Buckwheat Zydeco Jr.

ONTONAGON — The 19th-annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival opens today at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Ontonagon County.

The festival is presented by the Friends of The Porkies, which represents all users of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

The festival, supported in part by an award from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, celebrates music of many genres of musical style such as Americana, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, folk, rock, country and more. Among this year’s featured performers are Scythian and Buckwheat Zydeco Jr.

According to its website, Scythian — named after Ukrainian nomads — plays roots music from Celtic, Eastern European and Appalachian traditions with thunderous energy, technical prowess, and storytelling songwriting, beckoning crowds into a barn-dance, rock concert experience.

The four-piece band will headline today’s main stage lineup at 8 p.m. Other main stage performers today include Houghton native Erik Koskinen, The Bootstrap Boys, Ivy Ford and Jeffrey Foucault. Returning to the music fest is Hudson Valley New York band The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Saturday’s headliner is Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. and the Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band. Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. was born into a musical family in Lafayette, La., a city deeply rooted in the sounds of zydeco and Creole culture. His father, Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural Sr., was a legendary figure in zydeco music, and Buckwheat Jr. was immersed in music from a young age. At just 17, Junior began his musical journey by joining his father’s band, initially playing the rubboard, a signature instrument in zydeco music.

His early training was informal, as he learned by ear, much like his father had done. Over time, Buckwheat Jr. expanded his musical talents, becoming a multi-instrumentalist who played the Hammond B-3 organ, accordion, and other instruments.

Saturday’s line up includes Gizzae, Ray Bonneville, Caleb Caudle and The Sweet Critters, local favorite Charlie Parr from Duluth, and Damn Tall Buildings, a Brooklyn-based folk bluegrass band.

In addition to the outdoor main stage, performers on the indoor chalet stage include Jack Jolliff, Eslise Besonen, The Knockabouts, Yvonne Blake, Eric Hopper, Tim Southwick Johnson and more.

Entry into the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park requires a Michigan Recreation pass.

While service animals are allowed in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, pets are not allowed. Tickets are available at the gate at $120 for a weekend pass, $65 daily pass. Children 7 to 12 are $10 for one or both days; ages 6 and younger are admitted free.

The Friends of the Porkies is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The full schedule includes (all are Eastern time):

Today

Peace Hill Stage

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. — The Bootstrap Boys;

2 to 3:00 p.m. — Ivy Ford;

3:30 to 4:30 p.m. — Erik Koskinen;

5 to 6 p.m. — Jeffrey Foucault;

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. — The Slambovian Circus of Dreams;

8 to 9:30 p.m. — Scythian.

Saturday

Peace Hill Stage

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. — Gizzae;

2 to 3 p.m. — Ray Bonneville;

3:30 to 4:30 p.m. — Caleb Caudle & The Sweet Critters;

5 to 6 p.m. — Charlie Parr;

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. — Damn Tall Buildings;

8 to 9:30 p.m. — Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont. Partis Band

Today

Indoor Chalet Stage

Noon to 12:30 p.m. — Bette T & the Ray-man;

1:30 to 2 p.m. — Jack Jolliff;

3 to 3:30 p.m. — Elise Besonen;

4:30 to 5 p.m. — Stanley & Quiggle;

6 to 6:30 p.m. — Marian Runk;

7:30 to 8 p.m. — The Knockabouts.

Saturday

Indoor Chalet Stage

Noon to 12:30 p.m. — Yvonne Blake;

1:30 to 2 p.m. — Eric Hopper;

3 to 3:30 p.m. — Tim Southwick Johnson;

4:30 to 5 p.m. — Stanley & Quiggle;

6 to 6:30 p.m. — Paul Lawrence & Lucas K p.m. — Set 1;

7:30 to 8 p.m. — Paul Lawrence & Lucas K p.m. — Set 2.