Seether, Sugar Island Music Festival, And Project 906 Concert Previews!!

As promised, here's the second half of this weekend's concert previews, all concerning Sault Michigan-area events today and tomorrow! Nothing short notice to touch on that I know of, so here's what you should know!

We'll start today's concert preview post in Sault Ste. Marie, where local hard rock/blues quartet Project 906 will return to The Superior Cafe for a headlining concert TONIGHT! This will be more familiar territory for this fan favourite quartet, who have not played the Superior Cafe/Bird's Eye Outfitters complex since the spring. Venue advertising notes that Traverse City's Right Brain Brewery will be holding a "tap takeover" at the venue tonight, so if you're up for some regional beer, keep that angle in mind also! Project 906's set proper is at 8:00 PM, I'd assume this is 21+ given the above theme, and there is no announced cover charge. Visit the above links for more details on TONIGHT's hard rock action, and for a preview, here's Project 906 live! (Note that the band will also be playing a special set at a Tahquamenon Motorcycle Club motorcross event in Newberry on September 8th, but that's outside of our coverage range.)



Next up, let's head east to Sugar Island for the 18th annual Sugar Island Music Festival, where Kinross classic/hard rock trio Banned will return as night #1 and #2 headliners TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! These sets will keep the Traynors-led band's 8 year streak of Sugar Island Fest appearances going strong, and with prime night-closing timeslots to boot, so make sure to stay late to see Banned in action! Of course, the festival will see local crafts, food and drinks, a dance floor, kids entertainment, a bean bag toss tournament, and more fun & merriment all weekend long, so visit the official website for full non-musical details! Traditionally a folk, country, and acoustic-centric festival full of online page-less acts, you can get full scheduling details above as well, but tonight's bill will see Banned preceded by The Schutz Boys, Hillsdale jam band All Arms, 2 Cents, Jack Grim & Clownsack alum Fran Blackwood, Davey MacLeod, and Dave Morrison "and friends".

Dave Morrison aside, all of Friday's bands are returning on Saturday, alongside 3½ Men, Joel Choate, Gentleman George Snider and friends, Chicago folk duo February Sky (with special guests Moose River), Flex, and an open mic block, but the big surprise here is Birch Run, Michigan progressive death metal band Abstract Aura, who will make their apparent local concert debut tomorrow at 8:00 PM! Abstract Aura may seem like an out of left field inclusion this year, but guitarist Travis McInerney appears to have connections in the E.U.P., given that he played the open mic block in 2012 (source here.) They're a brutal technical outfit from what I've heard, and while it'd be interesting to hear how Abstract Aura do in Sugar Island, take this with a slight grain of salt, as they announced a break last week due to their recent drummer vacancy. Sunday's hard rock-free lineup runs from 11:00 AM-5:00 PM, and largely features returning acts from prior days.

Banned are on at 9:30 PM tonight and tomorrow, with the music beginning at 5:00 PM & 11:00 AM respectively.  As usual, admission is via purchase of a $10 souvenir button that will get you in all 3 days, but kids under 12 (with an adult) remain FREE. Camping rates are $15 for the weekend, and there are no 1-2 day festival passes. Buttons are available at Ed's Bayview Store, The Hilltop Bar & Grill, or the Westshore Convenience Store in Sugar Island, and at Crooked Music in Sault Ste. Marie, or presumably at the door. This sounds like another great and varied Sugar Island Festival, so see the above links for more details, and here's Banned live!

Finally for today, here's the main event of the weekend, as South African hard rock trio Seether will return to our area TOMORROW NIGHT when they headline at The Dreammaker's Theater at Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie! Fans will recall seeing this platinum selling mainstay on Rock 101 and the Billboard rock charts when they opened for Three Days Grace in Sault Ontario 10 years ago. Since then, Seether have gotten even bigger with hit songs like "Tonight", "Words as Weapons", and "Let You Down", so their grunge influenced hard rock onslaught should be more than welcomed by the sizable crowd tomorrow! Knoxville, Tennessee hard rock quartet 10 Years will also return to our area tomorrow night, 8 years after they opened for Sevendust at the same venue. This band recently had their biggest rock radio hit since "Wasteland" 12 years ago with "Novocaine", and their modern and hard hitting sound will be a nice compliment! Nashville hard rock quartet The Dead Deads (replacing LTNT) will open in their local concert debut tomorrow as well.

This 3/4ths female group have an energetic and creative sound with punk and sci-fi influences, and they should deliver a solid set to kick things off! General floor seating is still available via $46 tickets, which you can buy at this link, at 1-800-KEWADIN, or at the in-person box office. This is an ALL AGES event (brought to you by Allstar Promotions), with an advertised 7:00 PM start time. This should be a huge concert for modern hard rock fans, with numerous familiar songs to be had, so visit the above links for complete details, and here's Seether live here in 2008!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's Defunct Local Band Profile next! Thanks everyone!