Every Friday night throughout the summer, both visitors and locals make their way up the peninsula to attend Music in the Park at Northport’s Marina Park. This year is no different, except for the fact that longtime sound technician and Northport native Kent Holton has retired.
Music in the Park staff honored Holton’s contributions earlier this month by dedicating a plaque labeled as the “Kent Holton Pavilion” placed by the marina where so many people gather every year for live music. Jonah Powell will now be filling the role as sound technician moving forward, with the Northport Performing Arts Center organizing much of everything else to continue on the musical series legacy.
“It’s a lot of fun. I enjoy the smiles on everybody’s faces,” Holton said. “We’ve got practically three generations of people that have come through there over the years since we started. We’ve done a lot for local businesses and for entertainment for people in the area… The best thing is the quality of the music despite the genre. People know they’re going to get a good band no matter what type of music is being played.”
Holton said Leelanau County residents Sue O’Connor, Norma Wood, and Mary Anderson came up with the music concert series idea and recruited him to help with the sound and other on the ground logistics in 1986. Despite retiring in his 38th year, Holton said he still plans to attend concerts every Friday, adding that most of the musicians are friends of his from over the years.
“On top of being fellow musicians, they’re friends,” Holton said. “Some I don’t see for a year at a time, so it’s my chance to say hello and catch up with old friends.”
Lisa Drummond worked with Holton to help organize the free concert series for years, and now does the announcements at the beginning of each event introducing herself and welcoming everyone that shows up. While the evening event is free and donations are appreciated, the bands and the sound technician are all paid even if a cancellation happens due to weather or other conditions.
“I am absolutely committed to keeping this as wonderful as it’s always been,” Drummond said. “People love it because it’s here in Northport and it’s low-key, and you can bring your kids and your dogs and something to drink, which really benefits the local wineries and distilleries and things like that. It’s all inclusive unlike just about everything else out here anymore.”
Seeing the benefits of local businesses thriving and the public coming together to enjoy music every Friday has been something Drummond has loved to see for the last 18 years that she’s assisted in helping put it together. As the popularity of Music in the Park grew each year, so did the types of music and bands that would agree to play. One thing was always for certain though — that the music be something people can get up and dance to.
“The best thing for me is watching the little kids get up there and dance… I think back over the years of how much money Music in the Park has brought back to Northport, and it must be hundreds of thousands,” she said. “It’s been 38 years and all these people come and attend, and it benefits everything here, right down to the gas stations and everything else. So it’s an all around winwin for this area… We’ve tried to cater to our audience, and what people seem to really enjoy is classic rock, things you can get up and dance to.”
There are six concerts left until the Music in the Park season is over on August 30. The next band to perform on Friday, July 26 is called “Looking Forward,” a Neil Young tribute. To view the full 2024 season lineup, go to www.northportperformingarts. org/tickets-andevents/ music-in-the-park.
