“Music to Feed the Soul Concert: A Hunger Relief Fundraiser Event” opens its doors at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6 in the Great Lakes Room of the University Center.

The event is to help gather donations for the West End Feeding America Food Bank in Ishpeming. Two groups will be performing at the event.

There is no cost for admission, but donations of two non-perishable canned food items or $5 are appreciated.

“One group is String Theory which is a jazz band and the second is Everything Under the Sun, and they play a variety of rock music,” said Adele Herman, an art and design photography junior and student administrative assistant for the Lutheran Campus Ministry. “Any student or community members are invited to attend the event. The event is funded by a grant.”

The sponsors for the event include the Lutheran Campus Ministry, the Messiah Lutheran Church, the Northern Great Lakes Synod and they are partnered with the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) World Hunger Grant.

“Most of our music is original and our style varies from blues, rock, reggae, funk and jazz,” said Bret Hanson, lead singer of Everything Under the Sun. “We compose a lot of the music we play.

“Some of our greatest influences are Sublime, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jackson Browne, The Eagles, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Primus, among others.”

The current line-up of members in Everything Under the Sun was formed five months ago.

According to Hanson, he and Mike Krah, the guitarist, were about to give up on the band when they met their future band members out at dinner one night.

“The next day we all got together to play and the rest is history,” Hanson said.

Hanson grew up in Chicago but has spent most of his life in Michigamme. A few years ago h made the move out to Marquette.

“We enjoy playing nightclubs and weekend shows but we also love giving back to the community too,” Hanson said. “We were approached by NMU and we jumped on the offer.

“We love being able to help out any way we can, especially for a food pantry in a way that not everyone can help out.”

Steve Leuthold, professor of Art and Design and manager of String Theory, also will be playing saxophone and flute with them for the event.

“The main duo are Kirsten Gustafson, vocalist, and Dave Ziegner, guitarist,” Leuthold said. “They released an album last year and have toured the Upper Midwest.

“I’m basically sitting in with them for this concert and I’ve played with them a couple times before.”

Being a jazz band, their preferred venue is in an intimate setting or a club and they have played in the Marquette Blues Fest and the NMU Jazz Fest last winter, according to Leuthold.

“It’s the kind of band that lends itself to a kind of adult-listening audience,” Leuthold said. “We do sometimes play large spaces.
“The events are often related to the jazz or blues genre.”
String Theory is also a band based out of Marquette.
“It’s going to be a really great time for those who come,” Hanson said. “They [String Theory] are really talented musicians and they’re just amazing at what they do.
“Also, we have a different stage presence every time so each show is a different experience.”
For more information about the event, call the Lutheran Campus Ministry at (906) 228-8033.