Other traditional music events
As we learn of other traditional-music events in our area, we'll post them here, starting with jam sessions and scrolling down to concerts and other festivals.
We hope you will find something you enjoy, and we especially hope you will patronize the businesses that host jam sessions, sponsor concerts and otherwise support traditional music!
Hiawatha Old-Time, Acoustic Jam
Hiawatha sponsors a traditional, acoustic jam with old-time tunes played at slow-to-moderate speeds to make them easier to learn. Normally the first Saturday of the month - with changes for holidays, etc. - 3-5:30 p.m., in the Parlor at Grace United Methodist Church in Marquette (corner of West Fair and Norway; one block east of Lincoln Ave; enter from the lower level parking lot; watch for signs). For more details, please click here. The jam session is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted to support the Hiawatha Youth Scholarship to the Augusta Heritage Festival.
We're taking a break in August. Next jam: September 4, 2010, Grace Methodist Church. Special thanks to Grace Methodist for making room for us!
Other traditional, acoustic jam sessions
The Sunday acoustic jam in Marquette is currently held at Donckers soda and candy shop, 137 W. Washington in Marquette. 2-5 p.m., Sundays. Thanks to Donckers and to all the places that have hosted this jam in the past several years! Special thanks to Margaret Boyle and Peter White Public Library for hosting monthly Sunday jams during the winter!
The Sweetwater Cafe at 517 N. Third in Marquette hosts an acoustic jam session Thursday evenings from 6-ish to 9 p.m. Thanks to Sean, Ursula and the Sweetwater staff for supporting traditional music!
Falling Rock Cafe and Bookstore in Munising hosts a traditional acoustic jam on Wednesday evenings, 7-9 p.m., 104 E. Munising Ave., Munising, Mich. 906-387-3008.
Please scroll down for information on Falling Rock's Saturday-night concerts.
Bluegrass Jam, 7 p.m., every third Thursday, Thunder Bay Inn, Big Bay, Mich. 906-345-9220.
Marquette Community Jams at the Peter White Public Library. The PWPL jams will resume again on September 18. The Library, at 217 N. Front St. in Marquette, will close on Sundays during the summer. When the jams resume, local acoustic musicians will gather for these community jam sessions celebrating traditional, old-time and folk music. Bring your guitar, fiddle, banjo, bass, or voice to play and sing those great old-time folk music by the likes of the Carter Family, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and others. These are not performances but informal gatherings for people interested in playing or singing with others who enjoy traditional, acoustic music. There is no admission charge, but donations are welcome. Please call 906-226-4318 or visit PWPL.info for more information. Thanks to Margaret Boyle and the PWPL staff for supporting traditional, acoustic music!
Rapid River Jam: The traditional jam at Cuppa Jo Java coffeehouse in Rapid River, has ended for the summer. 906-474-0018. Please check back in the fall when we hope these jams will resume. 906-474-0018. Thanks to Cuppa Jo Java for supporting traditional, acoustic music!
Traditional Concerts and Festivals
Falling Rock Cafe and Bookstore
Live music 7 p.m., every Saturday night except the end of November. Suggested admission: $5 adults, $1 child, $20 family. 104 E. Munising Ave., Munising, Mich. 906-387-3008.
July 3: M.J. Bishop and Wyatt Easterly. M.J. with a voice like Patsy Cline; Wyatt with a delightful mix of Americana and folk
July 24: Tongue Family Band. Family-friendly Celtic family band, music and stepdancing.
July 31: Victoria Vox. Modern and rhythmic ukulele playing and singing
Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble Concert
7 p.m., Saturday, July 24, Ludington Park Bandshell in Escanaba. The Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble is an instrumental acoustic jazz group based in Madison, Wisc. They are primarily influenced by the legendary Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. The ensemble also pulls influences from jazz, swing, European folk, traditional Latin, Parisian waltz and other vintage-jazz sources. Concert will be FREE (donations encouraged) Sponsored by the Bonifas Fine Arts Center. 906-786-3833
Pine Mountain Music Festival
Not all traditional, but wonderful music none-the-less. This year's line-up includes a new piece by Evan Premo of White Water. Concerts start June 16, and include performances in Marquette, Munising, Escanaba, Iron Mountain, Norway, Crystal Falls, Houghton, Calumet, and Ironwood.
Bill and Kate Isles and April Verch
August 29,at the Crystal Theatre in Crystal Falls Theatre, 2 p.m. (Central), 906-875-6867.
Northern Michigan University International Performing Arts Series
Second Sunday Folk Dance
The Folk Dance at Fortune Lake is over for the season. Please check back for news about their 25th year, starting next fall. Events are held on the second Sunday of each month, unless otherwise noted. New this year: pre-concert jam sessions: Each Second Sunday concert will be preceded by a traditional, acoustic jam session from 1 to 3 p.m. CT. Fiddler Bob Arthur from Iron Mountain led the jams. Each Folk Dance starts with a concert at 4 p.m. (Central), with White Water and the featured artists. Each Fortune Lake winter concert is followed by light refreshments and a dance. Concert admission is $7, free for those under age 15.
The Fortune Lake Camp is located between Iron River and Crystal Falls (in Iron County, Michigan), two miles west of Crystal Falls on US-2. South on Bible Camp Road, right on Fortune Lake Camp Road. 906-822-7889 or white-water-associates.com/second.htm
Upper Peninsula Folklife Festival
The festival is presented annually by the Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center, an on-campus museum dedicated to preserving and presenting the history and culture of the Upper Peninsula's people. The mission of the Upper Peninsula Folklife Festival is to present the traditional arts and crafts of its diverse population combining performances, craft demonstrations, workshops, dancing, and regional cuisine. Most events are free to the public with the exception of the keynote concert (See NMU Performing Arts Series program, above).
To learn more about this event and to print an application to participate, please visit The Beaumier Center's Folk Festival site
Marquette Area Blues Festival
Labor Day Weekend, Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette. 906-226-7658.
Fortune Lake Festival
Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp between Iron River and Crystal Falls, Mich., three miles west of Crystal Falls on US2. Turn south on Bible Camp Road and drive for less than a quarter mile. Turn right on Fortune Lake Camp Road and drive just a short distance.
Delta Folk Series
Delta Folk presents the finest in acoustic music. They're re-doing their website; we'll post the new link here as soon as we can.
For even more festival links and traditional music sources, please check our Links page.
