Former Alpena family to play at Maritime Festival

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The Tongue Family String Band, made up of members of a former Alpena family, are included in the 4th of July entertainment lineup for the Thunder Bay Maritime Festival.

Steve, Amy, Abby, Lara and Emma Tongue are a family Celtic string band that has been active in the Northern Michigan music scene for the past two years. The band, which features Celtic tunes and Irish step dancing, will perform at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the festival's entertainment tent.

The band started in 2006 when Steve a pianist with background in jazz and classical was looking for a way to involve the whole family as a musical group. He and his wife, Amy a flute player had recently attended a concert at Alpena High School by the Irish band Lunasa.

They were inspired by what they heard and started to learn Irish and Scottish tunes as a family, with Steve on guitar, Amy on flute, daughters Abby (age 14) and Lara (age 12) on fiddles, and youngest daughter Emma (age 9) on the Bodhran (Irish Drum).

They made their debut that summer at a coffee house in Alpena and are looking forward to coming back.

"Our whole family is excited for the opportunity to return to our roots," Steve said. "We are looking forward to performing at the Maritime Festival and seeing people we know."

Since their coffee house debut, Emma has taken up cello and provides the bass line for the band. In addition, the girls have studied and become proficient in Irish step dancing which adds some visual dazzle to their performances.

In 2007 Steve took a new job at Munson Medical Center. Since their move to Traverse City, the family has continued their musical ventures with regular performances at Horizon Books and Kilkennys Irish Pub, as well as special events at Old Mission Peninsula Lighthouse, Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Boardman River Nature Center and the Old Mission Peninsula Library.

During his time in Alpena, Steve was very active in maritime heritage efforts and served as president and historian for the Thunder Bay Island Preservation Society. He published a book, "Lanterns and Lifeboats A History of Thunder Bay Island," and has donated the proceeds from the sale of those books to restoration efforts for the Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse the second oldest lighthouse on Lake Huron.

The book is available in the gift shop of the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center and Steve will be happy to sign copies during intermissions of their performances.

The Thunder Bay Maritime Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 4th of July at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. Entertainment is scheduled throughout the day.

In addition to the Tongue family, audiences can also enjoy performances by Song of the Lakes and the Neptune Quartet.

The festival also offers ship tours, entertainment, fun and educational kids activities, demonstrations, exhibits, displays, food and more. Admission is free.