Hiawatha Music Co-op (HMC) kicks off its Festival season with a series of events leading up to its 45th Annual Traditional Music Festival, July 18-20, 2025, at Tourist Park in Marquette. Each year, the Festival brings together more than 3,500 participants, including 300 musicians, 400 volunteers, hundreds of artisans, and thousands of traditional music enthusiasts to celebrate and preserve traditional music.
On Friday, July 18th, the official Festival begins at 7 pm and runs through Sunday evening. The long-standing event draws generations of festivalgoers to Marquette each July. This year’s Festival will bring local, national, and international performers to the outdoor concert experience. Headliners for this year include traditional music legend, Tony Trischka’s Earl Jam featuring Michael Daves.
Widely hailed as “the father of modern bluegrass” by The New York Times, Trischka is a trailblazing banjo virtuoso, composer, and educator whose genre-bending career has shaped progressive acoustic music for over five decades. From his groundbreaking early recordings to collaborations with icons like Steve Martin, Béla Fleck, and Alison Krauss, Trischka has continually expanded the possibilities of the banjo. A Grammy nominee and influential mentor, he continues to innovate through teaching, recording, and visionary projects such as his latest album, Earl Jam: A Tribute to Earl Scruggs.
Also rounding up some of the exciting performances are international Scottish sensation Breabach, Black Jake and the Carnies, Crys Matthews, and Mulebone, among other performers. Local favorites WhoDat Brass Band and Chasin’ Steel will also perform. A special dance tent, workshops, and artisan areas will also be featured, appealing to all ages and offering something for everyone.
“This is truly an event that brings locals and visitors together for an amazing traditional music experience,” said Candice Blackstone-Larson, HMC executive director. Generation after generation, people look forward to the Festival as a place to not only experience some amazing traditional music, but also to unplug from work and day-to-day responsibilities to connect, create lasting memories, and recharge.”
“There is an incredible amount of work that goes into preparing for the Festival each year,” said Tom Dummer, president of HMC. “This incredible event would not be possible without all of our amazing members, volunteers, musicians, and participants who come back year after year. We encourage everyone to come out and connect with family, old and new friends, to create lasting memories for years to come for Pre-Fest, the Kids Parade, and our 45th Festival!”
For additional information on the HMC 45th Annual Traditional Music Festival, visit www.hiawathamusic.org.
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