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The 4th annual Dam Jam is quickly approaching and it’s expected to be another great weekend of music and fun in Calumet.
The two day festival includes multiple stages and camping at Calumet Lions Park this Friday and Saturday.
Organizer Jim Newman says guests will be treated to an array of local talent. “We have about 22 acts from all over the Midwest,” said Newman. “I know we have some bands out of Minnesota, Wisconsin, even all the way down to Ohio, Toledo-way, a few bands from downstate and, of course, our local and regional acts in the UP. We definitely try to keep it regional and we definitely give some preference to bands out of the Upper Peninsula.”
There will also be kids’ activities and vendors offering food, clothing, arcade games, art and crafts.
Calumet Lions Park is located off Pine Street and it’s really a beautiful location that a lot of people don’t even know that’s there.
“When we started the event, we had people coming there going ‘we didn’t know this place existed!’ So it’s been really cool for that and, in the end, this whole event is to provide some extra funds for the park,” Newman said. “We’ve been able to donate money to the park. We’ve been able to donate money to the disc golf course out there. There is a 27-hole disc golf course there now, they’ve expanded on that. We’re doing this and we’re having fun but at the end of the day, we’re able to help the park and be able to raise some funds. I know they just put in the new little picnic shelter up there within the last week or so. There’s been new permanent vault toilets out there now, too, so that’s been awesome in the last few years.”
Tickets for the event are $20 for the weekend or $10 for Friday only, $15 for Saturday only, and $10 additional to camp.
Tickets can be purchased online www.damjamUP.com, at the gate, or at many retailers in the Calumet and Laurium area.
Festival gates open at 3pm on Friday.
Dam Jam 4 will also feature a food drive for local food banks. $10 in non perishable food items will earn you a Dam Jam merchandise package.
Returning from two years ago are Not Quite Canada, out of Marquette, playing both nights. They’re a four piece funk jam explosion fresh off of a hot performance at the Way Up Festival which was held at Lake View Arena in Marquette during Memorial Day weekend.
Also headlining both nights is another Michigan favorite from Ypsilanti playing “Progressive jam rock”, Stormy Chromer. The band blends complex songwriting with real-time composition to create a unique concert experience that never repeats itself. Though the band is driven primarily by a shared love of rock and roll, a wide array of varying influences find their way into Stormy’s sound. From jazz to electronic music, heavy metal to classical, ska to hip hop, the music winds its way through a dense jungle of genre. Formed in 2014, Stormy Chromer has been steadily on the rise, playing countless shows and festivals in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and New York.
Ringout from Minnesota features Twin Cities style indy guitar rock-ala The Replacements & Soul Asylum-with talented roots deep enough to pass their original songs off as classic rock standards. You won’t want to miss their set on Saturday afternoon.
The Keweenaw’s reggae sextuplet and festival hosts Dig Niddy bring primarily original grooves to the show. They opened things up at the Way Up Festival and fans who made it to the VIP preparty were delighted with their set. The host band always has something magical up their sleeves to blow minds at the jam.
Additional performers will include Barefoot Hollow playing bluegrass from Madison, WI, local post rockers Fault Choir, Progressive rock act Baccano from Toledo, OH, 7 piece funk band Flexadecibel of Muskegan, MI, Everything Under the Sun, JJ”s Spaceforce, The Graduates, On the Spot Blues Band, Jeremy Rowe, Kevin Blackstone, Tony Laux, Lena Maude, Mike Gage, Dark Mavis Trio and DJ sets with Stattax, Bearded Beats and Party2go. The acoustic stage near the entrance will also have local performers.
Dam Jam continues to be a non profit event, proceeds help improve Calumet Lions Park. Full festival details are online at www.damjamUP.com. Tickets are also available at Harter’s Party Store in Calumet and Root Notes in Laurium.
