Friday, Aug. 28 will mark the third appearance in the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival by headliners The Steel Wheels of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and will be a heartfelt final stop on their summer tour. (Photo by Dan Emmerman)

ONTONAGON — The Porcupine Mountains Music Festival, presented by the Friends of the Porkies, will celebrate its 20th production Aug. 28-29 at the Winter Sports Complex ski hill of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

This year’s headliners will be Steel Wheels of Harrisonburg, Va., who will be performing their final show with Kevin Garcia, their drummer of 16 years, and the 2026 Grammy-nominated band Southern Avenue of Memphis, Tenn.

The main stage lineup also includes Charlie Parr, Blair Crimmins & The Hookers, The Fretliners, Blue Moon Marquee, Felix Y Los Gatos, Abby Posner Trio, Cousin Curtiss, TAE & The Neighborly, Boss Mama & The Jebberhooch and Danny Frank & the Smoky Gold.

The festival is family friendly and has two additional stages: the indoor Chalet Stage, and the “Busking Barn” stage where performers play for tips; plus a children’s tent on the festival grounds with crafts and activities for young attendees.

This activity is supported in part by an award from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.

At the conclusion of this year’s festival, its leadership team will undergo restructuring with the exit of original co-founders Linda Kermeen, accounting and program director (2007-2012) and Don Kermeen, booking coordinator.

In 2002, the Kermeens purchased a resort business and moved to Ontonagon. The first time they visited the Porkies ski hill, they agreed it would be a great venue for a music festival. As fate would have it, Zach Miller-Ember of Urbana, Ill., booked a stay at their resort and the conversation quickly turned to music. Zach had prior experience with non-profit organizing, folk show booking, and festival organizing, and he agreed to team up with the Kermeens and serve as the first festival project director.

The trio found allies in Jim Bradley, then president of Friends of the Porkies, who was instrumental in getting the Friends’ organization onboard as the non-profit presenters of the festival. Former Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park supervisor, the late William “Bill” Doan, worked very hard to secure Michigan Department of Natural Resources approval to move the project forward. In 2005, the festival made state history by becoming the first music festival within a Michigan state park.

“This festival reflects the dedication of so many people,” Linda Kermeen said. “I am amazed to see how far it has come.”

Don Kermeen agreed. “I am grateful to all of the people who have continued to support the festival year after year,” he said.

Miller-Ember said, “Coming together to share the experience of art, community and natural beauty is one of the best things I can imagine a group of humans doing.

“All these people making the choice to care and work together showed that a thing can go from an idea to a conversation, to a plan, to an event — to a generation-spanning cultural institution.”

Also leaving after this year’s festival wrap-up will be current Program Director Cheryl Sundberg, who worked alongside the founders and stepped into the lead position in 2013.

“As music has always been my passion, being able to live in my small U.P. hometown and be involved with a music production of this scale and quality has been the joy of my life,” Sundberg said. “I am grateful for the commitment and enthusiasm of the Friends in doing what it takes to continue the music festival, and the time for change after our 20th production milestone feels right.”

Assistant Director Jennifer Jackman, after 18 years of service, will also be taking her final bow at the conclusion of this year’s festival.

Since its inception, audiences have witnessed many up-and-coming artists in their early days, including Billy Strings, Allison Russell and the War and Treaty, along with many legendary artists such as Iris DeMent, Buckwheat Zydeco, David Bromberg, John Doe and The Holmes Brothers. A link to the complete performer history can be found on the festival website home page.

The seven-member Board of Friends of the Porkies has unanimously committed to the continuation of the festival. The Friends thank park staff for providing the space at the ski hill as the backdrop of the festival.

“Park staff dedication is one of the many reasons the festival has been so successful. We are grateful for park staff, area businesses, residents, festival attendees and volunteers who have always welcomed and supported the festival,” said Joanie Hawley, president of the Friends group.

Park Manager Michael Knack said, “The music festival has provided a unique outdoor recreation experience for locals and park visitors for two decades and fills the campgrounds with music goers.”

Board members have been in communication with festival leadership for nearly two years, taking notes and observing. A shadow music committee has also been in place this year observing the booking process. The Friends have created a job description for the incoming future director’s position which can be found on their website and social media. Applications are now open.

The Friends goal is to ensure that the 2027 festival continues to be a family friendly, volunteer based, music event for the community.

For more information on the 20th Porcupine Mountains Music festival, go online to Porkiesfestival.org. To learn more about the Friends of the Porkies, go to Porkies.org.