Press Releases
Friends of the Porkies Receive Grant Approval for Music Festival
Gandalf and Hamell to return in ’08
December 5, 2007
Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, wowed the audience at the 2007 Porcupine Mountains Music Festival. The band felt a strong connection to the people and the beauty of the area and will be returning for 3 days of performance in 2008.
Submitted by Cheryl Olson
Linda Kermeen, Vice President of the Friends of the Porcupine Mountains State Park, has received confirmation that a grant application made on behalf of the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival, has been approved by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) in the amount of $10,900. Dr. William Anderson, director of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL), announced on November 29 that the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) awarded $7,662,845 to a variety of arts and cultural projects around the state for fiscal year 2008. The 252 grant awards - for projects in 49 Michigan counties, including Ontonagon.
"Michigan is at a crossroads and the need for economic diversification has never been stronger," said Dr. Anderson. "Michigan's arts and cultural sector has, for many years, demonstrated its ability to create and sustain jobs. Grant dollars like these are essential to helping local and regional arts organizations leverage further support that boosts the community economy."
"The value of and need for cultural investment has never been greater. State support for grantees and the public they serve has dropped precipitously from $27 million in 2001 to $7.66 million today," said MCACA chair Craig Ruff. "That jeopardizes the quality of life of all state residents. Culture counts. It spurs attraction and retention of talent and private investment. It creates jobs. It excites student achievement. It gives communities and individuals a stronger sense of self worth."
“The Friends of the Porkies are very excited about being awarded the MCACA grant,” said Kermeen. “Due to our geographic location and the challenge it presents when booking and routing performers, the grant money will allow the music selection committee to pursue musical acts we would not otherwise be able to consider.”
The Porcupine Mountains Music Festival will take place August 22 - 24, 2008 and crowd pleasing performers Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams have already entered into a contract to perform all three days of the 2008 event. The Circus emerged from the misty hills of Sleepy Hollow, New York in 1988 and exploded upon the Hudson Valley music scene with their stunning self-produced debut release, A Good Thief Tips His Hat. The quirky quartet then began touring and rapidly developed a loyal following. Featured recently in Relix Magazine, the New York Times and on the CBS hit show, Joan of Arcadia. The music of Slambovia has been described as "Hillbilly-Floyd, folk-pop", "alt-country roots-rock, and "surreal Americana". While performing their Yodel Song at this year’s Porcupine Mountains Music Festival, under very dry and dusty conditions....the band experienced a big surprise when they discovered that the dust kicking up was not a smoke machine, it was from the crowd...polka’ing.
Hamell on Trial, who performed at the 2006 festival, has been booked to return for 2008. Hamell was scheduled to return this year. Due to career opportunities too good to pass up, it was mutually decided that Hamell would return to the Porkies stage in 2008. Hamell was invited to perform at the 2007 Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, where his one-man theatrical show, The Terrorism of Everyday Life earned five-star reviews in the Metro, Edinburgh Review, and Three Weeks, and was awarded the Festival’s prestigious Herald Angel Award, the highest honor the Festival gives to the most outstanding performance each year. The Terrorism of Everyday Life, is a one-man show which combines story telling, comedy and songs into a brilliantly outrageous event. Hamell explores family, politics, religion and death through his journey as a working musician, man of the street, and father of a young son.
The organizers of the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival are getting ready for another year of hard work, and there will be more announcements in the future. There will be a one day only 50% Weekend Pass Sale, taking place at the Porcupine Mountains Ski Chalet, on Saturday, December 8 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Tickets can also be ordered through the website www.porkiesfestival.org or by calling 906-884-2653 or toll free 1-800-344-5355. To keep up-to-date on the latest festival happenings, visit the website and tune into Porkies Fest Radio, Fridays at 9:00 p.m. on WOAS 88.5 FM.