Just two hours into its six-hour-long, free live music showing last Saturday, the July 4th Shagawa Shindig had already drawn about 200 people to the shores of Shagawa Lake to take in local Americana and bluegrass flavor.
Put on by Ely band Stony River, the family-friendly event celebrated its 10th year from 3-9 p.m. and featured six local music groups: Stony River; Dan Phipps; Shagawa Shorty, Julie Nester and Friends; Kearcher and Friends; Jeremy Harmon and Ambrose Richter.
“There never used to be music in town and I felt like there needed to be music for the Fourth of July, because there was this big dead spot in between the parade and fireworks,” said Nick Allen of Stony River. “We started doing this, and it’s turned into a really fun time.”
Semers Park saw far more attendees for the 2026 Shagawa Shindig than the event’s first year, when Stony River played for about 40 people.
“The whole idea is that people can bring a picnic and whatever they need to be comfortable, and we are only providing music. There’s nothing for sale,” Allen said. “Music is the best part of life, so I wanted to share it.”
Allen said the event’s focus on bluegrass and Americana music mirrors the overall lean of Ely’s music scene.
“It’s all pretty grassy,” Allen said, though he added that there are also undercurrents of blues numbers and a large cohort of local heavy metal fans and musicians.
Stony River band members coined their group’s genre as “Northern Crabgrass.” After meeting through general life circumstances, including shifts at the Boathouse and a connection through daycare work, Allen said Stony River band members first began as a group of jam musicians before formally organizing into a band 10-15 years ago.
“One thing led to another and we started playing together,” Allen said. “Now we’re a little more serious about it.”
Allen, who additionally plays guitar and fiddle for the local band Van and the Free Candies, said Ely’s music scene is blossoming.
Stony River attends open mics and other regional events, including a recent appearance at the Blue Ox Music Festival in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. They will host a release party on July 24 at Ely’s Historic State Theater for their new album, 10 Miles of Bad Road.
The Free Candies play at Zaverl’s Bar every Wednesday throughout the summer. Allen organizes open mic nights at the Boathouse between deer season and April.
“There’s a ton of really fun music that goes through (the open mic) in the wintertime,” Allen said. “It’s a nice, more local vibe, where it’s just the people who winter here.”
For the Shagawa Shindig, Allen said they decided upon Semers Park for its lakeside appeal in the July heat. Semers also offers a variety of amenities, including bathrooms, a playground, picnic tables and an off-the-beatenpath feel.
“We just wanted to have music in the park, and we thought this was a better space than Whiteside,” Allen said. “It’s (not) right in the middle of town. It’s a little more chill.”
This Independence Day, Semers heard a solid mix of original songwriting from bands like Stony River, while others like Kearcher & Friends played popular covers from artists like Zach Bryan, Caamp, Tyler Childers and more.
“Sometimes it’s fun to just play covers,” Allen said. “People can appreciate the quality of talent a little better if they recognize a song, versus a bunch of music they’ve never heard before.”
Allen said his favorite part of the event is simply seeing people relax, go swimming and make food.
“I love watching people just have a good time,” Allen said.
