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Drew Collister in 2023 at “Drewpalooza 1” at Dig’s in Marquette.

What started as a simple birthday party among friends has grown into a full-blown three-day music event with heart, purpose, and a whole lot of community spirit. Drew Collister, the founder of Drewpalooza, didn’t set out to create a festival—but that’s exactly what happened.

“The first year, it was just a birthday bash,” Drew recalls with a smile. “A few close friends, a couple acts, a DJ booth—and way too many logistics packed into a tight space. But it sparked something. I realized I wanted to do more. I wanted it to mean something.”

By the next year, Drewpalooza moved to Pine Grove in Republic, Michigan, where it found its rhythm and a new mission: raising funds for local causes close to Drew’s heart. In 2024, the event supported Do It For Daniel, a vital local nonprofit focused on mental health awareness [Editor’s note: Both Drew and I played football for founder Jeff Olson — he’s not only a Hall of Fame football coach but a great man and mentor]. This year, the cause is Ainlsey’s HALO, a pediatric cancer-focused organization that also funds scholarships in dance, hockey, and more, all in memory of a young girl whose spirit continues to inspire.

“Ainsley was only eight years old when she passed away,” Drew explains. “Her family created HALO—Help And Love Others—as a way to keep her legacy alive. They support the children’s hospital in Ann Arbor, help with scholarships… it’s just incredible what they do.”

That focus on heart has resonated with artists and attendees alike. “The number of people reaching out asking to be part of this year’s Drewpalooza blew me away,” he says. “Eighteen acts, three days, and for the first time, artists from outside the U.P.—including Wisconsin—are making the trip.”

And it’s not just the lineup that’s growing. Last year’s crowd packed Pine Grove to capacity by midday. “The Pine Grove crew were doing head counts and just looked at me like, ‘Yeah, you’re full,’” Drew laughs. “But the support has been amazing. People dancing, singing, nodding along… those moments are why I keep doing it.”

Drewpalooza 2 @ The Pine Grove in Republic.

Dr3wpalooza bands hit the stage at 6:30 tonight and 12:30 pm on Fri & Sat

So why Republic? Why Pine Grove?

“I played there before, and the staff is incredible,” he says. “They help with everything—security, 50/50 raffles, even shutting down the street if needed. They’re a big reason this works. I’m only 25, and the logistics of this are a beast. Having a team that supports the vision makes all the difference.”

Drew’s background in music—playing in projects like No Expectations and Stetson—helped him build a network that now fuels the lineup. “I’m always out catching shows, checking out who’s playing where, following Marquette Music Scene to see what’s going on. A lot of these connections came from just being part of the community.”

And that community feeling was on full display last year, when headliners Spun invited everyone who had played over the weekend to join them on stage. “It was this wild, spontaneous, We Are the World moment,” Drew says. “Everyone came together. I got choked up seeing it.”

Looking ahead, Drew has ideas for how to keep growing while staying true to the grassroots vibe. There’s talk of expanding across the street from Pine Grove, adding a tent or more outdoor space. Northern Lights Campground is already on board to help with overflow. There’s even a big announcement planned for next year—though Drew’s keeping that one close to the vest until the time is right.

When asked what spirit animal would represent the festival, Drew doesn’t hesitate long: “A lion. Not just because they’re powerful, but because they protect and care for their pride. That’s what this is about—coming together to help and love others. That’s what I try to live by.”

He’s quick to shout out those who’ve helped make it all happen: Globe Printing for last year’s sold-out merch and this year’s expanded run; local food trucks like The Island and others; backline and sound support from Spun; and the tireless crew at Pine Grove. “It takes a whole village,” Drew says, “and I’m lucky to have one.”

Bands hit the stage tonight (Thursday) at 6:30 PM, then again Friday and Saturday starting at 12:30 PM—with music running straight through until close each night. There’s no admission fee, but plenty of chances to support the cause throughout the weekend. All proceeds will help raise funds for AINSLEY’S HALO, so come ready to enjoy the music and make a difference.

As Bear had committed off to Escanaba on 4/19, to visit with that crew and some potential clients, we felt we would be remiss if we left Resinator ’25 uncovered. Fortunately, friend of MMS & WUPX Music Director Jack was rarin’ to go. – Bear

Kognisjon is back, lighting up Marquette once again with its signature 420 (well, 4/19) festival and exclusive beer release. With a stacked bill of Michigan (and a little Wisconsin) heavy music and a fresh beer release to boot.

Caving Grounds started off the show and shocked the crowd awake with some songs off of their newest EP, “Northern Desolation.” Their blend of hardcore grit and post-metal atmosphere made for a unique, bleak but energizing experience and got the crowd more than ready for what was to come.

Following Caving Grounds was La Crosse, Wisconsin’s THE GREY AREA. They brought a powerful instrumental, atmospheric set, which would make you float with their spacey riffs, then slam you back down into the ground with their heavy breakdowns. Imagine if Pelican and Russian Circles had a Michigan cousin raised in a planetarium, constantly staring at the northern lights.

Next up was Negaunee’s The Hard. When they took the stage, you’d better have had your boots on, because they turned Marquette into the Bayou with their swampy riffs. Sludgy, groovy, and unapologetically filthy, their set really got the crowd moving with a circle pit in the middle of the bar room. This band has a soft spot in my heart as they were the first group I saw live when I moved to Marquette. Bonus points to Andy for complimenting my Eyehategod shirt.

Continuing to bring the heat was Lansing’s four-piece Room-101. I personally had never heard of this group before, but from their first song, it was like a magnet was embedded into my head, and the floor was made out of iron. A doom/death metal outfit with a sound that hits like a collapsing cathedral, they brought a thick, suffocating sound. If you were there, you know that even their equipment wanted to bang its head.

And what better way to end a “4/20” fest than the Stoner Metal band Bog Witch from West Michigan? From the first note, it was like a cloud of smoke smacked you in the face, and when it disappeared, you were back at the DnD table with their tabletop RPG and fantasy inspired tracks. Their sound was a slow moving beast, dragging through layers of fuzz. Each track felt like a journey through a fantasy campaign: dragons, graveyards, necromancers, you name it, they riffed about it. Think Sleep meets Dungeons & Dragons, and in classic Stoner Doom fashion, they pushed the time limits of the city ordinance, but I don’t think anyone was complaining.

Another year in the books and more necks that’ll need a brace come Monday. Kognition’s 420 Fest helps prove that the U.P. heavy scene is alive, loud, and louder than ever. If you missed it, well, to quote Caving Grounds Vocalist, “you’re a buster.” – Jack Wolgamott

From Elk Rapids, Michigan, Jack is the Music Director at NMU’s WUPX, where he’s majoring in multi-media production. In his free tiem Jack enjoys writing riffs and making music with his friends.

4/20 Brings the U.P. Heavy Part II

Yes, we’re Marquette Music Scene, but we really love to see other towns in the U.P. kicking musical ass, and since re-opening as a BYOB/C establishment a couple of years ago Escanaba’s historic “The Delft” has been really bringing it on the musical front across the board, but this is the second year they’ve worked with RezDog Promotions for a 4/20 heavy show.  Now I’m just going to assume RezDog is another Lexie/Jason Keshick, of Ghidora, project, and we’ll get to them later.

I guess I’m going to preface this by saying I couldn’t find any music by Electromag (looks like rockers from the powerhouse WI stoner/doom scene), and only limited music by Gallows Grove. I also don’t have a running order so I’m just going to start with the Grove.

What I did hear sounded like some pretty straight up Metallic Hardcore, and it definitely didn’t turn me off.  I was talking with Caving Grounds Alex Wickstrom and he said, “They’re my favorite Esky band right now” they’re “somewhat metalcore, somewhat nu-metal and somewhat djent and they just blend it well.”  He was also very high on Jocelyn’s vox.  Though to be 100% transparent this doesn’t sound like it’s going to be my cup of tea, but if Alex is big on them they’re definitely worth checking out.  Also, sounds like they’re good folk who like to give back to their communities so that always gains major points with me.

Goin’ down the list lets take a qui9ck look at Wisconsin Djent juggernauts Heavy lies the Crown.  Again, I have to be completely honest and say that other than thinking “Oh, this is interesting” when I first heard Meshuggah’s 1998 full length “Chaosphere” djent just has never interested me.  However, if you are into it, these guys oughta get your juices flowing.  Heavy groovy riffage with wild tempo and time changes, in your face vox and pounding drums. There is no doubt that djent has solidified itself as a permanent sound in metal, and Heavy Lies the Crown seems poised to dominate the midwest.

I caught As Bullets Baptize at last year’s Booney Bash at Michhistrigan Campgrounds on US2 (they’re playin’ Friday night again this year).  They play a style of thrashcore that will appeal to all kinds of rock and metal fans.Rippin’ thrash riffs from across the thrash spectrum, moshable breakdowns, fun solos, killer groove and solid tough guy gruff vox that should get your neck rockin’.  For fans of Bay Area thrash, Thrashcore like Devildriver or (lets go old school) Superjoint Ritual, and there’s a lot here nu-metal fans would enjoy as well.  The -core elements may turn some folks off, but these guys are a real party on (and off the) stage.  They’re the first band of the “He Has Resin” tour which is closing a three day run at the Delft.

This brings us to Phase Meridian who are in the Archives as “Progressive Sludge.”  Well, I guess that’s what we can call the style, you know the style that put Mastodon in Arenas after starting out a wacky grindcore band.  There is going to ba A LOT of appeal to these cats, they’re gonna come at you from all angles with crunchy swamp riffs, to bouncy groovy -core/thrash, clear death metal influences, and more.  I will admit that his is the style that sort of turned me away from Mastodon, but live these bands tend to bring it.  Starting as Red\\Shift in 2011 they didn’t have too much output until closer to 202, but two of these cats were busy in the now defunct but totally prolific Oak Pantheon.  They’ve really been putting in the effort post pandemic with multiple singles, and it sounds like there’s a new full length in the works.  I’m very curious to see these cats live, but I fully expect the crowd to be going absolutely wild.

Rounding out the “He Has Resin” grouping is Stoner/Doom (soon to be) titans Thundergoat.  As I mentioned before the Wisconsin Stoner/Doom scene is pretty off the charts and these guys fit the bill completely   Covering the Stoner/Doom spectrum the way many doo from mid to fast paced, almost High on Fire thrashers, to almost SUNN0))) droning Thundergoat keeps you guessing and your neck wreckin’. Their humor definitely plays into the game as well with track titles like “Chunker Bunker,” “Killer Bong, dude” and “Jake The Stoner Snake Roberts.”  This is the kind of band that I use to bring heavy classic rock fans over to the darker world of underground metal and I can’t wait to have them try to blast my already weathered ear drums.

This brings us to the band I will in now way try to hide my excitement to see.  A couple of weeks agoI was doing my usual bi-weekly Midwestern demo check in the Archives and I found Cröven had dropped one completely under the radar.  After talking with them it was so under the radar taht “We didb’t’ even really mean for people to hear it” to which I said “WHY THE FUCK NOT?”  It’s been a LOOOONG time since I’ve been this blown away by a demo.Cröven captures the vibes of the early 80’s underground in a rarified manner, they are wearing their influences of Mercyful Fate, Cirith Ungol, Manilla Road, Venom, Angelwitch and so much more directly on their sleeves.  Vocalist/Axeman Corey Anderson’s sneer is right there with the likes of Chronos, but still very much his own, and his axe work on this demo is superb (though I will say he needs a bit of work on those solos, chaos is okay, but sometimes they just are slightly off, but that’s to an elitist nitpicker).  I can’t wait to see if these guys can bring it live the way it sure looks like they do on video.  If they can, they need to have this demo pushed the furthest reaching corners of the traditional metal scene because someone besides me (and former WUPX/LA Weekly/Century Media cat Clint “The Crippler” Mayher) and these guys have a great chance to be “huge in Europe” (iykyk) in 10 years.  I could also see these guys picking up some nasty covers and mixing their awesome originals and maybe even throw something wild and “new” at the rural bar scene.

Finally, we come to Ghidora.  I called these guys “one of the hardest working bands north of Chicago” last year and they’ve definitely continued to run with it.  Once again, full transparency, these guys ARE NOT my style, but they are good folks, a family band, hard workers, and amazing community stewards and I will help them in any way I can.  Musically what can you expect?  Well, honestly, I hear Slipknot IOWA Part II.  they are definitely one of those bands in this nu-metal revival that rides the fence between new metal and metalcore, but they simply sum it up in a glorious way “Rez Metal.” as all members of the band, I already mentioned as family,  are members of the Hannahville Indian Community.  Ghiidora is all about Lexie/Jason Keshick & Sheldon King groove over some extremely tight drumming from Jose McKitrick. Seriously, if anything impressed me musically with Ghidora its definitely Jose.  Vocalist Carissa Keshick brings a fun varied approach and I believe she’s really coming into her own.  After much lobbying from many of us, Ghidora will be playing Milwaukee Metalfest in a couple weeks, and they’ll also be on the same night as the aforementioned As Bullets Baptize on the ‘25 Booney Bash.
So there ya have it.  If you’re of the HEAVY, if you aren’t either at Kognisjon in Marquette or The Delft in Escanaba on Saturday are you really heavy or are you just someones brother?

Get out and wreck your neck this weekend (oh, I will give you a pass if you’re of the heavy, but still want to catch May Erlewine’s special album release shows in Marquette because her new “rockinest album ever” is pretty damn rockin’).

4/20…

…um, okay…

…4/19 is bringin’ the heavy to music fans in the central U.P. – Part I: Resinator

In celebration of cannabis (and beer) and heavy rock, as Marquette’s Kognisjon Bryggeri brings back Resinator ‘fest for it’s 2nd Annual Appearance (there is no First Annual! damn it!) and down in Escanaba the Deflt once again paired with Ghidora, one of the hardest working heavy music bands in the Midwest, for their 2nd Annual Invasion of 4/20.

Both shows feature badass heavy rock and metal from around the U.P., Lower Michigan and Wisconsin; and both shows are guaranteed not to disappoint.

First up, though I won’t be in attendance this year, we’re going to talk about the Marquette festivities.  A FREE! Heavy Rock and Metal show in Marquette, last years was one of the most packed nights the Kog has seen, and this year could easily be no different.

Firing the show off is a band we tried to late-book onto the show last year, things just couldn’t line up, but the scene vets that make up Caving Ground jumped at the opportunity this year, and if you’ve had the chance to catch their version of Extreme Death/Sludge/Crust influenced Hardcore you know that necks will be wrecking right off the start.  Sure, I’ll call this crossover, but don’t expect nice rockin’ rhythms like DRI, this is dirty, nasty modern Metallic Hardcore bound to rip your fucking face right off. A versed metalhead can tell these cats have been all over the place in their history and they wear those influences right on their sleeves.  Yes, its unequivocally Hardcore, but if you “hardcore dance” in one of their pits someone in a battle jacket is most likely going to put you on your ass.

Next up is LaCrossee, WI doomsters (post-rock whatever the fuck you wanna call it) The Grey Area. I admit I was only able to jam “A Slow Burn and Many Cancelations” once, but it didn’t disappoint or surprise me.  It’s spacy, stonery riffage ala rockier Neurosis or modern Earth.  If you like to just zone out, this will be a band for you to smoke a doob (i assume Higher Love will be running specials, but don’t smoke it at the Kog) lay back and get lost in doomy soundscapes.

Swampy local Experimental Sludgsters The Hard.return to Resinator next, with their eclectic hard hitting mix of rock, sludge, doom, death, thrash, and hardcore.  You can always expect wrecked necks, crowd participation, mosh pits and apparently these days Andy telling us he’s (and we’re by default) old.  If you haven’t caught this three piece before be ready to be pummeled by a dual vocal attack between Andy and the versatile demonic music vixen Jaki, Andy’s riffs channeled from all styles of heavy, and one of the most solid rhythm backbones in the region: the aforementioned Jaki’s crunchy bass riffs and the ultimate dad rocker drummer in the U.P. Dave Swartz.(seriously Dave will wreck you while you try to keep up).

Continuing the tradition of bringing bands from below the bridge, Lansing’s Room 101 comes to Marquette bringing a style of Death/Doom that this area rarely if ever sees. Traditional Death/Doom leaning on the Doom side showing influences from the likes of early Thergothen & My Dying Bride however, I’d say that the gothic influence is replaced by a more droning psychedelic influence, with a mix of harsh and clean vox.  These guys will appeal to a wide variety of heavy music fans as long as they’re cool with harsh vox.

Headlining this year’s Resinator Release Party is longtime Cognition/Kognisjon (they go back to the old location) collaborator, and a band maybe even swampier than The Hard, Ludington, MI’s Stoner/Doom titans Bog Wizard.   These cats are definite Wizards in the world of Stoner/Doom continuing a Michigan tradition laid out by cats like Beast in the Field, Buffalo Witch, and one could even drop an Acid Witch on there.  Expect smokey Satbbath-esque riffage sometimes slowed down to an extreme drone, tempo changes from the ultra slow to mid-paced, and a mix of clean and harsh vox.  I mean, if you’re fans of Stoner/Doom and don’t like these cats I don’t know what to say.  I will say that without a doubt I’ll be bummed to miss them, but if this is the Central U.P. Heavy show you choose you are definitely in for another special night.

Next up, in Part II (tomorrow) we’ll talk about the aforementioned 420 invasion happening at the Delft. 4/20 is bringing U.P. Heavy!!!  We’re driving down and we couldn’t be more pumped!

Marquette Music Scene & Beyond ExplodeS into non-stop music action for the Summer!!!

Not that June was slouching, with great performances from local all stars Rockestra; the city band and orchestra doing their things; regular appearances from our incredible local & regional talent nearly every night at regular spots across the Yoop, and venues like the Ore Dock & The Crib stepping up booking major and underground tours swinging through the area (Charlie Parr, Jeffrey Foucault & Eric Koskinen (ODBC), The Jimmy’s (ODBC & Mqt. Blues Society) and the Primitive Rage/Skinned Alive Tour (Crib)) pushing all kinds of buttons for fans of Country and Americana to Hardcore/Grindcore and even Death Metal (not to leave out the likes of Rally in the Valley or Drewpalooza 2).

Well, as we fire into July and Independence Day celebrations, the Marquette Music Scene (and Beyond) ABSOLUTELY EXPLODES into musical chaos for the rest of the summer!

Starting off this weekend’s highlights, a little off the beaten path for Marquette, but Calumet’s Camping & Music FestivitIes Dam Jam is back for it’s 7^th year with a huge array of regional stars including the Stan P Band, Steve Leaf, Not Quite Canada, Soul Responsibility, and much more Dam Jam is bound to have something that will tickle the fancy of Americana, Rock & even EDM fans.  Well worth the trip.

Back in our region, starting the in-town highlights this weekend is Kognisjion Bryggeri, bringing up Grand Rapids based Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish debuting their brand of rockin’ blues/Americana in the Marquette City limits before appearing at a few other festivals across the U.P. this season.  Ridng the success of their ’23 full length “Sick-N-Tired” JRCC has been making waves across the region and starting to poke into that national level touring tier.  If you like hard driving roots rock, groovy blues, or just straight up killer old school rock and roll you’re not going to want to miss this set in such an intimate environment.  Who knows, these guys are pretty hot, it may be your only chance to see them in Marquette for FREE!  Show kicks off at 7 pm!

The cats down at The Ore Dock Brewing Company aren’t going to be slouching against Jesse Ray as they bring back  hard working Michigan Swamp Rockers Stonefolk for a two night run.  They’ll rock the crowd with a mix of originals and covers with vibes from outlaw/trucker country to funk to indie-rock/jazz and R&B all while wearing their Little Feat, Gram Parsons, The Wood Brothers and more influence right on their sleeve.  Marquette is definitely getting spoiled in the varied roots rock department this weekend with Stonerock kicking off both Friday & Saturday nights

Of course, I’ve mentioned 2 of the 3 venue breweries, and, well, Blackrocks is definitely keeping it interesting as well this weekend with the Marquette debut of Ann Arbor’s C.A.R.M.a Quartet bringing their “eclectic traditional and improvisational music” to town backed by Grammy award winning harmonica virtuoso Peter Matcat Ruth and Grammy winning percussionist John Churchville.  A quick spin through their available streaming material and you know you are In for a roots treat with some flair you are lucky to catch live.  They’ll be on stage both Friday & Saturday so there’s plenty of a chance to catch ALL of these badass highlights this weekend.

Also worth the trip, if you managed to get seats, Garrison Keillor & Company are gracing The Crystal Theatre stage in Crystal Falls. Always a great venue to catch any kind of performance.

Of course, the bands I mention here are out-of-towners that all are on the cusp of being “that band we saw just before they were big,” ya know our array of extremely talented locals are spread across the region with The Crunge @ Smarty’s, Sky Pilots @ Pine Grove, familiar singer songwriters @ Superior Culture, regular appearances from Derrell Syria & Bradley Brownell @ Drifa, and much more.  Be sure to check MarquetteMusicScene.com for schedules or the NEW Marquette Music Scene page on Facebook  (MarquetteMusic49855) for the most up to date information.

We’ll be back early next week to talk about more Independence Day celebrations AND the BIG Big 3 Concert in Gwinn headlined by Country artist Chase Matthews who is coming off a major arena tour with Luke Bryan…

By DREYMA BERONJA
Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — Marquette’s music scene earned a spot in a National Music Poll.

In a poll by CheapoTicketing.com, Marquette ranked 31 out of 120 destinations with the best live music scenes, as voted for by music lovers.

According to CheapoTicketing.com, Marquette was ranked for its “thriving” live music scene that adds to the city’s “vibrant” culture.

“With picturesque Lake Superior as a backdrop, music enthusiasts can enjoy performances at venues like the Ore Dock Brewing Company and the Northern Michigan University Forest Roberts Theatre,” CheapoTicketing.com said. “From local bands to touring artists, Marquette offers a diverse range of musical experiences that captivate both residents and visitors alike.”

James Collins of CheapoTicketing.com said the ranking “reflects not only the diversity of music genres available across the nation but also the passion and resilience of local communities in keeping live music alive and thriving.”

“We hope this inspires music lovers to explore beyond the known music cities and to experience the unique sounds these hidden gems offer,” Collins said.

Andrew “Bear” Tyler, editor in chief at the Marquette Music Scene, said its nice to see recognition on a national level with the more “understated scenes.”

“Everybody knows that every tour hits Chicago, New York (and) Los Angeles, but nobody realizes what’s going on as far as that goes, a lot of times, the more rural areas,” Tyler said. “Let alone the scenes that these rural areas have built themselves.”

He said Marquette’s music scene is more reminiscent of a city that’s larger than Marquette actually is, which gives it is “uniqueness.”
“But that’s due to the larger fact that we’re the population base for this region. So everybody comes to Marquette thinking there’s going to be some sort of opportunity,” Tyler said. “But the biggest thing is we have everything that a lot of the people from the bigger scenes want, without the things they don’t want, which is the people.”

Tyler said despite Marquette being ranked, he feels the ranking can be applied to the central Upper Peninsula, such as Escanaba and Munising.

“These rural fans of the Marquette music scene are really grabbing on to the up-and-comers, the bands that we’ll come here,” Tyler said. “The problem with that is we don’t often have media partners. You turn on the local radio station, then what you’re going to hear (is) basically playlists drawn out of the major cities instead of bands that will actually come here.”

He said with that kind of partnership, more people will know what is going on in the Marquette music scene.

“People can really start to realize what is going on,” Tyler said. “That we have have these bands that are charting on the major charts, playing the Ore Dock, it’s just you might not have heard of them…”
For more information on the Marquette music scene, visit Marquette Music Scene.

Dreyma Beronja can be reached at 906-228-2500 ext. 548. Their email address is db*****@***********al.net.

Where Blues Fest has many national artists there is also the local talent involved. Everyone puts on their A game! This years fest included a few members of Flat Broke Blues Band playing with Biscuit Miller in the FREE! Friday night show. He dubbed it Biscuit Miller and Friends! Awesome fun show with The Jimmy’s kicking off the night.

Saturday show kicked off with the Graham Brothers followed by Whiskey Ryan & Catfish Kennedy and the Sunday show Jake and the Fireside Band followed up by the Wallens & Andy Langlois. All fabulous local talent.

Workshops and Jams with such talent as Dave Ziegner, Derrell Syria, Randy Seppala, Dale Carrier, Fast Eddie and the likes makes for fun moments between sets.

There was so much great talent and even if it was COLD Saturday night Carolyn Wonderland heated up the night!!! She is awesome ~ if you missed this one check her out !!! I swear that when she let out the first few notes the crowd had a collective WOW!!!

She is a pure, nice, genuine lady. No diva energy there. Pure pleasure to have her at our Fest! She told us the Vanessa Collier would blow us away ~ (Vanessa beat Carolyn out for Female Blues Artist of the year so you know what great talent we had here!) I personally do not think one show was better than the other they were different but equally AWESOME! Vanessa was a delight also. I had her sign the BIG sax! They both signed our MABS wall.

I don’t mean to leave out the other talent / sets because it was all fabulous. Saturdays was Crossroads Resurrection & Tail Dragger with Johnny Burgin; Sunday Jennifer Westwood & The Handsome Devils, who also hosted the after party at the Ore Dock Brewing Company, and of course, the Rev.Raven & the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys ~ I love how they all appreciate our Sombrero Sound, and give kudos to Jim Supanich. And I also liked the stage this year I think using that Stage and tent worked well.

That put 18 years In the books and rumor has it Ivy Ford us already signed on for next year! It’s going to be another awesome fest! – Cindy