A beautiful summer’s evening at the foot of the Dune Climb in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, hundreds of families enjoying their pre-concert picnics and then a musical program provided by artists of national stature: this is the magical mixture which has filled audiences with warm memories every year since the first Dune Climb concert in 1998.
The Manitou Music Festival rings in its 21st year on July Fourth weekend with a free Saturday concert by the Northport Community Band, one of Leelanau County’s favorite groups. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to the lawn outside the Glen Arbor Athletic Club for a 4 p.m. concert of patriotic music. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Glen Arbor Township Hall.
Maple City area resident Jan Waling (pronounced “Yon Whaling”) is used to being incognito. His job has been to make others shine at what they do. For more than 30 years, Waling has sweetened the sound of performers’ music and voices at concert venues near and far, helping with the setup, running the mixing board and, eventually, recording performances — live and in the studio.