Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
The 14th annual Porcupine Mountain Music Festival was held over the weekend. It was estimated that over 700 music lovers were in attendance for the event that ran from Friday to Sunday at the Porcupine Mountains State Park. Fourteen different bands played on the big stage throughout the weekend and others took to the all-acoustic stage in the Busking Barn.
By JEAN NORDINE
PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS – Large crowds were in attendance over the three-day 14th annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival. The bottom of the mountain was a sea of lawn chairs and awnings as hundreds of music lovers enjoyed a variety of music.
Merchandise from all the bands was available for purchase and workshops were held in the chalet. On Friday The Barefoot Movement held a writing and arranging songs workshop and Saturday Ryan Peterson held a looper workshop. Also on Saturday a drum workshop with Randall of The Ragbirds was held at the Folk School just east of the festival site.
The chalet was also utilized during the switchovers, musical performances were held there as the bands readied the outdoor stage.
To the east of the chalet there is the popular Busking Barn Stage. This is a natural and truly all-acoustic stage, as there is no electricity. Both amateur and professional performers played there throughout the three days.
On the big stage a total of fourteen different bands entertained throughout the weekend. They included The Talbott Brothers, Wild River, Joshua Davis Trio, The Barefoot Movement, The Fred Eaglesmith Show starring Tif Ginn, The Lucky Dutch, Old Salt Unior, The Ragbirds, Charlie Parr, The Roosevelts, Donna the Buffalo, Shari Kane and Dave Steele, Kind Country, and The Slambovian Circus of Dreams.
If you have never been to the festival you are missing out on the chance to see and hear some very talented musicians.
Festival Director, Cheryl Sundberg said, "The music festival has been fortunate to receive grand funding through the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Arts Midwest and the National Endowment for the Arts. Their funding, along with the support of our sponsors and advertisers is our lifeblood."
The festival committee is already working on next year. The 15th annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival, presented by the Friends of the Porkies is scheduled for Aug. 23-25, 2019.
Sundberg added, "Whether you travel from near or far...all roads converge at good music!"
