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MARQUETTE -- Blues Fest has been keeping the genre of blues music alive in the Upper Peninsula for eight years now, and the tradition continues this weekend at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette.

Organizers say 10 bands will be featured at this year's event, and there will be plenty of food vendors providing tastes to enjoy with the sounds.

The event starts on Saturday and ends Sunday night with a performance by a special guest.

"Our headliner on Sunday night is a young lady named Shemekia Copeland, who was just recently crowned the Queen of Blues at the Chicago Blues Fest earlier this summer," said Festival Director Walt Lindala.  "And we're really looking forward to her and her performance."

The gates open at noon and the music starts at 1 p.m. on both days of the event.  Adult passes for the weekend are $40.