Birds chirped from the valleys below while picking from local musician Michael Waite’s guitar accompanied them, providing a soft, reassuring feeling of hope.

As a painter atop the mountain swept her brush and smudged colors together to capture the scene, Waite’s voice carried through the mountain air as the sun began to set on a long Upper Peninsula summer day.

Waite, a Marquette singer and songwriter, has been hosting “Live from the Mountain” — a Facebook livestream broadcast from the top of a mountain between Big Bay and Marquette — on evenings since July 13.

Waite performs hour-long concerts with the wilderness as a background and a visual artist accompanying him.

Close family and friends listen to Michael Waite's "Live from the Mountain" Facebook livestream concert Monday on top a mountain near Big Bay. (Journal photo by Jackie Jahfetson)

On July 13, he featured violinist Barbara Lee Rhyneer, a Northern Michigan University professor. July 20’s concert featured artist Brookmary Sloan, who painted a landscape portrait during Waite’s performance.

While the COVID-19 pandemic impacted musical performances across the nation, many musicians began livestreaming concerts as a way to remain in contact with fans and continue playing music.

Living 17 miles northwest of Marquette in Birch, Waite thought he could bring the stage to the top of a mountain, as his home is not an ideal spot for livestreaming with its limited internet service.

“I know so many artists and musicians and I want to give them a chance and also give the audience a chance to see them in a responsible way,” Waite said. “And so I think having one guest, sometimes two, it’s pretty darn safe out in the open air.”

Though the mountainous background with Lake Superior in the distance is quite the platform to play music, Waite said it’s important as a performer to keep people engaged through the virtual lens that a livestream provides.

Marquette musician Michael Waite picks a classic John Prine tune during his Facebook “Live from the Mountain” performance July 20 on top of a lookout between Big Bay and Marquette. (Journal photo by Jackie Jahfetson)

“It’s very similar to playing in an auditorium … more so than a pub where you’re close to people, because in an auditorium, you can’t see anyone,” he said. “But now I also can’t hear them.”

He pretends there’s an audience in the distance in an effort to maintain that connection with people who are watching from home, he said.

While Lake Independence glimmered in the background, Waite began to pick his original folk ballad of “Wilson Creek,” a song about his home along the creek bed, but started off a bit behind tempo.

Unembarrassed by the slight imperfection, he called out to the camera and said “I got to give it a little gas here,” relinquishing a bit of comedic relief to his virtual audience.

After he strummed the last chord, he bounced into his upbeat “Make It Right” and showed off his jazz skills with his scat improvisations.

“Oh baby look at me, I’m skinny as a tree. But my love is as fat as a baby bumblebee,” he sang, then his fingers danced along the neck of his dark mahogany Guild guitar.

Throughout each set, Waite plays a range of songs, from original songs to John Prine covers, and finds he can draw from his love of Americana music.

“I’ve been very inspired to do things that are meaningful, so I’m working on some songs to try to connect people with American history and stuff,” he said. “… People can see that this is a phase and it’ll pass. And it’s for my own benefit too.”

With a voice seemingly made for storytelling, he draws inspiration from genres as diverse as jazz, Brazilian music and the classics.

Since the 1990s, Waite has hoped his performances will connect people and provide an escape, even during his livestream concerts.

Reaching over 2,000 views with each “Live from the Mountain” performance, Waite appreciates all the feedback he’s received and enjoys being able to perform for people who may not have access to the luxury of the wide-open wilderness.

“I try to bring something new of my own and I try to learn something too. This week, I did a couple songs I’ve never played before. If nothing else, it challenges me,” he said.

This week, Waite’s concert will feature Marquette singer/musician Declan Shalley at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

To join the “Live from the Mountain” performances, visit Michael Waite’s Facebook page. Concerts are tentatively scheduled for Tuesdays or they will be rescheduled depending on the weather.

Jackie Jahfetson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is jjahfetson@miningjournal.net.