The Northern Michigan University Performing Arts Series will be unveiling a new name and a new direction for the 2012-2013 school year.
The series, now entitled “Northern Nights,” has been bringing internationally recognized performers to campus since the 1980s.
The change to the name Northern Nights is synonymous with a fundamental shift in the program. In 2006, the NMU’s Performing Arts Series became the International Performing Arts Series in an attempt to bring renowned world music artists to the community.
The new series will include a wide variety of music from a number of genres, said NMU’s Performing Arts Series director Dan Truckey.
“The biggest difference between the past several years and now is that the main focus isn’t on specifically world music,” Truckey said.“We aren’t looking to book only performers from outside the U.S. We want to represent American artists as well as world performers.”
The shift in direction was part of an effort to generate interest in the Performing Arts Series, Truckey said, which has seen a decline in concert attendance in the past two seasons.
“The series was losing some pull with the local audience and with students,” Truckey said. “Our focus groups discussed ways to invigorate the program, and part of that strategy is to bring more accessible acts to the community.”
Northern Nights will host six shows this year, the first of which will feature singer-songwriter Susan Werner, a folk and jazz-inspired artist from Iowa.
“We’ve wanted to bring in a really great singer-songwriter and Susan is a fantastic artist,” Truckey said.
“For this show and also some others in the future, we’ll be bringing in local talent for opening acts when it’s possible.”
Local acoustic outfit Goldmine Girls, composed of sisters Gentian and RiLee Waller, will open for Susan Werner at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7 at the Forest Roberts Theatre.
Tickets prices are $2 in advance and $4 at the door for students, $10 in advance and $12 at the door for faculty, staff and seniors, and $15 in advance and $17 at the door for the general public.
“Another upcoming show that we’re really excited for is the Homemade Jamz Blues Band from Mississippi,” Truckey said. “They’re one of the youngest, most talented blues bands in the country, and it’s been awhile since we had a get-up-and-dance blues band on campus.”
Flat Broke Blues Band from Marquette will open for the Homemade Jamz Blues Band at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13 in the Great Lakes Rooms in the University Center.
Tickets for students are $5 in advance and $6 at the door, $13 in advance and $15 at the door for faculty, staff and seniors, and $18 in advance and $20 at the door for the general public.
Ticket prices for the Northern Nights series have also been lowered this year as part of increasing appeal for students. Prices are based on a tiered structure that is adjusted to the cost the performance itself.
“It’s cool that they’ve decided to lower prices this year and I think it will help to get more people interested in the shows,” said senior secondary education major Steve Goulding. “They bring in a lot of great artists, but the tickets can get expensive if you don’t get them in advance and just try and buy them at the door.”
Season passes are $20 for students and kids, $60 for faculty, staff and seniors, $85 for the general public, and $30 family passes will also be available. Season passes may be purchased at the Superior Dome ticket office and individual tickets are available at EZ Ticket outlets.
“We have really high expectations for the series this year and we’re really looking forward to it,” Truckey said. “We want to keep bringing in great artists and make the performances more accessible to the students and community.”
