The Marquette Area Blues Society is pleased to announce dates for the 4th annual Marquette Area Blues Fest at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in downtown Marquette, Michigan.
This year's event will be held Saturday, September 1st and Sunday, September 2nd.
For advance weekend ticket holders — your wrist band is for both days. Please leave it on for entrance on Sunday.
Here is this year's festival shirt (logo design by Mark Stonerock). Watch for it at the festival. Along with this shirt several other "bluesy" items will be available to purchase. And remember! Volunteers also have an opportunity to get a free t-shirt if they work at least one shift. Photo credit: Tom Buchkoe.
Location
Ellwood A. Mattson Lower Harbor Park - Located just north of the ore dock in Marquette's Lower Harbor.
Lodging
Sorry, we do not have camping available on-site. However, there are some places to camp in the area—as well as several hotels and motels. The official festival hotel is the Comfort Suites/Days Inn.
Volunteers
Volunteers will receive a Marquette Area Blues Fest t-shirt for one shift. For volunteering for two shifts, volunteers will receive partial, if not full, reimbursement of their festival ticket. To sign up, use our on-line volunteer form. Call Dawn Stonerock with any questions.
Workshops
This year the Marquette Area Blues Fest is hosting a guitar workshop as well as a harmonica workshop. Both workshops will be on Saturday, September 1, 2007, in the workshop tent.
The guitar workshop will be held at 11:00am and is being hosted by Shari Kane. Considered one of the the country's most versatile blues guitarists, Shari Kane can take an audience from her raw interpretations of Delta Blues to an up-town Chicago groove with style and ease.
The harmonica workshop will be held at Noon and is being hosted by Peter Madcat Ruth.
Peter Madcat Ruth has established an international reputation through his exhilarating, riveting virtuosity on the harmonica. His expertise on this instrument has amazed audiences world-wide.
Peter Madcat Ruth and Shari Kane joined forces in 1990 to form the duo Madcat & Kane. Having traded records and tapes for over ten years, they knew they shared a love for blues that crossed the lines between electric and acoustic, delta and Chicago, jump blues, folk blues, and jazz.
The workshops are free and open to people of all ages who attend the festival. Remember that children 14 and under get free admission to the festival when accompanied by a paying adult.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SIGN UP IN ADVANCE, CONTACT MARK MAKI AT 249-4382.
Tickets
Northern Michigan University is serving as our ticket outlet. However, tickets can be purchased locally at NMU and various outlets.
Weekend Tickets available thru 8/31/07 are $30.00 and will be available thru NMU EZTicket outlets as well as the following ticket outlets: in Marquette at MacDonald's Music, Marquette Wallpaper & Paint, Lake Superior Community Partnership, Border Grill (McClellan Ave only) & Jim's Music in the Marquette Mall. Outside of Marquette tickets are available at The Record Rack in Escanaba, The Music Tree in Iron Mountian, and Good Times Music in Houghton. Please note CREDIT CARD FEES MAY APPLY!
Daily Tickets on festival weekend will be $25.00/day at the gate. NMU Students can purchase advanced daily tickets thru NMU for $10.00/day with a valid ID thru 8/31/07. Limit of 2. Kids 14 and under are free with a paying adult.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING TICKETS FOR LARGE GROUPS, PLEASE CONTACT JOANNE MAKI AT 249-4382.
Festival Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors. Please visit their businesses while in Marquette!
Post-Festival Party
The Marquette Area Blues Society will once again host a post-festival blues party with West Side Andy & the Mel Ford Band. The post party always has a strong "jam" element to it, so come to the Matrix "Sky Box" and enjoy some of your favorite performers from the festival! Tickets for the post-party will be on sale on the festival grounds throughout the weekend and at the door.
The "Fine Print"
Gate & Security Information
Please be ready to be searched before entrance through the gate. Security will want you to take out your lawn chairs from any canvas bags, large bags and purses are discouraged. Umbrellas will need to be opened. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.
Security needs to see entrance wristbands on festival goers wrists. This will help us! If your wristband is not in plain site on your wrist, you may be escorted off the grounds. So please keep your entrance wristband provided at the gate in plain sight throughout the weekend.
General Site Information
The festival will take place rain or shine. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcomed for festival seating. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. However, please be mindful of others around you (if you have lawn chairs, do not sit down directly in front of someone on a blanket). We hope to have first-aid available on site -- however, emergencies should be reported immediately to security.
Some Reminders
- There is no overnight camping on-site.
- Parents are responsible for their children (up to 17 years old).
- Sorry! Absolutely no pets!
- Please keep your area clean. Dispose of all trash (including cigarette butts).
- Contact security for any questions or concerns.
- Still photos are allowed (keep flash to a minimum at night).
- No video or audio recorders. This is disrespectful to the artists.
- The lost and found will be at the MABS Headquarters Tent.
- Credit cards, cash and checks with ID accepted.
- An ATM is located near the Fest grounds.
- The Marquette Area Blues Society endorses the designated driver program. If you choose to drink, drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive.
- We want you to have fun, but keep in mind "Public Drunkenness" or "Public Nuisance" will not be tolerated. You may be escorted off of the site. Anyone underage caught drinking will be prosecuted.
- No illegal drugs on-site. Officials will be contacted. Anyone underage caught with illegal drugs on-site will be prosecuted.
- The Marquette Area Blues Society is not responsible for damaged, lost or stolen items.
- The Marquette Area Blues Society is not responsible for personal injuries or death.
- No loitering outside the festival gates. The Marquette Area Blues Society has rented this entire park from the City of Marquette for the weekend.
- Volunteers are needed for clean up Sunday night & tear down Monday!
