The 5th Annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival returns to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Aug. 28-30, with a wide range of musical genres being represented. The event is organized each year by the Friends of the Porkies.

Don Kermeen, booking coordinator for the festival, has announced that booking for this year's event is complete and the festival's fifth year lineup promises to be as exciting as ever.

"Our music selection committee had a big job this year listening to the hundreds of band submissions received," Kermeen said. It was obvious to all involved that interest in the festival has grown considerably and it was overwhelming -- in a good way-- to see such a wide variety of quality material coming in, from all across the U.S. and abroad. "The committee worked tirelessly to balance new fresh sounds with return acts," he added.

The Friday night headliner for this year is Cadillac Sky from Texas. Cadillac Sky's music has been coined everything from "experimental acoustic music" to "psychobilly bluegrass," looking as much to Radiohead and the Beatles for inspiration as it does to Bill Monroe. Songs penned by Cadillac Sky's Bryan Simpson have been recorded by Blake Shelton and Billy Currington. Band member David Mayfield will be doing a solo performance. In the past he has shared the stage with such musical luminaries as The Avett Brothers and The Black Keys. Mayfield's stage persona is perhaps quantified best as a poetic-demolition derby -- pushing the band past the boiling point. Cadillac Sky strives to create moments of music that will be remembered.

Headlining Saturday night are Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams. "This irresistible crowd pleasing band has felt a strong connection to the area. This year will mark its third consecutive appearance at the festival. Gandalf and the Circus even slipped a reference to the Porkies in their song "Summer Day" included on their CD 'The Great Unravel,'" Kermeen said.

Rounding up the festival will be Sunday night headliners, The Clumsy Lovers, a happy-go-lucky Vancouver quintet expertly walking the tightrope between tradition-minded roots music ("raging bluegrass Celtic rock," a reviewer once said) and sparkling modern pop. The band has long felt at home on any stage, whether in front of 50 raucous patrons at a roadhouse or thousands of music-lovers at a festival or concert hall.

This year's lineup also includes special guests Caravan of Thieves, Pieta Brown with Bo Ramsey and Deke Dickerson & The Ecco-Fonics.

Newcomers to the Porcupine Mountains stage include the festival's second 'Cadillac' in the lineup, Cadillac vs. Cornbread, along with Green Tea, Kitty Donohoe, Carolyn Striho, Dave Boutette, Brandon Scott Sellner, Jeff Ray, West of East, Doris & The Daydreams and Laurel Premo.

Returning are favorites Hamell on Trial, Charlie Parr, Seth Bernard & Daisy May, Drew Nelson, Reverend Eddie Danger, Conga Se Menne, Squeaky Clean Cretins, Rory and Dale C. Miller, Yvonne Blake, and the Children of the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival.

Performances will take place on two outdoor stages and the festival also provides a child's area, workshops and a third "busking" stage where amateurs and professionals can play and jam for tips.

This year will be more affordable for families as children's ticket prices have been significantly reduced. Tickets for children ages 7-12 cost a flat $10, whether the ticket is a three-day or a one-day ticket. As in the past, children ages 6 and under receive free admission. Three-day tickets for those over 12 are $90 and a one-day pass is $35, though teens and seniors will receive a 20 percent discount. Also, a 15 percent advance discount is available on all regular ticket purchases through Aug.14.

For more information regarding the 5th Annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival, visit www.porkiesfestival.org or call Don Kermeen at (906) 884-2653 or 800-344-5355.

For more information about the park, accessibility, or persons needing accommodations to attend this event, contact the park supervisor at (906) 885-5275 (or TTY/TDD 711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired).

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the park entrance. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A nonresident annual is $29 and a nonresident daily is $8.