Features

NoMAD to host Great Lakes Groove concert this fall

Headlining with rock band Michigander, the show is expected to turn students’ heads.

Amelia Kashian

September 26, 2024

GETTING READY — On Oct. 5, Michigander, supporting act Abby Holliday and opener Jasno will perform at the Northern Center for the Great Lakes Groove. (Photo courtesy of Thomas Chicka.)

Performing live music is a popular way for some people to express their emotions — happiness, sadness, contempt, satisfaction and the complex understanding of the human condition.

These emotions can be felt at the “Great Lakes Groove,” hosted by NoMAD and featuring Michigander, supporting acts Abby Holliday and local band Jasno. These artists will provide a mix of rock and roll, indie pop and alternative music to hear this October.

“Going to see live music is, in my opinion, one of the most profound cultural experiences we can share with one another,” President of NoMAD Thomas Chicka said. “I’m not really a religious person, but going to see live music is like church to me. There is nothing like being wrapped up in the energy of a crowd watching a band give their all on stage. Local shows are especially important because it’s the fans that keep them going and give them a reason to perform.”

Headlining the show will be Michigander, a band from Kalamazoo. This alternative rock band has been gaining recognition and will soon be releasing a debut LP. Following this concert at NMU, Michigander will be going on a U.S. tour.

Story continues below advertisement

Abby Holliday is a singer-songwriter from Cincinnati who is appreciated for her introspective writing and vulnerable music. She is actively on tour supporting her album, “CRACK A SMILE COME ON STAY A WHILE.”

Opening for Holliday and Michigander is Jasno, a rock band born in Marquette. Since 2021, the band has performed music from a variety of genres.

“The inspiration for this lineup was to showcase homegrown artists from the Great Lakes region,” Chicka said. “NoMAD is all about giving bands a platform to play in the U.P., and giving students a chance to discover them. We wanted to show some love for artists that have a connection to the Great Lakes because there is so much amazing talent right in our backyard.”

The concert will be held in the Northern Center Grand Ballroom on Saturday, Oct. 5. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Students can get in for free with their NMU ID, and tickets for the general public are $10.