson Theatre Living Room Series is a live performance experience in the intimate setting of the 250-seat Hanson Theatre. The venue is designed for maximum viewing and listening pleasure, and provides audiences with the opportunity to connect more closely with the performers and the performances.

The Hanson Theatre Living Room Series is sponsored by The Livery and the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council.

Tickets for May Erlewine are on sale at TheMendelCenter.com, through The Mendel Center box office at (269) 927-8700, option 1, and in person 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays from at the box office located in The Mendel Center, 2755 E. Napier Avenue, Benton Harbor. Discounts are available for seniors, students and children, active military members, and veterans.

If you go:

What: May Erlewine – part of The Hanson Theatre Living Room Series

Where: The Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College, Hanson Theatre

When: 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, 2018

Cost: $15, $10 students, seniors, veterans, and active military members