Music & mirth
2023 Hiawatha Traditional Music Fest kicks off
Ashli Hahn and Nola try their hands on a drum at the 43rd annual Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival Friday afternoon. The festival is being held at Marquette’s Tourist Park and runs through Sunday. (Journal photo by Lisa Bowers)
Empty chairs are positioned for music presentations. Above, right, Kali Berry of Marquette gets creative on the concrete. (Journal photo by Lisa Bowers)
This sign says it all late Friday afternoon at the 43rd annual Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival held in Marquette’s Tourist Park. (Journal photo by Lisa Bowers)
Ashli Hahn and Nola try their hands on a drum at the 43rd annual Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival Friday afternoon. The festival is being held at Marquette’s Tourist Park and runs through Sunday. (Journal photo by Lisa Bowers)
Empty chairs are positioned for music presentations. Above, right, Kali Berry of Marquette gets creative on the concrete. (Journal photo by Lisa Bowers)
This sign says it all late Friday afternoon at the 43rd annual Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival held in Marquette’s Tourist Park. (Journal photo by Lisa Bowers)
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MARQUETTE -- Friday evening saw the kickoff of the 43rd annual Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival.
This year's festival takes place all weekend at Marquette's Tourist Park Campground and marks the return of what is generally considered the Upper Peninsula's largest music festival of its kind.
The 2023 edition of the festival got underway with the THUNDERNATION drum circle, which allowed festival attendees to bring a drum to participate in the drum circle.
The opening night of the highly anticipated festival saw headliners Djangophonique, an instrumental jazz quartet, entertain the crowd before Marquette's own bluegrass group Strung Together finished off the first night.
The event continues today and Sunday with performances from a variety of musical acts with local and national pedigrees, including two sets, one Saturday and one Sunday, from Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper. Cleveland is generally regarded as one of the world's most respected fiddle players.
Anyone interested in attending the festival today or Sunday is in luck, as daily passes for the festival can still be purchased for $60 each day. As of Friday evening, there were still camping spots available in sections A, B and D.
For more information, including a weekend schedule of events and performances, visit online at www.hiawathamusic.org.
Randy Crouch can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 542. His email address is rcrouch@miningjournal.net.