The stage was set and the speakers hummed to life. Ben Toporski waited for the crowd to trickle in– it’d be his first gig with his bassist Jack Holtgren and only his third overall. They were the opening act for Keweenawsomefest (K-Fest), an event aimed at promoting and supporting local musicians.
Among the 16 bands in the festival, many shared excitement not just for their own acts, but were eager to see each other. Sam Kalkman, keyboardist for the jazz fusion group Jaztek, reflected on his band’s two-and-a-half-year journey. The members met at a Jaztek concert and started to play together. “I wasn’t expecting a music scene up here,” Kalkman said. “It’s always nice to hear new bands.” He was excited to see Willowby and the jazz director perform.
Toporski shared this enthusiasm, saying that he wants to “express the music I’ve written and make a place for the community to come and have fun.” He was particularly eager to watch Willowby, Jaztek, and I Need More Sun perform, adding that he hadn’t seen them in a while.
Gaven Hoisington of StarDawg highlighted the festival’s stacked Saturday lineup, featuring acts like Suffer No Fools. “It’s an exciting opportunity for StarDawg, coming from house parties to something more accessible and public,” Hoisington said.
Guitarist Ronan Higgins, who performed with multiple bands, including Fast Car and Tollways, described the performance as “a lot of fun; I like being able to express myself the only way I know how.” He met the other members of Tollways as a lab TA. They met as sound design majors and became friends, and now they make music together.
Most of the bands performing at K-Fest have Instagram accounts, where you can follow them and support your favorite artists.
