Ontonagon resident Cheryl Sundberg has directed the Porcupine Mountains Music Fest for years and watched it grow. She chatted with Local Spins about what makes music in the wilderness special.

Music in the Wilderness: Virginia country-rock band Melodime at Porcupine Mountains Music Festival. (Photo/Local Spins)
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Moving from Seattle to Michigan as a kindergartener, Cheryl Sundberg grew up in the nether reaches of the Upper Peninsula.
She also grew up listening to — and loving — The Beatles. That inspired a lifelong passion for music.
“Music is my true joy. I spent every dollar that I had as a kid at the record shop,” she recalled.
Now, she’s turned that passion toward the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival amid the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the U.P.’s far western corner — first as a volunteer when the festival started up in 2005 and, for the past six years, as its director.
It’s the first music festival ever held in a Michigan State Park.
(Read a Local Spins recap of this year’s festival online here.)
Local Spins editor and publisher John Sinkevics sat down with Sundberg during this year’s festival to chat about the history of the event, it’s unique attraction and the challenges in not only drawing locals to the annual three-day affair but especially Michiganders from elsewhere in the state. Listen to the RSVP Music Chat here.
PODCAST: RSVP Music Chat – Cheryl Sundberg of the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival
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Check out previous episodes of the RSVP Music Chat online here. And email John at john@localspins.com for information about boosting your business’ profile by sponsoring and advertising on the popular RSVP Music Chat.
VIDEO: Highlights from the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival
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