Northern Nights brings world-class, unique performers to Marquette

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center’s Northern Nights series offers fun and educational concerts for all ages.

The series was created in 1989 as a way to bring out-of-the-area, and even out-of-the-country, performing artists to NMU’s campus. There are concerts once a month throughout the school year with a wide range in artists.

“Every community that has a college like this hopes that the university will bring things in both for educational and entertainment purposes,” Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center director Dan Truckey said.  “Some of the acts are purely entertaining, it’s just a fun thing to do.  You come, you dance, you sing, you maybe have a drink and enjoy some time with friends and the band and the music in general.  Sometimes they’re more educational and giving people a cultural experience.”

Northern Nights brings in world-class artists, but sometimes they’re not household names. Truckey said that can be difficult to bring people to the events, but added people should take a chance and attend a concert.

“We really work hard as a series to bring the best artists we can afford to bring, not just what is sold to us, but what we really, really want to see and want to bring to the community,” he said. “I always encourage people who are just a little unsure, ‘do I really want to see a Finnish duo singing rock and soul?  Do I really want to come see that?  I’ve never heard of them before; I don’t know what their music is like’.  As I always tell them, ‘give it a shot, and I think you’ll be more than happy you made this decision and it was well worth it’.”

Two concerts are scheduled this month, on March 15th and March 21st. For more information and ticket prices, visit nmu.edu/northernlights.