Door County’s natural beauty and unmistakable creative spirit have long inspired artists — and our band, Zen of Thieves, is no exception.
The County’s landscapes, trails, and community played a defining role in shaping our debut album, Birthplace of the Thunder, recorded at the Sturgeon Bay studio of Grammynominated cellist Hans Christian.
The project showcases an extraordinary lineup of beloved Door County performers, including Eric Lewis, Jimmy Kaplan, Karen Mal, Steve Koehler, Lee Becker, Paul Taylor, Amy Chaffee, Holly Feldman, and Matt Zembrowski.
Described by one critic as “arrestingly beautiful”, the songs offer a psychospiritual take on today’s world, exploring compassion, optimism, mysticism, myth, and the life of Northern Sky legend Fred Alley.
Many of these songs were born directly from Door County’s landscape. North by Night emerged during a midnight walk along Red Cherry Road over Easter weekend, where the steady North Star gave a sense of calm and continuity. When I was teaching in the San Francisco Bay area, I’d fly into Milwaukee at night on school breaks. Driving a rented car up I-43 to the Door, it felt like with every mile I was escaping further into a world of comforting darkness and safety. All these thoughts came together into this new song.
Door County’s trails also shaped other tracks on the album. Nothing but a Song took root on Newport’s gorgeous Hotz Trail; The World as I Found It came together on Peninsula State Park’s Hemlock Trail; and The Lantern was born during another Red Cherry Road walk under the stars. Each piece carries its own slice of the peninsula’s magic.
The album also pays tribute to my dear friend Fred Alley, cofounder of Northern Sky Theater, whose artistry and spirit continue to resonate 25 years after his passing. Songs such as PureHeart Guitar, Fisher Goes to the Skyworld, and Moonlight and Marshmallows (originally written for Fred’s voice) are woven deeply with his memory. Matt Zembrowski and Karen Mal deliver a beautiful performance of Moonlight and Marshmallows on the album.
To celebrate this project, Northern Sky Theater will host a special albumrelease concert on Sunday, July 19, at the indoor Gould Theater — an event that promises to bring the community together for an evening of music, storytelling, and Door County magic. Performers on the album will gather from around the nation for this once-in-a-lifetime event. Learn more at https://zenofthieves.com.
—Doc Heide
Co-Founder, Northern Sky Theater
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