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Kingsford lines up 3-day festival

By Maggie Lanthier 4 min read

KINGSFORD -- After more than a year of planning, the time finally has arrived for Kingsford to celebrate its centennial.

Events start Thursday when the gates open at 4 p.m. at Lodal Park.

Music starts at 6 p.m. with The Glam Band from Wisconsin priming the crowd for the Ultimate '80s Rock Party night, with a variety of hits.

Taking the stage at 8 p.m. is Stephen Pearcy, lead singer and founding member of Ratt. The band gained popularity with hits such as "Wanted Man," "Round and Round," "You're in Love," "Lay It Down" and "Slip of the Lip."

Vince Neil of Motley Crue performs from 10 to 11:15 p.m. As a lead singer of Motley Crue, he had a number of hits in the '80s, including "Shout the Devil," "Looks That Kill," "Smokin' in the Boys Room," "Girls, Girls, Girls," "Dr. Feelgood," "Kickstart My Heart," "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" and "Same Ol' Situation."

The Blagec Bros. Stage will feature local and regional acts all three days. Fine Line from the Green Bay, Wis., area plays from 5 to 5:45 p.m. Thursday, then Noise Pollution of Wisconsin will offer AC/DC music from 7:15 to 8 p.m. and again from 9:15 to 10 p.m.

Country music will be the star Friday night. Stephen Ray, the son of Steve Mariucci, opens with a set from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., followed from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. by country band Bad Axe Rodeo, with a special appearance by Andy Gibbons. Formerly of Aurora, Wis., Gibbons now lives and performs in Nashville. Kingsford musician Jim Counter will make a special appearance from 6:45 to 7:15 p.m.

The Nashville band Runaway June, known for their hit, "I Can Buy My Own Drinks," plays from 8 to 9:15 p.m.

Headlining the night will be the duo Big & Rich from 10 to 11:15 p.m., known for hits such as "Save a Horse, (Ride a Cowboy)," "Holy Water," "Comin' to Your City," "8th of November" and "Lost in This Moment."

Performing on the Blagec Bros. Stage will be local bands 141 North from 7:15 to 8 p.m. and Next Myle from 9:15 to 10 p.m.

Gates open at noon Saturday. There will be music by the FBI & the Untouchable Horns from the Fox Valley area from 4 to 4:30 p.m.

Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad plays from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Throughout the '70s Grand Funk garnered hits with "I'm Your Captain," "We're An American Band" and "The Locomotion," among others.

The '90s band Gin Blossoms take the stage from 8 to 9:15 p.m. with hits including "Hey Jealousy," "Follow You Down" and "Found Out About You." The final performer, Ann Wilson of Heart, closes out the night with music from Heart as well as her songs as a solo artist.

On the Blagec Bros. Stage, the opening ceremony will be conducted from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday. The Polar Blues Band takes the stage after the ceremony and plays until 1:45 p.m. Sons of Legend performs from 2:15 to 3 p.m., followed by the Descendants from 5 to 5:45 p.m. Members of Rockslide will have a reunion show from 7:15 to 8 and the classic rock band OZ performs from 9:15 to 10 p.m.

Bounce houses from ACA Jumps will be available all three days. Tickets will be two for $1; wristbands will be $10 for Thursday and Friday and $15 for Saturday.

The STEM Expo will be at the centennial during select times on Friday and Saturday, including an enclosed autonomous drone zone, 4-wheel-drive programmable robots, an interactive full-size robotic arm, liquid nitrogen demonstration and other hands-on learning activities.

Food vendors lined up for the centennial include Curious Pig, Smokler's BBQ, Millie's Market, The Little Red Caboose, Papa Murphy's, Flavor Blast, Matilda's Ears, Dickinson- Iron Community Services Agency, J.P.N.'s Concessions and Prime Pasty King. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages also will be sold.

Three-day tickets are $60 online or at the gate. Single-day tickets are $30 on Thursday, $40 on Friday and $50 on Saturday.

Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.

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