Drawn to the music

SILVER CITY — The ninth annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival ran Friday through Sunday, featuring 22 bands on the Peace Hill and Singing Hills stages, and 24 bands and performers on the Busking stage.

Incoming festival director Cheryl Sundberg said that what makes this festival unique is the Friends of the Porkies focus on celebrating all kinds of music.

“It’s a labor of love,” Sundberg said, run by 120 volunteers, six of whom work year round. “We’re rewarded by the smiles and the music.”

Hundreds of musicians apply for the 20 plus slots Sundberg said. “It’s a good testament to what we’re doing here. After they’ve played here they always want to come back.”

Every year it gets a little bigger, according Sundberg, although the group is mindful not to negatively impact the park.

Outgoing festival director Linda Kermeen said 11 years ago she worked with the Friends of the Porkies for about a year and a half to get the festival going.

“It was a crazy idea, but here we are,” Kermeen said. She is going to remain active behind the scenes at the festival on financing and grants, as well as working with the selection committee and taking care of the artists.

Saturday’s headlining act, Shemekia Copeland, was preceded by a question and answer session with her. Copeland is otherwise known as the “queen of blues,” and has been nominated for two Grammys, and has performed at the White House for President and Mrs. Obama.

“It’s a struggle being a woman in any business. The women who came before me had to put up with a lot more than I did,” Copeland said during the session.

During her rollicking performance, she dedicated a song to all of the women in the crowd, and told them, “When you go home, get buck naked in front of the mirror, and tell yourself you are beautiful. Because you are.”