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Pride Punk concert, fundraiser set for Nov. 14

MARQUETTE -- From 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, Upper Peninsula Rainbow Pride will host Pride Punk, featuring music from What About Zero, The Hard, Caving Grounds and Yeah Dude Josh is Here.

The event will be held at LoveMarq Church in Marquette, located at 728 W. Kaye Ave. in Marquette, and entry is a $5 donation by cash, Venmo or PayPal.

"Music is something that brings people together," said Aidan Pietila, head of entertainment and board member at large for Upper Peninsula Rainbow Pride, as well as lead singer of What About Zero. "I don't know many people who don't enjoy music in some way, and it creates such a natural common ground for people to connect, find others who share their tastes, build friendships, and strengthen their sense of community."

Pietila said that much of his own chosen family comes from musical backgrounds and the LGBTQIA+ community, so he's seen firsthand how powerful those connections can be.

"Music can be healing, comforting, relaxing, and, of course, a whole lot of fun," Pietila said. "Events like this create a welcoming, safe space, especially for LGBTQIA+ people and our allies, where everyone can feel comfortable being themselves, expressing who they are, and connecting with others. At the end of the day, it's about more than music -- it's about belonging, building relationships, and creating a community where everyone feels welcome and accepted."

The event will help raise money for U.P. Rainbow Pride.

"Bring some earplugs, this show is going to be some of the loudest bands I know," Pietila said. "We are kicking things off by making a lot of noise with this first show. Between the four of us, especially The Hard, Caving Grounds, and Yeah Dude Josh is Here, there’s no way you can resist some headbanging, moshing, and having an overall great time."

Alex Watanen, lead singer for Caving Grounds, said events like this are important because it gives LGBTQ people an avenue to come to a show with the overt signal that we’re allies and this is a safe space for anyone interested in checking our heavy music, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

"I also think it helps push back on a sort of historical revisionism that I see happening online these days: the whole 'conservativism is the new punk' lie that some people uninitiated with DIY hardcore and punk scenes like to throw out there," Watanen said. "While there are certainly conservatives that exist within these scenes, they’re the exception and not the norm. I think it’s important to reinforce that perspective so that younger folks and the uninitiated don’t get the wrong idea about what we as a band and scene stand for."

Watanen said the LGBTQ community has always had representation in punk and hardcore scenes, all the way back to the inception of these genres.

"Bands like Big Boys and Limp Wrist established the presence of musicians with LGBTQ members early in the 80s and 90s, and bands like MDC and 7 Seconds brought explicit lyrical content of allyship into the genre while it was still in its infancy," he said. "So, while there are no homogenous conventions in these sorts of decentralized subcultures, LGBTQ representation and allyship has always been a part of punk and hardcore."