Marquette Area Blues Fest

About the Marquette Area Blues Fest

The Marquette Area Blues Society will be back in 2022 with the Marquette Area Blues Fest at Mattson Lower Harbor Park. With three days of world-class blues on the shores of Lake Superior in downtown Marquette, Michigan, from September 3 to 5th, 2021. The blues fest includes the main stage with world-class artists, artist workshops, a dance floor, many local food vendors, and a fully stocked beverage tent with some of Marquette’s best-produced ales.

The Marquette Area Blues fest Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving blues music and culture in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The annual Marquette Area Blues Fest, held Labor Day weekend in Marquette’s Mattson Lower Harbor Park, is one of the key ways they achieve this. Their goal is to raise awareness of blues music and culture in the Upper Peninsula. The Marquette Area Blues Society has a long and illustrious history (MABS). It was born on July 4, 2003, at the Lower Harbor Park in Marquette, during the annual fireworks display. Terry Klavitter, April Lindala, and Walt Lindala, founding members, always appreciated the sights and sounds of Marquette, but they wondered aloud, “Why doesn’t this town have a blues festival?”. Residents of Marquette enjoy both musics and having a good time, so it only made sense. The trio published an announcement in the local press, and a meeting was called soon after. The society’s first meeting was held at the Peter White Library in Marquette. Since that first meeting, there has been a surge of interest. Marquette Area Blues Society has roughly 120 paid members and several others that help out on a volunteer basis. They put on an annual blues festival in downtown Marquette. They also send out monthly newsletters to members and sponsors, host a monthly educational blues series in partnership with the Peter White Public Library in Marquette, and regularly bring in nationally touring blues acts for special performances. Visit Marquette Area Blues Society‘s official website to learn more about tickets and the event.