Photo courtesy of WMTU-FM Concert goers lined the Rozsa Center stage at a previous Keweenawesomefest.

HOUGHTON — WMTU 91.9 FM is hosting its annual Keweenawesomefest on Friday starting at 6 p.m. in the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts. The live music event highlights some of the Keweenaw’s own home-grown bands.

Keweenawesomefest is a live-music event that caters to both students at Michigan Technological University and the broader Copper Country. Running since 2007, the festival is put on by students and staff at WMTU 91.9 FM, Michigan Tech’s student-run radio station.

This year, the event is split into three sections, or “courses,” themed after a restaurant menu. The first section is the appetizers and presents three bands, Brookie, Humility and Willowby. The main course, lists three more, Ferrari Fast, Cattle Dogs and Green Bay band TUK. The dessert section of the event is tail-ended by Kalamazoo’s The Go Rounds and Tollways.

Head of Events at WMTU, Elliot Krueger spoke about how being a full-time student and organizing this event is a challenge, but it is one that he is putting his best effort into.

“Being a full-time student plus organizing this event has been a lot, but it’s been fun” he said. “Making sure the transition times between bands is as tight as possible and doing a lot of pre-work with the bands to make sure they’re all good.”

Krueger mentioned that in previous years the event has been broadcast live on airways, but due to the conflicts with WMTU scheduled shows they did not want to take away time from DJs. He also spoke about how the event is sometimes held over two days to mimic a music festival setting. The event is running from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m. for one night.

Most bands performing Friday are local — from Hancock, Houghton or the broader Keweenaw. Two bands are from outside the Copper Country: The Go Rounds and TUK.

“This year we have two really awesome bands,” Krueger said. “TUK, whose from Green Bay — actually most of the members are alumni… Then, The Go Rounds, from Kalamazoo, Michigan.”

The bands’ descriptions of their sounds lend more towards a college-friendly indie sound — ranging from psychedelic, pop rock and hard rock.

Tickets are free for Michigan Tech students and through a pay as you are able system with tickets as low as $5. Regardless of whether you are a Michigan Tech student, Krueger says it will be a night to remember.

“We want to make this event as accessible to everyone as possible,” he said.

Tickets are available by going to Keweenawesomefest’s event page at events.mtu.edu/event/keweenawesomefest-2026. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Friday evening.