Porcupine Mountains Music Festival to mark 10 years in August

By CHERYL SUNDBERG

Special to the Daily Globe

SILVER CITY - Organizers are busy getting ready for the 10th annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival, presented by the Friends of the Porkies.

The festival, held each year the weekend directly before Labor Day, is set for Aug. 22-24.

More than 20 separate performers will be featured on two outdoor stages at the ski hill at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park near Silver City. Also featured is a third stage, the acoustic Busking Barn - for a more laid back feel - activities for children, performer workshops and food.

Organizers strive to present music lovers with a quality experience - presenting national and internationally touring acts (the likes of which can be found on stages at some of the most prestigious venues in the country and abroad), in an up-close and personal U.P. wilderness setting.

The audience may hear a bluegrass band next to a rock band followed by a folk act. Organizers work hard to bring an exciting mix of musical styles including bluegrass, folk, country, blues, rock, zydeco and something for everyone.

This year's headliners include:

-The Steel Wheels, performing soulful mountain music with a commitment to roots and community. The four-piece string band is based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

-CJ Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band, performing zydeco in a contemporary way. Chenier is the son of the "King of Zydeco," Clifton Chenier.

-Baskery, a trio of Swedish sisters who perform the straightforwardness of punk with the subtlety of singer-songwriting. The Bondesson sisters has toured internationally, performing at music festivals including Glastonbury in the United Kingdom; South by Southwest, the Four Corners Folk Festival and the Sisters Folk Festival in the United States; Calgary Folk Festival in Canada; and Woodford Festival in Australia.

The festival is volunteer staffed, with about 120 volunteers on the ground during the three-day event.

The Friends of the Porkies are a nonprofit organization and funding for the music festival comes from ticket and festival merchandise sales, sponsorships and program guide advertising, donations - both financial and in-kind - and grant funding. The Friends have been awarded a grant for $17,000 from the state of Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs for this year's event.

For more information, including a complete list of performers, tickets and how to volunteer, visit porkiesfestival.org or call 906-884-7663.

Editor's note: Cheryl Sundberg is festival director for the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Music Festival.