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Hundreds turn out for Aura Jamboree

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazeete Wilho Kipela, Hugo Lehto and Dan Jackovich get the crowd to dance Saturday afternoon during the Aura Jamboree.

AURA — As couples waltzed to the sound of country outside the Aura Community Hall Saturday afternoon,

They all had one thing in common: They were glad to be back.

After last year’s cancellation due to COVID-19, the Aura Jamboree returned this year in slimmed-down form with a one-day celebration.

“It’s kind of a mild version of the jamboree, but we felt it important to keep going this year, and hopefully next year we can get back to our normal schedule,” said festival organizer Mike Roberts.

The jamboree would normally take place over two days, with acts playing in the community hall; once night came, dance bands would keep the crowd going until midnight.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Musicians jam outside the Aura Community Hall during the Aura Jamboree Saturday.

Putting things together was simpler than in a normal year, Roberts said. Instead of setting up a concession stand, they brought up outside vendors. Instead of booking performers ahead of time, anyone could sign up.

Saturday’s musicians included plenty of familiar faces, but also some newcomers. At least a couple of people had come up from Wisconsin for the first time, Roberts said.

“The weather’s been beautiful, and the crowds are a nice size,” he said. “We’re glad for all the musicians who came and spent their time and shared their talent.”

At about 4:30, more than 150 people were enjoying the music. Hugo Lehto sat in on drums with accordion players Wilho Kilpela and Dan Jackovich. Lehto, of Aura, has been playing in the festival since it started. With Saturday’s weather, the COVID-inspired precautions were an unexpected advantage, he said.

“We couldn’t have it inside, because we didn’t want people to be scared,” he said. “And it turned out fine.”

The space outside the community hall is normally reserved for jam sessions. Though the main acts moved outside, impromptu groups still formed. Outside the community hall, a circle of performers played a series of country standards, including Hank Williams’ “Kaw-Liga.” Some came equipped with songbooks on iPads noting the lyrics and chord changes.

Tom Maki of Pelkie joined in, playing a homemade birch drum with a smiley-face mallet.

“You can play it in any key,” he said.

Margie Yadro of Florence, Wisconsin, was watching the group, which included a friend on banjo who was new to the festival. She and her husband Ron, who play in the folk duo Homeward Bound, heard about the jamboree about 10 years ago while playing around the campfire.

She remembered the attentive crowd, then getting offstage to see groups of people outside playing “until their fingers bleed.”

“We were worried that it would lose something with the pandemic, that they would have a hard time starting it back up,” she said. “I was excited to see this much turnout.”

Music began at noon Saturday, and was set to continue for as long as there were bands willing to play.

Dan Jackovich of Marquette sat in on accordion for one band, then moved to the picnic tables to watch the next act. He’s been coming when he can for the past 25 years.

He missed being able to walk around to a variety of groups playing outside. But he was able to make plans to jam with some fellow accordion players later in the afternoon.

“It’s the people and the atmosphere that I love,” he said. “This is a fun time. Everybody’s so nice, and it’s a beautiful area.”

The festival was started in 1977 by Fred Waisanen of Aura and his son John. John had friends in the Lansing area who belonged to the Michigan Fiddlers Association. They approached him with the idea of playing music up here.

The beginnings were humble.

“They didn’t even have chairs,” Roberts said. “They were sitting on the floor.”

Roberts attributed the success to a simple recipe: good music. Traditional Finnish music, country and bluegrass are the mainstays, though they’ve had the occasional classical and rock music, too.

“People enjoy getting out, performing, and enjoying good music,” Roberts said.

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